Autonomous power source
First Claim
1. An autonomous power source, comprising:
- a movable structure; and
a power harvester mounted to said structure such that it moves with said structure, said power harvester comprising;
a coil, a magnet, a low-friction ferrofluidic bearing in contact with and supporting one of said coil or magnet, said coil, magnet and bearing arranged such that said magnet and said coil move with respect to each other when said structure is in motion such that an electrical current is produced in said coil.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An autonomous power source comprises a power harvester mounted on a movable structure. The power harvester includes a coil, a magnet, and a low-friction ferrofluidic bearing in contact with the magnet, arranged such that the magnet and coil move with respect to each other when the structure is in motion such that an electrical current is produced in the coil. This current is converted to power and stored in an energy storage system and is thus available to power electronic circuitry. The magnet and bearing are preferably enclosed within a closed linear or circular tube, with the coil mounted around the exterior of the tube. The power harvester and battery are combined with one or more sensors and a wireless transmitter to form a tire pressure monitoring system.
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Citations
53 Claims
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1. An autonomous power source, comprising:
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a movable structure; and
a power harvester mounted to said structure such that it moves with said structure, said power harvester comprising;
a coil, a magnet, a low-friction ferrofluidic bearing in contact with and supporting one of said coil or magnet, said coil, magnet and bearing arranged such that said magnet and said coil move with respect to each other when said structure is in motion such that an electrical current is produced in said coil. - 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, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A wireless tire pressure monitoring system, comprising:
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an autonomous power source, comprising;
a power harvester mounted to a vehicle wheel such that it rotates with said wheel, said power harvester comprising;
a coil, a magnet, a low-friction ferrofluidic bearing in contact with and supporting said magnet, said coil, magnet and bearing arranged such that said magnet and said coil move with respect to each other when said wheel is in motion such that an electrical current is produced in said coil;
an air pressure sensor for sensing the air pressure within a tire mounted on said wheel;
a data storage and/or wireless transmitter circuit which stores and/or transmits data which varies with said sensor output;
a rechargeable battery connected to power said circuit; and
an interface circuit connected to receive said electrical current and to provide energy to recharge said rechargeable battery. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A method of assembling an autonomous power source which comprises a tube that contains a plurality of magnets in prescribed positions and a ferrofluidic bearing which reduces the friction between said magnets and the interior wall of said tube, comprising:
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affixing magnets to a template in positions which mirror said prescribed positions, each of said affixed magnets having a polarity opposite to that of the power source magnet it mirrors;
placing said template below said tube;
inserting said magnets into said tube;
adding said ferrofluidic bearing to said tube; and
causing said magnets to move within said tube such that they align over their respective template magnets.
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Specification