Description
Apparatus and Method for Harvesting Ambient Energy by Circuit Reconfiguration
Case ID:
01113
Background
Low-power microcontrollers have laid the foundation for the vast expansion of. Pushing this edge further is the promising study of ambient energy harvesting for powering such devices. The practicality of current methods, however, are limited by fixed rates of energy extraction, the types of energies that can be harnessed, and the level of required dedicated storage circuitry. In combination with the low-level power inherent to ambient sources, how these technologies can be successfully integrated into everyday devices remains a key challenge.
Invention Description
Researchers at the University of Hawaii have developed an efficient system for harvesting ambient energy by circuit reconfiguration. This method is composed of a network of charge storage devices that differ in capacitance. Through dynamic switching between configurations stored energy grows exponentially with each cycle allowing its generative capacity to be scaled up according to application. The energy harvested from potential low-level source (e.g., human motion, vibrational) can effectively be stored directly in the system without the need for external batteries; however, system operation in tandem with batteries is not precluded. Additionally, an external voltage bias is not required for this method’s operation.
Potential Applications
• Self-Powered Sensors
• Biomedical Implants
• Internet of Things
• Remote Monitoring
• Portable Electronics
Benefits and Advantages
• Powerful – Low-level ambient energy can be extracted at an accelerating rate, which is unprecedented with current techniques
• Versatile – System applicability is not limited to a single type of ambient energy
• Self-contained – Energy harvested can be stored directly in the system without the need for external batteries or capacitors for later use
• Scalable – Exponentially increasing levels of stored energy allows the invention to be adapted to a variety of device power specifications
Intellectual Property Status
Patents Pending
Seeking
Development partner
Commercial partner
Licensing
University spin out
Investment
Key Words
ambient energy harvesting
electronic device applications
energy
low-power microcontrollers