APPARATUS FOR AUTONOMOUS POWER SUPPLY OF POWER-USING DEVICES LOCATED IN THE PROXIMITY OF A ROAD, AND PROCESS THEREFOR

• US 20070228890A1
• Filed: 03/28/2007
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile Per Azioni
• Original Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile Per Azioni
• Inventors: Zanella, Alessandro, Alacqua, Stefano
• Granted Patent: US 7,528,528 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/339
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/22 Advertising or display means on roads, walls or similar surfaces, e.g. illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/18 producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators for measurement devices G01

Abstract

A device for autonomous power supply of power-using devices set in the proximity of a road, along which vehicles travel, includes one or more electric-current generator elements of a piezoelectric type. The device includes at least one structural element configured for being deformable in an elastic way in at least one direction in response to a perturbation of the environment adjacent to the path of a vehicle that is travelling. The at least one structural element includes at least one area of deformation. The electric-current generator element of a piezoelectric type is associated to the area of deformation.

Claims

1. A device for autonomous power supply of power-using devices set in the proximity of a road along which vehicles are travelling, comprising:

one or more electric-current generator elements of a piezoelectric type,

at least one structural element deformable in an elastic way in at least one direction in response to a perturbation of the environment adjacent to the path of a vehicle, said at least one structural element comprising at least one area of deformation, said electric-current generator element of a piezoelectric type being associated to said area of deformation.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said perturbation of the environment adjacent to the path of a vehicle travelling comprises a displacement of air caused by said vehicle.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said perturbation of the environment adjacent to the path of a vehicle travelling comprises a vibration caused on the ground by the passage of the vehicle and transmitted by the ground to said device.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one structural element is a supporting arm of a reflector.

5. The device second according to claim 1, wherein said at least one structural element comprises a first structural element of a plurality of structural elements.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of structural elements is at least one of shaped and interconnected so as to represent a plant or a shrub.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said electric-current generator elements of a piezoelectric type are associated to points of bending of branches of said plant or shrub.

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein said electric-current generator elements of a piezoelectric type are associated or integrated in leaves of said plant or shrub.

9. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an accumulator, which is electrically connected to said one or more piezoelectric elements and is able to accumulate electrical energy to supply the energy to said power-using devices.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein said power-using devices comprise a data-acquisition control unit.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein said power-using devices comprise one or more panels for displaying information.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein said power-using devices comprise a lamp for lighting.

13. A process for supplying autonomously power-using devices set in the proximity of a road along which vehicles are travelling, which comprises:

arranging one or more electric-current generator elements of a piezoelectric type;

setting in the proximity of the road at least one structural element deformable in an elastic way in at least one direction in response to a perturbation of the environment adjacent to the path of a vehicle travelling along said road; and

associating said generator of electric current of a piezoelectric type to at least one area of deformation identified in said at least one structural element.