Energy scavenging sensors for ultra-low power sensor networks

Dominic C. O'Brien; Jing Jing Liu; Grahame E. Faulkner; Pithawat Vachiramon; Steve Collins; Steven J. Elston

doi:10.1117/12.861481

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24 August 2010 Energy scavenging sensors for ultra-low power sensor networks

Dominic C. O'Brien, Jing Jing Liu, Grahame E. Faulkner, Pithawat Vachiramon, Steve Collins, Steven J. Elston

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Proceedings Volume 7814, Free-Space Laser Communications X; 78140A (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.861481
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2010, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The 'internet of things' will require very low power wireless communications, preferably using sensors that scavenge power from their environment. Free space optics allows communications over long ranges, with simple transceivers at each end, offering the possibility of low energy consumption. In addition there can be sufficient energy in the communications beam to power simple terminals. In this paper we report experimental results from an architecture that achieves this. A base station that tracks sensors in its coverage area and communicates with them using low divergence optical beams is presented. Sensor nodes use modulated retro-reflectors to communicate with the base station, and the nodes are powered by the illuminating beam. The paper presents design and implementation details, as well as future directions for this work.

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Dominic C. O'Brien, Jing Jing Liu, Grahame E. Faulkner, Pithawat Vachiramon, Steve Collins, and Steven J. Elston "Energy scavenging sensors for ultra-low power sensor networks", Proc. SPIE 7814, Free-Space Laser Communications X, 78140A (24 August 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.861481

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