Energy harvesting system
AssigneeCarrier Corporation
InventorCyril Menard
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An energy harvesting system is provided. The energy harvesting system includes a transport refrigeration unit (TRU), a remote wireless element operably disposed to respond to a characteristic of the TRU and an energy harvesting circuit. The remote wireless element includes a battery and a response element powered by the battery. The energy harvesting circuit is coupled to the battery and configured to generate electricity from TRU movements. The electricity generated from the TRU movements is provided to at least one of the remote wireless element to power operations of the remote wireless element and the battery to charge the battery.
Claims20
An energy harvesting system, comprising:
- a transport refrigeration unit (TRU);
- a remote wireless element operably disposed to respond to a characteristic of the TRU, the remote wireless element comprising a battery and a response element powered by the battery;
- and
- an energy harvesting circuit coupled to the battery and configured to generate electricity from TRU movements,
- the electricity generated from the TRU movements being provided to at least one of:
- the remote wireless element to power operations of the remote wireless element, and
- the battery to charge the battery.
A cargo transporter, comprising:
- a power generation unit;
- a trailer;
- a transport refrigeration unit (TRU), which draws power from the power generation unit to condition an interior of the trailer;
- a remote wireless element operably disposed to respond to a characteristic of the TRU, the remote wireless element comprising a battery and a response element powered by the battery;
- and
- an energy harvesting circuit coupled to the battery and configured to generate electricity from TRU movements,
- the electricity generated from the TRU movements being provided to at least one of:
- the remote wireless element to power operations of the remote wireless element, and
- the battery to charge the battery.
A method of operating an energy harvesting system, the method comprising:
- responding to a characteristic of a transport refrigeration unit (TRU) at a remote wireless element comprising a battery and a response element powered by the battery;
- determining a remaining charge of the battery;
- and
- in an event the remaining charge of the battery is less than a predefined level, activating an energy harvesting circuit coupled to the battery to generate electricity from TRU movements,
- the electricity generated from the TRU movements being provided to at least one of:
- the remote wireless element to power operations of the remote wireless element, and
- the battery to charge the battery.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.