Method and Structure for Kinetic Energy Based Generator for Portable Electronic Devices

• US 20070102928A1
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Movella Incorporated (Movella Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Xiao Yang
• Inventors: Yang, Xiao
• Granted Patent: US 7,608,933 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/1.C
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1853 driven by intermittent forces

Abstract

An asymmetric flywheel is coupled to an input gear that is attached to a lever or alike. The input gear and flywheel gear are engaged as the user rotates the lever. As a result, the flywheel spins and electricity is generated by the micro electromagnetic generator. When there is no direct user manual input, the input gear and the flywheel gear are disengaged. The flywheel is an unbalanced pivoted mass that rotates with inertial forces from physical accelerations by user'"'"'s movement and gravitational forces, similar to a self-winding mechanism automatic watch. AC electricity is generated as a result of the flywheel'"'"'s movement.

Claims

1. A portable electric generator apparatus comprising:

an electromagnetic electric generator member comprising a first terminal and a second terminal;

a kinetic energy generating member coupled to the electromagnetic electric generator member, the kinetic energy generating member receiving motion energy from an external source, the motion energy being direct and/or indirect; and

a storage device having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, the positive terminal being coupled to the first terminal; and

the negative terminal being coupled to the second terminal;

wherein the storage device is a capacitor and/or a battery.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a housing, the housing enclosing the electromagnetic electric generator member, the kinetic energy generating member, and the storage device

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the kinetic energy generating member comprises a flywheel, the flywheel being coupled to the electromagnetic generator member, the flywheel being coupled to a drive member for converting kinetic energy into rotational energy provided in the flywheel.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the drive member comprises a rotating crank device, the rotating crank device being operable to move by a human user.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the drive member comprises a pull member, the pull member being operable to move in a first direction by a human user.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the drive member comprises a level member, the level member being operable to move in one or more directions by a human user.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the kinetic energy generating member comprises one or more drive members, the one or more drive members comprise a first gear member coupled to a second gear member, the second gear member being coupled to a flywheel.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electro-magnetic generator comprises a flywheel comprising one or more magnetic regions coupled to a electric coil member, the flywheel inducing an electric current on one or more portions of the electric coil member, the electric current being provided between the third terminal and the fourth terminal.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the electric coil is characterized by a planar structure.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the one or more magnetic regions comprises one or more films of magnetic material.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the one or more magnetic regions comprises one or more discrete magnetic devices.

12. A portable electric generator apparatus comprising:

a housing member, the housing member enclosing;

a piezo electric generator member comprising a first terminal and a second terminal;

an electromagnetic electric generator member comprising a third terminal and a fourth terminal;

a kinetic energy generating member coupled to both the piezo electric generator member and the electromagnetic electric generator member;

a storage device having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, the positive terminal being coupled to the first terminal and the third terminal, and the negative terminal being coupled to the second terminal and the fourth terminal

a flywheel comprising one or more magnetic regions provided on the electromagnetic electric generator member;

an electric coil member coupled to the flywheel, the flywheel inducing an electric current on one or more portions of the electric coil member, the electric current being provided between the third terminal and the fourth terminal; and

an unbalanced counter weight coupled to the flywheel, the unbalanced counter weight being adapted to cause rotation of the flywheel using indirect movement by a human user.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a common shaft coupling the flywheel to the electric coil member and the flywheel to the unbalanced counter weight.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the kinetic energy generating member coupled to a drive member for converting kinetic energy into rotational energy provided in the flywheel, the drive member being adapted to cause rotation of the flywheel by direct input by a human user.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the drive member is de-coupled from the piezo electric generator member upon direct input by the human user of the drive member and coupled to the fly wheel during a first state of operation, the first state of operation being associated with direct input by the human user.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the drive member is de-coupled from the flywheel and the flywheel is coupled to the piezo-electric generator member during a second state of operation, the second state of operation being associated with the in-direct input by the human user, the in-direct input by the human user being associated with translational and/or rotational movement of the housing member.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the indirect input by the human user being associated with a body movement of the human user.