WO2006049606A1 - Syntonisation automatique active pour circuit de recharge - Google Patents

Syntonisation automatique active pour circuit de recharge Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2006049606A1
WO2006049606A1 PCT/US2004/035981 US2004035981W WO2006049606A1 WO 2006049606 A1 WO2006049606 A1 WO 2006049606A1 US 2004035981 W US2004035981 W US 2004035981W WO 2006049606 A1 WO2006049606 A1 WO 2006049606A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
energy
circuitry
circuit
antenna
remote station
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2004/035981
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Marlin H. Mickle
Christopher C. Capelli
Harold Swift
Original Assignee
University Of Pittsburgh Of The Commonwealth System Of Higher Education
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by University Of Pittsburgh Of The Commonwealth System Of Higher Education filed Critical University Of Pittsburgh Of The Commonwealth System Of Higher Education
Priority to PCT/US2004/035981 priority Critical patent/WO2006049606A1/fr
Publication of WO2006049606A1 publication Critical patent/WO2006049606A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04B—TRANSMISSION
    • H04B1/00—Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission
    • H04B1/06—Receivers
    • H04B1/16—Circuits
    • H04B1/1607—Supply circuits
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
    • H02J7/34—Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering
    • H02J7/345—Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering using capacitors as storage or buffering devices

Definitions

  • radio receivers provide users with a convenience feature for automatically searching for broadcast frequencies in a band of interest and selecting only those broadcast signals received with sufficient quality to be considered “Iistenable” for sustained audio output.
  • This feature known as search tuning in a "seek”, or “scan” (with a truncated period of sustained audio output) operating mode is typically engaged by pressing a button, which then causes the tuner to automatically advance to the next frequency on which a station may broadcast, and evaluate whether a "Iistenable" broadcast is being received. If so, the tuner remains on that frequency. Otherwise, the tuner advances to the next available frequency.
  • U.S. Patent 5613230 discloses an AM radio receiver which includes search tuning such as seek or scan tuning features whose stop thresholds for locking onto a received frequency are adapted to environmental conditions.
  • search tuning such as seek or scan tuning features whose stop thresholds for locking onto a received frequency are adapted to environmental conditions.
  • wideband signal strength preferably derived from the automatic gain control of the radio frequency amplifier, provides a representative signal to the microprocessor for adapting the thresholds used during search tuning. The thresholds are increased when significant energy is present in the AM band and proportioned to the level of that energy.
  • the decision logic of the microprocessor adapts thresholds according to the tuned signal strength, to wideband signal strength, to nighttime operation during which ionosphere conditions increase transmissibility of distant radio signals, and to intermediate frequency (IF) count validity to reduce the probability of stopping on audibly noisy frequencies when the RF signal environment is noisy.
  • IF intermediate frequency
  • Radio Frequency (RF) energy is extremely important for Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), security monitoring and remote sensing as well as other uses.
  • RFID Radio Frequency Identification
  • Some harvesting devices may be tuned to a specific frequency (RFID), while others take advantage of the ambient energy (remote sensing) and others simply sense frequencies for security purposes.
  • U.S. Patent 6127799 describes a charge storage device that is charged by exposing the charge storage device to an RF electromagnetic field radiated into free space.
  • the charge storage device includes one or more antennas disposed on the device and adapted to receive the radiated RF electromagnetic field.
  • One or more rectifiers are connected to the antennas for rectifying the received RF electromagnetic field into a DC output current. The DC output current produced by the rectifier is used to energize the charge storage device.
  • the antennas may be one or more dipole antennas which are combined to form at least two subsets of dipole antenna element arrays, wherein one subset may be oriented at an acute or a right angle with respect to at least one other subset.
  • the antennas or dipole antennas may be placed on more than one outside surface of the charge storage device which enclose an acute or a right angle with respect to each other.
  • the antennas in the energy harvesting circuit of U.S. Patent 6127799 are designed for a specific frequency.
  • a major problem with the prior art is that the energy harvesting circuits cannot efficiently harvest RF energy at frequencies outside the design specific frequency of the antenna.
  • energy harvesting circuits that can harvest RF energy from a broad RF spectrum by having the ability to be tuned to broadcast frequencies (or other ambient frequencies) in a band of interest and select the broadcast signal that maximizes the RF energy.
  • small remote power charger device that has a means for receipt of transmitted energy from the environment and energizing power storage devices on an object of interest wherein the power charger device automatically searches for broadcast frequencies in a band of interest and selects the broadcast signal that maximizes the RF energy.
  • the present invention has met the above-described needs.
  • an energy harvesting circuit has an active automatic tuning circuit to automatically search for broadcast frequencies in a band-of interest and selecting only those broadcast signals received with sufficient RF strength to be used in energy harvesting.
  • This energy harvesting circuit would provide mobile power storage devices with a means to select the ambient RF that can provide the maximum amount of energy for harvesting.
  • This automatic tuning would enable a device with power storage devices to move from location to location without manual tuning of the circuit.
  • the circuit may be formed as a stand-alone unit and, in another embodiment, may be formed on an integrated circuit.
  • the circuit may include a single broadband antenna that can be tuned using the active automatic tuning circuit selecting the ambient RF that can provide the maximum amount of energy for harvesting.
  • the circuit may include a multiple antenna wherein each antenna is designed for a selected RF spectrum. The active automatic tuning circuit of the energy harvesting circuit would select and tune said antenna or antennas so as to receive select ambient RF that can provide the maximum amount of energy for harvesting.
  • the circuit may be formed as a stand-alone unit and, in another embodiment, may be formed on an integrated circuit chip.
  • the antenna(s) may take the form of a conductive coil, patch or other type on a planar substrate or may be a stand-alone component.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of one embodiment of energy harvesting circuit of the present invention that includes a tuning/control system for energy harvesting.
  • Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of energy harvesting circuit showing a series connection of the circuit to obtain increased voltage.
  • Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of timing intervals for two different energy accumulation rates.
  • Figure 4 is a graph illustrating the parameters of feedback signals for maximizing energy harvesting.
  • an energy harvesting circuit has an active automatic tuning circuit to automatically search for broadcast frequencies in a band of interest and selecting only those broadcast signals received with sufficient RF strength to be used in energy harvesting.
  • This energy harvesting circuit would provide a mobile battery charger with a means to select the ambient RF signal or combination of signals that can provide the maximum amount of energy for harvesting.
  • This automatic tuning would enable a device with a battery charger circuit to move from location to location without manual tuning of or intervention in the circuit.
  • the circuit may be formed as a stand-alone unit and, in another embodiment, may be formed on an integrated circuit.
  • the circuit may include a single broadband antenna that can be tuned using the active automatic tuning circuit selecting the ambient RF that can provide the maximum amount of energy for harvesting.
  • the circuit may include multiple antennas wherein each antenna is designed for a selected RF spectrum.
  • the active automatic tuning circuit of the energy harvesting circuit would select and tune said antenna or antennas and/or tune the associated circuitry so as to receive select ambient RF that can provide the maximum amount of energy for harvesting.
  • the circuit may be formed as a stand-alone unit and, in another embodiment, may be formed on an integrated circuit chip.
  • the antenna(s) may take the form of a conductive coil, patch, or on a planar substrate, or may be a stand-alone component.
  • Radio Frequency (RF) energy is, for example, important for Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), security monitoring and remote sensing.
  • RFID Radio Frequency Identification
  • Some harvesting devices may be tuned to a specific frequency (RFID), while others may take advantage of the ambient energy (remote sensing) and others simply sense frequencies for security purposes.
  • the initial area addressed herein is the class of devices that harvest available ambient RF energy. Such devices typically have a broadband antenna covering a part of the total RF band of interest. The most favorable energy sources will vary from location to location such as local AM, FM, TV, WiFi, and from time to time, e.g., FCC regulations before and after sundown.
  • a tuning mechanism as a part of the harvesting antenna and/or tuner combination to adapt to the most favorable portion of the RF band of interest. While classical communications receivers select single narrow frequency bands to discriminate from other noise or adjacent bands for the sake of clarity, the situation with energy harvesting is somewhat different. The sole function of tuning is to achieve more energy no matter how the incident RF frequencies may be combined, or overlapped.
  • the class of devices being considered includes devices that use batteries or other power storage means such as cell phone, watches, PDAs, for example. Additionally, the class of devices being considered includes remote and unattended devices which may include an automatic mechanism for tuning and adjusting the harvesting antenna/tuner combination while requiring a minimum amount of energy for the tuner operation.
  • the usable amount of harvested energy is to be reduced by the amount required to operate the tuner thereby providing a very efficient device.
  • the embodiment disclosed herein may also be important in applications such as RFID wherein the spectrum is narrow. In such a narrow spectrum, even with a local RF source, the ambient (exogenous) conditions may alter this target frequency whereby the embodiment disclosed would prove to benefit the operation of the RFID device.
  • the basis of the automatic tuning system is the following:
  • a boost circuit will be used where desired as a DC to DC voltage amplifier.
  • the boost circuit may be (1) commercially available as a device, (2) licensed IP, e.g., Patent No. 6,462,962, (3) a generic circuit, or (4) a new circuit.
  • FIG. 1 One embodiment of a control system is given in Figure 1.
  • the system consists of a broadband antenna 2, a tuning (or matching) circuit 4, typically LC, with a variable capacitor 6 that can be realized in a number of different ways, a rectifier 10 which is likely a charge pump, a switch 16 that is activated by a specific voltage level that drains the intermediate storage capacitor, and a control circuit 20.
  • the control circuit 20 consists of an oscillator and counter where the counter has a buffer to store count i to be compared with count i + 1.
  • the following conditions can occur:
  • the system of Figure 1 maybe connected as multiple systems 30,32,34 as shown in Figure 2 in order to achieve a higher voltage.
  • the switch of Figure 1 is a member of a class of solid state switches available in a wide variety of voltages.
  • variable capacitor, C, of Figure 1 can be implemented in a variety of ways including (1) using transistors as capacitors, (2) using multiple external discrete capacitors with solid state switches, and (3) using capacitors fabricated on the same chip to be included or excluded in the circuit by using switching transistors.
  • the ambient energy will vary giving a rate of change of accumulated energy as shown in Figure 3.
  • Figure 3 is an illustration of two different periods of time, T 3 and T b , that are required to accumulate the same amount of energy, 1/2 (C* V 2 ).
  • T a is better (8 pulses) than case b, T b (11 pulses) because it takes less time to reach the value of energy, 1 /2 (C* V 2 ).
  • Figure 4 illustrates the situation where an ambient voltage source is held constant and the capacitor is switched to show the effect on the charging time to reach the voltage 1/2 (C* V 2 ).

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Charge And Discharge Circuits For Batteries Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un circuit de collecte d'énergie (6) comprenant un circuit de syntonisation automatique permettant de rechercher une fréquence de radiodiffusion dans une bande d'intérêt et de ne sélectionner que les signaux de radiodiffusion reçus avec une puissance RF suffisante en vue d'une utilisation pour la collecte d'énergie. Ce circuit permet d'obtenir des dispositif de stockage d'énergie comprenant un circuit doté d'une unité destinée à sélectionner le signal RF ambiant pouvant maximiser ou augmenter la performance d'un circuit RFID par augmentation de la quantité d'énergie à collecter. Cette syntonisation automatique permet à un circuit de charge de dispositifs de stockage d'énergie de se déplacer d'un emplacement à l'autre sans syntonisation manuelle du circuit, et d'augmenter la plage efficace d'un circuit RFID.
PCT/US2004/035981 2004-10-28 2004-10-28 Syntonisation automatique active pour circuit de recharge WO2006049606A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2004/035981 WO2006049606A1 (fr) 2004-10-28 2004-10-28 Syntonisation automatique active pour circuit de recharge

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2004/035981 WO2006049606A1 (fr) 2004-10-28 2004-10-28 Syntonisation automatique active pour circuit de recharge

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2006049606A1 true WO2006049606A1 (fr) 2006-05-11

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PCT/US2004/035981 WO2006049606A1 (fr) 2004-10-28 2004-10-28 Syntonisation automatique active pour circuit de recharge

Country Status (1)

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Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2010005324A1 (fr) * 2008-07-07 2010-01-14 Powerbyproxi Limited Récepteur de puissance sans contact et procédé de fonctionnement
US9318780B2 (en) 2010-11-16 2016-04-19 Powerbyproxi Limited Wirelessly rechargeable battery and power transmitter
US9888337B1 (en) 2015-07-25 2018-02-06 Gary M. Zalewski Wireless coded communication (WCC) devices with power harvesting power sources for WiFi communication
US9911290B1 (en) 2015-07-25 2018-03-06 Gary M. Zalewski Wireless coded communication (WCC) devices for tracking retail interactions with goods and association to user accounts
GB2561913A (en) * 2017-04-28 2018-10-31 Drayson Tech Europe Ltd Method and apparatus

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5296866A (en) * 1991-07-29 1994-03-22 The United States Of America As Represented By The Adminsitrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration Active antenna
US6369759B1 (en) * 1999-06-09 2002-04-09 California Institute Of Technology Rectenna for high-voltage applications
US6615074B2 (en) * 1998-12-22 2003-09-02 University Of Pittsburgh Of The Commonwealth System Of Higher Education Apparatus for energizing a remote station and related method
US6856291B2 (en) * 2002-08-15 2005-02-15 University Of Pittsburgh- Of The Commonwealth System Of Higher Education Energy harvesting circuits and associated methods

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5296866A (en) * 1991-07-29 1994-03-22 The United States Of America As Represented By The Adminsitrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration Active antenna
US6615074B2 (en) * 1998-12-22 2003-09-02 University Of Pittsburgh Of The Commonwealth System Of Higher Education Apparatus for energizing a remote station and related method
US6369759B1 (en) * 1999-06-09 2002-04-09 California Institute Of Technology Rectenna for high-voltage applications
US6856291B2 (en) * 2002-08-15 2005-02-15 University Of Pittsburgh- Of The Commonwealth System Of Higher Education Energy harvesting circuits and associated methods

Cited By (25)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2010005324A1 (fr) * 2008-07-07 2010-01-14 Powerbyproxi Limited Récepteur de puissance sans contact et procédé de fonctionnement
CN104022580A (zh) * 2008-07-07 2014-09-03 鲍尔拜普罗克西有限公司 非接触功率接收器及系统
US9124113B2 (en) 2008-07-07 2015-09-01 Powerbyproxi Limited Inductively coupled power receiver and method of operation
US9318780B2 (en) 2010-11-16 2016-04-19 Powerbyproxi Limited Wirelessly rechargeable battery and power transmitter
US10355730B1 (en) 2015-07-25 2019-07-16 Gary M. Zalewski Wireless coded communication (WCC) devices with power harvesting power sources for processing internet purchase transactions
US10582358B1 (en) 2015-07-25 2020-03-03 Gary M. Zalewski Wireless coded communication (WCC) devices with energy harvesting power functions for wireless communication
US9911290B1 (en) 2015-07-25 2018-03-06 Gary M. Zalewski Wireless coded communication (WCC) devices for tracking retail interactions with goods and association to user accounts
US10038992B1 (en) 2015-07-25 2018-07-31 Gary M. Zalewski Wireless coded communication (WCC) devices with power harvesting power sources used in switches
US11417179B1 (en) 2015-07-25 2022-08-16 Gary M. Zalewski Using image and voice tracking to contextually respond to a user in a shopping environment
US10140820B1 (en) 2015-07-25 2018-11-27 Gary M. Zalewski Devices for tracking retail interactions with goods and association to user accounts for cashier-less transactions
US10142822B1 (en) 2015-07-25 2018-11-27 Gary M. Zalewski Wireless coded communication (WCC) devices with power harvesting power sources triggered with incidental mechanical forces
US10187773B1 (en) 2015-07-25 2019-01-22 Gary M. Zalewski Wireless coded communication (WCC) devices with power harvesting power sources for monitoring state data of objects
US9888337B1 (en) 2015-07-25 2018-02-06 Gary M. Zalewski Wireless coded communication (WCC) devices with power harvesting power sources for WiFi communication
US10510219B1 (en) 2015-07-25 2019-12-17 Gary M. Zalewski Machine learning methods and systems for managing retail store processes involving cashier-less transactions
US10573134B1 (en) 2015-07-25 2020-02-25 Gary M. Zalewski Machine learning methods and system for tracking label coded items in a retail store for cashier-less transactions
US9894471B1 (en) 2015-07-25 2018-02-13 Gary M. Zalewski Wireless coded communication (WCC) devices with power harvesting power sources for processing biometric identified functions
US10681518B1 (en) 2015-07-25 2020-06-09 Gary M. Zalewski Batteryless energy harvesting state monitoring device
US10681519B1 (en) 2015-07-25 2020-06-09 Gary M. Zalewski Methods for tracking shopping activity in a retail store having cashierless checkout
US11315393B1 (en) 2015-07-25 2022-04-26 Gary M. Zalewski Scenario characterization using machine learning user tracking and profiling for a cashier-less retail store
US10834562B1 (en) 2015-07-25 2020-11-10 Gary M. Zalewski Lighting devices having wireless communication and built-in artificial intelligence bot
US10977907B1 (en) 2015-07-25 2021-04-13 Gary M. Zalewski Devices for tracking retail interactions with goods including contextual voice input processing and artificial intelligent responses
US11195388B1 (en) 2015-07-25 2021-12-07 Gary M. Zalewski Machine learning methods and systems for managing retail store processes involving the automatic gathering of items
US11288933B1 (en) 2015-07-25 2022-03-29 Gary M. Zalewski Devices for tracking retail interactions with goods and association to user accounts for cashier-less transactions
GB2561913B (en) * 2017-04-28 2020-09-30 Drayson Tech Europe Ltd Method and apparatus
GB2561913A (en) * 2017-04-28 2018-10-31 Drayson Tech Europe Ltd Method and apparatus

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