Abstract: Examples described herein include devices and methods that may facilitate interoperability between backscatter devices and wireless communication devices. For example, backscatter devices and methods for backscattering are described that provide a transmitted backscattered signal formatted in accordance with a wireless communication protocol (e.g. Bluetooth Low Energy, WiFi, IEEE 802.11, or IEEE 802.15.4). Such communication may reduce or eliminate any modifications required to wireless communication devices necessary to receive and decode backscattered signals.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a method for monitoring usage of electrical power of a structure using an electrical power monitoring system. The structure can have one or more main electrical power lines that supply the electrical power to a first load in the structure. The method can include calibrating the electrical power monitoring system. A first raw current in the one or more main electrical power lines and first calibration data can be generated while calibrating the electrical power monitoring system. The method also can include storing the first calibration data and a measurement of the first raw current. The method additionally can include measuring a second raw current. The method further can include calculating a first measured current. The method additionally can include displaying the first measured current. Other embodiments of related systems and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A system for monitoring electrical power usage in an electrical power infrastructure of a building. The system can include: a power consumption measurement device configured to be coupled to a first surface of the circuit breaker box, the circuit breaker box containing at least part of the electrical supply conductors for the electrical power infrastructure, the power consumption measurement device comprising one or more electrical current sensors; a first calibration device configured to be electrically coupled to the electrical power infrastructure, the first calibration device comprising one or more first calibration loads; and a calibration module configured to be performed using one or more processors and further configured to at least partially calibrate the power consumption measurement device using a Kalman filter and data obtained from the one or more electrical current sensors of the power consumption measurement device.

Abstract: A method of sensing electrical power being provided to a structure using a sensing device, a calibration device, and one or more processing modules. The sensing device can include one or more magnetic field sensors. The sensing device can be attached to a panel of a circuit breaker box. The panel of the circuit breaker box can overlie at least a part of one or more main electrical power supply lines for an electrical power infrastructure of a structure. The calibration device can include a load unit. The calibration device can be electrically coupled to the electrical power infrastructure of the structure. The method can include automatically calibrating the sensing device by determining a first transfer function in a piecewise manner based on a plurality of ordinary power consumption changes in the structure.

Abstract: A method of using a power consumption measurement device: determining at least two first current sensor readings from the one or more main electrical supply conductors; calibrating the power consumption measurement device, comprising applying a Kalman filter; electrically coupling a first calibration load to the electrical power infrastructure; determining at least one second current sensor reading from the one or more main electrical supply conductors; re-calibrating the power consumption measurement device, comprising applying the Kalman filter; uncoupling the first calibration load from the electrical power infrastructure; determining at least one third current sensor reading from the one or more main electrical supply conductors; and determining a first electrical power used by the electrical power infrastructure of the structure. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system for sensing electrical power usage in an electrical power infrastructure of a structure. The system can include a sensing device configured to be attached to a panel of the circuit breaker box overlying at least part of the one or more main electrical power supply lines. The system also can include a calibration device configured to be electrically coupled to the electrical power infrastructure of the structure. The system further can include one or more processing modules configured to receive one or more output signals from the sensing device. The sensing device can be devoid of being electrically or physically coupled to the one or more main electrical power supply lines or the electrical power infrastructure when the sensing device is attached to the panel. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: A method, system and tag for low power radio frequency communication is described. In one embodiment, the RF tag comprises: an access point coupled to provide access to a network; an RF tag comprising an energy harvesting unit operable to convert incident RF energy to direct current (DC); a storage unit operable to store recovered DC power; a passive wakeup pattern detector operable to generate an interrupt in response to detecting a set of one or more subcarriers; one or more sensors for sensing; a communication mechanism; and a microcontroller coupled to the energy harvesting and storage units, the one or more sensors, and the backscatter communicator, the microcontroller operable to wake up from a sleep state in response to the interrupt and cause the communication mechanism to exchange data wirelessly with another while powered by energy previously harvested and stored by the energy harvesting and storage unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for real-time wireless power transfer control. In one embodiment, a system comprises: an RF-energy harvesting sensor tag operable to generate a first backscatter signal and at least one base station operable to deliver RF power to the sensor tag by emitting a first waveform comprising a plurality of subcarriers, wherein the first backscatter signal is generated by the sensor tag by modulated scattering of the first waveform as incident upon the sensor tag, and further wherein the at least one base station subsequently emits a second waveform determined at least in part by a closed-loop feedback control algorithm responsive to measurements of the first backscatter signal.

Abstract: A method, system and tag for low power radio frequency communication is described. In one embodiment, the RF tag comprises: an energy harvesting unit operable to convert incident RF energy to direct current (DC); a storage unit operable to store recovered DC power; a passive wakeup pattern detector operable to generate an interrupt in response to detecting a set of one or more subcarriers; one or more sensors for sensing; a communication mechanism; and a microcontroller coupled to the energy harvesting and storage units, the one or more sensors, and the backscatter communicator, the microcontroller operable to wake up from a sleep state in response to the interrupt and cause the communication mechanism to exchange data wirelessly with another while powered by energy previously harvested and stored by the energy harvesting and storage unit.

Abstract: Examples described herein may detect gestures using multiple antennas and/or using reflected signals transmitted by the device which is also detecting the gesture. Multiple antenna detection may allow for classification of 3D gestures around a device. The use of reflected signals transmitted by the device itself may reduce a need for a separate signal source to be used for gesture detection. Accordingly, in some examples, devices (e.g. mobile phones) may detect gestures performed on or around the device without a need to transmit any signal specifically designed for gesture detection. Signals already transmitted by the device (e.g. GSM signals) may be used to detect the gestures.

Abstract: Example systems described herein may include one or more sensor devices that may be powered by a power device. The power may be transmitted from the power device to the sensor devices through a waveguide (e.g. a body). In some examples, the power device may be implemented using a near-field communication device (e.g. a mobile phone configured for near-field communication (NFC)). Magnetic fields generated by near-field communication devices may be transduced into electric fields and applied to a waveguide (e.g. a body) for transmission to the sensor devices. The sensor devices may harvest power from the signals received from the waveguide (e.g. the body).

Abstract: Systems and methods for sensing environmental changes using electromagnetic interference (EMI) signals are disclosed herein. An EMI monitoring system may be used to monitor an EMI signal of one or more light sources provided over a power line, e.g., in a home or building. The received EMI energy at the power line may be analyzed to detect variations in the EMI signature indicative of environmental changes occurring in the proximity of the light sources. Environmental changes that may be sensed include, but are not limited to, proximity, touch, motion, and temperature change.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for measuring radio-frequency energy. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises one or more antennas, a wideband radio frequency detector (e.g., a logarithmic amplifier (LogAmp)) coupled to the one or more antennas to measure ambient RF energy, wherein the wideband radio frequency detector has an analog output indicative of RF input power received by the one or more antennas, and an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the wideband radio frequency detector to convert the analog output to a digital value, the digital value being applied to a calibration function, to provide a number representing RF energy.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensing device can include two or more magnetic field sensors configured to detect a magnetic field in a current carrying conductor. The magnetic field sensing device also can include a phase detector electrically coupled to outputs of the two or more magnetic field sensors. The magnetic field sensing device further can include a phase indicator electrically coupled to the phase detector. The phase indictor can include a display that indicates when the two or more magnetic field sensors are in a position in relation to the current carrying conductor. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for harvesting ambient energy. In one embodiment, an energy harvester comprises: a first RF rectifier to output a first voltage determined by rectified RF energy in response to received RF energy; a first energy reservoir coupled to the first RF rectifier to store energy at the first voltage; a DC/DC converter coupled to the first energy reservoir to convert the first voltage to a second voltage; a second reservoir coupled to the DC/DC converter to store energy at the second voltage, the second voltage being greater than the first voltage; and a third reservoir coupled to the second reservoir to receive energy transferred from the second reservoir periodically.

Abstract: Examples described herein include devices and methods that may facilitate interoperability between backscatter devices and wireless communication devices. For example, backscatter devices and methods for backscattering are described that provide a transmitted backscattered signal formatted in accordance with a wireless communication protocol (e.g. Bluetooth Low Energy, WiFi, IEEE 802.11, or IEEE 802.15.4). Such communication may reduce or eliminate any modifications required to wireless communication devices necessary to receive and decode backscattered signals.

Abstract: Some embodiments teach an electrical device configured to emulate a high frequency electrical noise signal on an electrical power line. The electrical power line is coupled to one or more electrical outlets and the electrical device configured to be coupled to one or more electrical appliances. The electrical device can include: (a) a monitoring module configured to detect usage of electrical power from the electrical power line by a first one of the one or more electrical appliances; (b) an emitter module configured to generate an emulated high frequency electrical noise signal, the emulated high frequency electrical noise signal emulates electrical noise from a switch mode power supply; (c) a first electrical coupling mechanism configured to couple to a first one of the one or more electrical outlets; and (d) a second coupling mechanism configured to couple to the first one of the one or more electrical appliances. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for controlling radio-frequency (RF) energy for wireless devices. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining to increase radio-frequency (RF) energy available to power a wireless tag and controlling the RF energy delivered to the wireless tag to provide tag energy, using one or more of: a) increasing transmission RF power of one or more wireless communication devices, b) increasing a duty cycle associated with wireless transmissions of one or more wireless communication devices, and c) decreasing path loss of the power to the wireless tag.

Abstract: A method of using a power consumption measurement device: determining at least two first current sensor readings from the one or more main electrical supply conductors; calibrating the power consumption measurement device, comprising applying a Kalman filter; electrically coupling a first calibration load to the electrical power infrastructure; determining at least one second current sensor reading from the one or more main electrical supply conductors; re-calibrating the power consumption measurement device, comprising applying the Kalman filter; uncoupling the first calibration load from the electrical power infrastructure; determining at least one third current sensor reading from the one or more main electrical supply conductors; and determining a first electrical power used by the electrical power infrastructure of the structure. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Activity sensing in the home has a variety of important applications, including healthcare, entertainment, home automation, energy monitoring and post-occupancy research studies. Many existing systems for detecting occupant activity require large numbers of sensors, invasive vision systems, or extensive installation procedures. Disclosed is an approach that uses a single plug-in sensor to detect a variety of electrical events throughout the home. This sensor detects the electrical noise on residential power tines created by the abrupt switching of electrical devices and the noise created by certain devices while in operation. Machine learning techniques are used to recognize electrically noisy events such as turning on or off a particular light switch, a television set, or an electric stove. The system has been tested to evaluate system performance over time and in different types of houses. Results indicate that various electrical events can be learned and classified with accuracies ranging from 85-90%.