Method and apparatus for an incidental use piezoelectric energy source with thin-film battery

• US 20040085002A1
• Filed: 11/05/2002
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sapurast Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Sapurast Research LLC
• Inventors: Pearce, Michael Baker
• Application Number:
  US10/287,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20040085002A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/339
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/076 Key stroke generating power
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/32 for charging batteries from a charging set comprising a non-electric prime mover rotating at constant speed
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/18 producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators for measurement devices G01

Abstract

The manufacture and use of piezoelectric materials as thin-film battery charging devices that may be operated incidentally to the normal use of another device are taught. For example, a user pressing a button to achieve a desired operation may incidentally charge the battery of the device in use. The present invention also relates to an electric device that may be self-charging under normal use. The present invention may also provide for a battery charging system and/or method for battery charging, including one that is completely self-contained. A piezoelectric element may be used to convert the mechanical energy obtained from the depression of a button or other actuator into the proper electrical form for storage in a thin-film battery. Circuitry may be included to regulate the electrical energy to proper charging levels, including circuitry used to protect a thin-film battery from overcharge, or to prevent other damage to a battery.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use as a source of electric power comprising

a piezoelectric element and

a mechanical actuator engageably positioned to said piezoelectric element,

wherein said actuator comprises at least a first and a second function and wherein said second function is to provide electric energy.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said actuator is adapted to provide human mechanical energy to said piezoelectric element.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said piezoelectric element is mechanically supported by a technique selected from a group consisting of:

a single edge support;

a multiple-edge unflexed support; and

a multiple-edge flexed support.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mechanical actuator comprises an actuator selected from the group consisting of:

a button;

a key;

a lock; and

a substrate with a plurality of keys.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first function comprises a function selected from a group consisting of:

to display a character;

to perform an algorithm;

to display the results of a calculation;

to change a television channel; and

to change the on-off state of a remote device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electrical energy storage device connected to electrical outputs of said piezoelectric element.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said electrical energy storage device comprises a device selected from a group consisting of a thin-film battery and a capacitor.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said battery comprises a capacity less than about 1000 microampere-hours.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said battery comprises an internal impedance greater than about 90 ohms.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said battery comprises an internal resistance greater than about 90 ohms.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said battery comprises a closed circuit voltage of about 4.2 Volts when filly charged.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said capacitor comprises a capacity greater than about one-tenth Farad.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said capacitor comprises an energy leakage less than about 10 millijoules per day.

14. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising intervening electric circuitry between said piezoelectric element and said energy storage device wherein said intervening electric circuitry comprises an element selected from a group consisting of:

a resistor;

a capacitor;

an inductor;

a Schottky diode;

a current controlled regulator;

a voltage regulator;

a transient voltage protection element; and

a voltage limiting element.

15. An apparatus for use as a source of electric power comprising

a piezoelectric element and

a mechanical actuator engageably positioned to said piezoelectric element,

wherein said actuator comprises a function to transfer human energy to the piezoelectric element to provide electric energy.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a thin-film battery connected to an output of said piezoelectric element.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said actuator comprises at least a first function and a second function, and wherein said first function comprises said function to transfer human energy to the piezoelectric element.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said second function is selected from the group consisting of:

to display a character;

to perform an algorithm;

to display the results of a calculation;

to change a television channel; and

to change the on-off state of a remote device.

19. An apparatus for use as a source of electric power comprising

piezoelectric element and

a mechanical actuator engageably positioned to said piezoelectric element,

wherein said actuator comprises a function to provide electric energy to an electric circuit including a thin-film battery.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said actuator is adapted to provide human mechanical energy to said piezoelectric element.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said actuator comprises at least a first function and a second function, and wherein said first function comprises said function to provide electric energy to an electric circuit including a thin-film battery.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said second function is selected from the group consisting of:

to display a character;

to perform an algorithm;

to display the results of a calculation;

to change a television channel; and

to change the on-off state of a remote device.

23. A method for providing electric power comprising

providing a piezoelectric element and

engageably positioning a mechanical actuator to said piezoelectric element,

wherein said actuator comprises at least a first and a second function and wherein said second function is to provide electric energy.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising adapting said actuator to provide human mechanical energy to said piezoelectric element.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein said piezoelectric element is mechanically supported by a technique selected from a group consisting of:

single edge supporting;

multiple-edge unflexed supporting; and

multiple-edge flexed supporting.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein said mechanical actuator comprises an actuator selected from the group consisting of:

a button;

a key;

a lock; and

a substrate with a plurality of keys.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein said first function comprises a function selected from a group consisting of:

to display a character;

to perform an algorithm;

to display the results of a calculation;

to change a television channel; and

to change the on-off state of a remote device.

28. The method of claim 23, further comprising providing an electrical energy storage device connected to electrical outputs of said piezoelectric element.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said electrical energy storage device comprises a device selected from a group consisting of a thin-film battery and a capacitor.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said battery comprises a capacity less than about 1000 microampere-hours.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein said battery comprises an internal impedance greater than about 90 ohms.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein said battery comprises an internal resistance greater than about 90 ohms.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein said battery comprises a closed circuit voltage of about 4.2 Volts when fully charged.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein said capacitor comprises a capacity greater than about one-tenth Farad.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein said capacitor comprises an energy leakage less than about 10 millijoules per day.

36. The method of claim 28, further comprising providing intervening electric circuitry between said piezoelectric element and said energy storage device wherein said intervening electric circuitry comprises an element selected from a group consisting of:

a resistor;

a capacitor;

an inductor;

a Schottky diode;

a current controlled regulator;

a voltage regulator;

a transient voltage protection element; and

a voltage limiting element.

37. A method for providing electric power comprising

providing a piezoelectric element,

engageably positioning a mechanical actuator to said piezoelectric element, and

transferring human energy to said piezoelectric element via said actuator to provide electric energy.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising connecting a thin-film battery to an output of said piezoelectric element.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising adapting said actuator to perform at least a first function and a second function, and wherein said first function comprises transferring human energy to said piezoelectric element.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said second function is selected from the group consisting of:

displaying a character;

performing an algorithm;

displaying the results of a calculation;

changing a television channel; and

changing the on-off state of a remote device.

41. A method for providing electric power comprising

providing a piezoelectric element,

engageably positioning a mechanical actuator to said piezoelectric element, and

providing electric energy via said actuator to an electric circuit including a thin-film battery.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising adapting said actuator to provide human mechanical energy to said piezoelectric element.

43. The method of claim 41, further comprising adapting said actuator to perform at least a first function and a second function, and wherein said first function comprises transferring human energy to the piezoelectric element.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein said second function is selected from the group consisting of:

displaying a character;

performing an algorithm;

displaying the results of a calculation;

changing a television channel; and

changing the on-off state of a remote device.