Self-powered switch initiation system
First Claim
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1. A self-powered switch initiator, 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;
said prestress layer having first and second ends adjacent said concave face of said first 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 mounting member for retaining said first end of said prestress layer;
said mounting member comprising a plate adjacent said first end of said prestress layer and said convex face of said flextensional transducer;
said mounting member comprising clamping means adjacent said first end of said prestress layer and said concave face of said flextensional transducer;
pressure application means for application of a force to said second end of said prestress layer, said pressure application means being adapted to apply a force sufficient to deform said flextensional transducer from said first position to said second position, thereby generating said first voltage potential;
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.
29 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A self-powered switch initiator, 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;
said prestress layer having first and second ends adjacent said concave face of said first 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 mounting member for retaining said first end of said prestress layer;
said mounting member comprising a plate adjacent said first end of said prestress layer and said convex face of said flextensional transducer;
said mounting member comprising clamping means adjacent said first end of said prestress layer and said concave face of said flextensional transducer;
pressure application means for application of a force to said second end of said prestress layer, said pressure application means being adapted to apply a force sufficient to deform said flextensional transducer from said first position to said second position, thereby generating said first voltage potential;
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)
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16. The switching device according to claim 16, wherein said decoding means further comprises:
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a memory for storage of one or more signal profiles; and
comparator means for determining whether said first or second intercepted signal matches said one or more signal profiles in said memory;
wherein said decoding means generates a switching signal in response to said first intercepted signal upon said comparator means determination that said first intercepted signal matches said one or more signal profiles in said memory;
and wherein said decoding means does not generate a switching signal in response to said second intercepted signal upon said comparator means determination that said second intercepted signal does not match any of said one or more signal profiles in said memory;
and wherein said switch is adapted to change from said first position to said second position in response to said switching signal generated by said decoding means. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification