Abstract:
An ambient energy collector for use in AC/DC applications is described. The ambient energy collector has at least one ambient energy collecting antenna system and a master control unit for operational control of the at least one ambient energy collecting antenna system. The ambient energy collector has a DC voltage boosting circuit for increasing an input voltage, a DC primer power source for powering up the voltage boosting circuit via the input voltage, at least one antenna system for collecting ambient energy, an energy collection circuit for converting and amplifying an AC voltage collected by the antenna of the at least one antenna system into a DC voltage, and an output circuit for providing a load with the DC voltage.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to the harvesting, collecting or capturing of ambient energy and storing the energy for use in AC/DC applications. More particularly, the present invention relates to a multi-layer energy collection system and method for powering and/or charging electronic devices. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Energy harvesting devices have been known and used to capture and store energy in the form of electrical power for small autonomous devices such as, for example, wireless sensor devices and radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. 
         [0003]    For example, it is known to use an antenna for radio frequency capture. The conventional devices use the antenna as input into a charge-pump circuit and then use the captured energy for powering other electronic circuits. Such a conventional device has been used in Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) applications. With an RFID system, a chip is inserted inside an RFID tag. When the control tag passes through a scanner device, power is sent to the chip from the scanner. Initially, RFID Tags were simple on/off circuits. In more recent systems, the chips are more complex and require more power to operate. As such, batteries are often deemed unsuitable for RFID systems because batteries will frequently become depleted and require charging before using. 
         [0004]    For example, United States Patent Publication No. 2007/0107766 to Langley et al. describes an ambient electromagnetic energy collector which has a magnetic core of high permeability ferromagnetic material wrapped in an inductor coil for coupling primarily to a magnetic field component of a propagating transverse electromagnetic (TEM) wave. For coupling to electromagnetic waves of a wide range of frequencies and magnitudes, the collector is coupled to a multi-phase transformer connected to a multi-phase diode voltage multiplier to provide a current source output to an associated energy storage device. An output controller supplies output power as needed to the associated energy-using device. Preferred types of ferromagnetic materials include nickel-iron alloys with a small percentage of silicon, molybdenum, or copper. It may be combined with other types of ambient energy collectors, such as acoustic/vibration, thermoelectric, and photovoltaic collectors, in a multi-source device provided with a collector interface for converting the different outputs for storage in a common energy storage device. The multi-source ambient energy collector device can be used to supply power to embedded devices, remotely deployed wireless sensors or RFID tags, and other types of monitoring devices distributed over large areas or in industrial environments. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,765,363 to LaFollette describes an integrated micro power supply. In an exemplary embodiment, the micro power supply includes a microbattery formed within a substrate and an energy gathering device for capturing energy from a local ambient environment. An energy transforming device is also formed within the substrate for converting energy captured by the energy gathering device to electrical charging energy supplied to the microbattery. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,882,128 to Rahmel et al. describes a system and method for harvesting ambient electromagnetic energy, and more particularly, to the integration of antennas and electronics for harvesting ubiquitous radio frequency (RF) energy, transforming such electromagnetic energy into electrical power, and storing such power for usage with a wide range of electrical/electronic circuits and modules. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,084,605 to Mickle et al. describes a station having a means for receiving ambient energy from the environment and energizing power storage devices of objects of interest comprising one or more antennae and circuitry for converting said ambient energy into DC power for energizing said power storage devices. The circuitry for converting the ambient energy into DC power may include a rectifier/charge pump. The antenna of the station is tuned to maximize DC energy at the output of the rectifier/charge pump. The station can be used to energize power storage devices including capacitors and batteries that are used in electronic devices, such as cell phones, cameras, and PDAs. Various antenna constructions may be employed. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,400,253 to Cohen describes a system and device for harvesting various frequencies and polarizations of ambient radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic (EM) energy for making a passive sensor (tag) into an autonomous passive sensor (tag) adapted to collect and store data with time-stamping and some primitive computation when necessary even when an interrogating radio frequency identification (RFID) reader is not present (not transmitting). A specific source of ambient RF EM energy may include wireless fidelity (WiFi) and/or cellular telephone base stations. The system and device may also allow for the recharging of energy storage units in active and battery assisted passive (BAP) devices. The system could be a “smart building” that uses passive sensors with RF EM energy harvesting capability to sense environmental variables, security breaches, as well as information from “smart appliances” that can be used for a variety of controls and can be accessed locally or remotely over the Internet or cellular networks. 
         [0009]    United States Patent Publication No. 2008/0084311 to Salzman describes an apparatus comprising: a substrate; an inductive element supported by the substrate, the inductive element having an inductance that is inherent; and magnetic material introduced to the substrate; wherein the magnetic material is sufficiently proximate to the inductive element so as to increase the inductance. 
         [0010]    However, there are many major obstacles for capturing RF energy from the ambient environment. Energy harvesting is the gathering of transmitted energy and either using it to power a circuit or storing it for later use. The standard concept uses an efficient antenna and transmitter to transmit the energy over to an efficient receiver and a receiving antenna along with a circuit capable of converting alternating current (AC) voltage to direct current (DC) voltage. There are several drawbacks with this standard concept design in the prior art, which may be linked to the transmitter network and the receiver network. One goal in the design and operation of an antenna used for energy capturing is to match the impedance of each circuit. For example, it is known that if the two impedances are not matched, then there could be reflection of the power back into the antenna, meaning that the circuit was unable to receive all of the available power. To date, this kind of system generally requires a lot of maintenance to keep running, resulting in high associated costs. Also the conventional system is inefficient and known to generate very low output harvested energy. 
         [0011]    By way of background, the following are several further drawbacks associated with conventional RF antennas which are known and have yet to be fully resolved by the conventional devices:
       conventional RF antennas, in order to have maximum efficiency, require either a vertical or horizontal plane or both;   a conventional RF harvesting antenna is fixed, i.e. tunes to a specific RF frequency, e.g. 915 MHz;   conventional RF harvesting arrays are placed in a matching network, i.e. all the antennas are fixed and tuned to one RF frequency, e.g. 915 MHz;   a conventional RF harvesting system is a fixed system, to wit, a transmitter and receiver which are coupled together;   the transmitter sends a fixed frequency of 915 MHz to the receiver which has a fixed receiving value of 915 MHz (This is considered to be a one network system (binding) when the RF power is only transferred from the transmitter to the receiver);   conventional harvesting multi-array antennas are fixed to one band, e.g. a sample configuration: Antenna  1  is a locked band tuned to frequency 915 MHz, Antenna  2  is a locked band tuned to frequency 915 MHz, and Antenna  3  is a locked band tuned to frequency 915 MHz; and   the RF harvesting charge pump circuit is a fixed configuration matched to the network, e.g. charge-pump output value is DC 5 volts.       
 
         [0019]    It would, thus, be desirable to use a multi-layer RF energy collection antenna and a variable charge-pump circuit in replacement of a standard charge-pump circuit. Thus, the antenna could deliver higher output power, which may be needed to power electrical circuits and require less servicing. 
         [0020]    What is needed, therefore, is a receiving antenna and network that could self adjust the impedance of each network it is receiving a transmission from. Such a system would have a multi-layer antenna that could receive in all directions. Also the multi-layer antenna and system would be able to harvest RF energy from multiple energy sources and transmissions at the same time. This would result in low maintenance cost and higher harvesting output energy. Such a system should be easy to operate, while being relatively inexpensive to build and maintain. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    The present invention, thus, provides an antenna and a device for capturing and storing ambient energy. 
         [0022]    Accordingly, as an aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for collecting ambient energy comprising at least one antenna system which comprises at least one antenna for collecting ambient energy, a primary start-up boost circuit for increasing an input voltage, at least one DC primer source for powering up the primary start-up boost circuit via the input voltage, an energy collection circuit for converting and amplifying an AC voltage collected by the antenna, a micro controller unit for operational control of the at least one antenna system, and an output for providing a load with a an output voltage. 
         [0023]    Preferably, the antenna system further comprises an RF frequency sensor circuit for determining an optimum frequency for the at least one antenna to collect ambient energy. 
         [0024]    Preferably, the antenna system further comprises a regulator recovery circuit for recovering an excess capacitance energy and via the micro controller unit provides the excess capacitance energy to the RF frequency sensor circuit and/or the energy collection circuit. 
         [0025]    Preferably, the at least one DC primer source is a solar panel, a battery, a thermal device, and/or an AC to DC wall plug. 
         [0026]    Preferably, the at least one antenna is tunable. Preferably, the tuning of the at least one antenna is provided by at least one variable capacitor and/or at least one programmable capacitor circuit. Preferably, the at least one antenna is a wire loop type antenna, a patch type antenna, an aperture type antenna, a micro strip type antenna, and/or a reflector type antenna. Preferably, each of the at least one antenna of each of the at least one antenna system have a same and/or different antenna type. Preferably, each of the at least one antenna system operates independently. 
         [0027]    Preferably, the primary start-up boost circuit is a boost converter, a step-up converter, and/or a buck-boost converter circuit. 
         [0028]    Preferably, the RF frequency sensor circuit is an RF detector. 
         [0029]    Preferably, the energy collection circuit is a combination of a dickson charge pump and an AC to DC conversion circuit. Preferably, the energy collection circuit is a combination of a dickson charge pump and a rectifier circuit. Preferably, the energy collection circuit is a combination of a multi-stage charge pump circuit and an AC to DC conversion circuit. Preferably, the energy collection circuit is a combination of a multi-stage charge pump circuit and a rectifier circuit. 
         [0030]    Preferably, the master controller unit is a programmable logic controller and/or a microcontroller. 
         [0031]    Preferably, the load is a battery. Preferably, the load is an electronic device. 
         [0032]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an ambient energy collecting antenna. The antenna includes a DC voltage boosting circuit for increasing an input voltage, a DC primer power source for powering up the voltage boosting circuit via the input voltage, at least one antenna for collecting ambient energy, an energy collection circuit for converting and amplifying an AC voltage collected by the at least one antenna into a DC voltage, and an output circuit for providing a load with the DC voltage. 
         [0033]    Preferably, the ambient energy collecting antenna may include an RF Sensor circuit for determining a frequency having the highest power and tuning at least one of the antennas to the frequency having the highest power. 
         [0034]    Preferably, the ambient energy collecting antenna can include a regulator recovery circuit for recovering excess capacitance energy lost to ground and providing decoupling between the ambient energy collecting antenna system and the load. 
         [0035]    According to another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a device for collecting ambient energy. The device includes at least one ambient energy collecting antenna system as embodied herein for collecting ambient energy, and a master control unit for operational control of the at least one ambient energy collecting antenna system. 
         [0036]    Preferably, the device for collecting ambient energy may include an energy storage device, such as a battery. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0037]    The invention will be further understood upon review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which: 
           [0038]      FIG. 1  is a flow chart of a six antenna system of an ambient energy collecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart of an antenna system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0040]      FIG. 3  shows an architectural layout of an antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0041]      FIG. 4  shows different wire loop antenna configurations for use in an antenna system according to the present invention; 
           [0042]      FIG. 5  shows an architectural layout of an extended antenna of the antenna in  FIG. 3  according to a further embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0043]      FIG. 5   a  shows architectural layout of a parallel antenna design and a stacked antenna design according to preferred embodiments of the invention; 
           [0044]      FIG. 5   b  shows a Prior Art antenna tuning with variable capacitors; 
           [0045]      FIG. 5   c  shows antenna tuning using programmable capacitors in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0046]      FIG. 6  shows a primary start-up boost circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0047]      FIG. 7  shows an RF sensor circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0048]      FIG. 8  shows an energy collection circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0049]      FIG. 9  shows a Prior Art energy collection circuit; 
           [0050]      FIG. 10  shows a regulator recovery circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0051]      FIG. 10   a  shows another regulator recovery circuit according to a further embodiment of the present invention 
           [0052]      FIG. 11  shows a functional block diagram primary start-up boost circuit (PSUBC) chip for use with the primary start-up boost circuit of  FIG. 6  according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0053]      FIG. 12  shows a functional block diagram of cascaded RF detectors and limiters chip for use with the RF frequency sensor circuit of  FIG. 7  according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0054]      FIG. 13  shows a functional block diagram of a programmable capacitor bank circuit for use with the energy collection circuit of  FIG. 8  according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0055]      FIG. 14  shows exemplary multiple start-up boost configurations according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0056]      FIG. 15  shows RF input impedance tests for the RF frequency sensor circuit; and 
           [0057]      FIG. 16  shows simulation testing results of charge-pump stages with fixed capacitor value. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0058]    Referring now in more detail to the drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  is a flow chart of a six antenna system of the ambient energy collector device  100  of the present invention. The ambient energy collector device  100  preferably includes a plurality of antenna systems  10  and a master controller unit  20 . The master controller unit  20  may be connected to each antenna system  10  and to a load  30 . In a preferred embodiment, the device may include six antenna systems  10 . The antenna system  10  is also referred to as an Ambient RF Energy Power Cell. 
         [0059]      FIG. 2  shows a preferred embodiment of a flow chart of an antenna system an architectural arrangement of the circuitry that pertains to one of the layers of the antenna system  10 . In the figures embodied herein, each block pertains to a circuit and the blocks are connected by arrows to show the input and output of each block. 
         [0060]    The invention is preferably implemented as a multi-layer design, which may be comprised of multiple antenna systems  10  that each act as an ambient energy harvester. For example, as embodied herein these can be labeled as antenna  1  system, antenna  2  system, antenna  3  system, antenna  4  system, antenna  5  system, and antenna  6  system, as show in  FIG. 1 . An exemplary embodiment of an antenna  11  used in each antenna system  10  is shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0061]    According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the shape of the antenna elements may be geometrically designed to include, for example, flat-shaped, round-shaped, square-shaped, v-shaped, u-shaped layered materials. Exemplary wire loop antenna configurations are illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0062]    Although preferred and described in detail herein are different wire loop antenna configurations, it should be understood that any type of antenna may be used for harvesting ambient energy, such as, for example, a patch antenna, an aperture antenna, a micro strip antenna, and a reflector antenna. 
         [0063]    In  FIGS. 3 and 5 , exemplary architectural layouts of an antenna  11  are illustrated. In particular, for example, antenna element  111  is a straight metal conductor, antenna element  112  is a straight metal conductor with an inverted u-shaped bend antenna element  113 , such as the half way point, which crosses over without contact with antenna element  111 . As illustrated and designated herein, (A) is an area where antenna elements  111  and  112  overcross. Antenna element  113  as illustrated and embodied herein, can be curved or u-shaped. In another preferred embodiment, antenna element  113  may be v-shaped with the bottom of the ‘v’ being at the point where it crosses over antenna element  112 . As illustrated and designated herein, (B) is an area where antenna elements  112  and  113  overcross. In accordance with the invention there is no contact between antenna element  111  and antenna element  113 . In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, optimal performance may be obtained when the no-contact distance between antenna elements  111  and  112 , and antenna elements  112  and  113  is substantially the same and/or the area (A) is substantially equal to area (B), as defined herein. Antenna elements  114 ,  115  and  116  may be designed similarly, as described above and illustrated herein for antenna element  113 . For optimal performance areas A, B, C, D and E are substantially equal. 
         [0064]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the antenna design can be extended either by adding more antenna elements as illustrated in  FIG. 5  or by a parallel configuration or a stacking configuration as shown  FIG. 5   a . The antenna frequencies may be configured by the use of a programmable tuned antenna circuit,  FIG. 5   c . Alternatively, the antenna frequencies may be configured by using a variable capacitor with manual tuning, as is known in the art,  FIG. 5   b . The tuning range of the variable capacitors gives the antenna a frequency range of about 50 MHz to about 3 GHz. 
         [0065]    Ambient RF Energy Power Cell (Antenna System  10 ) 
         [0066]    Each antenna system  10  preferably includes an antenna  11  as described herein, a primary start-up boost circuit  12 , an RF frequency sensor circuit  13 , and an energy collection circuit  14 . 
         [0067]    The antenna  11  in each antenna system  10  may be of the same antenna type or a different type (e.g. wire loop, patch, etc.). The antenna  11  in each antenna system  10  may also be configured to the same section of the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum or different sections (e.g. high frequency, ultra high frequency, etc.). An ambient energy collector device  100  having antenna systems  10  of the same type and the same EM configuration may be used advantageously in areas where a dominant EM signal is present. An ambient energy collector device  100  having antenna systems  10  of different types and different EM configurations may be used advantageously in areas where no single dominant EM signal is present or in areas where a dominant EM signal varies over time. Other configurations of antenna systems  10  for an ambient energy collector device  100  may be used to suit the specific EM signal availability in areas of use. 
         [0068]    Each of the antenna systems  10  may advantageously operate independently and tune to an EM signal that it (the antenna system  10 ) determines to be strongest. 
         [0069]    Primary Start-Up Boost Circuit  12   
         [0070]    A DC source of power  15  or primer input may be used to start the process of collecting ambient energy in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. For example, the DC source of power may be, inter alia, a Solar, or a DC storage device. 
         [0071]    In one particular embodiment, an initial power capable of starting and running the primary circuit is from about 0.15 μW to about 0.55 μW. The primary circuit may include a DC-DC boost conversion. Typically a harvesting energy circuit includes a voltage doubling circuit. For example, various forms of rectifiers which can take an AC voltage as input and output a doubled DC voltage are used and known. However, use of conventional harvesting of RF energy can produce only very small amounts of DC energy. 
         [0072]    In accordance with the invention, as embodied herein and illustrated in  FIG. 6  a primary start-up boost circuit includes a voltage boost circuit. For example, the voltage boost circuit of the invention can advantageously accept an input voltage of 0.01 DC volt and yield an output voltage of 5.5 DC and a maximum output current of 1500 mA. The output voltage can be applied to the RF frequency sensor circuit  13 . 
         [0073]    The primary start-up boost circuit  12  is more commonly known as a DC-DC conversion circuit, for the purposes of the present application a DC-DC conversion circuit wherein the output DC voltage is higher than the input DC voltage is preferable. The most preferable type of circuits to be used are known in the art as a boost converter, and a step-up converter. Another type of circuit than may be used to achieve this function is known as a Buck-Boost Converter circuit. 
         [0074]    In  FIG. 6 , there is shown an inductor type boost circuit. The inductor L 1  first charges when the switch (or an integrated chip) SW is closed. When the switch SW is open L 1  discharges the voltage into the capacitor C 2 . 
         [0075]    The primary start-up boost circuit  12  may receive an input source voltage from the external DC source, or internally from the master control unit  20  to start the process of collecting ambient energy. The primary start-up boost circuit  12  outputs (VOUT 12 ) the boosted voltage to the RF frequency sensor circuit  13 . The primary start-up boost circuit powers up the RF frequency sensor circuit  13 . 
         [0076]      FIG. 11  shows a possible functional block diagram of a Primary Start-up Boot Circuit Chip  12 A for use with the primary start-up boost circuit  12 .  FIG. 14  shows exemplary multiple start-up boost input/output DC voltage configurations according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         [0077]    RF Frequency Sensor Circuit  13   
         [0078]    According to an embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the RF frequency sensor circuit  13  is capable of detecting RF signals transmitted by wireless transmitters. Advantageously, the RF frequency sensor circuit  13  is capable of detecting and measuring RF signals over a large dB dynamic range. For example, RF signal in a decibel scale can be precisely converted into a DC voltage. Preferably, a dB input dynamic range can be achieved by using cascaded RF detectors and RF limiters. Some of the example samples of the RF signals are: 50 MHz, 100 MHz, 200 MHz, 400 MHz, 600 MHz, 800 MHz, 1000 MHz, 1200 MHz, 1400 MHz, 1600 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2000 MHz, 2200 MHz, 2400 MHz, 2600 MHz and 3000 MHz. Some example of RF signal sources are: Bluetooth, Wlan, WIFI, GSM cell phone, FM Broadcast, UHF, VHF, and Broadband. 
         [0079]    The RF frequency sensor circuit  13  can send a voltage to the antenna  11  and can receive a dB response from the antenna  11 . The dB response is known as a reference scale. The RF frequency sensor circuit  13  can then convert the response into a DC voltage,  FIG. 7 . For example, the RF frequency sensor circuit  13  can receive from about 0.15 μW to about 7 mW of power to maintain the antenna system  10 . The RF frequency sensor circuit  13  can maintain enough power to run itself and then send the surplus to the energy collection circuit  14 . Preferably, the RF frequency sensor circuit  13  may recover EMF loss from the antenna systems  10  where it will later be converted into energy by the energy collection circuit  14 . 
         [0080]    The RF frequency sensor circuit  13  is more commonly known as an RF detector. RF detector circuits are used for measuring RF and IF signals, these types of circuits can generally be found in devices such as, for example, RF meters and cell phones. 
         [0081]    The RF frequency sensor circuit  13  may receive an input source voltage from the primary start-up boost circuit  12 . The RF frequency sensor circuit  13  output (VOUT 13 ) may send a voltage to the antenna  11  to trigger a dB response and/or to the energy collection circuit  14 . 
         [0082]      FIG. 12  shows a possible functional block diagram of a Cascaded RF Detector and RF Limiter Chip  13 A for use with the RF frequency sensor circuit  13 . 
         [0083]    The Energy Collection Circuit  14   
         [0084]    Typically, the energy collection circuit  14  is called a Charge Pump Circuit. Basically, the function of the charge pump circuit may be to double the effective amplitude of an AC input voltage and then to convert the energy to a DC voltage on an output capacitor, or a rechargeable battery, or a load. A conventional energy collection circuit  14  with standard capacitors is shown in  FIG. 9 . The conventional circuit includes fixed capacitors, with fixed capacitance values. 
         [0085]      FIG. 8  shows a preferred configuration of an energy collection circuit  14  having programmable capacitor circuits, denoted as PCC. 
         [0086]    Advantageously, according to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an auto stage charge pump circuit, which preferably is not fixed to one stage or one capacitor value. Thus, the energy collection circuit  14  according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a multi-stage charge pump circuit. Preferably, the charge pump circuit may comprise multiple configuration stages resulting in a wider range of output DC voltages. Having variable capacitors or adjustable capacitors or fixed array capacitors and auto multiple configuration stages can result in a wider range of DC output voltages,  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
         [0087]    Referring to  FIG. 16  which shows a typical simulation testing results of charge pump circuit stages with fixed capacitor values, it can be seen that with output capacitance the value of the capacitor only affects the speed of the transient response. The bigger the value of the output capacitance is the slower the voltage rise time. Small capacitance output values will cause rises in the rise time. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, it may be advantageous to include an auto adjustment over charge pump stages and capacitors, which can result in a wider range of DC voltage output. 
         [0088]    The basic function of the energy collection circuit  14  is to take a DC voltage from the RF frequency sensor circuit  13  and amplify it. The energy can be either stored or sent to the master controller unit (MCU)  20 , which is described below in further detail. 
         [0089]    Referring now to  FIG. 10 , included in the energy collection circuit  14  is a regulator recovery circuit  21 . The regulator recovery circuit  21  can act as an overflow capacitor circuit. Its primary function is to recover any excess capacitance energy that is normally lost to ground. The regulator recovery circuit  21 , by way of a programmable logic controller, either outputs the energy back into the energy collection circuit  14  or outputs the recovered energy into the RF frequency sensor circuit  13  to assist with its power requirements. 
         [0090]    The function of the regulator recovery circuit  21  is not only to store energy, but also to filter out noise and ripple, and to provide decoupling between the power supply and the load. The RRC capacitor  22  of the regulator recovery circuit  21  can be specially constructed to allow the DC load current pass through the RRC capacitor  22 . The DC load output can go through a By-Pass Ferrite Core Winding,  FIGS. 10 and 10   a . According to  FIG. 10   a  the regulator recovery circuit can use both inductors and resistors. 
         [0091]    According to an embodiment of the invention, the energy collection circuit  14  may further include a programmable logic controller which controls the shut-off for the primary start-up boost circuit  12 , this programmable logic controller may be separate from the master controller unit  20  or it may a part of the master controller unit  20 . If the required voltage is achieved then the control will shut off the primary start-up boost circuit  12 . If the value of the voltage drops below the desired value then the control will turn on the primary startup boost circuit  12 . 
         [0092]    The energy collection circuit  14  may be a combination of a Dickson Charge Pump and an AC-DC conversion circuit. A common term for an AC-DC conversion circuit is a rectifier circuit.  FIGS. 8 and 9  show different embodiments of a Dickson Charge Pump circuit. A Dickson Charge Pump essentially comprises only diodes, capacitors, and a clock signal. In a preferred embodiment the Dickson Charge Pump comprises diodes, programmable capacitor circuits, and a clock signal supplied by the master controller unit  20 . The efficiency of this type of circuit is near unity so it is not a limitation of powering a load. The Dickson Charge Pump circuit can also be referred to as a multi-stage charge pump circuit. The multi-stage charge pump circuit may have more or less than 7 stages and is not limited to 7 as depicted in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . Internally, the capacitors and diodes may have an external clock known as transfer rate time. 
         [0093]    The energy collection circuit  14  may receive an input source voltage from the output (VOUT 13 ) of the RF frequency sensor circuit  13  and the antenna coupling capacitor on the positive side of the antenna. The energy collection circuit  14  output (OUTPUT 14 ) may be connected to the input of the micro controller unit  20 . 
         [0094]      FIG. 13  shows a possible functional block diagram of a Programmable Capacitor Bank Circuit  14 A for use with the energy collection circuit  14 . 
         [0095]    The Master Controller Unit  20   
         [0096]    Preferably, according to an embodiment of the present invention, each antenna system (or layer)  10  of the ambient energy collector device  100  may include an antenna  11 , a primary start-up boost circuit  12 , an RF frequency sensor circuit  13 , and an energy collection circuit  14 . The energy collection circuit  14  from every array of the antenna may be connected to a master controller unit  20 , as embodied herein and illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0097]    Preferably, the master controller unit  20  may control each energy collection circuit  14  of each antenna system  10 . More preferably, the master controller unit  20  may determine what energy is required to run a load  30  and/or may determine the sum of the harvested energy collected by all of the available antenna systems  10 . According to a preferred embodiment, the master controller unit  20  may only harvest the energy required as determined by the master controller unit  20 . For example, in operation, the master controller unit may start with one antenna system  10  and determine its potential harvesting energy value. If the amount satisfies energy requirements of the load  30  the master controller unit  20  may stop there and the load  30  runs off the harvesting potential of the one antenna system  10 . If the harvesting potential of one antenna system  10  is not enough to run load  30  the master controller unit  20  may use a second and/or a third, etc., antenna system  10  until the required energy to run the load  30  is achieved. 
         [0098]    The master controller unit  20  may be a programmable logic controller, a microcontroller, or the like. Preferably, the controller is one designed to be used in the field of energy harvesting and have low power consumption. Examples of commercially available controllers are available from PIC Industries™, Texas Instruments™, Freescale™, and Microchip™. 
         [0099]    Variations, adaptations, and modifications to the preferred embodiments of the invention described above are possible without departing from the scope and essence of the invention as described in the claims appended hereto. 
       LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS AND NUMERALS 
       [0000]    
       
           10  Antenna System; 
           11  Antenna; 
           12  Primary Start-Up Boost Circuit; 
           12 A Primary Start-Up Boost Circuit Chip; 
           13  RF Frequency Sensor Circuit; 
           13 A Cascaded RF Detector and RF Limiter Chip 
           14  Energy Collection Circuit; 
           14 A Programmable Capacitor Bank Circuit 
           15  DC Source or Primer; 
           20  Master Controller Unit; 
           21  Regulator Recovery Circuit; 
           22  RRC Capacitor; 
           30  Load; 
         C 1 , C 2 , C 3 , C 4 , C 5 , C 6  Capacitors; 
         EN Enable Input; 
         FB Voltage Input Feedback; 
         GND Ground; 
         L Connection Input for Inductor; 
         L 1 , L 2 , L 3  Inductors; 
         PCC Programmable Capacitor Circuit; 
         PGND Power Ground; 
         PS Enable/Disable Power Save Mode; 
         R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4  Resistors; 
         RF Antenna Input; 
         SW Switch; 
         UVLO Under Voltage Comparator Input; 
         VAUX Supply Voltage for Control Stage; 
         VCC Power Supply Input; 
         VIN 12  Primary Start-Up Boost Circuit Input Voltage; 
         VOUT 12  Primary Start-Up Boost Circuit Output; and 
         VOUT 13  RF Frequency Sensor Circuit Voltage Out. 
       
     
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0131]    The present invention is applicable to the technical field of powering and/or charging electronics or energy storage.