Device with deformable shell including an internal piezoelectric circuit

• US 10,205,083 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2015
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission)
• Original Assignee: Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission)
• Inventors: Savelli, Guillaume, Coronel, Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): Dougherty, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US14/953,621
• Publication Number:
  US 20160155928A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 310319, 310339, 310367, 310371
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/02 Tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 39/00 Hollow non-inflatable balls , i.e. having no valves rigid balls A63B37/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 39/08 made of two halves
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/004 electrically conductive, e.g. for automatic arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/18 producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators for measurement devices G01
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/181 Circuits; Control arrangements or methods
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/186 Vibration harvesters
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/302 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/308 Membrane type

Abstract

A device is provided, including a deformable shell defining an inner space including at least one piezoelectric system. The piezoelectric system includes a flexible piezoelectric membrane capable of generating electric energy under the effect of a deformation to which it is submitted, a rechargeable electric power source, formed on a flexible substrate, and an electronic circuit. The electronic circuit includes a processing circuit for generating and storing data according to the electric energy generated by the piezoelectric membrane, and connected to the electric power source for its electric power supply, and a wireless transmitter connected to the processing circuit to transmit the data stored therein and connected to the electric power source for its electric power supply. Each piezoelectric system is totally arranged on and/or inside of the deformable shell.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a deformable shell defining an inner space and comprising at least one piezoelectric system;

wherein said at least one piezoelectric system comprises

a flexible piezoelectric membrane capable of generating electric energy under the effect of a deformation to which it is submitted,

an electric power source formed on a flexible substrate, and

an electronic circuit, wherein the electronic circuit comprises

a processing circuit for generating and storing data according to the electric energy generated by the piezoelectric membrane, and connected to the electric power source for its electric power supply, and

a wireless transmitter connected to the processing circuit to transmit the data stored therein and connected to the electric power source for its electric power supply;

wherein in the device, each of the at least one piezoelectric system is totally arranged on and/or inside of the deformable shell; and

wherein the piezoelectric membrane, the electric power source and the electronic circuit are stacked on one another, and the electric power source is arranged between the piezoelectric membrane and the electronic circuit.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric system is band-shaped, said band being secured to the outer surface of the deformable shell or secured to the inner surface of the deformable shell or housed in the deformable shell.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the band is substantially homogeneous by weight lengthwise and widthwise.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the band is fastened to a holding band glued on a wall of the deformable shell, said holding band being detachable.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein the electric power source and the electronic circuit are each arranged on the piezoelectric membrane.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the electric power source and the electronic circuit substantially exactly cover the piezoelectric membrane.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the thickness of the electric power source and the thickness of the electronic circuit are substantially equal.

8. The device of foregoing claim 1, comprising a plurality of identical piezoelectric systems.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the shell exhibits at least one symmetry, and wherein the piezoelectric systems are distributed inside of and/on the shell in accordance with the symmetry thereof.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the electric power source is rechargeable, and wherein the electronic circuit comprises a conversion circuit connected to the piezoelectric membrane to convert the electric energy generated by said membrane into electric energy capable of being used to recharge the electric power source, and connected to the electric power source to recharge it with the converted electric energy.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter is a radio frequency transmitter.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the shell is a tennis ball comprising a rubber shell, each piezoelectric system being totally arranged inside of and/or on the rubber shell.