Systems and methods for energy harvesting and use in support of monitored processes and devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11757299-B2
Application number	US-201916957964-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 16, 2019
Priority date	Aug 16, 2019
Publication date	Sep 12, 2023
Grant date	Sep 12, 2023

Abstract

Methods and system include power harvesting with process and device monitoring. A power management system including a solar cell can be integrated with a display panel into a common housing. A capacitor and a rechargeable battery connected to the power management system can receive power from the solar cell and provide electrical power, first from the capacitor and then second from the rechargeable battery, to electronic components including the display engaged in monitoring processes and devices deployed in isolated locations. Electronics can include a microprocessor programmed to provide collected data display on the display panel and wireless transmission to a remote monitoring station. A rotatable stem operated by a step-motor and connected to the common housing can orient the integrated display and solar cell towards sunlight according to an internal time clock synchronizing movement of the display panel via a step motor and thereby maximize harvesting of electrical energy.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for harvesting energy, comprising:
a power management system including a solar cell integrated with a display panel into a common housing;
a capacitor and a rechargeable battery connected to the power management system to receive power from the solar cell and to provide electrical power first from the capacitor and then second from the rechargeable battery to electronic components including the display that are engaged in monitoring processes and devices deployed in isolated locations, wherein said electronics include a microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to provide data collected from the processes and devices for at least one of display on the display panel and wireless transmission to a remote monitoring station; and
a rotatable stem operated by a step-motor and connected to the display panel housing, wherein the rotatable stem is orientable by the step-motor towards sunlight according to an internal time clock synchronizing movement of the display panel via the step-motor and stem to maintain orientation of the display towards the sunlight and thereby maximize harvesting of electrical energy by the solar cell.

2. The system of claim 1 , including laminated safety glass covering the solar cell and display panel.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic components include a meter for an energy distribution system.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic components include wireless communications configured to provide the data to the remote monitoring system.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the wireless communications is configured to provide the data to the remote monitoring system via a wireless data network.

6. The system of claim 1 , including laminated safety glass covering the solar cell and display panel.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein electrical power is provided first from the capacitor and then second from the rechargeable battery to ensure that prolonged energy capacity is provided to electronic components and to assure uninterrupted operation of the electronics components.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable stem is connected to the common housing.

9. A system for harvesting energy and supported off-grid electronic components, comprising:
a power management system including a solar cell integrated with a display panel into a common housing; and
a capacitor and a rechargeable battery connected to the power management system to receive power from the solar cell and to provide electrical power first from the capacitor and then second from the rechargeable battery to electronic components including the display that are engaged in monitoring processes and devices deployed in isolated locations and operating off-grid, wherein the electronics include:
a microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to provide data collected from the processes and devices for display on the display panel;
a wireless communications module configured to provide the data via wireless transmission to a remote monitoring station, and
a rotatable stem operated by a step-motor and connected to the display panel housing, wherein the rotatable stem is orient able by the step-motor towards sunlight according to an internal time clock synchronizing movement of the display panel via the step-motor and stem to maintain orientation of the display towards the sunlight and thereby maximize harvesting of electrical energy by the solar cell.

10. The system of claim 9 , including laminated safety glass covering the solar cell and display panel.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the electronic components include a meter for an energy distribution system.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein electrical power is provided first from the capacitor and then second from the rechargeable battery to ensure prolonged energy capacity is provided to electronic components and to assure uninterrupted operation of the electronics components.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the rotatable stem is connected to the common housing.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the wireless communications is configured to provide the data to the remote monitoring system via a wireless data network.

15. A method for harvesting energy in support of a monitored system, comprising:
integrating an energy harvesting module including a solar cell with a display panel, a rechargeable battery and a capacitor with a monitored system in a common housing;
maintaining orientation of the display panel, via electromechanical manipulation of the common housing, towards solar radiation to enable charging of the capacitor and the rechargeable battery; and
utilizing electrical energy, first from the capacitor and then second from the rechargeable battery, to power electrical components associated with monitoring of the monitored system.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the monitored system is an energy distribution system.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the method includes the step of gathering data from a meter associated with the monitored system.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the monitored system is an energy distribution system.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the monitored system is an energy distribution system.

20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the data is provided via a wireless communications network to a remote monitoring system.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Chen Sam
• Sai Bin

Classifications

• H02J7/865

  Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply (H02J7/50 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01F15/063 Primary

  using electrical means · CPC title

• H02J7/35 Primary

  with light sensitive cells · CPC title

• G01D4/002

  Remote reading of utility meters · CPC title

• Y04S20/30

  Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading · CPC title