Wireless Energy Harvesting for Battery-Free Vehicle Cabin Climate Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Deploying wired or battery-based sensor units for climate control in vehicles is complex and cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A battery-free wireless climate control unit that harvests electromagnetic energy to power sensors and adjust temperature/humidity using a transceiver, wireless energy harvesting unit, power management unit, and controller, enabling interpolation-based climate control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wired or battery-based sensor units are deployed for climate control, then reliable power supply and climate control functionality are achieved, but deployment complexity and system cumbersome nature increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the battery component from the sensor unit, eliminating the need for physical battery installation and replacement. The wireless energy harvesting module receives power wirelessly through an antenna, separating the power supply function from the sensor unit's physical structure and reducing deployment complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor unit performs self-powering through wireless energy harvesting. The harvested electromagnetic energy is rectified and stored in a capacitor, enabling the sensor to autonomously power its operations without external battery intervention or wired power connections.
2Duration of action of moving object
If battery-based sensor units are used, then continuous power supply is achieved, but maintenance requirements and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, long-lifecycle batteries with a wireless energy harvesting system that continuously captures free electromagnetic energy from the environment. This eliminates battery replacement costs and maintenance requirements while providing continuous power supply indefinitely.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding depleted batteries, the system continuously recovers and stores electromagnetic energy from the environment through the wireless harvesting module. The harvested energy is rectified and accumulated in a capacitor, creating a sustainable power cycle without waste.
3Device complexity
If wireless energy harvesting is implemented, then deployment complexity is reduced, but energy conversion efficiency and power regulation challenges arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a rectifier circuit that dynamically adjusts its conversion parameters to optimize the rectification of harvested electromagnetic energy into usable DC power. The power management module further regulates voltage and current parameters to match the sensor unit's requirements, ensuring efficient energy conversion despite variable harvesting conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a capacitor as an intermediary energy storage component between the wireless harvesting module and the sensor unit. This capacitor buffers and stabilizes the harvested energy, smoothing out fluctuations and providing consistent power to the sensor, thereby managing conversion efficiency challenges.
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
Reduces deployment complexity and provides cost-effective climate control by harvesting wireless energy for temperature and humidity regulation in vehicle cabins.
Implementation Method 1
an antenna having a transceiver arranged to receive an electromagnetic (EM) signal of EM radiation having EM energy to define an EM current
Implementation Method 2
The WEH unit is arranged to filter the EM energy to regulate or resist the EM current. Moreover, the WEH unit is arranged to convert the EM current to direct current.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of harvesting wireless energy for climate control in a cabin of a vehicle are provided. The method comprises receiving an electromagnetic (EM) signal of EM radiation having EM energy to define an EM current. The method further comprises filtering the EM energy to regulate the EM current converting the EM current to direct current. The method further comprises storing the direct current for powering a battery-free wireless sensing unit and powering the battery-free wireless sensing unit with the direct current. After powering the battery-free wireless sensing unit, the method comprises sensing an actual condition in the cabin, the actual condition being one of actual temperature and actual humidity in the cabin. Furthermore, the method comprises adjusting one of temperature and humidity in the cabin in response to a difference between the actual condition and a set condition.