Communication Bus Power Harvesting for Portable Devices

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Portable electronic devices face challenges in integrating new electrical components without exceeding their tight energy budget, as adding more components typically requires additional energy, which is not always feasible.

Innovation Solution

Powering electrical components from a communication bus, such as I2C or USB, using power harvesting circuits that draw energy during normal communication without disrupting the bus's performance, allowing components to operate without consuming power from the primary power source.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If new electrical components are added to a portable system, then system functionality is improved, but energy consumption increases and power budget is exceeded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem functionalityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The communication bus serves dual purposes: it performs its primary communication function while simultaneously powering the electrical component. The bus provides energy to the component autonomously during normal operation without requiring separate power allocation, effectively making the system self-sufficient in power distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The communication bus is designed to perform multiple functions: data communication and power delivery. By making the bus universal, it can serve both signaling and energizing purposes, eliminating the need for dedicated power lines and enabling additional components without increasing overall power budget requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Use of energy by moving object

If components are powered from the communication bus, then power budget is maintained, but communication performance may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower budgetVSAvoidcommunication performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system draws only the necessary amount of power from the communication bus during specific periods when communication demands are low. By taking partial action (drawing power only when needed and within available margins), the system maintains communication reliability while still benefiting from the additional component being powered.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

Power is drawn from the communication bus in periodic cycles rather than continuously. The system monitors communication bus activity and draws power during idle or low-activity periods, then pauses during high-activity periods, creating a periodic pattern that maintains communication performance while enabling power harvesting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS10164432B2Systems, methods, and apparatus for powering devices using energy from a communication bus

Publication Date: 2018.12.25 EVERACTIVE INC

AI summary

In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a power source, a communication bus, a first electrical component connected to the power source and the communication bus, and a second electrical component connected to the communication bus. In such embodiments, the second electrical component can be to be powered by the communication bus such that performance of the communication bus does not fall below a specified performance for the communication bus.