Some embodiments include apparatus and methods for using a switch to couple an inductor to an energy harvester for a time interval to allow charging of the inductor during the time interval, and using a circuit to generate control information for power management. A value of the control information is based on a value of the time interval.

Disclosed herein are systems and techniques for controlling irrigation systems using thermoelectric devices. A thermoelectric generator can produce a voltage that is proportional to a temperature differential measured locally, adjacent an irrigation target or sprinkler. The voltage can be used to control the irrigation sprinkler, for example, by providing a signal to a control valve that is fluidly coupled with the sprinkler. The system can be self-contained, without external electrical connections and without solar panels, allowing for remote use that is not dependent upon solar irradiance. The system can further be tuned to individually control irrigation components, such as by calibrating the voltage to soil moisture or other conditions, and actuating the valve when the voltage reaches a threshold indicative of the condition.

A method is provided for producing an electrically-powered device and/or component that is embeddable in a solid structural component, and a system, a produced device and/or a produced component is provided. The produced electrically powered device includes an attached autonomous electrical power source in a form of a unique, environmentally-friendly structure configured to transform thermal energy at any temperature above absolute zero to an electric potential without any external stimulus including physical movement or deformation energy. The autonomous electrical power source component provides a mechanism for generating renewable energy as primary power for the electrically-powered device and/or component once an integrated structure including the device and/or component is deployed in an environment that restricts future access to the electrical power source for servicing, recharge, replacement, replenishment or the like.

A thermoelectric power generation device including: a heating unit having a heat medium passage in which a heat medium flows; a cooling unit having a cooling liquid passage in which a cooling liquid flows; a thermoelectric element having the heating unit and the cooling unit so as to generate power by utilizing a temperature difference between a condensation temperature of the heat medium and a temperature of the cooling liquid; a power generation output detection unit configured to detect a power generation output of the thermoelectric element; a heat medium pressure detection unit configured to detect a pressure of the heat medium; a storage unit for storing, in advance, a relationship between a power generation output of the thermoelectric element and the pressure of the heat medium; and an abnormality detection unit configured to detect an abnormality taking place in the thermoelectric power generation device.

A DC-DC converter and method are provided for converting a low voltage DC input to a higher voltage DC output. The DC-DC converter has an oscillator with a first relatively voltage sensitive and relatively low power transistor and a second relatively voltage insensitive and relatively high power transistor, the oscillator producing an AC signal from the low voltage DC input. The inclusion of the voltage sensitive transistor allows the oscillator to turn on at a relatively low voltage. The inclusion of the higher power transistor allows the oscillator to operate at a higher power once it turns on. The DC-DC converter can be used for converting energy harvested from low voltage sources.

Devices for generating electrical energy along with methods of fabrication and methods of use are disclosed. An example device can comprise one or more layers of a transition metal dichalcogenide material. An example device can comprise a mechano-electric generator. Another example device can comprise a thermoelectric generator.

A method for manufacturing a measuring device includes: a step of preparing a structure; a step of fixing a piece to a housing by first welding on a distal end face of the structure; and a step of polishing a welded portion formed by the first welding and the distal end face. The structure includes: the housing having a first end and a second end which are open in one direction; a thermocouple extending in the one direction in the housing; and the piece provided in the housing, exposed from the first end, and configured to hold the thermocouple. The piece has a side face facing an inner surface of the housing. In the step of preparing the structure, the thermocouple is accommodated between a pair of grooves provided on the side face and the inner surface of the housing by inserting the piece into the housing.

A method for manufacturing a measuring device includes: a step of preparing a structure; a step of fixing a piece to a housing by first welding on a distal end face of the structure; and a step of polishing a welded portion formed by the first welding and the distal end face. The structure includes: the housing having a first end and a second end which are open in one direction; a thermocouple extending in the one direction in the housing; and the piece provided in the housing, exposed from the first end, and configured to hold the thermocouple. The piece has a side face facing an inner surface of the housing. In the step of preparing the structure, the thermocouple is accommodated between a pair of grooves provided on the side face and the inner surface of the housing by inserting the piece into the housing.

A cooling device includes a cylindrical body having thermal conductivity, a plurality of thermoelectric converters, and a feeder cable. The plurality of thermoelectric converters are arranged along a periphery of the cylindrical body and disposed dispersedly along an axis of the cylindrical body. The feeder cable connects two or more thermoelectric converters arranged along the periphery of the cylindrical body in series among the plurality of thermoelectric converters to form each of a plurality of sets of thermoelectric converters. And the feeder cable forms a circuit for power feeding of the each of the plurality of sets of thermoelectric converters. A voltage is applied individually to each of circuits that includes the circuit so that thermoelectric converters of the each of the circuits in the plurality of thermoelectric converters are driven.

The device includes heat transfer portions, each of which is configured to thermally connect: one electrode provided on one side of a hot junction side and a cold junction side of each thermoelectric conversion element; and a heat transfer member. A base material has recesses on a second surface side, the recesses being provided so as to be recessed in a range of a region which overlaps with interspaces between other electrodes provided on other side of the hot junction side and the cold junction side of the each thermoelectric conversion element in a plan view. A low thermal expansion layer is provided on a surface side of each of the thermoelectric conversion element facing the heat transfer member or a high thermal expansion layer is provided on a surface side of each of the thermoelectric conversion elements facing the recess.