US 12,451,725 B2
Powering devices using RF energy harvesting
John G. Shearer, Ligonier, PA (US); Charles E. Greene, Butler, PA (US); and Daniel W. Harrist, Carnegie, PA (US)
Assigned to Powercast Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Filed by Powercast Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Filed on Jul. 18, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/867,313.
Application 12/499,618 is a division of application No. 11/447,412, filed on Jun. 6, 2006, abandoned.
Application 17/867,313 is a continuation of application No. 16/404,273, filed on May 6, 2019, granted, now 11,394,246.
Application 16/404,273 is a continuation of application No. 14/697,053, filed on Apr. 27, 2015, granted, now 10,284,019, issued on May 7, 2019.
Application 14/697,053 is a continuation of application No. 14/143,334, filed on Dec. 30, 2013, granted, now 9,021,277, issued on Apr. 28, 2015.
Application 14/143,334 is a continuation of application No. 12/499,618, filed on Jul. 8, 2009, granted, now 8,621,245, issued on Dec. 31, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/688,587, filed on Jun. 8, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2023/0006469 A1, Jan. 5, 2023
Int. Cl. H02J 50/00 (2016.01); G06K 19/07 (2006.01); H02J 50/20 (2016.01); H02J 50/90 (2016.01); H04B 1/16 (2006.01)
CPC H02J 50/001 (2020.01) [G06K 19/0702 (2013.01); G06K 19/0707 (2013.01); H02J 50/20 (2016.02); H02J 50/90 (2016.02); H04B 1/1607 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus, comprising:
an antenna configured to wirelessly receive energy from a source that is remote from the apparatus;
a power harvester electrically coupled to the antenna and configured to convert the energy received at the antenna to a DC voltage to produce a first power associated with the DC voltage;
an alternative power source configured to produce a second power different from the first power, the alternative power source and the power harvester electrically coupled in series; and
a power storage component electrically coupled to the power harvester and the alternative power source and configured to receive the first power and the second power, the power storage component configured such that a power storage level of the power storage component increases in response to receiving at least one of the first power or the second power.