SELF SUSTAINING ENERGY HARVESTING SYSTEM

摘要

Systems (100) and methods (400) for powering an electrical load (322) in an environment. The methods involve using a battery (310) to simultaneously supply electrical energy to control electronics (308, 316) and a Super Capacitor (“SC”) storage element (314) immediately after a system has been disposed in the environment and turned on. In effect, the control electronics are caused to perform intended functions thereof nearly instantaneously after turning on the system. The SC storage element is charged from a first charge state in which approximately zero volts exist across terminals thereof to a second charge state in which greater than zero volts exists across the terminals. The SC storage element is then used to supply electrical energy to the electrical load of the system so as to cause the electrical load to perform intended functions thereof.

主权项

1. A method for powering an electrical load in an environment, comprising:
using a battery to simultaneously supply electrical energy to control electronics and a Super Capacitor (“SC”) storage element of a system immediately after the system has been disposed in the environment and turned on, whereby the control electronics are caused to perform intended functions thereof nearly instantaneously after turning on the system and the SC storage element is charged from a first charge state in which approximately zero volts exists across terminals thereof to a second charge state in which greater than zero volts exists across said terminals; using the SC storage element to supply electrical energy to the electrical load of the system so as to cause the electrical load to perform intended functions thereof; continuously monitoring a first output voltage of the battery, a second output voltage of the SC storage element and a third output voltage of an energy harvesting circuit of the system; terminating the supply of electrical energy from the battery to the SC storage element based on a level of at least the second output voltage; using the energy harvesting circuit to recharge the battery; and using the battery to recharge the SC storage element when the second output voltage falls below a first threshold value.