Apparatus having electric-field actuated generator for powering electrical load within vicinity of powerlines
First Claim
1. An apparatus in which electric power is generated for an electrical load from one or more differentials in electric field strength in a vicinity of powerlines, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a plurality of separated electrodes;
(b) electrical components electrically connected with the plurality of electrodes, at least one or more of the electrical components being configurable to establish each of a plurality of different electric circuits, each of the different electric circuits comprising a set of two or more mutually exclusive subsets of the plurality of electrodes, the electrodes in each subset that have more than one electrode being electrically connected with each other for avoiding a voltage differential therebetween, and the one or more electrodes of each subset being electrically insulated from each electrode of any other subset of the set for enabling one or more voltage differentials between the subsets of the set resulting from a differential in electric field strength experienced when the apparatus is within the vicinity of the powerlines, wherein the subsets of the set are interconnected such that the one or more voltage differentials between the subsets causes a current to flow through the electric circuit of the set for powering the electrical load; and
(c) a control assembly comprising(i) one or more voltage-detector components configured to detect voltage differentials of the sets; and
(ii) a processor enabled to process the detected voltage differentials and based thereon and based on voltage and electric current specifications for powering the electrical load—
configure one or more of the electrical components in order to establish one of the plurality of different electric circuits for powering the electrical load.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus in which electric power is generated for an electrical load from differentials in electric field strengths within a vicinity of powerlines includes: a plurality of electrodes separated and electrically insulated from one another for enabling differentials in voltage resulting from differentials in electric field strength experienced there at; and electrical components electrically connected therewith and configurable to establish one or more electric circuits whereby voltage differentials cause a current to flow through the established electric circuit for powering the electrical load. Preferably, the apparatus includes a control assembly having one or more voltage-detector components configured to detect relative voltages of the electrodes; and a processor enabled to configure—based on the detected voltages and based on voltage and electric current specifications for powering the electrical load—one or more of the electrical components to establish an electric circuit for powering the electrical load.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An apparatus in which electric power is generated for an electrical load from one or more differentials in electric field strength in a vicinity of powerlines, the apparatus comprising:
-
(a) a plurality of separated electrodes; (b) electrical components electrically connected with the plurality of electrodes, at least one or more of the electrical components being configurable to establish each of a plurality of different electric circuits, each of the different electric circuits comprising a set of two or more mutually exclusive subsets of the plurality of electrodes, the electrodes in each subset that have more than one electrode being electrically connected with each other for avoiding a voltage differential therebetween, and the one or more electrodes of each subset being electrically insulated from each electrode of any other subset of the set for enabling one or more voltage differentials between the subsets of the set resulting from a differential in electric field strength experienced when the apparatus is within the vicinity of the powerlines, wherein the subsets of the set are interconnected such that the one or more voltage differentials between the subsets causes a current to flow through the electric circuit of the set for powering the electrical load; and (c) a control assembly comprising (i) one or more voltage-detector components configured to detect voltage differentials of the sets; and (ii) a processor enabled to process the detected voltage differentials and based thereon and based on voltage and electric current specifications for powering the electrical load—
configure one or more of the electrical components in order to establish one of the plurality of different electric circuits for powering the electrical load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method for generating electric power for an electrical load from one or more differentials in electric field strength within a vicinity of powerlines, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) positioning a plurality of separated electrodes within the vicinity of powerlines such that the electrodes experience differentials in electric field strength with resulting differentials in voltage at the electrodes; and (b) establishing a particular one of a plurality of different electric circuits, each of the different electric circuits comprising a set of two or more mutually exclusive subsets of the plurality of electrodes, the electrodes in each subset that have more than one electrode being electrically connected with each other for avoiding any voltage differential therebetween, and the one or more electrodes of each subset being electrically insulated from each electrode of any other subset of the set for enabling one or more voltage differentials between the subsets of the set, wherein the subsets are interconnected in each electric circuit such that the one or more voltage differentials therebetween causes a current to flow through the electric circuit for powering the electrical load; and (c) further comprising detecting voltage differentials of the sets, wherein the particular one of the plurality of different electric circuits is established as a function of the detected voltage differentials and electric current specifications for powering the electrical load. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A device, comprising:
-
(a) one or more electrical components; and (b) a power supply unit; (c) wherein the device defines a bay configured to removably receive the power supply unit for electrical coupling with the device, by which electrical coupling electric current is provided to the device by the power supply unit; (d) wherein the power supply unit is configured to generate electric power from a differential in electric field strength when the power supply unit is received in the bay, electrically coupled with the device, and within a vicinity of powerlines; (e) wherein the power supply unit comprises a plurality of separated electrodes; and (f) wherein the device further comprises, when the power supply unit is electrically coupled with the device, (i) electrical components electrically connected with the plurality of electrodes, at least one or more of the electrical components being configurable to establish each of a plurality of different electric circuits, each of the different electric circuits comprising a set of two or more mutually exclusive subsets of the plurality of electrodes, the electrodes in each subset that have more than one electrode being electrically connected with each other for avoiding a voltage differential therebetween, and the one or more electrodes of each subset being electrically insulated from each electrode of any other subset of the set for enabling one or more voltage differentials between the subsets of the set resulting from a differential in electric field strength experienced when the device is within the vicinity of the powerlines, wherein the subsets of the set are interconnected such that the one or more voltage differentials between the subsets causes a current to flow through the electric circuit of the set for powering the device; (ii) one or more sensors configured to sense data regarding voltage differentials of the sets; and (iii) a processor configured to process the sensed data and, based thereon and based on voltage and electric current specifications for powering the device, configure one or more of the electrical components to establish one of the plurality of different electric circuits for powering the device. - View Dependent Claims (17)
-
-
18. A device, comprising:
-
(a) an external enclosure including one or more external walls; and (b) a power supply configured to generate electric power from a differential in electric field strength when the device is within a vicinity of powerlines, the power supply comprising first, second, and third electrodes; (c) wherein the one or more external walls comprise the first, second, and third electrodes; and (d) wherein the first, second, and third electrodes are separated and electrically insulated from each other for enabling (i) a differential in voltage at the first and second electrodes resulting from a differential in electric field strength experienced at the first and second electrodes when the device is within the vicinity of the powerlines; (ii) a differential in voltage at the first and third electrodes resulting from a differential in electric field strength experienced at the first and third electrodes when the device is within the vicinity of the powerlines; and (iii) a differential in voltage at the second and third electrodes resulting from a differential in electric field strength experienced at the second and third electrodes when the device is within the vicinity of the powerlines; and further comprising (e) electrical components electrically connected with the first, second, and third electrodes and configurable to establish, in the alternative, each of (i) a first electric circuit, wherein a differential in voltage between the first and second electrodes causes electric current to flow through the electric circuit for powering the device; (ii) a second electric circuit, wherein a differential in voltage between the first and third electrodes causes electric current to flow through the electric circuit for powering the device; and (iii) a third electric circuit, wherein a differential in voltage between the second and third electrodes causes electric current to flow through the electric circuit for powering the device; (f) one or more voltage-detector components configured to detect voltages of the first, second, and third electrodes; and (g) a controller configured to process the detected voltages data and to configure one or more of the electrical components based thereon and based on voltage and electric current specifications for powering the device, in order to establish one of the first electric circuit, the second electric circuit, and the third electric circuit for powering the device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
Specification