Tracking device and power module

Abstract

A tracking device (100) comprises a power module (102) and a tracking operations module (104). The power module (102) includes two electrical power storage cells in the form of a super-capacitor (110) and a rechargeable battery (112); an energy harvester (106) for generating electrical power to charge the electrical power storage cells (110, 112) and a power management controller (108) arranged to control charging of the first (110) and second (112) power storage cells. The tracking operations module (104) includes a GPS module (122, 124) for receiving data about a location of the tracking device (100); a GSM module (126, 128) for transmitting the data about the location of the tracking device (100); a motion sensor (136); and processing means (118) arranged to: detect movement of the device (100) based on an output of the motion sensor (136); and manage receipt and transmission of the data about the location of the tracking device (100).

1 . A power module for a mobile device, the power module comprising:
 first and second electrical power storage cells of different types;   an energy harvester for generating electrical power to charge the electrical power storage cells;   a switch for routing the generated electrical power to one of the first and second electrical power storage cells; and   processing means arranged to monitor the electrical power stored in one or both of the electrical power storage cells and control the switch.   
     
     
         2 . A tracking device comprising:
 a power management module as defined in  claim 1 ;   means for receiving data about a location of the tracking device;   means for storing the data about the location of the tracking device;   means for wirelessly transmitting the data about the location of the tracking device; and   a motion sensor;   wherein the processing means are further arranged to manage receipt and transmission of the data about the location of the tracking device.