Harvesting ambient radio frequency electromagnetic energy for powering wireless electronic devices, sensors and sensor networks and applications thereof
US7400253B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 24, 2006 |
| Grant date | Jul 15, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 20, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04Q2209/886
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and device for harvesting various frequencies and polarizations of ambient radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic (EM) energy for making a passive sensor (tag) into an autonomous passive sensor (tag) adapted to collect and store data with time-stamping and some primitive computation when necessary even when an interrogating radio frequency identification (RFID) reader is not present (not transmitting). A specific source of ambient RF EM energy may include wireless fidelity (WiFi) and/or cellular telephone base stations. The system and device may also allow for the recharging of energy storage units in active and battery assisted passive (BAP) devices. The system could be a “smart building” that uses passive sensors with RF EM energy harvesting capability to sense environmental variables, security breaches, as well as information from “smart appliances” that can be used for a variety of controls and can be accessed locally or remotely over the Internet or cellular networks.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.