Reservoir Capacitor Circuit for Wireless Sensor Battery Life Extension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery life in wireless sensor devices is shortened due to high current drain incidents during data transmission, which can deplete the battery's energy quickly, leading to reduced operational lifespan.
Innovation Solution
A circuit design that includes a reservoir capacitor to store energy from the battery, allowing for controlled current drainage and transmission of data packets at specific intervals, ensuring that the capacitor is not completely depleted, thus maintaining current below the battery's maximum continuous threshold.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If high current is drained from the battery during data transmission, then transmission power is sufficient, but battery life is shortened
Solution Approach 1:
The reservoir capacitor is pre-charged from the battery at a safe rate before transmission occurs. This preliminary energy storage allows the transmitter to draw high current from the capacitor rather than directly from the battery, resolving the contradiction between needing high transmission power and preserving battery life.
Solution Approach 2:
The reservoir capacitor acts as an intermediary energy buffer between the battery and the transmitter. It absorbs energy from the battery at low current and releases it to the transmitter at high current, eliminating direct high current drain incidents from the battery while maintaining sufficient transmission power.
2Use of energy by moving object
If current is drained continuously from the battery, then energy is available for transmission, but maximum continuous current threshold is exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic charging of the reservoir capacitor from the battery at safe current rates, followed by periodic discharge to the transmitter. This periodic action pattern ensures the battery operates within its maximum continuous current threshold while still providing sufficient energy for transmissions.
Solution Approach 2:
Energy is preliminarily stored in the reservoir capacitor before transmission events occur. This advance preparation allows the battery to maintain safe operating current levels while ensuring energy is readily available when transmission is needed.
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
This approach extends battery life by managing current drain and energy storage, allowing for prolonged operation of wireless sensor devices without high current incidents, potentially up to 10 years, while maintaining data transmission integrity.
Implementation Method 1
A first circuit component is configured to drain current from the battery to the reservoir capacitor to store energy in the reservoir capacitor at a safe rate
Implementation Method 2
A third circuit component is configured to transmit the series of data packets with the stored energy of the reservoir capacitor
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a circuit including a sensor, a battery and a reservoir capacitance, the sensor being configured to generate sensor data and the capacitance being provided by one or more discrete capacitors. A first circuit component is configured to drain current from the battery to the reservoir capacitor to store energy in the reservoir capacitor at a safe rate. The safe rate does not adversely affect the battery's life. A second circuit component is configured to generate a series of data packets including sensor data at particular time intervals. A third circuit component is configured to transmit the series of data packets with the stored energy of the reservoir capacitor so that the transmitting does not drain the reservoir capacitor of all stored energy.