Apparatus and method for providing electrical energy generated from motion to an electrically powered device
First Claim
1. A power supply, for use with a device of predetermined functionality having a housing and at least one functional component, disposed therein, that implements the predetermined functionality, the at least one functional component selectively requiring electrical power in response to operation of the device, the power supply being disposed within the housing, and comprising:
- at least one kinetic electrical generator, disposed within the housing, each said at least one kinetic electrical power generator being operable to;
generate electrical energy in response to motion of the housing that exceeds a predefined motion threshold, and process said electrical energy into electrical output power, said electrical output power corresponding to at least a first portion of the required electrical power; and
power output means, connected to said at least one kinetic electrical generator, for delivering said electrical output power from said at least one kinetic electrical generator, to the at least one functional component during the device operation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for providing electrical energy to one or more functional components of electrical device and/or to recharge a rechargeable power supply of the device, by deriving the electrical energy from motion of the device, is disclosed. The inventive apparatus preferably includes one or more novel oscillating weight-based kinetic electrical power generators (KEPG) that include a novel oscillating weight having an internal cavity with a freely movable acceleration element disposed therein, resulting in improved acceleration and oscillation capabilities and lower power generation motion threshold for the KEPG. The various embodiments of the present invention disclose a variety of novel electrical devices and articles (carrying cases, clothing, etc.) incorporating, or usable in conjunction with, electrical devices, that preferably and advantageously utilize one or more novel KEPGs for generating electrical energy from motion and feeding it to the devices and/or recharging the device batteries. The inventive embodiments also include a self-recharging battery incorporating one or more KEPGs to provide a continuous recharge, a KEPG-based portable recharger capable of connection to a charging port of an electrical device, a KEPG-based motion sensor, and an electrical device with a mechanical user-operable input that includes a dual mode electrical generator incorporating one or more KEPGs.
235 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A power supply, for use with a device of predetermined functionality having a housing and at least one functional component, disposed therein, that implements the predetermined functionality, the at least one functional component selectively requiring electrical power in response to operation of the device, the power supply being disposed within the housing, and comprising:
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at least one kinetic electrical generator, disposed within the housing, each said at least one kinetic electrical power generator being operable to;
generate electrical energy in response to motion of the housing that exceeds a predefined motion threshold, and process said electrical energy into electrical output power, said electrical output power corresponding to at least a first portion of the required electrical power; and
power output means, connected to said at least one kinetic electrical generator, for delivering said electrical output power from said at least one kinetic electrical generator, to the at least one functional component during the device operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A device of a predetermined functionality requiring electrical power, capable of generating at least a portion of the required electrical power having at least one predetermined parameter from motion thereof, the device comprising:
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a housing;
operational means for providing said predetermined functionality to a user of the device, said means for providing being at least partially positioned within said housing, and having at least one power input interface;
at least one kinetic electrical generator, disposed within said housing, each said at least one kinetic electrical generator comprising;
a support structure;
a pivot element, disposed within said support structure;
an oscillating weight, disposed within said support structure, having a top portion connected to said pivot element, and a bottom portion, said oscillating weight being configured and operable to achieve oscillating motion in an angular range in response to motion of said support structure that exceeds a motion threshold, said pivot element being operable to produce a reciprocating radial motion thereof, in response to said oscillating motion of said oscillating weight;
acceleration means, disposed within said oscillating weight, for decreasing said motion threshold, and for increasing said angular range of said oscillating motion of said oscillating weight in response to said motion of said support structure;
motion conversion means, connected to said pivot element, for translating said reciprocating radial motion into a rotational motion of a first velocity;
electromechanical transducer means, connected to said motion conversion means, for generating electrical energy in response to said rotational motion applied by said motion conversion means thereto; and
electrical output means for receiving said generated electrical energy from said electromechanical transducer means;
electrical energy processing means, connected to said electrical output means and positioned within said housing, for modifying said generated electrical energy into electrical output power corresponding to the at least one predetermined parameter; and
power means, connected to said electrical energy processing means and to said at least one power input interface, for delivering said electrical output power to said at least one power input interface, said delivered electrical output power at least in part comprising the required electrical power. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A self-recharging power supply, for use with a device requiring electrical power and having a power supply input interface with at least one predefined electrical input parameter, comprising:
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a power supply housing;
at least one rechargeable power supply element disposed within said power supply housing operable to store electrical power, in a power storage amount up to a maximum capacity, having at least one predefined electrical storage parameter;
at least one kinetic electrical generator, disposed within said power supply housing, each said at least one kinetic electrical generator comprising;
a support structure;
a pivot element, disposed within said support structure;
an oscillating weight, disposed within said support structure, having a top portion connected to said pivot element, and a bottom portion, said oscillating weight being configured and operable to achieve oscillating motion in an angular range in response to motion of said support structure that exceeds a motion threshold, said pivot element being operable to produce a reciprocating radial motion thereof, in response to said oscillating motion of said oscillating weight;
acceleration means, disposed within said oscillating weight, for decreasing said motion threshold, and for increasing said angular range of said oscillating motion of said oscillating weight in response to said motion of said support structure;
motion conversion means, connected to said pivot element, for translating said reciprocating radial motion into a rotational motion of a first velocity;
electromechanical transducer means, connected to said motion conversion means, for generating electrical energy in response to said rotational motion applied by said motion conversion means thereto; and
electrical output means for receiving said generated electrical energy from said electromechanical transducer means;
electrical energy processing means, connected to said electrical output means and positioned within said power supply housing, for modifying said generated electrical energy into electrical output power corresponding to the at least one predetermined electrical storage parameter;
a recharging control unit, connected to said electrical energy processing means and to said at least one rechargeable power supply element, and disposed within said power supply housing, operable to recharge said at least one rechargeable power supply element with said electrical output power; and
at least one power supply output interface, connected to at least one rechargeable power supply element, and positioned at least partially outside said power supply housing, operable to;
connect to the power supply input interface of the device, modify said electrical output power to correspond to the at least one predefined electrical input parameter; and
deliver said modified electrical power to the device power supply input interface. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A portable self-recharging power supply charger, for use with at least one device each having a rechargeable power supply having a recharge input interface, capable of recharging when electrical power corresponding to a particular electrical recharge parameter is delivered to the recharge input interface, comprising:
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a charger housing;
at least one rechargeable power supply element disposed within said charger housing operable to store electrical power, in a power storage amount up to a maximum capacity, having at least one predefined electrical storage parameter;
at least one kinetic electrical generator, disposed within said charger housing, each said at least one kinetic electrical generator comprising;
a support structure;
a pivot element, disposed within said support structure;
an oscillating weight, disposed within said support structure, having a top portion connected to said pivot element, and a bottom portion, said oscillating weight being configured and operable to achieve oscillating motion in an angular range in response to motion of said support structure that exceeds a motion threshold, said pivot element being operable to produce a reciprocating radial motion thereof, in response to said oscillating motion of said oscillating weight;
acceleration means, disposed within said oscillating weight, for decreasing said motion threshold, and for increasing said angular range of said oscillating motion of said oscillating weight in response to said motion of said support structure;
motion conversion means, connected to said pivot element, for translating said reciprocating radial motion into a rotational motion of a first velocity;
electromechanical transducer means, connected to said motion conversion means, for generating electrical energy in response to said rotational motion applied by said motion conversion means thereto; and
electrical output means for receiving said generated electrical energy from said electromechanical transducer means;
electrical energy processing means, connected to said electrical output means and positioned within said charger housing, for modifying said generated electrical energy into electrical output power corresponding to the at least one predetermined electrical storage parameter;
a recharging control unit, connected to said electrical energy processing means and to said at least one rechargeable power supply element, and disposed within said charger housing, operable to recharge said at least one rechargeable power supply element with said electrical output power; and
a power supply output interface, connected to at least one rechargeable power supply element, and to said recharging control unit, and positioned at least partially outside said charger housing, operable to;
connect to the recharge input interface of the device, modify said electrical output power to correspond to the at least one predefined electrical recharge parameter; and
deliver said modified electrical power to the device power recharge input interface. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for providing electrical power to a device of predetermined functionality having a housing and at least one functional component, disposed therein, that implements the predetermined functionality, the at least one functional component selectively requiring electrical power in response to operation of the device, the power supply being disposed within the housing, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing at least one kinetic electrical generator, disposed within the housing (b) generating, at least one kinetic electrical generator, electrical energy in response to motion of the housing that exceeds a predefined motion threshold;
(c) converting said electrical energy into electrical output power, said electrical output power corresponding to at least a first portion of the required electrical power; and
(d) delivering said electrical output power from said at least one kinetic electrical generator, to the at least one functional component during the device operation. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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Specification