Self-Powered Sensor Using Alternating Electric Field Harvesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing smart sensors for measuring vital signs require external power sources and electrodes for contact-based measurements, which can be painful and inconvenient, and often rely on complex networks for communication, while lacking self-sufficiency and contactless sensing capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A self-powered, self-communicating sensor system utilizing an alternating electric field to generate a synthetic aura around the body, allowing electrodes to collect and rectify energy for powering circuits and sensing vital signs without external batteries or electrodes, using a combination of silicon and printed electronics for flexible implementation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If external power sources (batteries) are used to power smart sensors, then the sensors can perform measurement assignments, but the sensors require battery replacement or recharging and have limited duration of action
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor device harvests energy from the ambient electric field generated by the human body to power its own operation. The body itself serves as the power source through its natural electromagnetic fields, eliminating the need for external batteries and their associated maintenance issues.
Solution Approach 2:
An electric field harvesting circuit acts as an intermediary between the human body's electromagnetic field and the sensor's power requirements. This circuit captures energy from the body's electric field and converts it into usable electrical power for the sensor.
2Reliability
If wired networks are used for sensor communication, then collision-free functioning can be guaranteed, but the system loses wireless capability and requires physical connections
Solution Approach 1:
The human body serves multiple functions simultaneously: it is both the power source (through electric field harvesting) and the communication medium (through electric field modulation). This dual functionality eliminates the need for separate power and communication infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical/wired communication systems with electric field-based wireless communication. Data is transmitted by modulating the body's electric field, eliminating the need for physical connections while maintaining communication capability.
3Measurement precision
If special electrodes are used for contact-based vital sign measurement, then accurate measurement can be achieved, but the electrodes are sticky, painful to remove, and require chemical substances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces contact-based mechanical electrode measurement with contactless electric field sensing. Vital signs are detected by sensing modulations in the body's electric field, eliminating the need for physical electrode contact and associated discomfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric field serves as an intermediary between the sensor and the body's vital signs. Instead of direct contact through electrodes, the sensor detects physiological signals by measuring changes in the electric field that permeates the body.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensor elements (gyroscopes, accelerometers, microphones) are added to measure different vital signs, then measurement versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electric field sensing system serves multiple measurement functions through a single sensing mechanism. By analyzing different characteristics of the electric field modulations, the system can detect various vital signs including heart rate, respiration, movement, and other physiological parameters without requiring separate specialized sensors.
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, contactless monitoring of vital signs and movements with reduced complexity and discomfort, as the system is powered and communicates through environmental energy, eliminating the need for battery replacement and electrodes, and can be integrated into various applications from health monitoring to toys and medical devices.
Implementation Method 1
The innovation here described uses a different method: alternating electric fields can generate a type of synthetic aura around a person's body with a certain frequency
Implementation Method 2
Electrodes can collect the e-field(s) with their capacitance and rectifiers can charge buffers like capacitors, accumulators, gold caps or others with electrical DC energy
Implementation Method 3
The instrumentation amplifier has plus and minus inputs, equal signals (from the e-field) are subtracted to zero and only differential signals will be amplified
Implementation Method 4
The amplified bio-signal can be filtered and modulated to a carrier that sends back to an analysis device using the same (or other) e-field(s)
Data Source
AI summary
The innovation introduces a new kind of smart biological-sensing controller, based on silicon and/or flexible polymer printed electronics. The purpose of the device is to monitor and/or control biological signals of living organisms (for example, microbes, bacteria, insects, plants, animals, and people). Embedded in a system, the innovation can work contactless and battery-free since it is self-powered, wirelessly self-communicating without the use of electromagnetic waves like radio frequencies (RF), infrared or other electromagnetic technologies. Instead, the innovation uses alternating electric fields for powering, measuring and communicating, and introduces an innovative new method of mobile vital signs monitoring.