SBIR-STTR Award

The US Army needs hybrid power supplies to allow autonomous operation of electronic devices, that can extract energy from its environment in a variety of forms, store it temporarily , and then release it as needed. The power supply must have longevity, operate in a wide temperature range, and withstand high shear rates and pressure. It also must be adaptable to different electrical requirements, and be inexpensive. The purpose of this work is to develop an integrated hybrid power supply to meet this need. It will consist of (single or multiple) energy scavengers and microscopic batteries developed by Bipolar Technologies. A fuzzy-logic based controller will interface the energy scavenger(s) and battery. The controller will monitor battery state and transmit data to a remote host. It will detect energy availability through its energy harvester(s), and either supply that energy directly, or use it to charge the battery. This work leveraged from considerable experience by Bipolar Technologies and its affiliates, in micro power supplies and miniature energy storage. During Phase I, prototype power supplies will be built and demonstrated with several energy scavenger types. During Phase II, more mature, optimized devices will be built, with greater degree of integration and intelligence. Miniature Hybrid Power Supplies will be a significant enabler to numerous wireless technologies, particularly autonomous sensors. The potential market is hundreds of millions of dollars per year

New generations of smart munitions are more critically dependent on electrical power. Past power supply concepts are inadequate due to increasingly difficult requirements. A hybrid power supply combines energy generation with storage. It exhibits the advantages of both component technologies. The purpose of this work is to develop a reconfigurable, miniature hybrid power supply. It will employ energy harvesters, energy storage, and a controller. Several and/or different harvesters and energy storage components can be used. The controller will detect energy availability through its harvester (s), and either supply that energy directly, or store it. The hybrid concept can address a wide range of power supply needs for enclosed spaces. During Phase I, prototype multi-harvester power supplies are being demonstrated. Particularly important is a RF harvester ( 2.4 GHz). It has generated currents of several mA, at voltages of up to 2 V (4 V OCV). During Phase II, frequencies of 40 GHz will be used, resulting in a RF harvester appropriately sized for munitions, with charging/voltage control. More mature power supplies will be built for targeted applications. Phase II will also be devoted to creating other critical component technologies, including miniature energy storage.

Benefits:
Hybrid Power Supplies for Munitions, Missiles, Other Projectiles. Power Supplies for Miniature Wireless Sensors. Power Supplies for Other Wireless (Autonomous) Electronics. RF Charging of Implanted Medical Devices.

Keywords:
Hybrid Power Supply, RF, Energy Harvester, Reconfigurable, Energy Scavenger, Microscopic Batteries, Adaptable, Wireless