Multi-band energy harvesting system
A multi-band energy harvesting system is provided. The system includes a plurality of harvesting antennas, wherein each of the plurality of harvesting antennas, operates a specific frequency band; and a plurality of harvesting units, wherein each of the plurality of harvesting units is coupled to a respective harvesting antenna and adapted to harvest energy at the specific frequency band of the respective harvesting antenna.
1. A multi-band energy harvesting system, comprising:
a plurality of harvesting antennas, wherein each of the plurality of harvesting antennas operates at a specific radio frequency band, wherein a first harvesting antenna of the plurality of harvesting antennas is a loop antenna operating at a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) advertising channel frequency band, wherein the loop antenna is further arranged to at least one of receive and transmit BLE communication signals; and
a plurality of harvesting units, wherein each of the plurality of harvesting units is coupled to a respective harvesting antenna and adapted to harvest energy at the specific radio frequency band of the respective harvesting antenna;
wherein at least one of the plurality of harvesting antennas is a loop antenna that substantially encircles at least one of the plurality of harvesting units and at least another one of the harvesting antennas.
2. The multi-band energy harvesting system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a power management circuit; and
a capacitor for storing the harvested energy.
3. The multi-band energy harvesting system of claim 1 , wherein the power management circuit further comprises:
a plurality of detectors, wherein each of the plurality of detectors are configured with a different reference threshold voltage level; and
a controller coupled to the plurality of detectors and configured to activate a subset of the plurality of detectors at any given time, wherein the subset of the plurality of detectors, when activated, are configured to provide a multi-level voltage level indication on a state of a voltage supply.
4. The multi-band energy harvesting system of claim 1 , wherein the harvested energy is utilized to power a wireless chip.
5. The multi-band energy harvesting system of claim 1 , wherein the specific frequency band of each of the plurality of antennas is any one of: an Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) frequency band, a cellular communication frequency band, a Wi-Fi frequency band, and a Wi-Gig frequency band.
6. The multi-band energy harvesting system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of harvesting antennas includes a second harvesting antenna operating at a Wi-Fi frequency band.
7. The multi-band energy harvesting system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of harvesting antennas includes a third harvesting antenna operating at a cellular frequency band.
8. The multi-band energy harvesting system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of harvesting antennas includes at least: a second harvesting antenna operating at a first cellular communication frequency band, a third harvesting antenna operating at a second cellular communication frequency band, and fourth harvesting antenna operating at the 2.4 GHz ISM frequency band.
9. The multi-band energy harvesting system of claim 1 , wherein each of the harvesting units includes a voltage multiplier coupled to the respective harvesting antenna and configured to harvest energy from over-the-air signals.
10. The multi-band energy harvesting system of claim 1 , wherein the at least another one of the harvesting antennas is a loop antenna.
11. The multi-band energy harvesting system of claim 1 , wherein the at least another one of the harvesting antennas is the loop antenna operating at the Bluetooth low energy (BLE) advertising channel frequency band.
12. The multi-band energy harvesting system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of harvesting antennas that substantially encircles at least one of the plurality of harvesting units is the first harvesting antenna of the plurality of harvesting.
13. The multi-band energy harvesting system of claim 1 , wherein the loop antenna is adapted to alternate between its harvesting operation and at least one of its receiving and transmitting of BLE communication use.
14. A battery-free wireless device, comprising:
a multi-band energy harvesting system adapted to harvest energy from over-the-air signals transmitted in different radio frequency bands, wherein the multi-band energy harvesting system includes a plurality of harvesting antennas, wherein each of the plurality of harvesting antennas operates at a specific radio frequency band, wherein a first harvesting antenna of the plurality of harvesting antennas is a loop antenna operating at a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) advertising channel frequency band, wherein the loop antenna is further arranged to at least one of receive and transmit BLE communication signals;
a plurality of harvesting units, wherein each of the plurality of harvesting units is coupled to a respective harvesting antenna and adapted to harvest energy at the specific radio frequency band of the respective harvesting antenna; and
a sensor powered by the harvested energy;
wherein at least one of the plurality of harvesting antennas is a loop antenna that substantially encircles at least one of the plurality of harvesting units and at least another one of the harvesting antennas.
15. The battery-free wireless device of claim 14 , wherein the multi-band energy harvesting system further comprises:
a power management circuit; and
a capacitor for storing the harvested energy.
16. The battery-free wireless device of claim 15 , wherein the specific frequency band of each of the plurality of antennas is any one of: an Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) frequency band, a cellular communication frequency band, a Wi-Fi frequency band, and a Wi-Gig frequency band.
17. The battery-free wireless device of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of harvesting antennas further includes: a second harvesting antenna operating at a Wi-Fi frequency band.
18. The battery-free wireless device of claim 15 , wherein each of the harvesting units includes a voltage multiplier coupled to the respective harvesting antenna and configured to harvest energy from the over-the-air signals.
19. The battery-free wireless device of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of harvesting antennas are fabricated on a same substrate carrying the battery-free wireless device.
20. The battery-free wireless device of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of harvesting antennas is utilized for programming a non-volatile memory.