IP Library Granted Patent US 11,917,519
Granted Patent B2
US 11,917,519 · App. 17/935,425 · Granted Feb 27, 2024

Wireless sensor system, method and apparatus with switch and outlet control

Inventors: Charles E. Greene (Butler, PA); Daniel W. Harrist (Carnegie, PA)
Assignee: Powercast Corporation
H04W40/08G08C17/02H04B7/15507H04Q9/00H04Q2209/40H04Q2209/886
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,917,519
App. No.
17/935,425
Granted
Feb 27, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

In some embodiments an apparatus includes a wireless sensor configured to be operatively coupled to a network gateway device that is configured to receive one of a first data packet or a second packet from the wireless sensor. The wireless sensor is configured to send the first data packet at a first time on a first frequency, the first data packet including a payload associated with a value of a measurement that was measured by the wireless sensor. The wireless sensor is configured to send the second data packet at a second time on a second frequency, the second data packet includes a payload associated with the value.

Claims (26)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a wireless sensor configured to be operatively coupled to a network gateway device that is configured to receive at least one of a first data packet or a second data packet from the wireless sensor,

the wireless sensor configured to send the first data packet at a first time on a first frequency,

the wireless sensor configured to send the second data packet at a second time on a second frequency different from the first frequency, the second time being after the first time and without delay between an end of the first time and a start of the second time, the second data packet including a payload corresponding to a payload of the first data packet,

the wireless sensor configured to send the first data packet and the second data packet independent of an instruction from the network gateway device, and

the wireless sensor including an energy harvester and a power storage component, the wireless sensor configured to operate based on a combination of energy including (1) a first amount of energy that is provided by the energy harvester and that changes over time, and (2) a second amount of energy that is provided by the power storage component and that changes over time based at least in part on the first amount.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein energy included in the first amount of energy is at least partially based on energy harvested from an external source by the energy harvester.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the energy harvested from the external source is radio frequency (RF) energy.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein energy included in the first amount of energy is at least partially based on energy harvested by the energy harvester.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the energy harvested by the energy harvester is radio frequency (RF) energy.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wireless sensor is configured to operate entirely based on energy harvested and provided by the energy harvester.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the energy harvester is configured to harvest energy and provide the harvested energy to the power storage component to increase a power storage level of the power storage component.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wireless sensor is configured to be operatively coupled to a wireless repeater that is configured to receive at least one of the first data packet or the second data packet.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wireless sensor is configured to operate entirely based on energy harvested and provided by the energy harvester.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wireless sensor is configured to be operatively coupled to a wireless repeater that is configured to receive at least one of the first data packet or the second data packet.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

a wireless sensor configured to be operatively coupled to a network gateway device that is configured to receive at least one of a first data packet or a second data packet from the wireless sensor,

the wireless sensor including a power storage component and an energy harvester, the energy harvester configured to harvest radio frequency (RF) energy, the wireless sensor configured to operate at least partially based on RF energy harvested by the energy harvester, the wireless sensor configured to operate based on a combination of energy including (1) a first amount of energy that is provided by the energy harvester and that changes over time, (2) a second amount of energy that is provided by the power storage component and that changes over time based at least in part on the first amount,

the wireless sensor configured to transmit a first data packet at a first time on a first frequency,

the wireless sensor configured to transmit a second data packet at a second time on a second frequency different from the first frequency, the second time being after the first time and without delay between an end of the first time and a start of the second time, data of the second data packet corresponding to the data of the first data packet, and

the wireless sensor configured to transmit the first data packet and the second data packet independent of an instruction from the network gateway device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the wireless sensor is configured to operate entirely based on the RF energy harvested and provided by the energy harvester.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the energy harvester is configured to provide energy to the power storage component to increase a power storage level of the power storage component.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein energy included in the first amount of energy is at least partially based on energy harvested from an external source by the energy harvester.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the energy harvested from the external source is RF energy.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein energy included in the first amount of energy is at least partially based on energy harvested by the energy harvester.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 26, 2023
From: GREENE, CHARLES E.; HARRIST, DANIEL W.
To: POWERCAST CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 065951/0803 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 16859617 · Apr 27, 2020
Continuation 15012244 · Feb 1, 2016
Continuation 13848667 · Mar 21, 2013
Provisional Application 61613753 · Mar 21, 2012
Related Publication 20230013307A1 · Jan 19, 2023
Cited By (1)
US 12,369,095