Beamforming to Harvesting Device via Proxy Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless energy harvesting from WiFi signals is inefficient due to the lack of feedback from devices without WiFi transmitting capabilities, limiting the effectiveness of beamforming techniques that require input from receiving devices to concentrate the signal.
Innovation Solution
An access point determines a preferred wireless path to a harvesting device using a proxy device, which provides input through short-distance communication, allowing beamforming of the WiFi signal without requiring the harvesting device to have a WiFi transmitting capability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If beamforming is used to concentrate WiFi signal to harvesting device, then energy harvesting efficiency is improved, but it requires feedback from receiving device which harvesting device cannot provide
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a proxy device as an intermediary between the access point and the harvesting device. The proxy device receives beamforming feedback instructions from the access point and provides feedback information on behalf of the harvesting device, enabling beamforming to function without requiring the harvesting device itself to have transmitting capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The harvesting device harvests energy from the WiFi signal without needing to actively participate in the beamforming feedback process. The system serves the harvesting device's needs (receiving energy) without requiring the device to perform actions (transmit feedback) that it cannot perform due to lack of transmitting capability.
2Device complexity
If harvesting device lacks WiFi transmitting capability, then device complexity is reduced, but beamforming cannot be implemented effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The proxy device acts as a mediator that bridges the gap between the access point's beamforming requirements and the harvesting device's simplicity. The proxy device handles the complex feedback communication, allowing the harvesting device to remain simple while still benefiting from beamforming.
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the feedback functionality from the harvesting device and places it in the proxy device. This segmentation allows the harvesting device to be simple (without transmitting capability) while the proxy device handles the complex communication tasks required for beamforming.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method increases the available energy harvested by the device by concentrating the WiFi signal in the desired direction, enhancing the signal strength and efficiency of energy collection.
Implementation Method 1
Available energy may be increased by concentrating the WiFi signal in the direction of the harvesting device through a beamforming technique. Beamforming (also referred to as spatial filtering) is a signal processing technique for directional signal transmission or reception, such that a signal may be directed/concentrated in a particular direction to increase the strength of the signal in that direction.
Implementation Method 2
Wireless energy harvesting technology can be used to harvest energy from a radio frequency signal, such as an IEEE 802.11 WiFi signal. This harvested energy can be stored in a battery and can be used to power a device.
Data Source
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AI summary
Described herein are techniques for beamforming a wireless signal to a harvesting device. In an example, a method to increase available energy to a harvesting device is performed by a WiFi transmitting device. The WiFi transmitting device determines a preferred wireless path to the harvesting device using input from a proxy device. The WiFi transmitting device then beamforms a WiFi signal to the harvesting device along the preferred wireless path.