Power management systems, devices, and methods
A Radio Transceiver is described herein, which according to one embodiment, includes a solar panel, a battery and an advanced power management circuit operably connected to the solar panel and the battery. The advanced power management circuit is configured to receive electrical energy from the solar panel and the battery. A supercapacitor is operably connected to the advanced power management circuit and configured to receive electrical energy from the advanced power management circuit. A communications module is coupled to the supercapacitor. The Radio Transceiver can be powered by measuring a supercapacitor voltage using the advanced power management circuit; determining whether the supercapacitor voltage is above a first threshold voltage and below a second threshold voltage; and charging the supercapacitor using at least one of the solar panel and the battery based on whether the supercapacitor voltage is above the first threshold voltage and below the second threshold voltage.
1. A system comprising:
a cylindrical housing comprising an inner surface and an outer surface;
a plurality of screw threads on the outer surface of the cylindrical housing;
a nut configured to attach to the plurality of screw threads, the nut comprising a plurality of protuberances;
a solar panel positioned on the outer surface of the housing;
a battery positioned inside the housing;
an advanced power management circuit positioned inside the housing, the advanced power management circuit comprising a first printed circuit board and a second printed circuit board separated by a thermoplastic insulation layer; wherein the advanced power management circuit is operably connected to the solar panel and the battery and configured to receive electrical energy from at least one of the solar panel and the battery;
a layer of overmolded material positioned in a space between the inner surface of the cylindrical housing and the first/second circuit board;
a supercapacitor positioned inside the housing and operably connected to the advanced power management circuit, wherein the supercapacitor is configured to receive electrical energy from the advanced power management circuit; and the advanced power management circuit is configured to measure a voltage of the supercapacitor; and
a communications module operatively coupled to the supercapacitor.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the supercapacitor comprises a capacitor, a hybrid layer capacitors (“HLC”) and/or ultracapacitors.
3. A system comprising:
a housing comprising an inner surface and an outer surface;
a cover having an opening, the housing received in the opening and attached to the cover;
a solar panel positioned on the outer surface of the housing;
a battery positioned inside the housing;
an advanced power management circuit positioned inside the housing, the advanced power management circuit comprising a first printed circuit board and a second printed circuit board separated by a thermoplastic insulation layer; wherein the advanced power management circuit is operably connected to the solar panel and the battery and configured to receive electrical energy from at least one of the solar panel and the battery;
a capacitor positioned inside the housing and operably connected to the advanced power management circuit, wherein the supercapacitor is configured to receive electrical energy from the advanced power management circuit; and the advanced power management circuit is configured to measure a voltage of the supercapacitor; and
a communications module operatively coupled to the supercapacitor.
4. The system of claim 3 , further comprising a layer of overmolded material positioned in a space between the inner surface of the housing and the first/second printed circuit board.
5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the housing is attached to the cover via ultrasonic welding.
6. The system of claim 3 , wherein the capacitor comprises a supercapacitor, a hybrid layer capacitors (“HLC”) and/or ultracapacitors.
7. A system comprising:
a housing comprising an inner surface and an outer surface;
a cover having an opening, the housing received in the opening and attached to the cover;
a solar panel positioned on the outer surface of the housing;
a battery positioned inside the housing;
an advanced power management circuit positioned inside the housing, the advanced power management circuit comprising a first printed circuit board and a second printed circuit board separated by a thermoplastic insulation layer; wherein the advanced power management circuit is operably connected to the solar panel and the battery and configured to receive electrical energy from at least one of the solar panel and the battery;
a capacitor positioned inside the housing and operably connected to the advanced power management circuit, wherein the capacitor is configured to receive electrical energy from the advanced power management circuit; and the advanced power management circuit is configured to measure a voltage of the supercapacitor; and
a sensor module operatively coupled to the supercapacitor.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the sensor module comprises at least one of a camera or a microphone.
9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the sensor module comprises a contact sensor.
10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the sensor module comprises a chemical sensor.
11. The system of claim 7 , further comprising an actuator.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the actuator is a servo motor.
13. The system of claim 7 , further comprising a communication module operatively coupled to the supercapacitor.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the communication module is operatively coupled to the sensor module.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the communication module is configured to transmit information from the sensor module.
16. The system of claim 7 , further comprising an alarm.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the alarm is configured to activate based on an output of the sensor module.
18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the alarm is configured to activate based on an output of the communication module.