KR-102962219-B1 - Wireless energy harvester equipped with a modular sensor system

KR102962219B1KR 102962219 B1KR102962219 B1KR 102962219B1KR-102962219-B1

Abstract

A modular sensor system comprises a plurality of modules including one or more sensors, one or more energy harvesters, one or more energy storage devices, one or more wireless radios, and one or more electronic devices—one or more energy harvesters include photovoltaic cells—and one or more blind mate connectors included in each of the plurality of modules, wherein the one or more blind mate connectors include electrical connectors configured to transmit power and/or data and to connect two of the plurality of modules together.

Inventors

필드 3세 리차드
바리엇 아담
울가스트 스티븐
킹 제프
앨런 제이 노먼

Assignees

나노플렉스 파워 코퍼레이션

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20201216
Priority Date: 20191216

Claims (20)

In modular sensor systems, A plurality of modules comprising one or more sensors, one or more energy harvesters, one or more energy storage devices, one or more wireless radios, and one or more electronic devices — said one or more energy harvesters include photovoltaic cells —; and One or more blind-mate connectors included in each of the plurality of modules — the one or more blind-mate connectors include an electrical connector for transmitting at least one of power and data, and are configured to connect two of the plurality of modules together — Includes, A modular sensor system in which one or more of the above-mentioned blind mate connectors include a shroud to prevent lateral shear force from cutting the connection between two of the plurality of modules.
In paragraph 1, A modular sensor system in which one or more of the above energy harvesters are selected from photoelectric harvesters, piezoelectric harvesters, vibration harvesters, thermoelectric harvesters, radio frequency (RF) harvesters, and inductive energy harvesters.
In paragraph 2, The above photovoltaic harvester is a modular sensor system comprising one or more of an organic photovoltaic (OPV) cell, perovskite, gallium arsenide (GaAs), copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS), cadmium telluride (CdTe), amorphous silicon, crystalline silicon, and polycrystalline silicon.
In paragraph 2, A modular sensor system in which the photoelectric harvester within the plurality of modules is rigid.
In paragraph 2, A modular sensor system in which the photoelectric harvester within the plurality of modules is flexible.
In paragraph 1, A modular sensor system in which one or more of the above energy storage devices include one or more of a battery, a capacitor, and a supercapacitor.
In paragraph 1, A modular sensor system in which one or more blind mate connectors attach the plurality of modules together using at least one attachment mechanism selected from magnets, mechanical clips, screw fastening, snapping, binding posts, adhesives, press fastening, friction fastening, screw fastening, toggle connectors, bayonet connectors, banana connectors, and combinations thereof.
In Paragraph 7, A modular sensor system in which the above attachment mechanism is the above electrical connector.
In Paragraph 7, A modular sensor system in which the attachment mechanism comprises at least one pair of magnets, and the polarity of the at least one pair of magnets is reversed so that each module among the plurality of modules is connected in the correct orientation.
In modular sensor systems, A plurality of modules comprising one or more sensors, one or more energy harvesters, one or more energy storage devices, one or more wireless radios, and one or more electronic devices — said one or more energy harvesters include photovoltaic cells —; and One or more blind mate connectors included in each of the plurality of modules — the one or more blind mate connectors include an electrical connector for transmitting at least one of power and data, and are configured to connect two of the plurality of modules together — Includes, The above one or more blind mate connectors attach the plurality of modules together using at least one attachment mechanism selected from magnets, mechanical clips, screw fastening, snapping, binding posts, adhesives, press fastening, friction fastening, screw fastening, toggle connectors, bayonet connectors, banana connectors, and combinations thereof. A modular sensor system in which the above attachment mechanism comprises at least one magnet as a rear magnetic mount that causes all magnetic orientations to act toward a ferromagnetic surface.
In modular sensor systems, A plurality of modules comprising one or more sensors, one or more energy harvesters, one or more energy storage devices, one or more wireless radios, and one or more electronic devices — said one or more energy harvesters include photovoltaic cells —; and One or more blind mate connectors included in each of the plurality of modules — the one or more blind mate connectors include an electrical connector for transmitting at least one of power and data, and are configured to connect two of the plurality of modules together — Includes, The above one or more blind mate connectors attach the plurality of modules together using at least one attachment mechanism selected from magnets, mechanical clips, screw fastening, snapping, binding posts, adhesives, press fastening, friction fastening, screw fastening, toggle connectors, bayonet connectors, banana connectors, and combinations thereof. A modular sensor system in which the attachment mechanism comprises at least one pair of magnets, and the polarity of the at least one pair of magnets is matched so that the at least one pair of magnets serve as a rear magnet mount for a magnetically polarized object and a ferromagnetic surface.
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In paragraph 1, A modular sensor system in which the above cover includes the above electrical connector.
In modular sensor systems, A plurality of modules comprising one or more sensors, one or more energy harvesters, one or more energy storage devices, one or more wireless radios, and one or more electronic devices — said one or more energy harvesters include photovoltaic cells —; and One or more blind mate connectors included in each of the plurality of modules — the one or more blind mate connectors include an electrical connector for transmitting at least one of power and data, and are configured to connect two of the plurality of modules together — Includes, A modular sensor system in which, among the plurality of modules above, the module is an end cap module, and the end cap module is disposed at one end of the modular sensor system to prevent moisture intrusion.
In Paragraph 14, The above end cap module is a modular sensor system that has no electronic device and protects the blind mate connector and the electrical connector to be coupled from moisture and physical damage.
In paragraph 1, A modular sensor system in which each of the plurality of modules includes a pass-through for data, power, or both data and power to move between modules.
In paragraph 1, A modular sensor system in which, among the plurality of modules, a module adds power to the system by a wall power adapter or one or more replaceable batteries.
In paragraph 1, A modular sensor system in which one or more of the above-mentioned multiple modules are water-resistant or waterproof.
In modular sensor systems, A plurality of modules comprising one or more sensors, one or more energy harvesters, one or more energy storage devices, one or more wireless radios, and one or more electronic devices — said one or more energy harvesters include photovoltaic cells —; and One or more blind mate connectors included in each of the plurality of modules — the one or more blind mate connectors include an electrical connector for transmitting at least one of power and data, and are configured to connect two of the plurality of modules together — Includes, A modular sensor system in which one or more of the plurality of modules described above include at least one chamber that is open to the environment.
In Paragraph 19, A modular sensor system in which at least one chamber open to the above environment comprises one or more porous hydrophobic films.

Description

Wireless energy harvester equipped with a modular sensor system This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/948,709 filed on December 16, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. The present disclosure relates to a modular sensor system comprising at least one energy harvesting component in general. The present disclosure relates to a modular sensor system that enables a user to provide a customized sensor solution. The disclosed system allows for easier custom sensor construction through the use of a wireless system comprising wireless energy harvesting and wireless communication of sensor data. The system includes modules that expand sensor capabilities, enabling the modular addition of a potentially unlimited number of sensors. Additionally, each module may include any of a plurality of sensors, energy harvesters, energy storage devices, and/or wireless radios. An energy harvester according to the present disclosure can increase the available energy for a device and/or extend the lifespan of a device compared to other prior art solutions, such as using batteries, capacitors, and/or supercapacitors. For example, these advantages enable more frequent or continuous communication and/or power supply to more electronic devices that use a greater amount of energy. The devices disclosed herein may be used in downstream markets including, but not limited to, agriculture, indoor agriculture, ecology, livestock tracking, home automation, the Internet of Things (IoT), recreation, wearable devices, smartphones, tablets, computers, watches, jewelry, energy infrastructure, medical monitoring devices and biomedical patches, retail, cold chain, food transport/packaging/storage/preparation/serving, logistics, air/land/water transport, aerospace, shipping, asset tracking, location/movement/vibration monitoring, construction, military, defense and surveillance, radar and remote sensing, modular power harvesting and/or radio devices, building/home monitoring, tamper-proof monitoring, alarm systems, automation, automotive, and building-integrated photovoltaic systems. In certain embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a modular sensor system, wherein the modular sensor system comprises a plurality of modules comprising one or more sensors, one or more energy harvesters, one or more energy storage devices, one or more radios, and one or more electronic devices—one or more energy harvesters comprising photovoltaic cells—and one or more blind-mate connectors included in each of the plurality of modules, wherein the one or more blind-mate connectors comprise electrical connectors for transmitting power and/or data and are configured to connect two of the plurality of modules together. In another embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a modular sensor system, wherein the modular sensor system comprises a plurality of modules including one or more sensors, one or more energy harvesters, one or more radios, and one or more electronic devices—one or more energy harvesters including photovoltaic cells—and one or more blind mate connectors included in each of the plurality of modules, wherein the one or more blind mate connectors include electrical connectors for transmitting power and/or data and are configured to connect two of the plurality of modules together. Other embodiments of the present disclosure are presented below. It should be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are all illustrative and for illustrative purposes only, and are not intended to limit the invention as claimed. The attached drawings, which are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification, serve to illustrate various embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, explain the principles of the present invention. Figure 1 is an example illustrating the assembly and exploded views of an exemplary modular sensor system. FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate an exemplary attachment mechanism between modules of an exemplary modular sensor system. FIGS. 3a and 3b illustrate a rear-mounting system for a modular sensor system equipped with magnets having opposite polarity. FIGS. 4a and FIGS. 4b illustrate a rear-mounting system for a modular sensor system equipped with polarity-matched magnets. FIGS. 5a and 5b illustrate the results of applying lateral shear force to various butt joints. FIG. 6 is an example illustrating an assembly and exploded view of an exemplary modular sensor system equipped with an end cap module without electronic devices. FIGS. 7a to 7c illustrate various techniques to mitigate the effects of sunlight and other bright lights to facilitate accurate temperature readings with a temperature sensor. The drawings described herein are for exemplary purposes only of selected embodiments and are not all possible embodiments, and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Correspondi