Implementation and validation of a two-stage energy extraction circuit for a self sustained asset-tracking system

Abstract

We present a two-stage energy extraction circuit for a piezoelectric energy harvester, powering an asset-tracking system. Exploiting accelerations generated by many logistic transport devices, e.g., pushcarts, forklifts, assembly belts or cars, we are able to harvest sufficient electrical energy to transmit radio signals, which will allow to track an object when it is moving. Accelerations in logistic applications are non-sinusoidal and lead to high open-circuit voltages, which demand a special adaption of the energy extraction network. We evaluate the performance of several state-of-the-art energy extraction networks and compare those to the performance of our two-stage approach under various excitation conditions. By using the proposed energy extraction circuit, the transmission rate could be increased from four to six transmissions per second for sinusoidal excitations with an open-circuit-voltage of 60 V. In the practical use-case, the two-stage energy extraction network performs more than two times better compared to the one-stage and synchronized switching harvesting with inductor approach.