Self -powered wireless switch
First Claim
1. A vehicle system comprising:
- a keyless entry pad on an exterior of a vehicle; and
a plurality of self-powered wireless switches connected to the keyless entry pad and actuated when a user presses the pad wherein each switch includes a wireless transmitter and an energy harvesting device arranged to produce electrical power for operation of the wireless transmitter upon actuation of the switch by the user, wherein the energy harvesting device includes a piezoelectric element arranged to be distressed upon actuation of the switch, and wherein each switch further includes an electric circuit including a matching wound step down transformer coupling the piezoelectric element to a rectifier connected to a capacitor to allow the piezoelectric element to resonate and the capacitor to receive the harvested energy and supply electrical power for operation of the wireless transmitter.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless switch is provided having a twenty-year life energy harvesting arrangement for self-powering a wireless transmitter. The energy harvesting arrangement is implemented in one embodiment using a piezoelectric switch element. A tritium light source and photovoltaic device are used in a second embodiment, while a black light source and photovoltaic device are used in a third embodiment. The energy harvesting wireless switch arrangement of the present invention can be combined, for example, with a vehicle side mirror switch, to reduce the complexity of the wire harness feeding the door. The wireless switch can be located without regard to accessability of a wiring harness or connector.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A vehicle system comprising:
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a keyless entry pad on an exterior of a vehicle; and
a plurality of self-powered wireless switches connected to the keyless entry pad and actuated when a user presses the pad wherein each switch includes a wireless transmitter and an energy harvesting device arranged to produce electrical power for operation of the wireless transmitter upon actuation of the switch by the user, wherein the energy harvesting device includes a piezoelectric element arranged to be distressed upon actuation of the switch, and wherein each switch further includes an electric circuit including a matching wound step down transformer coupling the piezoelectric element to a rectifier connected to a capacitor to allow the piezoelectric element to resonate and the capacitor to receive the harvested energy and supply electrical power for operation of the wireless transmitter.
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2. A vehicle system comprising:
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an interior lock/unlock switch of a vehicle; and
a pair of self-powered wireless switches connected to the interior lock/unlock switch and actuated by the lock/unlock switch wherein each switch includes a wireless transmitter and an energy harvesting device arranged to produce electrical power for operation of the wireless transmitter upon actuation of the switch by the user, wherein the energy harvesting device includes a piezoelectric element arranged to be distressed upon actuation of the switch, and wherein each switch further includes an electric circuit including a matching wound step down transformer coupling the piezoelectric element to a rectifier connected to a capacitor to allow the piezoelectric element to resonate and the capacitor to receive the harvested energy and supply electrical power for operation of the wireless transmitter.
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3. A vehicle system comprising:
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a door handle of a vehicle; and
a self-powered wireless switch connected to the door handle and actuated by the door handle wherein the switch includes a wireless transmitter and an energy harvesting device arranged to produce electrical power for operation of the wireless transmitter upon actuation of the switch by the user, wherein the energy harvesting device includes a piezoelectric element arranged to be distressed upon actuation of the switch, and wherein the switch further includes an electric circuit including a matching wound step down transformer coupling the piezoelectric element to a rectifier connected to a capacitor to allow the piezoelectric element to resonate and the capacitor to receive the harvested energy and supply electrical power for operation of the wireless transmitter.
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4. A vehicle system comprising:
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an interior lock/unlock plunger of a vehicle; and
a pair of self-powered wireless switches connected to the interior lock/unlock plunger and actuated by the lock/unlock plunger wherein each switch includes a wireless transmitter and an energy harvesting device arranged to produce electrical power for operation of the wireless transmitter upon actuation of the switch by the user, wherein the energy harvesting device includes a piezoelectric element arranged to be distressed upon actuation of the switch, and wherein each switch further includes an electric circuit including a matching wound step down transformer coupling the piezoelectric element to a rectifier connected to a capacitor to allow the piezoelectric element to resonate and the capacitor to receive the harvested energy and supply electrical power for operation of the wireless transmitter.
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5. A vehicle system comprising:
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a remote keyless entry device having a button; and
a self-powered wireless switch connected to the button and actuated by the button wherein the switch includes a wireless transmitter and an energy harvesting device arranged to produce electrical power for operation of the wireless transmitter upon actuation of the switch by the user, wherein the energy harvesting device includes a piezoelectric element arranged to be distressed upon actuation of the switch, and wherein each switch further includes an electric circuit including a matching wound step down transformer coupling the piezoelectric element to a rectifier connected to a capacitor to allow the piezoelectric element to resonate and the capacitor to receive the harvested energy and supply electrical power for operation of the wireless transmitter.
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6. An apparatus comprising:
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a first device operable by a user to wirelessly send signals to a second device; and
a self-powered wireless switch embodied in the first device and actuated when the user operates the first device wherein the switch includes a wireless transmitter and an energy harvesting device arranged to produce electrical power for operation of the wireless transmitter upon actuation of the switch by the user, wherein the energy harvesting device includes a piezoelectric element arranged to be distressed upon actuation of the switch, and wherein the switch further includes an electric circuit including a matching wound step down transformer coupling the piezoelectric element to a rectifier connected to a capacitor to allow the piezoelectric element to resonate and the capacitor to receive the harvested energy and supply electrical power for operation of the wireless transmitter wherein a capacitance of the piezoelectric element and an inductance of the electric circuit have a resonate frequency substantially equal to a mechanical resonate frequency of the piezoelectric element, the wireless transmitter operating to wirelessly send a signal to the second device. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification