Tracking Device Power Module With Energy Harvester
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tracking devices face challenges in maintaining autonomous operation without periodic battery recharging or replacement, especially when sized for stealth and used on objects without a power supply, requiring efficient power management to ensure continuous location tracking.
Innovation Solution
A power module comprising a super-capacitor and a rechargeable battery, with an energy harvester and a power management system that dynamically routes charging between the two, using ambient energy sources to maintain power levels and ensure continuous operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the tracking device is powered by a battery, then the device can operate autonomously, but the device requires regular maintenance and charging
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking device uses an energy harvester to automatically harvest ambient energy (such as kinetic energy from movement or environmental energy) to recharge the battery, enabling the device to service itself without external intervention. This eliminates the need for manual charging or battery replacement while maintaining autonomous operation.
2Volume of moving object
If the tracking device is reduced in size for stealth, then the device can be hidden effectively, but the battery storage capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The energy harvester continuously harvests ambient energy to recharge the battery, creating a self-sustaining power system. This allows the use of a smaller battery with adequate capacity since the harvester replenishes it, thereby reducing overall device size while maintaining operational duration.
3Productivity
If the device acquires and transmits location data at a high rate, then the tracking accuracy and responsiveness is improved, but the operating life of the battery is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The energy harvester automatically replenishes battery power consumed by high-rate location data acquisition and transmission. This allows the device to maintain high productivity for location tracking without sacrificing battery operating life, as the harvester compensates for the increased power consumption in real-time.
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 solution enables a tracking device to operate autonomously with zero maintenance, maintaining sufficient power for location reporting without manual recharging or battery replacement, by leveraging the high-speed recovery of energy from super-capacitors and slow, long-term storage from rechargeable batteries.
Implementation Method 1
The first electrical power storage cell may be a super-capacitor
Implementation Method 2
The second electrical power storage cell may be a rechargeable battery, such as a lithium polymer battery
Implementation Method 3
an energy harvester for generating electrical power to charge the electrical power storage cells
Data Source
AI summary
A tracking device (100) comprises a power module (102) and a tracking operations module (104). The power module (102) includes two electrical power storage cells in the form of a super-capacitor (110) and a rechargeable battery (112); an energy harvester (106) for generating electrical power to charge the electrical power storage cells (110, 112) and a power management controller (108) arranged to control charging of the first (110) and second (112) power storage cells. The tracking operations module (104) includes a GPS module (122, 124) for receiving data about a location of the tracking device (100); a GSM module (126, 128) for transmitting the data about the location of the tracking device (100); a motion sensor (136); and processing means (118) arranged to: detect movement of the device (100) based on an output of the motion sensor (136); and manage receipt and transmission of the data about the location of the tracking device (100).