Self-powered trainable switching network
First Claim
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1. A self-powered switching system comprising:
- a flextensional transducer, said flextensional transducer comprising;
a first electroactive member having opposing first and second electroded major faces;
said first opposing major face being substantially convex and said second opposing major face being substantially concave;
a prestress layer bonded to said second major face of said first electroactive member;
said prestress layer applying a compressive force to said electroactive member;
wherein said flextensional transducer is adapted to deform from a first position to a second position upon application of a force to said flextensional transducer;
and wherein upon said deformation to said second position, said flextensional transducer is adapted to generate a first voltage potential between said first electroded major face and said second electroded major face;
a first conductor electrically connected to said first electroded major face of said first electroactive member;
a second conductor electrically connected to said second electroded major face of said first electroactive member;
first signal transmission means electrically connected to said first and second conductors;
said first signal transmission means comprising a first radio frequency generator subcircuit connected to an antenna;
signal reception means for receiving a first signal transmitted by said first signal transmission means;
said signal reception means being adapted to generate a second signal in response to said first signal transmitted by said signal transmission means; and
a switch having a first position and a second position;
said switch being in communication with said signal reception means;
said switch being adapted to change between said first position and said second position in response to said second signal.
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Abstract
A self-powered switching device using a prestressed flextensional electroactive member generates a signal for activation of a latching relay. The electroactive member has a piezoelectric element with a convex and a concave face that may be compressed to generate an electrical pulse. The flextensional electroactive member and associated signal generation circuitry can be hardwired directly to the latching relay or may be coupled to a transmitter for sending an RF signal to a receiver which actuates the latching relay.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A self-powered switching system comprising:
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a flextensional transducer, said flextensional transducer comprising;
a first electroactive member having opposing first and second electroded major faces;
said first opposing major face being substantially convex and said second opposing major face being substantially concave;
a prestress layer bonded to said second major face of said first electroactive member;
said prestress layer applying a compressive force to said electroactive member;
wherein said flextensional transducer is adapted to deform from a first position to a second position upon application of a force to said flextensional transducer;
and wherein upon said deformation to said second position, said flextensional transducer is adapted to generate a first voltage potential between said first electroded major face and said second electroded major face;
a first conductor electrically connected to said first electroded major face of said first electroactive member;
a second conductor electrically connected to said second electroded major face of said first electroactive member;
first signal transmission means electrically connected to said first and second conductors;
said first signal transmission means comprising a first radio frequency generator subcircuit connected to an antenna;
signal reception means for receiving a first signal transmitted by said first signal transmission means;
said signal reception means being adapted to generate a second signal in response to said first signal transmitted by said signal transmission means; and
a switch having a first position and a second position;
said switch being in communication with said signal reception means;
said switch being adapted to change between said first position and said second position in response to said second signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification