Electrical energy-generating heat sink system and method of using same to recharge an energy storage device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electrical energy-generating system comprising:
- a heat transfer device responsive to heat generated by a microprocessor;
a vapor-pressurizing device thermally coupled to the heat transfer device; and
an electricity-generating device thermally coupled to the vapor-pressurizing device, the electricity-generating device comprising a pressure plate and one or more piezoelectric crystals, the pressure plate adapted to contact the one or more piezoelectric crystals when exposed to a sufficiently high vapor pressure.
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Abstract
An electrical energy-generating heat sink system provides a convenient and economical method for continuously recharging an energy storage device in electronic devices.
90 Citations
51 Claims
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1. An electrical energy-generating system comprising:
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a heat transfer device responsive to heat generated by a microprocessor;
a vapor-pressurizing device thermally coupled to the heat transfer device; and
an electricity-generating device thermally coupled to the vapor-pressurizing device, the electricity-generating device comprising a pressure plate and one or more piezoelectric crystals, the pressure plate adapted to contact the one or more piezoelectric crystals when exposed to a sufficiently high vapor pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An electrical energy-generating heat sink system comprising:
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a vapor chamber heat sink containing a working fluid;
a vapor-pressurizing device fluidly coupled to the vapor chamber heat sink;
one or more piezoelectric crystals in contact with the vapor chamber heat sink; and
an electricity-generating device thermally coupled to the vapor-pressurizing device, the electricity-generating device comprising a pressure plate adapted to contact the one or more piezoelectric crystals when exposed to a sufficiently high vapor pressure and configured to provide electrical energy to a rechargeable battery in an electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 50, 51)
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29. An integrated circuit package comprising:
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a heat transfer device having an integrated circuit mating surface;
a vapor-pressurizing device coupled to the heat transfer device; and
an electricity-generating device coupled to the vapor-pressurizing device, the electricity-generating device comprising a pressure plate and one or more piezoelectric crystals, the pressure plate adapted to contact the one or more piezoelectric crystals when exposed to a sufficiently high vapor pressure. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A notebook computer comprising:
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a rechargeable battery; and
an electrical energy-producing heat sink system coupled to the rechargeable battery, the electrical energy-producing heat sink system comprising a pressure plate and one or more piezoelectric crystals, wherein the pressure plate is adapted to contact the one or more piezoelectric crystals when exposed to a sufficiently high vapor pressure. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
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38. A battery charger comprising:
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a vapor-producing device;
a vapor-pressurizing device thermally coupled to the vapor-producing device, wherein the vapor-producing device is adapted to intake heat from an integrated circuit package and expel vapor to the vapor-pressurizing device;
a mechanical energy-producing device mechanically coupled to the vapor-pressurizing device;
an electrical energy-producing device mechanically coupled to the mechanical energy-producing device, the electrical energy-producing device comprising a pressure plate and one or more piezoelectric crystals, the pressure plate adapted to contact the one or more piezoelectric crystals when exposed to a sufficiently high vapor pressure; and
a current supplying device electrically connected to the electrical energy-producing device and to a battery. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41)
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42. A method for providing electrical energy to a rechargeable energy storage device comprising:
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vaporizing a working fluid in thermal contact with a heat generating device to produce vapor;
pressurizing the vaporized fluid to produce pressurized vapor;
contacting a bottom surface of a pressure plate with the pressurized vapor to produce mechanical energy; and
converting the mechanical energy to electrical energy with one or more piezoelectric crystals. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A method for extending run-time for a battery-operated notebook computer comprising:
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generating heat with a microprocessor;
transferring the heat through a heat sink to continuously produce electrical energy, the heat sink including a pressure plate and one or more piezoelectric crystals, wherein the pressure plate is adapted to contact the one or more piezoelectric crystals when exposed to a sufficiently high vapor pressure; and
providing the electrical energy to a battery in the notebook computer to recharge the battery, wherein run-time of the notebook computer is extended. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49)
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Specification