Multi-Band RF Energy Harvesting for Reliable IoT Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional IoT device power harvesting systems rely on a single energy source, failing to harvest energy when signals are not received at the tuned frequency, limiting their applicability and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A multi-band energy harvesting system with multiple antennas and harvesting units operating across different frequency bands, allowing energy harvesting from various wireless standards such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy, and cellular signals, and incorporating a power management unit for efficient energy storage and utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single-frequency harvester and antenna are used, then the device can operate at high-quality factor resonance, but it fails to harvest energy when signals are not received at the tuned frequency
Solution Approach 1:
The harvester system is divided into multiple independent frequency-tuned harvesters, each with its own antenna and circuitry. Each harvester segment is optimized for a specific frequency band, allowing the system to segment the broad frequency spectrum into manageable, specialized components that can operate at high Q-factor resonance for their respective bands.
Solution Approach 2:
The harvester system is designed to perform multiple functions by incorporating harvesters tuned to different frequency bands. The system can universally harvest energy from various wireless standards including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy, and cellular signals, making it adaptable to different operating environments and signal sources.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple harvesters tuned to different frequencies are used, then energy can be harvested from various wireless standards, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple harvesters with different frequency tunings are merged into a single integrated system that shares common infrastructure such as the power management unit, energy storage capacitor, and control logic. This merging approach allows the system to achieve broad frequency coverage while reducing overall complexity by eliminating redundant components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a universal power management unit that can manage energy from multiple harvester sources simultaneously. This multi-functional PMU handles voltage regulation, energy storage management, and power distribution for all frequency bands, simplifying the control architecture despite the increased number of harvesters.
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
Enables continuous energy harvesting from multiple sources, ensuring IoT devices can operate reliably without batteries by optimizing energy collection across various frequency bands and reducing maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
The harvester 110 receives RF signals transmitted by external resources. The energy of the received RF signals charges a capacitor 112, where the conversion of energy to current is performed by means of a voltage multiplier 114.
Implementation Method 2
A voltage multiplier is an electrical circuit that converts AC electrical power to a DC voltage and cascades its DC outputs to multiply the output voltage level, typically using a network of capacitors and diodes or switches.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-band energy harvesting system is provided. The system includes a plurality of harvesting antennas, wherein each of the plurality of harvesting antennas, operates a specific frequency band; and a plurality of harvesting units, wherein each of the plurality of harvesting units is coupled to a respective harvesting antenna and adapted to harvest energy at the specific frequency band of the respective harvesting antenna.