Mechanically powering sensors using a magnetic field

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10620016-B2
Application number	US-201715822198-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 26, 2017
Priority date	Nov 26, 2017
Publication date	Apr 14, 2020
Grant date	Apr 14, 2020

Abstract

A sensing apparatus may include a printed circuit board (PCB) having a processing unit, a positioning sensor, an environmental sensor and one or more inductive elements positioned within a region at an edge of the PCB. The one or more inductive elements may be configured to generate electrical energy for the processing unit by passing through a magnetic field. The apparatus may also include a spindle implemented through the PCB, such that the spindle protrudes through a substantially central location relative to one plane of the PCB.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising a controller, a positioning sensor, an environmental sensor and one or more inductive elements positioned within a region at an edge of the PCB, wherein the one or more inductive elements are configured to generate electrical energy for the controller by passing through a magnetic field; and
a spindle implemented through the PCB, such that the spindle protrudes through a substantially central location relative to one plane of the PCB;
wherein the environmental sensor is a directional sensor configured to obtain sensor readings with respect to one or more directions determined relative to a determined position of the positioning sensor; and
wherein the controller is configured to:
determine respective positions of the positioning sensor in relation to a magnetic field;
determine respective directions of the environmental sensor with respect to the respective positions; and
correlate the sensor readings from the environmental sensor with corresponding directions of the environmental sensor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is coupled to the environmental sensor, the positioning sensor and the one or more inductive elements and the controller is further configured to receive data from the environmental sensor and the positioning sensor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the PCB comprises a plurality of inductive elements, including at least one inductive element implemented on a first side of the PCB and at least one inductive element implemented on a second side of the PCB.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an encasement implemented all around the PCB and affixed to a portion of the spindle proximate to the central location.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the PCB and the encasement implemented around the PCB are each substantially circular in shape in the one plane of the PCB, and a corresponding plane of the encasement.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the PCB and the encasement implemented around the PCB are configured to rotate around an axis defined by the spindle, such that the region at the edge of the PCB passes through a magnetic field.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the spindle is affixed to a source of an externally-generated rotational force.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a magnet configured to be affixed to a surface and configured to have at least one portion of the magnet overlap with at least one portion of the region at the edge of the PCB.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the source of the externally-generated rotational force is coupled to the surface to which the magnet is affixed.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the source of the externally-generated rotational force is a rotating axle of a vehicle, and the magnet is affixed to the vehicle.

11. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the environmental sensor is implemented on a first location of the PCB, and the positional sensor is implemented on a second location of the PCB, such that the first location is diametrically opposite the second location.

12. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to determine one or more rotational directions of the apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the environmental sensor is a non-directional sensor configured to obtain scalar-based sensor readings.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the positioning sensor is implemented in the region at the edge of the PCB and is configured to transmit a positioning signal to the controller in response to detecting a magnetic field of the magnet.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the PCB further comprises a memory configured to store data from the environmental sensor and the positioning sensor, and coupled to the controller.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the PCB further comprises a wireless transceiver coupled to the controller and configured to transmit and receive wireless communications.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to transmit processed sensor readings received and processed by the controller, on a periodic basis.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to transmit processed sensor readings received and processed by the controller, in response to receiving a communication requesting transmission of the processed sensor readings.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the wireless transceiver and the controller are implemented on a single semiconductor die.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising one or more power supplies communicatively coupled with the controller, wherein each power supply is implemented on the PCB and is coupled to at least one inductive element.

21. An apparatus, comprising:
a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising a controller, a positioning sensor, an environmental sensor and one or more inductive elements positioned within a region at an edge of the PCB, wherein the one or more inductive elements are configured to generate electrical energy for the controller by passing through a magnetic field;
a spindle implemented through the PCB, such that the spindle protrudes through a substantially central location relative to one plane of the PCB; and
an encasement implemented all around the PCB and affixed to a portion of the spindle proximate to the central location, wherein the PCB and the encasement implemented around the PCB are each substantially circular in shape in the one plane of the PCB, and a corresponding plane of the encasement;
wherein the controller is configured to:
determine one or more rotational directions of the apparatus;
determine a spike in electrical energy of a first inductive element at a first time within a revolution of the apparatus;
determine a spike in electrical energy of a second inductive element at a second time within the revolution; and
determine a first rotational direction of the apparatus based on the determined spikes of electrical energy in the first inductive element and the second inductive element.

22. A method of forming a sensing apparatus, comprising:
implementing one or more inductive elements within a region at an edge of a PCB, wherein each inductive element is configured to generate electrical energy by passing through a magnetic field;
implementing at least one environmental sensor on the PCB, the environmental sensor being a directional sensor configured to obtain sensor readings with respect to one or more directions determined relative to a determined position of a positioning sensor;
implementing a controller on the PCB, configured to be powered by the one or more inductive elements and communicatively coupled to the at least one environmental sensor, the controller further configured to:
determine respective positions of the positioning sensor in relation to a magnetic field;
determine respective directions of the environmental sensor with respect to the respective positions; and
correlate the sensor readings from the environmental sensor with corresponding directions of the environmental sensor; and

implementing a spindle through the center of the PCB, configured to allow rotation of the PCB about an axis defined by the spindle.

23. The method of claim 22 , further comprising implementing an encasement surrounding the PCB and affixed to at least a portion of the spindle.

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Assignees

• Western Digital Tech Inc

Inventors

• Obukhov Dmitry
• Karuppiah Muthukumar
• Ismail Khurram

Classifications

• G01P3/487 Primary

  delivered by rotating magnets · CPC title

• H02N99/00

  Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title

• G01P13/045

  with speed indication · CPC title

• H05K2201/10151

  Sensor · CPC title

• G01D21/00

  Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for · CPC title