Apparatus and method for harvesting ambient energy by circuit reconfiguration
US10873276B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 17, 2017 |
| Grant date | Dec 22, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 2, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02M3/07
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Apparatuses and methods for harvesting ambient energy involve repeated circuit reconfiguration. An apparatus includes a primary charge storage device, a first secondary charge storage device, a second secondary charge storage device, and switching circuitry. The switching circuitry is configured to cyclically alter connection of the first and second secondary charge storage devices between a series state and a parallel state. First and second moveable electrically conductive elements may include electrically conductive liquid droplets of materials such as water or mercury. At least one of the primary storage device, the first secondary charge storage device, or the second secondary charge storage device includes a capacitance that varies in response to receipt of ambient energy. Concurrently altering relative capacitance and circuit configuration results in exponential growth of harvested energy.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.