Self-Powered IoT Sensor Energy Harvesting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
IoT sensor devices rely on batteries, which limit their lifetime and environmental sustainability, and require replacement, making them less efficient and more environmentally harmful.
Innovation Solution
A self-powered IoT sensor device that uses an energy converting unit to convert environmental parameters into energy, an energy harvesting unit to store and manage this energy, and a wireless network unit to communicate via LPWAN, sending messages only when a predetermined amount of energy is harvested, eliminating the need for batteries and optimizing low-power operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If a battery is used in the sensor device, then the device can operate continuously, but the lifetime is limited and environmental sustainability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the battery from the sensor device system entirely, extracting the harmful energy storage component that causes environmental harm and lifetime limitations, and replaces it with an energy harvesting system that continuously generates power from the environment
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor device becomes self-powered by harvesting energy from environmental sources such as light, heat, or mechanical energy, eliminating the need for external battery replacement and reducing environmental harm while enabling continuous operation
2Ease of operation
If a battery is installed in the sensor device, then the device can function independently, but the dimensions of the device are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The battery component is completely removed from the device, eliminating the volume it would occupy while maintaining independent operation through energy harvesting from the environment
Solution Approach 2:
The energy harvesting system serves multiple functions: it generates power for device operation, eliminates the need for battery replacement, and reduces overall device size by removing the battery compartment and associated infrastructure
3Productivity
If the sensor device sends messages continuously, then the communication is proactive, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous communication, the sensor device uses periodic action by sending messages only when a predetermined amount of energy has been harvested, creating an efficient rhythm of communication that balances productivity with energy conservation
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses energy harvesting as feedback to control communication timing - the accumulated energy level serves as a trigger mechanism that enables proactive communication only when sufficient energy is available, optimizing both communication efficiency and power consumption
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
The device achieves extended lifetime and improved environmental sustainability by harnessing energy from its environment, reducing waste and increasing operational efficiency through batteryless operation and adaptive energy management.
Implementation Method 1
If the first sensor is detecting a light intensity, then the energy harvesting unit will harvest energy by means of a photo detector
Implementation Method 2
an energy storage unit to store energy harvested by the energy harvesting unit
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A self-powered Internet-of-Things sensor device (100) is provided which comprises a wireless network unit (140) configured to enable a communication in a Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN), an energy converting unit (150) configured to convert a first parameter into energy, and an energy harvesting unit (110) configured to harvest energy from the energy converted by the energy converting unit (150), and to initiate a sending of a message via the wireless network unit (140) every time a predetermined amount of energy is harvested by the energy harvesting unit (110).