Energy harvesting-based power supply switching device and method

An energy harvesting-based power supply switching method comprising:

• by a power supply switching device, collecting ambient energy with an energy harvester and converting the collected energy into electric energy;
• by the power supply switching device, storing the converted electric energy in an electric energy storage;
• and
• by the power supply switching device, converting the electric energy stored in the electric energy storage into necessary electric power required by loads by using a plurality of power converters, and then supplying the power,
• wherein supplying the power includes:
• by the power supply switching device, monitoring a voltage of power supplied from the plurality of power converter to the loads with a plurality of voltage supervisor;
• and
• by the power supply switching device, switching supply of the power from the plurality of power converters to the loads with a power switch and a ground switch in a plurality of power supply switching units, wherein the power supply switching device checks the required power of the loads and then performs power switching with one of the power switch and the ground switch according to the required power of the loads based on an amount of power stored in the electric energy storage and monitoring information received from the plurality of voltage supervisors,
• wherein supplying the power further comprises:
• supplying power from a first power converter of the plurality of power converters to a first load of the loads whose required power is higher than a predetermined value by switching a first power switch of the power supply switching unit;
• supplying power from a second power converter of the plurality of power converters in common to a plurality of second loads of the loads whose required power is lower than the predetermined value by switching a second power switch located on a line before the line branches to the plurality of second loads;
• and
• performing power switching for the plurality of second loads by switching a ground connection via a ground switch connected in parallel to the plurality of second loads.

An energy harvesting-based system comprising:

• a power supply switching device configured to collect ambient energy, convert the ambient energy into electric energy, store the converted energy, and switch supply of stored power;
• and
• an IoT sensor including loads configured to operate by receiving power from the power supply switching device,
• wherein the power supply switching device comprises:
• an energy harvester configured to collect the ambient energy and convert the collected energy into the electric energy;
• an electric energy storage configured to store the converted electric energy;
• a plurality of power converters configured to convert the electric power stored in the electric energy storage into necessary electric power required by each of the loads and supply the converted energy;
• a plurality of voltage supervisors configured to monitor a voltage of power supplied from the plurality of power converters to the loads;
• a power supply switching unit comprising a power switch and a ground switch configured to switch supply of power from the plurality of power converters to the loads;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• identify the necessary power of the loads, then switch the supply of power to the loads by using the power supply switching unit based on an amount of power stored in the electric energy storage and monitoring information received from the plurality of voltage supervisors, and
• perform power switching with one of the power switch and the ground switch according to the necessary power of the loads,
• wherein the plurality of power converters comprise:
• a first power converter connected to a first load of the loads whose required power is higher than a predetermined value via a first power switch of the power supply switching unit;
• and
• a second power converter connected in common to a plurality of second loads of the loads whose required power is lower than the predetermined value via a second power switch that is located on a line before the line branches to the plurality of second loads,
• wherein the power supply switching unit further includes a ground switch connected in parallel to the plurality of second loads and configured to perform power switching for the plurality of second loads by switching a ground connection.