SELF-POWERED TRAINABLE SWITCHING NETWORK

• US 20040174073A9
• Filed: 11/21/2001
• Published: 09/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bradbury R. Face, Clark Davis Boyd
• Original Assignee: Bradbury R. Face, Clark Davis Boyd
• Inventors: Boyd, Clark Davis, Face, Bradbury R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,812,594 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/116
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/076 Key stroke generating power
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/03 Application domotique, e.g. for house automation, bus connected switches, sensors, loads or intelligent wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 47/226 for bistable relays
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/964 Piezoelectric touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/94089 Wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/14 Protecting elements, switches, relays or circuit breakers

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.

Claims

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.

2. The switching system according to claim 1, further comprising:

pressure application means for application of a force to said flextensional transducer, 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.

3. The switching system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a voltage regulator having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said voltage regulator being electrically connected to said first and second conductors;

said output side of said voltage regulator being electrically connected to said signal transmission means.

4. The switching system according to claim 3, further comprising:

a diode having an anode and a cathode connected in parallel with said flextensional;

said cathode of said diode being electrically connected to said first conductor and said input side of said voltage regulator;

said anode of said diode being electrically connected to said second conductor and said input side of said voltage regulator;

whereby said diode is connected in parallel with first and second electroded major faces of said first electroactive member.

5. The switching system according to claim 4, wherein said signal transmission means further comprises:

a tone generator subcircuit having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said tone generator subcircuit being connected to said output side of said voltage regulator;

said output side of said tone generator subcircuit being connected to said first radio frequency generator subcircuit.

6. The switching system according to claim 5, wherein said tone generator subcircuit comprises:

an oscillator array having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said oscillator array being connected to said output side of said voltage regulator; and

a transistor having a grounded emitter and a base connected to said output side of said oscillator array;

and wherein said first radio frequency generator subcircuit comprises a resonant subcircuit having a first and a second junction;

said first junction of said resonant subcircuit being connected to said voltage regulator;

said second junction of said resonant subcircuit being connected to a collector of said transistor.

7. The switching system according to claim 6, wherein said first radio frequency generator subcircuit further comprises:

a radio frequency choke connected in series between said output side of said voltage regulator and said first junction of said resonant subcircuit.

8. The switching device according to claim 7, wherein said resonant subcircuit comprises:

a first capacitor having a first and a second plate; and

an inductive loop of a third conductor having first and second ends;

said first plate of said first capacitor being connected to said first end of said fifth conductor, thereby forming said first junction of said resonant subcircuit;

said second plate of said first capacitor being connected to said second end of said fifth conductor, thereby forming said second junction of said resonant subcircuit.

9. The switching system according to claim 8, wherein said oscillator array further comprises an inverter array connected between said output side of said voltage regulator and said base of said transistor.

10. The switching system according to claim 9, wherein said radio frequency choke comprises an inductor.

11. The switching system according to claim 10, wherein said resonant subcircuit further comprises:

a tuning jumper comprising a sixth conductor having first and second ends each connected to said fifth conductor;

said tuning jumper being adapted to pivot at said first and second ends, thereby rotating relative to said fifth conductor.

12. The switching system according to claim 11, wherein said first radio frequency generator subcircuit is tunable to a first frequency different from a second frequency of second radio frequency generator subcircuit.

13. The switching device according to claim 12, wherein said signal reception means further comprises:

a first radio signal receiver for intercepting said first signal transmitted by said first radio frequency generator subcircuit and a second signal transmitted by said second radio frequency generator subcircuit; and

decoding means electrically connected between said radio signal receiver and said switch for generating a switching signal in response to said first and second intercepted signals.

14. The switching device according to claim 13, wherein said decoding means further comprises:

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.

15. The switching system according to claim 14, wherein said decoder means comprises:

a microprocessor for differentiating between said first intercepted signal and said second intercepted signal.

16. The switching system according to claim 15, wherein said decoder means further comprises:

storage means for entering one or more signal profiles into said memory.

17. The switching system according to claim 16, wherein said storage means further comprises:

a second radio signal receiver for intercepting a third signal transmitted by a third radio frequency generator subcircuit.