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US 11,152,812 B2Granted
Powering devices using low-current power sources
AssigneeDatamax-O'Neil Corporation
InventorH. Sprague Ackley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Devices, systems, and methods may use a low current power source to charge an intermediate storage unit, providing sufficient electric power to perform various device functions. A voltage of the intermediate storage unit may be monitored using a voltage monitoring circuit, and a primary storage unit may be charged using current from the intermediate storage unit when the voltage of the intermediate storage unit meets a threshold.
Claims20
A method of providing electric power to a component in a device, the method comprising:
- monitoring at least one device of a plurality of devices on a network, wherein the at least one device comprises an intermediate storage unit;
- assigning a task to the at least one device based on a parameter associated with at least one of the intermediate storage unit and the at least one device;
- charging the intermediate storage unit in the at least one device with electric current from one or more low current power sources connected to the at least one device, based on the assigned task;
- and
- charging a primary storage unit using the electric current from the intermediate storage unit when the processor ascertains that a voltage of the intermediate storage unit meets or exceeds a threshold, wherein the intermediate storage unit discharges varying quantities of the electric current at varying time intervals to the primary storage unit based on the assigned task, and wherein the primary storage unit provides the electric current to the component to cause the at least one device to perform the task.
2 more elements
A system comprising:
- a server communicating with at least one device of a plurality of devices via a network, wherein the server is configured to:
- monitor the at least one device comprising an intermediate storage unit;
- and
- assign a task to the at least one device based on a parameter associated with at least one of the intermediate storage unit and the at least one device;
- and
- the at least one device comprising:
- the intermediate storage unit configured to receive electric current from one or more low current power sources, the electric current from the one or more low current power sources at least partially charging the intermediate storage unit based on the assigned task;
- and
- a primary storage unit configured to receive electric current from the intermediate storage unit when ascertains that a voltage of the intermediate storage unit meets or exceeds a threshold, wherein the intermediate storage unit is configured to discharge varying quantities of the electric current at varying time intervals to the primary storage unit based on the assigned task, and wherein the electric current from the intermediate storage unit at least partially charges the primary storage unit to provide electric current to a component of the at least one device to cause the at least one device to perform the task.
6 more elements
A method of providing power to a component in a device, the method comprising:
- monitoring at least one device of a plurality of devices on a network, wherein the at least one device comprises an intermediate storage unit;
- assigning a task to the at least one device based on a parameter associated with at least one of the intermediate storage unit and the at least one device;
- charging the intermediate storage unit in the at least one device with the electric current from one or more low current power sources connected to the at least one device, based on the assigned task;
- and
- charging a primary storage unit using the electric current from the intermediate storage unit when the processor ascertains that a voltage of the intermediate storage unit meets or exceeds a charge consumed by a typical instance of use of a component in the at least one device, wherein the intermediate storage unit discharges varying quantities of the electric current at varying time intervals to the primary storage unit based on the assigned task, and wherein the primary storage unit provides the electric current to the component to cause the device to perform the task.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.