Wireless Energy Beacon for Sensor Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless power transfer systems face inefficiencies when dealing with multiple sensor nodes, as existing methods do not effectively manage energy distribution based on residual energy levels and channel conditions, leading to suboptimal energy transmission and potential battery charging failures due to contamination or moisture exposure in traditional contact terminals.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that acquire residual energy and channel information from receiving nodes to determine beamforming weights and awake ratios, allowing for optimized energy transmission through multiple antennas, either focusing on individual nodes or distributing energy simultaneously, ensuring maximum energy delivery while maintaining positive residual energy levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wireless power transfer is used to charge multiple sensor nodes, then contact failure due to contamination or moisture is eliminated, but energy distribution inefficiency occurs when multiple nodes are served simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wireless power transmission process by introducing a power beacon that sequentially activates sensor nodes using wake-up signals. Instead of simultaneously serving all nodes, the system divides time into slots where each node is individually addressed and activated based on its residual energy level, thereby resolving the conflict between reliable power transfer and efficient multi-node service.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic resource allocation by continuously monitoring residual energy levels of sensor nodes and adjusting the wake-up signal transmission accordingly. The power beacon dynamically selects which nodes to activate in each time slot based on current energy states, optimizing the balance between charging reliability and overall system productivity.
2Productivity
If energy is transmitted to all receiving nodes simultaneously, then power delivery is provided to multiple nodes, but energy waste occurs to nodes with sufficient residual energy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating energy transmission treatment for different sensor nodes based on their individual residual energy levels. Nodes with low residual energy receive wake-up signals and full power delivery, while nodes with sufficient energy are skipped or given reduced transmission, thereby eliminating energy waste while maintaining productive power delivery to those who need it.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the transmission parameter (wake-up signal activation) based on the residual energy parameter of each node. By monitoring and responding to energy level changes, the power beacon dynamically adjusts which nodes receive power, optimizing the balance between productive power delivery and energy loss prevention.
3Loss of energy
If beamforming is optimized for channels with least energy loss, then energy transmission efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases due to channel information acquisition and processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having sensor nodes report their residual energy levels to the power beacon in advance of power transmission. This pre-acquired information allows the system to optimize beamforming and wake-up signal allocation before actual power delivery, reducing energy loss without requiring complex real-time channel state feedback mechanisms during transmission.
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 enhances energy efficiency by maximizing energy delivery to nodes with lower residual energy levels, preventing battery depletion and improving system reliability by optimizing beamforming and awake ratios, thus ensuring continuous operation without energy shortages.
Implementation Method 1
determining a beamforming weight indicating a ratio between signals transmitted from the antennas
Data Source
AI summary
A method for transmitting energy to a plurality of receiving nodes using a plurality of antennas includes: acquiring residual energy information of the receiving nodes and channel information between the antennas and the receiving nodes; determining a beamforming weight indicating a ratio between signals transmitted from the antennas and an awake ratio indicating a probability that the receiving nodes are in an active state to receive signals, based on the residual energy information and the channel information of each of the receiving nodes; generating beacon signals corresponding to the antennas based on either one or both of the beamforming weight and the awake ratio; and transmitting the beacon signals through the antennas.