Energy self-sufficient radiofrequency transmitter

• US 9,887,711 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2014
• Issued: 02/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: EnOcean GmbH
• Original Assignee: EnOcean GmbH
• Inventors: Pistor, Klaus, Schmidt, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, VERNAL U
• Application Number:
  US14/202,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20140364074A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,429 Days
• Field of Search: 340 56, 340 122, 455127
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/04 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0458 Arrangements for matching and coupling between power amplifier and antenna or between amplifying stages matching circuits in general H03H
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/1607 Supply circuits converters H02M; filters therefor H02M1/14; voltage stabilisers G05F1/46

Abstract

The energy self-sufficient radiofrequency transmitter has at least one electromechanical transducer with a rectifier circuit connected downstream and with a voltage converter circuit. A logic circuit configuration is connected to the voltage converter circuit. The logic circuit configuration has a sequence controller a memory in which an identification code is stored. The energy self-sufficient radiofrequency transmitter also has a radiofrequency transmission stage that is connected to the logic circuit configuration and a transmission antenna.

Claims

1. A switching system, comprising:

an electromechanical generator to generate electrical energy;

a rectifier electrically connected to said electromechanical generator;

an electrical energy store electrically connected to said rectifier and configured to receive said electrical energy from said electromechanical generator;

a voltage regulator having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said voltage regulator electrically connected to an output side of said rectifier;

a first signal transmitter electrically connected to said output side of said voltage regulator and configured to repeatedly transmit a first electromagnetic signal responsive to sufficient electrical energy being in the electrical energy store and until there is insufficient electrical energy in the electrical energy store;

said first signal transmitter comprising a first electromagnetic signal generator subcircuit connected to a transmission antenna configured to transmit said first electromagnetic signal;

a signal receiver to receive the first electromagnetic signal transmitted by said first signal transmitter;

said signal receiver adapted to generate a second signal in response to said first electromagnetic signal transmitted by said first signal transmitter; and

a switch having a first position and a second position;

said switch in communication with said signal receiver;

said switch adapted to change between said first position and said second position in response to said second signal.

2. The switching system according to claim 1, wherein said electromechanical generator is selected from a group consisting of a piezoelectric transducer, an electrostrictive element, a magnetostrictive element, and an electromagnetic induction coil.

3. The switching system according to claim 1, further comprising:

said electrical energy store having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said electrical store being electrically connected to the output side of said voltage regulator;

whereby said electrical energy store is adapted to store an electrical output of said voltage regulator,

and wherein said electrical energy store is adapted to supplement said electrical output of said voltage regulator to said first signal transmitter with said stored electrical output of said voltage regulator.

4. The switching system according to claim 1, further comprising:

said electrical energy store having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said electrical energy store being electrically connected to the output side of said rectifier;

whereby said electrical energy store is adapted to store an electrical output of said rectifier;

and wherein said electrical energy store is adapted to supplement electrical output of said voltage regulator to said first signal transmitter with said stored electrical output of said rectifier.

5. The switching system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission antenna is configured to transmit the first electromagnetic signal at a frequency of between about 100 MHz and about 30 GHz.

6. The switching system according to claim 1, wherein a voltage is an oscillating voltage.

7. A switching system comprising:

an electromechanical generator to generate electrical energy;

a rectifier electrically connected to said generator;

an electrical energy store electrically configured to receive said electrical energy from said electromechanical generator;

a voltage regulator having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said voltage regulator electrically connected to an output side of said rectifier;

a first signal transmitter electrically connected to said output side of said voltage regulator;

said first signal transmitter comprising a first electromagnetic signal generator subcircuit connected to a transmission antenna, said first signal transmitter configured to repeatedly transmit a first electromagnetic signal responsive to sufficient electrical energy being in the electrical energy store and until there is insufficient electrical energy in the electrical energy store;

a signal receiver to receive the first electromagnetic signal transmitted by said first signal transmitter;

said signal receiver being adapted to initiate an action in response to said first electromagnetic signal transmitted by said first signal transmitter; and

a switch having a first condition and a second condition;

said switch being in communication with said signal receiver;

said switch being adapted to change between said first condition and said second condition in response to said initiated action.

8. The switching system according to claim 7, wherein said electrical energy store stores electrical energy generated by the electromechanical generator.

9. The switching system according to claim 7, wherein the first signal transmitter is configured to transmit the first electromagnetic signal at a frequency between about 100 MHz and about 30 GHz.

10. A switching system comprising:

an electromechanical generator to generate electrical energy;

a voltage regulator having an input side and an output side;

an electrical energy store electrically configured to receive the electrical energy from said electromechanical generator;

a first signal transmitter electrically connected to said output side of said voltage regulator;

said first signal transmitter comprising a first electromagnetic signal generator subcircuit connected to a transmission antenna, said first signal transmitter configured to repeatedly transmit a first electromagnetic signal responsive to sufficient electrical energy being in the electrical energy store and until there is insufficient electrical energy in the electrical energy store;

a signal receiver to receive the first electromagnetic signal transmitted by said first signal transmitter;

said signal receiver adapted to initiate an action in response to said first electromagnetic signal transmitted by said first signal transmitter; and

a switch having a first condition and a second condition;

said switch being in communication with said signal receiver;

said switch being adapted to change between said first condition and said second condition in response to said initiated action.

11. The switching system of claim 10, wherein a voltage generated by the electromechanical generator comprises an oscillating voltage, the switching system further comprises a rectifier coupled to an output of the electromechanical generator, and the input side of the voltage regulator is connected to the rectifier.

12. The switching system according to claim 10, wherein said electrical energy store stores electrical energy generated by an electromechanical transducer.

13. The switching system of claim 10, wherein the first signal transmitter is configured to transmit the first electromagnetic signal at a frequency between about 100 MHz and about 30 GHz.

14. A self-powered switching system, comprising:

an electromechanical generator to generate a voltage across first and second electrical terminals;

a voltage regulator having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said voltage regulator being electrically connected to said first and second electrical terminals;

a first signal transmitter electrically connected to said output side of said voltage regulator;

said first signal transmitter comprising a first electromagnetic signal generator subcircuit connected to a transmitter configured to repeatedly transmit a first electromagnetic signal responsive to sufficient electrical energy being in an electrical energy store and until there is insufficient electrical energy in the electrical energy store; and

a first tone generator subcircuit having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said first tone generator subcircuit connected to said output side of said voltage regulator;

said output side of said tone generator subcircuit connected to said first electromagnetic signal generator subcircuit;

wherein said first tone generator subcircuit and said first electromagnetic signal generator subcircuit comprise a first at least one programmable encoder circuit;

and wherein each of said first at least one programmable encoder circuit is adapted to be programmed to generate one or more unique codes;

and wherein each of said one or more unique codes generated by each of said first programmable encoder circuits is different from each of said unique codes generated by the others of said first programmable encoder circuits;

a signal receiver for receiving the first electromagnetic signal transmitted by said first signal transmitter;

said signal receiver adapted to generate a second signal in response to said first electromagnetic signal transmitted by said first signal transmitter; and

a switch having a first position and a second position;

said switch being in communication with said signal receiver;

said switch being adapted to change between said first position and said second position in response to said second signal.

15. The switching system according to claim 14, further comprising:

a second signal transmitter comprising a second at least one programmable encoder circuit connected to an antenna;

each of said second programmable encoder circuits comprising a second radio frequency generator subcircuit and a second tone generator subcircuit;

wherein each of said second programmable encoder circuits is adapted to be programmed to generate one or more unique codes;

and wherein each of said unique codes generated by each of said second programmable encoder circuits is different from each of said unique codes generated by each of said first programmable encoder circuits, and different from each of said unique codes generated by the others of said second programmable encoder circuits.

16. The switching system according to claim 14, further comprising encryption logic for encrypting data to be output as said first electromagnetic signal via the first signal transmitter.

17. The switching system according to claim 16, wherein the data encrypted by the encryption logic includes the one or more unique codes.

18. A self-powered switching system, comprising:

an electromechanical transducer for electrical energy generation;

a voltage regulator having an input side and an output side;

an electrical energy store electrically configured to receive said electrical energy from said electromechanical transducer;

said input side of said voltage regulator being electrically connected to said electromechanical transducer;

a first signal transmitter electrically connected to said output side of said voltage regulator;

said first signal transmitter comprising a first logic circuit connected to a transmitter configured to repeatedly transmit a first electromagnetic signal responsive to sufficient electrical energy being in the electrical energy store and until there is insufficient electrical energy in the electrical energy store; and

a first clock generator subcircuit having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said first clock generator subcircuit being connected to said output side of said voltage regulator;

said output side of said first clock generator subcircuit connected to said first logic circuit;

wherein said first clock generator subcircuit and said first logic circuit comprise a first at least one programmable encoder circuit;

and wherein each of said first programmable encoder circuits is adapted to be programmed to generate one or more codes;

and wherein each of said one or more codes generated by each of said first programmable encoder circuits identifies said first programmable encoder circuits;

a signal receiver for receiving the first electromagnetic signal transmitted by said first signal transmitter;

said signal receiver adapted to initiate an action in response to said first electromagnetic signal transmitted by said first signal transmitter; and

a switch having a first position and a second position;

said switch being in communication with said signal receiver;

said switch being adapted to change between said first position and said second position in response to said signal receiver.

19. The self-powered switching system according to claim 18, further comprising encryption logic for encrypting data to be output as said first electromagnetic signal via the first signal transmitter.

20. The self-powered switching system according to claim 19, wherein the data encrypted by the encryption logic includes the one or more codes.

21. An energy self-sufficient apparatus, comprising:

an electromechanical transducer;

a voltage regulating circuit;

an input of said voltage regulating circuit being electrically connected to said electromechanical transducer;

a radio frequency transmission stage electrically connected to said voltage regulating circuit;

a radio frequency transmitter comprising a first logic circuit configuration connected to said radio frequency transmission stage, wherein said radio frequency transmitter is configured to repeatedly transmit a radiofrequency telegram responsive to sufficient electrical energy being in an electrical energy store and until there is insufficient electrical energy in the electrical energy store; and

a first clock generator;

an input side of said first clock generator being connected to an output side of said voltage regulating circuit;

an output side of said first clock generator being connected to said first logic circuit configuration;

wherein said first clock generator and said first logic circuit configuration comprise at least one microprocessor;

and wherein each of said at least one microprocessor is adapted to read out at least one identification code to be output as said radiofrequency telegram via the radio frequency transmitter;

a receiver adapted to receive the radiofrequency telegram transmitted by said radio frequency transmission stage;

said receiver being adapted to initiate an action in response to said radio frequency telegram transmitted by said radio frequency transmission stage; and

a switch having an on position and an off position;

said switch being in communication with said receiver;

said switch being adapted to change between said on position and said off position in response to said receiver.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, comprising:

a second signal transmitter comprising a second at least one microprocessor connected to a transmission antenna;

each of said second signal transmitter comprising a second radio frequency transmission stage and a second clock generator;

and wherein each of said second at least one microprocessor is adapted to read out at least one identification code.

23. The energy self-sufficient apparatus according to claim 21, wherein each of said at least one microprocessor is adapted to encrypt data to be output as the radiofrequency telegram.

24. The energy self-sufficient apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the data encrypted by the microprocessor includes the at least identification code.

25. An energy self-sufficient apparatus, comprising:

an electromechanical transducer to generate electrical energy;

a voltage regulating circuit;

an electrical energy store configured to receive the electrical energy;

an input of said voltage regulating circuit electrically connected to said electromechanical transducer;

a first radio frequency transmission stage electrically connected to said voltage regulating circuit;

a radiofrequency transmitter comprising a first logic circuit configuration connected to said first radio frequency transmission stage and configured to repeatedly transmit a radiofrequency telegram signal responsive to sufficient electrical energy being in the electrical energy store and until there is insufficient electrical energy in the electrical energy store; and

a first clock generator;

an input side of said first clock generator connected to an output side of said voltage regulating circuit;

an output side of said first clock generator connected to said logic circuit configuration;

wherein said first clock generator and said first logic circuit configuration comprise at least one microprocessor;

a receiver adapted to receiving the radiofrequency telegram signal transmitted by said first radio frequency transmission stage;

said receiver adapted to initiate an action in response to said radiofrequency telegram transmitted by said first radio frequency transmission stage; and

a switch having an on position and an off position;

said switch in communication with said receiver; and

said switch adapted to change between said on position and said off position in response to said receiver.

26. The energy self-sufficient apparatus according to claim 25, wherein each of said at least one microprocessor is adapted to use a key to encrypt data to be transmitted in said radiofrequency telegram by the radiofrequency transmitter, wherein each key is different.

27. The energy self-sufficient apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the data encrypted by the at least one microprocessor includes an identification code least identification code associated with the switch.