Smart labels, methods of operating smart labels, and associated contexts in which such smart labels may be used are disclosed. The smart label, for use in conjunction with consumer product packaging, comprises an energy harvester to capture ambient energy to provide a source of electrical energy and electronic circuitry powered by the electrical energy. A fuse provides an electrical connection between the energy harvester and the electronic circuitry and destruction of the fuse permanently disconnects the energy harvester from the electronic circuitry. Unnecessary continued operation of the electronic circuitry powered by the energy harvester can therefore be prevented, for example when the consumer product packaging is disposed of or recycled, which may be an undesirable heat source. Smart labelling, and a connected network of smart bins which can read the smart labelling, may also be used to promote consumer recycling of consumer product packaging.

A sensor device is attached to various products. The sensor device includes a sensor unit, a communication unit, a storage unit, a power storage unit, and an energy harvesting unit. The sensor unit measures a condition related to a product. The communication unit outputs information based on the measurement result from the sensor unit. The storage unit stores the measurement result from the sensor unit and the information output from the communication unit. The power storage unit supplies electric power for operating at least one of the sensor unit, the communication unit, and the storage unit. The energy harvesting unit converts energy of an external environment into electric power and charges the power storage unit.

Devices, systems, and techniques are described that relate to the monitoring of various types of components in industrial systems. These include battery-less monitors that run on power harvested from their environments, systems for acquiring monitor data for the components in a facility, and/or techniques for processing monitor data to reliably determine the status of individual components and other system parameters.

This application relates to a self-powered sensor and a monitoring system including the same. In one aspect, the self-powered sensor includes a power generation unit converting an external physical stimulus into electrical energy, and a sensing unit generating and transmitting a sensing signal corresponding to the electrical energy. The sensing unit may include an electrical energy storage unit storing the electrical energy transmitted from the power generation unit, a switching unit switching to an energized state or a power-saving state according to the comparison result of the storage amount of the electrical energy stored in the electrical energy storage unit and a reference storage amount. The sensing unit may also include a processor generating and wirelessly transmitting a sensing signal based on the electrical energy stored in the electrical energy storage unit when the switching unit switches to the energized state.

A magnetic spring based energy harvester which includes a casing and a first retained magnet and a second retained magnet positioned within the casing. A levitated magnet is positioned between the first and second retained magnets and a spring assembly connected to the casing and the second retained magnet, wherein the spring assembly is configured to allow limited movement of the second retained magnet toward and away from the levitating magnet. Lastly, a conductive coil winding is positioned around the levitated magnet such that movement of the levitated magnet induces a current in the coil winding.

A system, method, and device for monitoring one or more sensors at a remote location. The system allows a user to register multiple sensors to the user's account. When the sensors are deployed at a remote location for measuring various properties of their surrounding environments, they collect data which is then transmitted to a server. The user may then monitor the data by connecting to the server via a client device, and receive alerts when the data satisfies certain conditions.

A vacuum insulator (10) includes: a core (13); a pressure sensor (51) that detects a pressure; a transmitter (52) that transmits, by wireless communication, the detected pressure detected by the pressure sensor (51); a power feeder (53) that feeds electric power to the pressure sensor (51) and the transmitter (52); and an outer skin (14), an inside of which is decompressed, the outer skin (14) accommodating therein the core (13), the pressure sensor (51), the transmitter (52), and the power feeder (53), the outer skin (14) having gas barrier capability.

Disclosed is a method of gathering data from a hybrid RFID chip to determine usage of an item or article of clothing using a mobile device like a phone, laptop, or tablet. The hybrid RFID chip consists of a processor, a memory, a radio transceiver, a power harvesting antenna, and an impedance circuit that converts ambient radio frequency (RF) energy to electrical energy. The RFID chip receives a first power level from ambient RF energy and periodically broadcasts an identity. The mobile device can receive the broadcast identity, store the identity, transmit the identity and location to a remote server, and receive a notification message from the remote server. The remote serve can determine usage of the item or article of clothing by comparing current records to previous records of RFID chip identity, location, and mobile device application identity.

The present invention comprises a Data Monitoring System that comprises one or more solar-powered and battery-operated sensors that are wirelessly connected to a microprocessor that is housed in a waterproof enclosure. The monitoring system and method of use includes wireless means for transmitting the sensor(s) measurements to an Internet server via the Cloud for real-time analysis and control of a machine that has at least one moving part. The innovative monitoring device leverages state-of-the-art sensing and computing technology for generating low cost, high-resolution, real-time measurements and timely reporting of the machine's motion and energy utilization, using a variety of sensors, including: temperature, motor voltage, motor current, wellhead gas pressure, and accelerometer sensors. The machine being monitored can be a pumpjack oil well pump.

A method is provided that integrates a unique set of structural features for concealing self-powered sensor and communication devices in aesthetically neutral, or camouflaged, packages that include energy harvesting systems that provide autonomous electrical power to sensors, data processing and wireless communication components in the portable, self-contained packages. Color-matched, image-matched and/or texture-matched optical layers are formed over energy harvesting components, including photovoltaic energy collecting components. Optical layers are tuned to scatter selectable wavelengths of electromagnetic energy back in an incident direction while allowing remaining wavelengths of electromagnetic energy to pass through the layers to the energy collecting components below. The layers uniquely implement optical light scattering techniques to make the layers appear opaque when observed from a light incident side, while allowing at least 50%, and as much as 80+%, of the energy impinging on the energy or incident side to pass through the layer.