Energy harvesting interface with improved impedance matching, method for operating the energy harvesting interface, and energy harvesting system using the energy harvesting interface
US9541941B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 6, 2015 |
| Grant date | Jan 10, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 11, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02J50/15
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An energy harvesting interface receives an electrical signal from an inductive transducer and supplies a supply signal. The interface includes an input branch with a first switch and a second switch connected together in series between a first input terminal and an output terminal. The interface further includes a third switch and a fourth switch connected together in series between a second input terminal and the output terminal. A first electrical-signal-detecting device, coupled across the second switch, detects a first threshold value of an electric storage current in the inductor of the transducer. A second electrical-signal-detecting device, coupled across the fourth switch, detects whether the electric supply current that flows through the fourth switch reaches a second threshold value lower than the first threshold value. The second threshold is derived from the electric storage current.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.