Patent ID: 8362745
Filing Date: 2013-01-29
Classification: H02J

Abstract:
1. An energy harvesting device, which comprises: at least one antenna for receiving a transmitted radio frequency (RF) signal, the at least one antenna converting the received RF signal to an RF electrical signal; at least one RF-to-DC rectifier circuit, the at least one RF-to-DC rectifier circuit being operatively connected to the at least one antenna and converting the RF electrical signal to a direct current (DC) voltage; a first storage device, the first storage device being operatively connected to the at least one RF-to-DC rectifier circuit and being provided with the DC voltage and being charged thereby; a microcontroller, the microcontroller having a first signal input operatively connected to the first storage device to monitor the DC voltage on the first storage device, the microcontroller generating a pulsed output signal if the DC voltage on the first storage device is above a first pre-determined voltage level; a first stage DC-to-DC voltage converter circuit, the first stage DC-to-DC voltage converter circuit being operatively connected to the first storage device and generating an output DC voltage which is greater than the DC voltage on the first storage device; a second stage DC-to-DC voltage converter circuit, the second stage DC-to-DC voltage converter circuit being operatively connected to the first stage DC-to-DC voltage converter circuit and generating an output DC voltage which is less than the output DC voltage generated by the first stage DC-to-DC voltage converter circuit; a second storage device, the second storage device being operatively connected to the second stage DC-to-DC voltage converter circuit and being provided with the output DC voltage generated by the second stage DC-to-DC voltage converter circuit and being charged thereby; a third stage DC-to-DC voltage converter circuit, the third stage DC-to-DC voltage converter circuit being operatively connected to the second storage device and generating an output DC voltage which is greater than the DC voltage on the second storage device; and an output connector, the output connector being operatively connected to the third stage DC-to-DC voltage converter circuit and providing the output DC voltage generated by the third stage DC-to-DC voltage converter circuit thereon, an electronic device being connectable to the output connector for receiving thereon the output DC voltage provided to the output connector.