IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,451,725
Granted Patent B2
US 12,451,725 · App. 17/867,313 · Granted Oct 21, 2025

Powering devices using RF energy harvesting

Inventors: John G. Shearer (Ligonier, PA); Charles E. Greene (Butler, PA); Daniel W. Harrist (Carnegie, PA)
Assignee: Powercast Corporation
H02J50/001G06K19/0702G06K19/0707H02J50/20H02J50/90H04B1/1607
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,451,725
App. No.
17/867,313
Filed
Jul 18, 2022
Granted
Oct 21, 2025
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2842
USPC
307/104
Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus for an application including a core device for the application. The apparatus includes a power (preferably RF energy) harvester connected to the core device to power the core device. Also disclosed is a method for an application. The method includes the steps of converting RF energy into usable energy. There is the step of powering the core device with the usable energy.

Claims (12)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an antenna configured to wirelessly receive energy from a source that is remote from the apparatus;

a power harvester electrically coupled to the antenna and configured to convert the energy received at the antenna to a DC voltage to produce a first power associated with the DC voltage;

an alternative power source configured to produce a second power different from the first power, the alternative power source and the power harvester electrically coupled in series; and

a power storage component electrically coupled to the power harvester and the alternative power source and configured to receive the first power and the second power, the power storage component configured such that a power storage level of the power storage component increases in response to receiving at least one of the first power or the second power.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

an output of the power harvester is coupled to a ground of the alternative power source, and

an output of the alternative power source and a ground of the power harvester are coupled to the power storage component.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the alternative power source includes a solar cell.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a connector electrically coupled to the power storage component and configured to be coupled to an on-grid power source, the power storage component configured such that the power storage level of the power storage component increases in response to the power storage component being coupled to the on-grid power source via the connector.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an integrated circuit electrically coupled to the power storage component and configured to operate based, at least in part, on power provided by the power storage component.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is a handheld remote configured to control operation of a remote device.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 23, 2023
From: SHEARER, JOHN G.; GREENE, CHARLES E.; HARRIST, DANIEL W.
To: FIREFLY POWER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 063080/0678 →
MERGER Recorded Mar 23, 2023
From: FIREFLY POWER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: FIREFLY POWER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 063080/0780 →
MERGER Recorded Mar 23, 2023
From: POWERCAST, LLC
To: POWERCAST CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063080/0921 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 23, 2023
From: FIREFLY POWER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
To: POWERCAST, LLC
Reel/Frame 063157/0150 →
Continuity (7)
Continuation 16404273 · May 6, 2019
Continuation 14697053 · Apr 27, 2015
Continuation 14143334 · Dec 30, 2013
Continuation 12499618 · Jul 8, 2009
Division 11447412 · Jun 6, 2006
Provisional Application 60688587 · Jun 8, 2005
Related Publication 20230006469A1 · Jan 5, 2023
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Cited By (1)
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