Dual-Mode Energy Harvesting Wireless Power Receiver Apparatus With Self-Reviving Capabilities

Abstract

Dual-mode active/passive wireless power receiver clients, and associated systems, methods and computer readable media. A system includes means for determining whether or not a radio frequency (RF) field at an antenna meets an ambient threshold in a wireless power delivery environment. The system also includes means for receiving wireless power from a wireless power source in the wireless power delivery environment when the RF field meets or exceeds the ambient threshold. The system further includes means for harvesting ambient energy from the wireless power delivery environment when the RF field is below the ambient threshold.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 determining whether or not a radio frequency (RF) field at an antenna meets an ambient threshold in a wireless power delivery environment; and   for determining that the RF field meets the ambient threshold, receiving wireless power from a wireless power source in the wireless power delivery environment; or   for determining that the RF field is below the ambient threshold, harvesting ambient energy from the wireless power delivery environment.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein for determining that the RF field is below the ambient threshold, the method further comprises attempting to establish communication with the wireless power source for receipt of wireless power therefrom after a predetermined amount of the ambient energy is harvested from the wireless power delivery environment. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising determining that the RF field fails to meet the ambient threshold and, in response, continuing to harvest the ambient energy from the wireless power delivery environment. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising transducing RF energy from the receiving, or the harvesting, to an electric current for transmission to an energy storage device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein for determining that the RF field is below the ambient threshold, the method further comprises trickle charging an energy storage device coupled to the means for harvesting. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the harvesting comprises transducing ambient RF energy from at least one of Wi-Fi and cellular RF signals in the wireless power delivery environment. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising detecting the RF field at the antenna. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising transmitting an electric current generated by the receiving, or by the harvesting, to at least one of an energy storage device and an electronic device. 
     
     
         9 . One or more non-transitory computer readable media having stored thereon program instructions which, when executed by a processing system of a machine, cause the machine to:
 determine whether or not a radio frequency (RF) field at an antenna meets an ambient threshold in a wireless power delivery environment; and   receive wireless power from a wireless power source in the wireless power delivery environment when the RF field is determined to meet the ambient threshold; and   harvest ambient energy from the wireless power delivery environment when the RF is determined to be below the ambient threshold.   
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 means for determining whether or not a radio frequency (RF) field at an antenna meets an ambient threshold in a wireless power delivery environment;   means for receiving wireless power from a wireless power source in the wireless power delivery environment when the RF field meets or exceeds the ambient threshold; and   means for harvesting ambient energy from the wireless power delivery environment when the RF field is below the ambient threshold.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  further comprising means for detecting the RF field at the antenna, wherein the means for detecting is coupled to the means for determining. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  further comprising the antenna coupled to the means for detecting. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the means for harvesting is configured to transduce ambient RF energy from the wireless power delivery environment to an electric current for transmission to an energy storage device. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising the energy storage device coupled to the means for harvesting. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of:
 the energy storage device includes at least one of a battery and a capacitor; and   the energy storage device includes protection circuitry.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the system is collocated, or associated, with an electronic device, and wherein at least one of the means for receiving and the means for harvesting is coupled to at least a portion of the electronic device for transmission of an electric current thereto. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the electronic device is, or includes, one of: a server desktop, a desktop computer, a computer cluster, a mobile computing device, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a mobile phone, and smart phone, a video game controller, a safety sensor, an electric toothbrush, an electronic door lock, an electronic door handle, an electric light switch controller, and an electric shaver, a wearable device, and a device embedded on or within a person. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the means for receiving is configured to transduce RF energy from an RF wireless power signal received from the wireless power source to an electric current for transmission to an energy storage device. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  further comprising the energy storage device coupled to the means for receiving. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of:
 the energy storage device includes at least one of a battery and a capacitor; and   the energy storage device includes protection circuitry.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 10  further comprising a rectifier coupled to at least one of the means for receiving and the means for harvesting to convert an alternating current to a direct current for transmission to an energy storage device.