Energy harvesting
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of transducer elements configured and arranged to provide a collective energy-transduction area corresponding to a plurality of individual energy-transduction areas respectively defined by the plurality of transducer elements, each of the plurality of transducer elements having a size that is smaller than a wavelength of energy conveyed and being configured and arranged to convert the energy waves conveyed and received via a multi-directional radiation pattern into electrical charge, and at least one of the plurality of transducer elements being configured and arranged to convert conveyed energy that is different in phase from the conveyed energy as received by another one of the plurality of transducer elements;
a power-accumulation circuit configured and arranged to accumulate electrical charges from each of the plurality of transducer elements; and
each of the plurality of transducer elements is configured and arranged at different respective off-axis angles relative to other ones of the transducer elements, and wherein the power-accumulation circuit is configured and arranged to accumulate energy from each of the individual energy-transduction areas such that the energy waves reaching the plurality of individual energy-transduction areas at different respective off-axis angles contribute to the accumulation of electrical charges by rectifying a current corresponding to energy received via the at least one of the plurality of transducer elements.
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Accused Products
Abstract
As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, an apparatus and/or method involves a plurality of transducer elements that convert energy waves conveyed via a multi-directional radiation pattern into electrical charge. A power-accumulation circuit accumulates electrical charges from each of the plurality of transducer elements, with each of the transducer elements being arranged at different respective off-axis angles relative to an axis at which the energy is being conveyed. The power-accumulation circuit accumulates energy from each of the individual energy-transduction areas, such that energy received at different respective off-axis angles contributes to the accumulation of electrical charge.
27 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of transducer elements configured and arranged to provide a collective energy-transduction area corresponding to a plurality of individual energy-transduction areas respectively defined by the plurality of transducer elements, each of the plurality of transducer elements having a size that is smaller than a wavelength of energy conveyed and being configured and arranged to convert the energy waves conveyed and received via a multi-directional radiation pattern into electrical charge, and at least one of the plurality of transducer elements being configured and arranged to convert conveyed energy that is different in phase from the conveyed energy as received by another one of the plurality of transducer elements; a power-accumulation circuit configured and arranged to accumulate electrical charges from each of the plurality of transducer elements; and each of the plurality of transducer elements is configured and arranged at different respective off-axis angles relative to other ones of the transducer elements, and wherein the power-accumulation circuit is configured and arranged to accumulate energy from each of the individual energy-transduction areas such that the energy waves reaching the plurality of individual energy-transduction areas at different respective off-axis angles contribute to the accumulation of electrical charges by rectifying a current corresponding to energy received via the at least one of the plurality of transducer elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method comprising:
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providing a collective energy-transduction area via a plurality of transducer elements, the collective energy-transduction area corresponding to a plurality of individual energy-transduction areas respectively defined by the plurality of transducer elements; using the plurality of transducer elements to convert energy waves conveyed and received via a multi-directional radiation pattern into electrical charge, with each of the plurality of transducer elements being arranged at different respective off-axis angles relative to other ones of the transducer elements, wherein converting energy includes converting conveyed energy that is different in phase at respective ones of the plurality of transducer elements, and rectifying a current corresponding to energy received via at least one of the plurality of transducer elements; and accumulating electrical charges from each of the plurality of transducer elements, such that the energy waves reach the plurality of individual energy-transduction areas at the different respective off-axis angles contribute to the accumulation of electrical charges. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of transducer elements at different respective off-axis angles relative to other ones of the transducer elements, the transducer elements having a size that is smaller than a wavelength of conveyed energy and being configured and arranged to generate current using the energy conveyed and received via acoustic waves; a first circuit configured and arranged to rectify the generated current of the transducer elements; and a second circuit configured and arranged to accumulate electrical charge from all of the transducer elements, using rectified current provided via the first circuit, wherein energy conveyed to each of the transducers at the different respective off-axis angles contributes to the accumulation of electrical charge.
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18. An apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of transducer elements configured and arranged to convert energy waves conveyed into electrical charge, each of the plurality of transducer elements having a size that is smaller than a wavelength of the conveyed energy and being arranged at different respective off-axis angles relative to other ones of the transducer elements; and a power-accumulation circuit configured and arranged to accumulate energy, from each of the plurality of transducer elements, including energy received at the different off-axis angles at respective ones of the plurality of transducer elements. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. An apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of transducer elements configured and arranged to convert energy waves conveyed into electrical charge, each of the plurality of transducer elements being arranged at different respective off-axis angles relative to other ones of the transducer elements, and at least one of the plurality of transducer elements being configured and arranged to convert conveyed energy that is different in phase from the conveyed energy as received by another one of the plurality of transducer elements; and a power-accumulation circuit configured and arranged to accumulate energy, from each of the plurality of transducer elements, including energy received at the different off-axis angles at respective ones of the plurality of transducer elements, by rectifying a current corresponding to energy received via the at least one of the plurality of transducer elements.
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Specification