Self-powering wireless device and method
AssigneeCase Western Reserve University
InventorsRan Wei, Philip Feng
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In an example, an energy harvesting system includes a support apparatus and a piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric element may be configured as a plate supported at its periphery by the support apparatus to enable a central portion of the piezoelectric element to move along an axis that is orthogonal to a contact surface of the plate. A body having a mass is configured to move in a direction that is substantially parallel to the axis of the plate and apply force to deform the contact surface of the plate, such that electrical energy is generated by the piezoelectric element based on the applied force.
Claims20
An energy harvesting system, comprising:
- a support apparatus;
- a piezoelectric element configured as a plate supported at its periphery by the support apparatus to enable a central portion of the piezoelectric element to move along an axis that is orthogonal to a contact surface of the plate;
- and
- a body having a mass configured to move in a direction that is substantially parallel to the axis of the plate and apply force to deform the contact surface of the plate, such that electrical energy is generated by the piezoelectric element based on the applied force.
A self-powering wireless device, comprising:
- an energy harvester module configured to convert ambient energy into an electrical signal;
- a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly transmit data within a wireless network;
- a power circuit comprising:
- a power converter circuit configured to convert the electrical signal to a supply voltage at an output thereof;
- an energy storage device coupled to the output of the power converter circuit to store electrical energy in response to the supply voltage;
- and
- a battery monitor configured to monitor the supply voltage, the battery monitor configured disable shutdown of a power management circuit during a start-up phase of the self-powering wireless device so as to provide sufficient time to allow the wireless communications unit to receive electrical power join a wireless network during the start-up phase.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.