# US 2019/0356173 A1 · Energy harvesting systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0356173 A1 - Document ID: US20190356173A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/415,370 - Filed: 2019-05-17 - Published: 2019-11-21 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-18 - Applicants: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC - Inventors: Ian J. FORSTER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190356173A1 ## CPC - H02J 50/20: using microwaves or radio frequency waves - G08B 13/2451: {Specific applications combined with EAS} - H02J 50/80: involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices - H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A system and method for harvesting radio frequency energy for powering devices includes one or more antennas tuned to receive radio frequency signals from different sources and an energy harvester configured to derive energy from the radio frequency signals and provide power to a power consuming device. A power integrator can store the energy until it is needed by the power consuming device. The energy harvester can extract data from one or more of the radio frequency signals and transmit the data to the power consuming device. The power consuming device can change an operational mode based on the amount of power received or the data received from the energy harvester. The power consuming device can transmit data to one of the sources to increase radio frequency signal transmissions to increase the amount of energy harvested by the energy harvester and delivered to the power consuming device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An energy harvesting system, comprising: an antenna configured to receive a radio frequency signal; and an energy harvester configured to receive the radio frequency signal from the antenna and provide power, derived from energy in the radio frequency signal, to a power consuming device configured to perform one or more operations unassociated with the radio frequency signal ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The energy harvesting system of claim 1, further comprising: a power integrator configured to store the energy. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The energy harvesting system of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of antennas each tuned to a distinct frequency and each configured to receive a radio frequency signal substantially around the distinct frequency, wherein the energy harvester is further configured to derive energy from each of the radio frequency signals of each of the plurality of antennas. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The energy harvesting system of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of antennas is configured to receive a radio frequency signal from a source selected from the group consisting of a radio frequency identification system, an electronic article surveillance system, a Bluetooth system, a WiFi network, a cellular network, and a continuous wave signal generator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The energy harvesting system of claim 4, further comprising: a power consuming device configured to send data to the source to modify signal transmission from the source. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The energy harvesting system of claim 5, wherein the source is a battery-powered continuous wave signal generator, and wherein the power consuming device is configured to send data to cycle the power of the battery-powered continuous wave signal generator when the power consuming device requires additional power. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The energy harvesting system of claim 5, wherein the source is a phased array radio frequency identification system, and wherein the power consuming device is configured to send data to instruct the phased array radio frequency identification system to direct more energy towards the energy harvesting system. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The energy harvesting system of claim 1, further comprising: a power consuming device configured to change an operational mode based at least in part on an amount of power received from the energy harvester. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The energy harvesting system of claim 8, wherein the power consuming device is a digital display configured to change a displayed screen based at least in part on the amount of power received from the energy harvester. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The energy harvesting system of claim 8, wherein the power consuming device is a Bluetooth low energy beacon configured to change one or more of the beacon power transmitting level or the beacon repetition rate based at least in part on the amount of power received from the energy harvester. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The energy harvesting system of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency signal includes data encoded in a carrier signal, and wherein the energy harvester is further configured to extract the data from the carrier signal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The energy harvesting system of claim 11, further comprising: a power consuming device configured to receive the data from the energy harvester and change an operational mode based at least in part on the data. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The energy harvesting system of claim 12, wherein the power consuming device is a Bluetooth low energy beacon configured to change the beacon message based at least in part on the data. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The energy harvesting system of claim 12, wherein the power consuming device is a digital display configured to change a displayed screen based at least in part on the data. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The energy harvesting system of claim 14, wherein the displayed screen is configured to direct consumers towards a second energy harvesting system based on a power level of the second energy harvesting system. ### Claim 16 An energy harvester, comprising: a plurality of antennas each tuned to a distinct frequency and each configured to receive a radio frequency signal substantially around the distinct frequency; and an energy harvester configured to receive one or more radio frequency signals from the plurality of antennas, extract energy from each of the one or more radio frequency signals, and provide power, from the extracted energy, to a power consuming device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The energy harvester of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of antennas is configured to receive a radio frequency signal from a source selected from the group consisting of a radio frequency identification system, an electronic article surveillance system, a Bluetooth system, a WiFi network, a cellular network, and a continuous wave signal generator. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The energy harvester of claim 16, wherein the energy harvester is further configured to: extract data encoded in one or more of the radio frequency signals, and transmit the data to the power consuming device. ### Claim 19 A method, comprising: receiving, via one or more antennas each tuned to a distinct frequency, one or more radio frequency signals; extracting, by an energy harvester, energy from the one or more radio frequency signals; and providing, by the energy harvester, power derived from the extracted energy to a power consuming device configured to perform one or more operations unassociated with the radio frequency signal. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising: changing, by the power consuming device, an operational mode based at least in part on the power received from the energy harvester.