Self-Powered IoT Sensors for Smart Grids
As the number of IoT devices rapidly increases over millions, replacement of battery in IoT devices become expensive and time-consuming. To resolve the issue, we have developed a self-powered IoT module, which is capable of collecting data from multiple sensors and transmitting data over 500 meters without battery. It utilizes a magnetic field available near a current-carrying conductor to power the module. Smart energy conversion circuit enables continuous operation of the IoT module under environment of ever-changing magnetic fields. Dual mode of operation, either active or sleep mode, is achieved by an autonomous switching scheme which determines the operational mode depending on the collected energy. Compared to existing self-powered IoT module, it can operate even under a very low magnetic field of 40 uT and it becomes very compact and light by taking an advantage of highly efficient energy management scheme.
A Korean patent was granted [KR 1020170069468] and more details of the work can be found in a SCI journal [Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology, May 2019]. This work has been financially supported by Korea Electric Power Corporation (Grant Number: RX17XA05-73).
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