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EP-3787150-B1 - METHOD AND APPARATUS TO CREATE ELECTRIC POWER GENERATED FROM AN EXTERNAL ENERGY SIGNAL USING A PLURALITY OF ENERGY HARVESTING ELEMENTS

EP3787150B1EP 3787150 B1EP3787150 B1EP 3787150B1EP-3787150-B1

Inventors

  • HUH, Yeunhee
  • KIM, SANG JOON
  • JUNG, SEUNGCHUL

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20200513

Claims (12)

  1. A power providing device (110), comprising: a first energy harvester element (611; P 1 ) configured to generate power in response to an external energy signal being received, wherein the first energy harvester element (611; P 1 ) is a piezoelectric element; one or more second energy harvester elements (621; P 2 ,..., P 4 ), wherein the one or more second energy harvester elements (621; P 2 ,..., P 4 ) are piezoelectric elements; one or more connection switching elements (691; SW CF1 , SW CF2 , SW CF3 ) configured to switch a connection between the first energy harvester element (611; P 1 ) and the one or more second energy harvester elements (621; P 2 ,..., P 4 ); and a first rectifier (612) comprising one or more path switching elements (613; SW R11 ,..., SW R14 ) configured to change a rectification path formed in part by the one or more path switching element (613; SW R11 ,..., SW R14 ) in response to the switching of the one or more connection switching elements, wherein the first rectifier (612) is connected to the first energy harvester element (611; P 1 ) to rectify the power generated by the first energy harvester element (611; P 1 ) along the rectification path, wherein, in response to the one or more connection switching elements (691; SW CF1 , SW CF2 , SW CF3 ) switching the connection to disconnect the first energy harvester (611; P 1 ) element from the one or more second energy harvester elements (621; P 2 ,..., P 4 ), the one or more path switching elements (613; SW R11 ,..., SW R14 ) form a parallel rectification path with respect to the second energy harvester elements, wherein the power providing device (110) is configured to switch the connection between the first energy harvester element (611; P 1 ) and the one or more second energy harvester elements (621; P 2 ,..., P 4 ) through the one or more connection switching elements (691; SW CF1 , SW CF2 , SW CF3 ) based on a current output from the first rectifier (612), wherein the power providing device (110) further comprises a second rectifier (1122; 1222; 1322; 1422; 1622; 1722; 1822; 1922), wherein, in response to the one or more connection switching elements (691; SWCF1, SWCF2, SWCF3) switching the connection to connect the first energy harvester element (611; P1) in series with the one or more second energy harvester elements (621; P2,..., P4), the one or more path switching elements form a series path with the second rectifier (1122; 1222; 1322; 1422; 1622; 1722; 1822; 1922) connected to one of the one or more second energy harvester elements (621; P2,..., P4).
  2. The power providing device (110) of claim 1, wherein the one or more second energy harvester elements (621; P 2 ,..., P 4 ) comprise at least two second energy harvester elements and the one or more connection switching elements comprise at least two connection switching elements, and wherein, in response to the two or more connection switching elements (691; SW CF1 , SW CF2 , SW CF3 ) switching the connection to connect the first energy harvester element (611; P 1 ) in series between the at least two second energy harvester elements (621; P 2 ,..., P 4 ), the first energy harvester element (611; P 1 ) is connected in series between the at least two second energy harvester elements (621; P 2 ,..., P 4 ) by the two connection switching elements, and the one or more path switching elements (691; SW CF1 , SW CF2 , SW CF3 ) exclude the first rectifier (612) from the rectification path.
  3. The power providing device (110) of claim 1, wherein the one or more connection switching elements (691; SW CF1 , SW CF2 , SW CF3 ) are configured to connect the first energy harvester element (611; P 1 ) in series with the one or more second energy harvester elements (621; P 2 ,..., P 4 ) in response to a connection signal, and disconnect the first energy harvester element (611; P 1 ) from the one or more second energy harvester elements (621; P 2 ,..., P 4 ) in response to a disconnection signal.
  4. The power providing device (110) of one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, in response to the current output from the first rectifier (612) being less than a threshold current, the power providing device is further configured to additionally connect the one or more second harvester elements in series with the first energy harvester element (611; P 1 ) with a plurality of connection switching elements (691; SW CF1 , SW CF2 , SW CF3 ).
  5. The power providing device (110) of one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the power providing device (110) is configured to monitor currents output from the first rectifier (612) for respective connection states between the first energy harvester element (611; P 1 ) and the one or more second harvester elements, and determine a connection state in which a highest current is output, among the respective connection states, and wherein the power providing device is configured to maintain the determined connection state while the power rectified by the first rectifier (612) is provided to a load, or wherein the power providing device (110) is configured to determine an array corresponding to a current value output from individual energy harvester elements through the first rectifier (612), and form a connection of a plurality of energy harvester elements using a plurality of connection switching elements based on the determined array.
  6. The power providing device (110) of one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the one or more connection switching elements (691; SW CF1 , SW CF2 , SW CF3 ) are configured as non-volatile memory switches to maintain one of a connection state and a disconnection state between the first energy harvester element (611; P 1 ) and the one or more second energy harvester elements (621; P 2 ,..., P 4 ) based on a pre-stored switching state.
  7. The power providing device (110) of one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a load connected to an output of the first rectifier (612), and wherein in response to a plurality of energy harvester elements being connected in series, the first rectifier (612) rectifies power with a voltage applied to a first end of the plurality of energy harvester elements and a second end of the plurality of energy harvester elements, and provides the rectified power to the load.
  8. The power providing device (110) of one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first energy harvester element (611; P 1 ) and the one or more second energy harvester elements (621; P 2 ,..., P 4 ) are formed of a material that vibrates in response to the receiving of the external energy signal, and the first energy harvester element (611; P 1 ) and the second energy harvester element (621; P 2 ,..., P 4 ) have a same resonant frequency, or wherein the first energy harvester element (611; P 1 ) and the one or more second energy harvester elements (621; P 2 ,..., P 4 ) are disposed on a same plane and have reception axes parallel to each other.
  9. The power providing device (110) of one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the one or more path switching elements comprise a plurality of diode elements disposed to form the rectification path, or wherein the one or more path switching elements (691; SW CF1 , SW CF2 , SW CF3 ) comprise passive diode elements and transistor switches, wherein the passive diode elements and the transistor switches are configured to form the rectification path in response to an output voltage of the first rectifier (612) being less than a threshold output, and the transistor switches exclude the passive diode elements and form the rectification path through on-off switching based on a current output from the first energy harvester element (611; P 1 ), in response to the output voltage of the first rectifier (612) being greater than or equal to the threshold output.
  10. The power providing device (110) of one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the external energy signal is a signal propagated while vibrating through a medium, and the first energy harvester element (611; P 1 ) is configured to generate the power based on vibration induced in response to the receiving of the external energy signal.
  11. A power providing method performed by a power providing device (110) according to claim 1, further comprising a battery connected to the piezoelectric elements, the method comprising the steps of: generating, by the plurality of piezoelectric elements, power in response to a wireless signal being received, and providing the generated power to the battery; and switching, by the switching element, between a series connection mode and a parallel connection mode of the plurality of piezoelectric elements, wherein the method further comprises rectifying, by a rectifier, a signal received from each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements, and determining the series connection mode or the parallel connection mode of the plurality of piezoelectric elements based on a current value output from the rectifier.
  12. A power providing system comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit an external energy signal; the power providing device (110) according to one of claims 1 to 10, implemented as a bio-implant device (119) configured to receive the transmitted external energy signal, and to generate power based on the received external energy signal.

Description

BACKGROUND 1. Field The following description relates to a method and apparatus that provides power generated from an external energy signal. 2. Description of Related Art Wireless power transmission is considered to be a method of providing power to a wireless sensor network implanted in a human body for real-time body condition and lifestyle monitoring, or body stimulation for treatment of various conditions. GB 1 492 990 A describes a rechargeable tissue stimulating system, including a rechargeable voltage source for implantation in a living being and means for regulating recharging of the voltage source through the use of a telemetry circuit. The rechargeable tissue stimulating system comprises a charging circuit 10, a telemetry circuit 12, a tissue stimulator 11 and a catheter 16. The charging circuit includes two induction coils 17 and 18. Output from induction coil 17 is rectified. A separate induction coil 18 is used in addition to induction coil 17 of the electrical charging circuit for safety reasons, to prevent trouble that develops in the telemetry portion of the circuit from inhibiting proper charging of the cell. US 2004/007942 A1 describes an integrated MEMS resonant generator system with a substrate, a plurality of piezoelectric microgenerators disposed on the substrate. Each microgenerator generates a voltage output in a response to vibrational energy received. A power processor, disposed on the substrate, is electrically coupled to the outputs of the microgenerators. When the input conditions change, the power processor can dynamically adjust its switching functions to optimize the power delivered to a loader energy storage reservoir. US 2011/304240 A1 describes a power supply for implanting into a patient's body and providing electricity to a load within the body. The power supply comprises a piezoelectric microgenerator comprising electrical energy storing means and a control unit adapted for managing charging and discharging the storing means. The control unit is provided with means for decoupling the piezoelectric element from, and connecting to, the electrical energy storing means to increase efficiency of power supply SUMMARY It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus that provides power generated from an external energy signal, specifically for a bio-implant device. This object is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Embodiments are defined by the dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a power providing system, in accordance with one or more embodiments.FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an operation of a power providing device, in accordance with one or more embodiments.FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate an example of an operation principle of an energy harvester element and a switching operation of a rectifier, in accordance with one or more embodiments.FIG. 5 illustrates an example of characteristics of an energy harvester element, in accordance with one or more embodiments.FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a configuration of a power providing device, in accordance with one or more embodiments.FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a configuration of an energy harvester element, in accordance with one or more embodiments.FIG. 8 illustrates an example of per-area characteristics of an energy harvester element, in accordance with one or more embodiments.FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a relationship of a voltage and a current for a series connection and a parallel connection of energy harvester elements, in accordance with one or more embodiments.FIG. 10 illustrates an example of an array of energy harvester elements, not falling under the scope of the claims.FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a circuit diagram of a power providing device, in accordance with one or more embodiments.FIGS. 12 through 14 illustrate examples of rectification paths for arrays of power providing devices, in accordance with one or more embodiments.FIG. 15 illustrates an example of elements of a rectifier, in accordance with one or more embodiments, wherein the alternative regarding passive rectifiers does not fall under the scope of the claims.FIG. 16 illustrates an example not falling under the scope of the claims of a circuit diagram of a power providing device including a rectifier implemented using a passive element.FIGS. 17 through 19 illustrate examples not falling under the scope of the claims of rectification path for arrays of the power providing device of FIG. 16.FIGS. 20 and 21 illustrate examples of simulation results showing changes in currents and voltages for arrays of energy harvester elements in a power providing device, in accordance with one or more embodiments.FIG. 22 illustrates an example of grouping a plurality of energy harvesters to form a rectification path in a power providing device, in accordance with one or more embodiments.FIG. 23 illustrates an example of a power providing method, in accord