Harvest Voltage Tracking for Continuous Maximum Power Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional energy harvesting circuits require disruption of energy harvesting operations to calibrate optimal harvest voltage for maximum power point tracking, leading to inefficiencies and power wastage.
Innovation Solution
An iterative method to adjust the harvest voltage based on estimated extracted power, incrementing or decrementing it to identify the optimal voltage without disconnecting the energy source, allowing continuous energy harvesting and efficient calibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional calibration methods are used to determine optimal harvest voltage, then maximum power point tracking accuracy is improved, but energy harvesting operations are interrupted and power is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous energy harvesting operations during the voltage calibration process by using a dual-mode system where the energy harvesting circuit remains active and connected to the load while the calibration circuit simultaneously performs measurements. This eliminates interruption of useful action as the system continuously harvests energy while determining optimal harvest voltage through iterative adjustments without disconnecting from the energy source or load.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a calibration circuit as an intermediary component that interfaces between the energy harvesting circuit and the load. This calibration circuit includes a variable voltage source and measurement instrumentation that can determine optimal harvest voltage without directly interfering with the primary energy harvesting operation. The intermediary allows simultaneous calibration and energy harvesting by providing a parallel measurement path.
2Productivity
If harvest voltage is adjusted frequently to track maximum power point, then energy extraction efficiency is improved, but system complexity and calibration overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback-based iterative calibration method where the system measures actual power extraction at different harvest voltage levels and uses this feedback to adjust the voltage toward the optimal point. The calibration circuit monitors energy extraction events and calculates estimated extracted power, then adjusts the variable voltage source accordingly through incrementing or decrementing operations until maximum power point is identified, creating a closed-loop control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by performing calibration through a series of discrete, incremental voltage adjustments rather than continuous sweeping. The system increments or decrements harvest voltage by fixed steps and evaluates power extraction at each step, using only the necessary number of adjustments to converge on the optimal point. This partial action approach reduces calibration overhead compared to exhaustive searching while still achieving accurate maximum power point tracking.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for energy harvesting are disclosed. An example method is performed by a computing device coupled to an energy harvesting circuit and includes identifying a first time period required for the energy harvesting circuit to complete a first number of energy extraction events, the first time associated with an initial harvest voltage, determining a first value of an estimated extracted power based on the initial harvest voltage and the first number of energy extraction events, and iteratively adjusting the harvest voltage and determining the optimal harvest voltage based at least in part on values of the estimated extracted power value corresponding to the adjusted harvest voltage.