Energy harvesting with two conducting antenna within different substances

Abstract

A system is presented for harvesting electromagnetic energy propagating in surroundings. The system comprises an antenna unit, a harvesting unit, and an input signal adapting circuit. The antenna unit is configured for receiving external electromagnetic radiation from the surroundings and producing a corresponding electric output. The harvesting unit comprises at least one energy harvesting circuit each configured and operable for receiving signals indicative of the output of the antenna unit and generating and storing corresponding electric charge, the harvesting circuit comprising: a rectifying unit comprising a plurality of rectifiers each configured and operable to receive AC electric signals and generate corresponding DC electric power; and a charge collection unit configured and operable to receive the plurality of DC electric powers from said rectifying unit and converting and accumulating them into the electric charge presenting harvested energy. The input signal adapting circuit has an input connected to the antenna unit and an output connected to the rectifying unit, the input signal adapting circuit being configured and operable for adjusting a predetermined electrical property of the antenna unit and rectifying unit to thereby optimize receipt of the electric output of the antenna unit to the harvesting circuit.

1 . An energy harvesting unit comprising at least one energy harvesting circuit, wherein each energy harvesting circuit is configured and operable for receiving signals from an antenna unit and generating and storing corresponding electric charge, the harvesting circuit comprising:
 an input signal adapting circuit connectable to output of an antenna unit;   a rectifying unit connected to output of the input signal adapting circuit, the rectifying unit comprising a plurality of rectifiers each configured and operable to receive AC electric signals and generate corresponding DC electric power; and   a charge collection unit configured and operable to receive the plurality of DC electric powers from said rectifying unit and converting and accumulating them into the electric charge presenting harvested energy.   
     
     
         2 . The energy harvesting unit of  claim 1  wherein the input signal adapting unit further comprises an impedance matching unit and a filtering unit connected to the impedance matching unit, the impedance matching unit being configured to match between impedances of the antenna unit and the filtering unit, and the filtering unit being adapted for sorting the RF band into a predefined number of subbands of a predetermined frequency, bandwidth and strength for each subband. 
     
     
         3 . The energy harvesting unit of  claim 1  wherein the charge collection unit further comprises a signal summing unit adapted to receive a plurality of DC electric powers and sum them in the form of an electric charge on a storage capacitor, the signal summing unit comprising at least one of a switching topology unit and a voltage to current unit. 
     
     
         4 . The energy harvesting unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a control unit connected to at least one of the input signal adapting unit and to the charge collection unit and configured and operable to control operation of the harvesting circuit. 
     
     
         5 . The energy harvesting unit of  claim 4 , wherein said control unit is connected to at least said charge collection unit which comprises a switching topology circuit comprising a predetermined number of capacitors having relatively small capacitance values and being connected to output of the corresponding number of the rectifiers respectively, and a storage capacitor of a relatively large capacitance value, the switching topology circuit being adapted to controllably switch between the plurality of DC signals received from the plurality of rectifiers respectively with the corresponding plurality of said capacitors of the relatively small capacitance values for power summation and storage of corresponding charge on said capacitor of the relatively large capacitance value. 
     
     
         6 . The energy harvesting unit of  claim 1 , wherein said harvesting circuit further comprises a connection port for connecting output of the charge collection unit to at least one electrical load. 
     
     
         7 . The energy harvesting unit of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one electrical load is a rechargeable battery, a medical device, an electric vehicle component, or an electric device for home use. 
     
     
         8 . The energy harvesting unit of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage to current unit comprises a predetermined number of voltage to current conversion circuits having inputs connectable to outputs of a corresponding number of rectifiers respectively, and outputs connected to the storage capacitor, the voltage to current unit being thereby configured and operable to convert and sum a plurality of DC sources received from the plurality of rectifiers via the voltage to current conversion circuits. 
     
     
         9 . A system for harvesting electromagnetic energy propagating in surroundings, said system comprising:
 an antenna unit configured for receiving external electromagnetic radiation from the surroundings and producing a corresponding electric output; and   an energy harvesting unit comprising at least one energy harvesting circuit, wherein each energy harvesting circuit is configured and operable for receiving signals from an antenna unit and generating and storing corresponding electric charge, the harvesting circuit comprising:
 an input signal adapting circuit connectable to output of an antenna unit; 
 a rectifying unit connected to output of the input signal adapting circuit, the rectifying unit comprising a plurality of rectifiers each configured and operable to receive AC electric signals and generate corresponding DC electric power; and 
 a charge collection unit configured and operable to receive the plurality of DC electric powers from said rectifying unit and converting and accumulating them into the electric charge presenting harvested energy. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the input signal adapting unit of the harvesting unit further comprises an impedance matching unit and a filtering unit connected to the impedance matching unit, the impedance matching unit being configured to match between impedances of the antenna unit and the filtering unit, and the filtering unit being adapted for sorting the RF band into a predefined number of subbands of a predetermined frequency, bandwidth and strength for each subband. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the charge collection unit of the harvesting unit further comprises a signal summing unit adapted to receive a plurality of DC electric powers and sum them in the form of an electric charge on a storage capacitor, the signal summing unit comprising at least one of a switching topology unit and a voltage to current unit.