Piezoelectric power generation for roadways

• US 10,726,719 B1
• Filed: 02/05/2019
• Issued: 07/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2019
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cheng, Kangguo
• Primary Examiner(s): McNally, Kerri L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Thang D
• Application Number:
  US16/268,090
• Publication Number:
  US 20200250972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 340917
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 11/00 Details of pavings E01C1/005, E01C5/003, E01C5/005, E01C7/145, E01C7/185, E01C7/325 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 2201/00 Paving elements
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 9/00 Special pavings specially adapted for playgrounds or sports grounds E01C13/00, for footpaths, sidewalks or cycle tracks E01C15/00; Pavings for special parts of roads or airfields pavement lights E01C17/00; manholes or like covers or frames E02D29/14
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 11/00 Road engineering aspects of Embedding pads or other sensitive devices in paving or other road surfaces , e.g. traffic detectors, vehicle-operated pressure-sensitive actuators, devices for monitoring atmospheric or road conditionspressure-sensitive elements G01L; traffic control systems G08G
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/50 Road surface markings; Kerbs or road edgings, specially adapted for alerting road users for redirecting vehicles E01F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/559 illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/60 Upright bodies, e.g. marker posts or bollards; Supports for road signs
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/01 Detecting movement of traffic to be counted or controlled G08G1/07 - G08G1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/02 using treadles built into the road pads or other sensitive devices responsive to passage of vehicles E01F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/07 Controlling traffic signals
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element
• 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 2/183 using impacting bodies high voltage generators in spark lighters F23Q
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/30 with mechanical input and electrical output, e.g. functioning as generators or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/308 Membrane type
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/702 based on piezoelectric or electrostrictive fibres
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/857 Macromolecular compositions

Abstract

Road signal systems and methods for controlling road signals include a piezoelectric layer integrated with a surface that undergoes stresses with traffic passing over the surface. A power collection circuit is configured to collect and store power from the piezoelectric layer. One or more devices receive electrical power from the power collection circuit responsive to traffic passing over the surface.

Claims

1. A road signal system, comprising:

a piezoelectric layer, integrated with a surface that undergoes stresses with traffic passing over the surface, that includes one or more folds, such that multiple layers of piezoelectric material are vertically stacked and have a shared electrical power output;

a power collection circuit configured to collect and store power from the piezoelectric layer; and

one or more devices that receive electrical power from the power collection circuit responsive to traffic passing over the surface.

2. The road signal system f claim 1;

wherein the piezoelectric layer is positioned below a road surface that undergoes stressing from passing vehicles.

3. The road signal system of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric layer includes one or more piezoelectric fibers that include a conductive portion and a piezoelectric portion.

4. The road signal system of claim 3, wherein the piezoelectric layer is formed from a plurality of piezoelectric tiles arranged side-by-side and in electrical communication with one another, each comprising a set of piezoelectric fibers that are confined to the respective piezoelectric tile and that are in electrical communication with the power collection circuit.

5. The road signal system of claim 1, wherein the one or more devices comprises a signal device that provides information to automated vehicles.

6. The road signal system of claim 5, wherein the signal device is a light-emitting device powered by the received electrical power.

7. The road signal system of claim 1, further comprising a roadside device control system configured to detect an approaching vehicle and to activate the one or more devices responsive to detecting the approaching vehicle.

8. The road signal system of claim 7, wherein the roadside device control system is further configured to detect the approaching vehicle by detecting a current generated by the piezoelectric layer.

9. The road signal system of claim 7, wherein the one or more devices activated by the roadside device control system are located ahead of the approaching vehicle.

10. The road signal system of claim 1, wherein the one or more folds bend the piezoelectric layer over itself.

14. The road signal system of claim 2, wherein the piezoelectric layer includes one or more piezoelectric fibers that include a conductive portion and a piezoelectric portion.

15. The road signal system of claim 14, wherein collecting power from the piezoelectric layer comprises rectifying and summing currents generated by respective piezoelectric fibers.

11. A road signal system, comprising:

a piezoelectric layer formed from a plurality of piezoelectric tiles, arranged side-by-side and in electrical communication with one another, under a road surface that undergoes stresses with vehicle traffic passing over the surface, each piezoelectric tile having one or more piezoelectric fibers that include a conductive portion and a piezoelectric portion;

a power collection circuit configured to collect and store power from the piezoelectric layer;

one or more devices that receive electrical power from the power collection circuit responsive to traffic passing over the surface; and

a roadside device control system configured to detect an approaching vehicle and to activate the one or more devices responsive to detecting the approaching vehicle.

12. A method for controlling road signals, comprising:

collecting power from a piezoelectric layer, formed from a plurality of tiles arranged side-by-side and in electrical communication with one another, integrated with a surface that undergoes stresses with traffic passing over the surface by collecting the Dower through a power distribution network formed by the plurality of tiles; and

activating one or more devices that receive electrical power from the piezoelectric layer responsive to traffic passing over the surface.

13. The road signal system of claim 12, wherein the piezoelectric layer is positioned below a road surface that undergoes stressing from passing vehicles.

16. The road signal system of claim 12, wherein the one or more devices comprises a signal device that provides information to automated vehicles.

17. The road signal system of claim 16, activating the signal device comprises supplying electrical power to a light-emitting device.

18. The road signal system of claim 12, further comprising detecting an approaching vehicle and activating the one or more devices responsive to detecting the approaching vehicle.

19. The road signal system of claim 18, detecting the approaching vehicle includes detecting a current generated by the piezoelectric layer.

20. The road signal system of claim 18, wherein the one or more devices activated by the roadside device control system are located ahead of the approaching vehicle.