Input regulated DC to DC converter for power scavenging
AssigneeFisher Controls International LLC
InventorsStephen G. Seberger, Adam J. Wittkop
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of scavenging power in a circuit having a power source generating electric current includes connecting a power scavenging device having an input terminal pair and an output terminal pair to the circuit via the input terminal pair, dynamically regulating a voltage drop across the input terminal pair of the power scavenging device, harvesting electrical energy available at the regulated voltage drop from the electric current flowing through the first input terminal pair of the power scavenging device, and providing the harvested electrical energy at the output terminal pair of the power scavenging device.
Claims36
A method of scavenging power in a circuit including a power source generating electric current, the method comprising:
- connecting a power scavenging device having an input terminal pair and an output terminal pair to the circuit via the input terminal pair;
- dynamically regulating a voltage drop across the input terminal pair of the power scavenging device;
- harvesting electrical energy available at the regulated voltage drop from the electric current flowing through the first input terminal pair of the power scavenging device;
- and
- providing the harvested electrical energy at the output terminal pair of the power scavenging device.
The method of clam 15, further including:
- providing at least a third winding to the isolation transformer, wherein the second and the third windings provide separate outputs of the power scavenging device.
A scavenging circuit for harvesting excess power from a source circuit, comprising:
- a pair of input terminals to connect the scavenging circuit to a source circuit;
- voltage regulating circuit to generate a voltage regulation signal based on a voltage drop across the pair of input terminals;
- an accumulation element for temporary accumulation of electric energy harvested from the electric circuit;
- a boost DC to DC controller that controls the accumulation element based on the signal from the voltage regulating circuit;
- and
- a pair of output terminals to output electrical power accumulated by the accumulation element;
- wherein the scavenging circuit maintains a controlled voltage across the pair of input terminals.
A circuit for communicating information in a process control environment, comprising:
- a first device that generates a DC current signal and propagates the signal through the circuit;
- a second device that receives the signal;
- a power scavenging device connected in series with the first device and with the second device that harvests excess electrical power at a regulated voltage drop across the scavenger device, the power scavenging device including:
- a pair of input terminals connected to the circuit;
- and
- a pair of output terminals for connecting to a consumer circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.