Powering devices using RF energy harvesting

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.

1 . An apparatus for an application comprising: 
 a core device having an integrated circuit for the application; and    a power harvester connected to the core device to power the integrated circuit of the core device.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus as described in  claim 1  including an alternative power source connected to the core device to power the core device in conjunction with the power harvester.  
   
   
       3 . An apparatus as described in  claim 1  including a power regulator and/or power storage circuit connected to the power harvester.  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus as described in  claim 1  including a power storage charger connected to the power harvester.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus as described in  claim 1  including power storage connected to the power harvester.  
   
   
       6 . An apparatus as described in  claim 1  wherein the core device includes a memory connected to the integrated circuit and to the power harvester to power the memory.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus as described in  claim 6  wherein the core device includes a sensor.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a proximity sensor.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes an intrusion sensor.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes an environmental sensor.  
   
   
       11 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a chemical sensor.  
   
   
       12 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a biological sensor.  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a sensor in contact with an automobile.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes an occupancy sensor.  
   
   
       15 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a motion sensor.  
   
   
       16 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a position sensor.  
   
   
       17 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a metal detector.  
   
   
       18 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a sensor in contact with an aircraft.  
   
   
       19 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes an alarm connected to the power harvester to power the alarm.  
   
   
       20 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a display connected to the power harvester to power the display.  
   
   
       21 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a sensor disposed in a building.  
   
   
       22 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes an industrial automation sensor.  
   
   
       23 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a sensor in contact with an elevator.  
   
   
       24 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a temperature sensor.  
   
   
       25 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a fire sensor.  
   
   
       26 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes an accelerometer.  
   
   
       27 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a level sensor.  
   
   
       28 . An apparatus as described in  claim 27  wherein the sensor includes a gas level sensor, a fluid level sensor, or a light level sensor.  
   
   
       29 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a flow sensor.  
   
   
       30 . An apparatus as described in  claim 29  wherein the sensor includes a gas flow sensor, a fluid flow sensor, a light flow sensor, or a plasma flow sensor.  
   
   
       31 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a pressure sensor.  
   
   
       32 . An apparatus as described in  claim 31  wherein the sensor includes a gas pressure sensor or a fluid pressure sensor.  
   
   
       33 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a light sensor.  
   
   
       34 . An apparatus as described in  claim 33  wherein the sensor includes an infrared light sensor, an ultraviolet light sensor, an x-ray sensor, a cosmic ray sensor, a visible light sensor, or a gamma ray sensor.  
   
   
       35 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a stress sensor.  
   
   
       36 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a strain sensor.  
   
   
       37 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a depth sensor.  
   
   
       38 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes an electrical characteristic sensor.  
   
   
       39 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a voltage sensor.  
   
   
       40 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a current sensor.  
   
   
       41 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a viscosity sensor.  
   
   
       42 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes an acoustical sensor.  
   
   
       43 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a sound sensor.  
   
   
       44 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a listening sensor.  
   
   
       45 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a thickness sensor.  
   
   
       46 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a density sensor.  
   
   
       47 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a surface quality sensor.  
   
   
       48 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a volume sensor.  
   
   
       49 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a physical sensor.  
   
   
       50 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a mass sensor.  
   
   
       51 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a weight sensor.  
   
   
       52 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a conductivity sensor.  
   
   
       53 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a distance sensor.  
   
   
       54 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes an orientation sensor.  
   
   
       55 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a vibration sensor.  
   
   
       56 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a radioactivity sensor.  
   
   
       57 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a field strength sensor.  
   
   
       58 . An apparatus as described in  claim 57  wherein the sensor includes an electric field sensor or a magnetic field sensor.  
   
   
       59 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a smoke detector.  
   
   
       60 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a carbon monoxide detector.  
   
   
       61 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a radon detector.  
   
   
       62 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes an air quality sensor.  
   
   
       63 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a humidity sensor.  
   
   
       64 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a glass breakage sensor.  
   
   
       65 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a break beam detector.  
   
   
       66 . An apparatus for an application comprising: 
 a core device having an integrated circuit for the application; and    means for receiving energy wirelessly and providing power from the energy to the core device to power the integrated circuit of the core device, the receiving means connected to the core device.    
   
   
       67 . A method for an application comprising the steps of: 
 converting RF energy into usable energy; and    powering an integrated circuit of a core device with the usable energy.    
   
   
       68 . A method as described in  claim 67  including the step of regulating the usable energy provided to the core device.  
   
   
       69 . A method as described in  claim 68  including the step of storing the usable energy.  
   
   
       70 . A method as described in  claim 69  including the step of providing power to the core device from an alternative power source in conjunction with the usable energy.  
   
   
       71 . An apparatus as described in  claim 6  wherein the core device includes a computer peripheral.  
   
   
       72 . An apparatus as described in  claim 71  wherein the computer peripheral includes a handheld game.  
   
   
       73 . An apparatus as described in  claim 71  wherein the computer peripheral includes a gaming system.  
   
   
       74 . An apparatus as described in  claim 71  wherein the computer peripheral includes a game controller.  
   
   
       75 . An apparatus as described in  claim 71  wherein the computer peripheral includes a controller.  
   
   
       76 . An apparatus as described in  claim 71  wherein the computer peripheral includes a keyboard.  
   
   
       77 . An apparatus as described in  claim 71  wherein the computer peripheral includes a mouse.  
   
   
       78 . An apparatus as described in  claim 71  wherein the computer peripheral includes a computer terminal.  
   
   
       79 . An apparatus as described in  claim 71  wherein the computer peripheral includes computer storage.  
   
   
       80 . An apparatus as described in  claim 71  wherein the computer peripheral includes computer equipment.  
   
   
       81 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a thermal energy sensor.  
   
   
       82 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes an electromagnetic sensor.  
   
   
       83 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a mechanical sensor.  
   
   
       84 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes an optical sensor.  
   
   
       85 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a radiation sensor.  
   
   
       86 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a sensor in contact with a vehicle.  
   
   
       87 . An apparatus as described in  claim 7  wherein the sensor includes a sensor in contact with a water craft.