Wireless Parasitic Power Transfer for Remote Sensor Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless devices, especially remote RF receivers, face challenges with battery replacement due to finite battery life, difficulty in accessing hard-to-reach locations, and unpredictable failures, which can lead to reduced functionality and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A wireless power transfer system using electromagnetic parasitic transfer to provide power to remote units equipped with sensors, energy storage, and transmitters, eliminating the need for physical connections like brushes or slip rings, allowing continuous operation and data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If batteries are used to power wireless devices, then the devices can operate independently, but the batteries have finite life and require replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical battery system with an electromagnetic energy transfer system. A master unit transmits electromagnetic energy to remote units wirelessly, eliminating the need for physical batteries and their associated replacement maintenance. This substitution resolves the contradiction by providing continuous operation without finite battery life constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an electromagnetic field as an intermediary energy transfer medium between the master unit and remote units. This intermediary enables continuous power delivery without direct physical connection or finite storage, allowing devices to operate continuously without battery replacement while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If batteries are replaced preventively in hard-to-access locations, then device reliability is maintained, but the cost and difficulty of maintenance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the mechanical battery replacement process entirely by using wireless electromagnetic energy transfer. Remote units receive continuous power from a master unit without requiring physical access for battery replacement, resolving the contradiction between maintaining reliability and the difficulty of maintenance in hard-to-access locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The remote units autonomously receive power wirelessly without requiring human intervention for battery replacement. The system self-maintains operation through continuous wireless energy transfer, eliminating the need for preventive maintenance trips to hard-to-access locations while ensuring device reliability.
3Duration of action of moving object
If transmission power is lowered to preserve battery life, then battery duration is extended, but the utility of the remote wireless device is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the battery power system with wireless electromagnetic energy transfer, eliminating the need to trade off transmission power for battery life extension. Remote units can maintain full transmission power and functionality continuously since they receive unlimited energy wirelessly, resolving the contradiction between duration and adaptability.
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 operation of remote devices by storing energy received via RF coupling, allowing for data acquisition, processing, and transmission without the constraints of battery life, while reducing maintenance costs and improving device utility.
Implementation Method 1
an electrical energy storage unit connected to the antenna, wherein the energy storage unit receives energy via electromagnetic coupling of the antenna with the RF field
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless system including an antenna, an electrical energy storage unit connected to the antenna, the energy storage unit receiving power via electromagnetic coupling of the antenna with an RF field generated by a master unit, and an electronics package. The electronics package is powered by the energy storage unit, and it includes a sensor, a processor that is capable of acquiring data from the sensor, and a transmitter connected to the processor and to the antenna, wherein the energy storage unit is capable of storing sufficient energy to supply power for the processor to format a message containing data acquired from the sensor and for the transmitter to transmit the message wirelessly via the antenna.