A Vibration Harvesting-based, EnerPak-Managed, Power Supply for AT Systems

ABSTRACT: Exploitation of U.S. systems is an increasing threat. Anti-Tamper (AT) technologies are being developed to counter this threat. Given the long life of U.S. systems, alternatives to primary batteries as power supplies for AT systems must be developed. Energy harvesting-based power supplies represent one such alternative. Energy harvesters (EH), while attractive, tend to have low outputs which create a major challenge in storing generated charge. Quiescent storage environments further challenge energy harvesters. EnerPak, a sophisticated and efficient charge management and storage system, substantially aids in overcoming these challenges. Phase I results demonstrated that a novel vibration harvester (VH) design in conjunction with an improved EnerPak was capable of providing much of the needs of a moderate power AT system. In Phase II, the vibration harvester design will be refined. Further improvements will be made to the charge management system. Extended VH/EnerPak power and aging lab testing will demonstrate lifetime performance. A prime contractor will provide evaluation of the complete VH/EnerPak/AT system. TPL is the inventor of EnerPak, holds two patents on the hybrid storage device configuration, and has extensive field testing with EnerPak devices. BENEFIT: The developed VH/EnerPak product will make a substantial contribution to achieving long life power needs for AT systems. EH/EnerPak power sources will find numerous military applications in unattended ground sensors and surveillance systems, wireless structural health monitoring systems, extension of battery life, and others. The principal commercial use for energy harvesting-based power supplies such as EnerPak will be in the wireless sensor network market, where the EH power supply market is projected to reach $4B by the end of the decade. TPL"s hybrid storage device configuration will also find applications in smart devices, hybrid automobiles, and others.