Self-powered remote control device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9742210-B2
Application number	US-201415102922-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 16, 2014
Priority date	Dec 16, 2013
Publication date	Aug 22, 2017
Grant date	Aug 22, 2017

Abstract

Remote control device comprising a generator (PVU) intended to convert light or mechanical energy to electrical energy, a wireless transmitter (RF) able to send messages to a remote receiver, a first electrical energy storage element (C 1 ) connected to the energy generator (PVU) and intended to be charged with the electrical energy generated by the generator (PVU) in order to supply power to the wireless transmitter (RF) in a first operating mode of the control device, and a second electrical energy storage element (C 2 ) intended to supply power to the wireless transmitter (RF) in a second operating mode. The second electrical energy storage element is connected to the generator (PVU) via parallel connection of a first resistor (R 1 ) and a first diode (D 1 ), the cathode of the first diode being connected to the positive terminal of the generator (PVU).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Remote control device comprising:
a generator configured to convert light or mechanical energy to electrical energy,
a wireless transmitter capable of sending messages to a remote receiver,
a first electrical energy storage element connected to the energy generator and so as to be charged with the electrical energy generated by the generator and connected to the wireless transmitter so as to supply power to the wireless transmitter in a first operating mode of the control device, and
a second electrical energy storage element connected to the wireless transmitter so as to supply power to the wireless transmitter in a second operating mode,
wherein the second electrical energy storage element is connected to the generator via parallel connection of a first resistor and a first diode, a cathode of the first diode being connected to the positive terminal of the generator,
so that current from the generator flows preferentially toward the first electrical energy storage element and charges preferentially the first electrical energy storage element.

2. Control device according to claim 1 , wherein a maximum storage capacity of the first electrical energy storage element is n times smaller than a maximum storage capacity of the second electrical energy storage element, where n>100.

3. Control device according to claim 1 , wherein a load current of the first storage element is at least k times larger than a current flowing in a branch comprising a series assembly formed by the first resistor and the second storage element, where k>2.

4. Control device according to claim 1 , comprising a wireless receiver capable of receiving messages.

5. Control device according to claim 1 , wherein the second storage element comprises at least one of a supercapacitor and a rechargeable battery.

6. Control device according to claim 1 , wherein a maximum storage capacity of the first electrical energy storage element is n times smaller than a maximum storage capacity of the second electrical energy storage element, where n>1000.

7. Control device according to claim 2 , wherein a load current of the first storage element is at least k times larger than a current flowing in a branch comprising a series assembly formed by the first resistor and the second storage element, where k>2.

8. Control device according to claim 6 , wherein a load current of the first storage element is at least k times larger than a current flowing in a branch comprising a series assembly formed by the first resistor and the second storage element, where k>2.

9. Control device according to claim 1 , wherein a load current of the first storage element is at least k times larger than a current flowing in a branch comprising a series assembly formed by the first resistor and the second storage element, where k>10.

10. Control device according to claim 2 , wherein a load current of the first storage element is at least k times larger than a current flowing in a branch comprising a series assembly formed by the first resistor and the second storage element, where k>10.

11. Control device according to claim 6 , wherein a load current of the first storage element is at least k times larger than a current flowing in a branch comprising a series assembly formed by the first resistor and the second storage element, where k>10.

12. Control device according to claim 2 , comprising a wireless receiver capable of receiving messages.

13. Control device according to claim 2 , wherein the second storage element comprises at least one of a supercapacitor and a rechargeable battery.

14. Control device according to claim 3 , comprising a wireless receiver capable of receiving messages.

15. Control device according to claim 3 , wherein the second storage element comprises at least one of a supercapacitor and a rechargeable battery.

16. Control device according to claim 4 , wherein the second storage element comprises at least one of a supercapacitor and a rechargeable battery.

17. Control device according to claim 6 , comprising a wireless receiver capable of receiving messages.

18. Control device according to claim 6 , wherein the second storage element comprises at least one of a supercapacitor and a rechargeable battery.

19. Control device according to claim 7 , comprising a wireless receiver capable of receiving messages.

20. Control device according to claim 7 , wherein the second storage element comprises at least one of a supercapacitor and a rechargeable battery.

21. Control device according to claim 4 , wherein
the first electrical energy storage element is connected to the wireless receiver so as to supply power to the wireless receiver in the first operating mode, and
the second electrical energy storage element is connected to the wireless receiver so as to supply power to the wireless receiver in the second operating mode.

Assignees

• Somfy Sas

Inventors

• Lambersend Bruno

Classifications

• H02J7/865

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

• H02J7/0068 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• G08C17/02 Primary

  using a radio link · CPC title

• H04W4/12

  Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements · CPC title

• H02J7/345

  using capacitors as storage or buffering devices · CPC title