Wireless sensor with energy scavenger

摘要

An apparatus (100) comprises a wireless sensor system (102) with electronic circuitry (104) and a power supply (106) for powering the electronic circuitry. The power supply comprises a primary cell (108) and an energy scavenger (110). The energy scavenger scavenges ambient energy and converts the scavenged ambient energy into electric energy. The sensor system is configured for having the primary cell power the electronic circuitry when the energy scavenger is inactive. The system is configured for performing at least one of having the energy scavenger power the electronic circuitry via the primary cell when the energy scavenger is active, using a capacitance of the primary cell as a buffer for the electric energy; and having the energy scavenger recharge the primary cell.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising a system, the system comprising:
electronic circuitry; and a power supply for powering the electronic circuitry, wherein the power supply comprises:
a primary cell, andan energy scavenger operative to scavenge ambient energy and convert the scavenged ambient energy into electric energy, wherein the primary cell is configured to power the electronic circuitry when the energy scavenger is inactive, wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to perform high-performance operations, wherein the energy scavenger is configured to:
power the electronic circuitry with the electric energy via a capacitance of the primary when the electric circuitry is performing the high-performance operations, wherein the capacitance is a buffer for the electric energy, andrecharge the primary cell with the electric energy, wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to perform low-performance tasks when the primary cell is exhausted, and wherein the low-performance tasks comprise the electronic circuitry entering into a sleep mode and waking up to issue a warning signal, and wherein the warning signal is sent as a radio signal that is repeated after a predetermined time interval.