Miniature Hybrid Power Supplies for Enclosed Spaces

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.