Alternative methods of power supply for autonomous intelligent wireless sensors

Abstract

An intelligent wireless smart sensors leak into many branches in technical diagnostics recently. Need of measurement a record various quantities is still rising. Main focus is aimed to energy saving houses, to large complex with many air conditioning units, to industry, where is need of simple action intervention on many places. Problem coming up, when the building has no sufficient cable infrastructure. Additional costs in many cases discourage from installation of modern smart sensors and action elements and an efficiency of current process can be decreased. The modern intelligent smart sensors working over the 802.15.4 protocol solves these disadvantages. Energy harvesting method perfectly fit for powering these autonomous smart sensors. Main advantage of this approach is lack of any wires. Data transmission is ensured wirelessly in non licensing band 2.4GHz and modern DC-DC converter take over power supply delivery. This converter is able to accept minimum input voltage in order of tens mV. Integration of these technologies is fully autonomous wireless smart sensors working in discontinuous operation without necessity to change or charge supply batteries. To working properly, only few degrees of thermal gradient is sufficient.