Batteryless Powering of Remote Sensors with Reversed Peltier Power Source for Ubiquitous Environments

Abstract

The need for remote monitoring of almost every place in the world is still growing, while many new technical solutions are extensively developed by research community. The knowledge of the environment and the weather conditions of human environment is, in certain cases of polluted places in heavy industrial areas, necessary to allow real-time warnings about deteriorating conditions to living community in these desired places. While huge money investments were used for real-time monitoring of every possible quantity of human body, people's living environment became increasingly poorer. In this paper we present a modern and relatively cheap solution for powering some types of intelligent sensors in which traditional battery power source is insufficient and other powering options are not applicable. Obtaining the energy to supply sensors is possible even from immediate sensors' environment. Sources (which are utilizing thermal gradient) are supplying energy from the surrounding environment and without the need for high-intensity incident light (solar energy based). In order to achieve the full working mode, only a small thermal gradient is needed in order of degrees. The developed test application is using sophisticated electronic circuit provided by Linear Technology Company, which is able to use even small energy bursts for discontinuous intelligent sensors operations. The heat energy is converted into electric energy which is stored in very high-capacity capacitor (about 1 F). This power supply type is suitable for any environment, where some permanent thermal gradient is presented.