Electrical power generator with adaptive coupling

• US 20080150495A1
• Filed: 11/07/2007
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Potenco, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Potenco, Inc.
• Inventors: Lin, Michael, Bulthaup, Colin, Lewis, John, Warshawsky, Brian, Goldwater, Dan, Griffith, Saul, Homsy, George, Hardham, Corwin, Wilhelm, Eric, Heinrich, Mitch, Rappoport, Benji
• Granted Patent: US 7,747,355 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 322/7
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/32 for charging batteries from a charging set comprising a non-electric prime mover rotating at constant speed
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/06 Control effected upon clutch or other mechanical power transmission means and dependent upon electric output value of the generator

Abstract

A method of coupling a mechanical power source through an electrical power generator to an electrical load is disclosed. A characteristic of an electrical output is measured from the electrical power generator produced during a power generation cycle during which there is a coupling of the mechanical power source through the electrical power generator to the electrical load. The coupling of the mechanical power source is adjusted through the electrical power generator to the electrical load during a subsequent power generation cycle based at least in part on the measured characteristic of the electrical output.

Claims

1. A system of coupling a mechanical power source through an electrical power generator to an electrical load, comprising:

the electrical power generator configured to receive input from the mechanical power source;

a controller and a memory coupled with the controller, wherein the memory is configured to provide the controller with instructions which when executed cause the controller to;

measure a characteristic of an electrical output from the electrical power generator produced during a power generation cycle during which there is a coupling of the mechanical power source through the electrical power generator to the electrical load; and

adjust the coupling of the mechanical power source through the electrical power generator to the electrical load during a subsequent power generation cycle based at least in part on the measured characteristic of the electrical output.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the mechanical power source is of human or animal effort.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the memory is configured to provide the controller with instructions which when executed cause the controller to adjust the coupling of the mechanical power source through the electrical power generator to the electrical load to increase the average output power of the electrical power generator attainable by the mechanical power source at a given level of effort.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the memory is configured to provide the controller with instructions which when executed cause the controller to adjust the coupling of the mechanical power source through the electrical power generator to the electrical load to enhance the capacity of the mechanical power source to generate electrical power using the electrical power generator.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the memory is configured to provide the controller with instructions which when executed cause the controller to adjust the coupling of the mechanical power source through the electrical power generator to the electrical load to target maintaining a desired cycle frequency of the electrical power generator.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the memory is configured to provide the controller with instructions which when executed cause the controller to adjust the coupling of the mechanical power source through the electrical power generator to the electrical load to target keeping the average output power of the electrical power generator below a specified threshold.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the memory is configured to provide the controller with instructions which when executed cause the controller to adjust the coupling of the mechanical power source through the electrical power generator to the electrical load to increase the electrical power generator lifetime.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the memory is configured to provide the controller with instructions which when executed cause the controller to adjust the coupling of the mechanical power source through the electrical power generator to the electrical load to keep the electrical power generator'"'"'s temperature from exceeding a threshold.

9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the mechanical power source is of human or animal effort and the memory is configured to provide the controller with instructions which when executed cause the controller to adjust the coupling of the mechanical power source through the electrical power generator to the electrical load to enhance human or animal comfort.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the mechanical power source is of human or animal effort and the memory is configured to provide the controller with instructions which when executed cause the controller to adjust the coupling of the mechanical power source through the electrical power generator to the electrical load to enhance human or animal comfort by regulating an effort profile.

11. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the electrical load is a battery being charged.

12. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the memory is configured to provide the controller with instructions which when executed cause the controller to adjust the coupling of the mechanical power source through the electrical power generator to the electrical load by modulating a control gate to the electrical load.

13. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the memory is configured to provide the controller with instructions which when executed cause the controller to adjust the coupling of the mechanical power source through the electrical power generator to the electrical load by modulating a control gate to the electrical load using PWM.

14. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the memory is configured to provide the controller with instructions which when executed cause the controller to adjust the coupling of the mechanical power source through the electrical power generator to the electrical load by selectively connecting windings in the electrical power generator.

15. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the memory is configured to provide the controller with instructions which when executed cause the controller to adjust the coupling of the mechanical power source through the electrical power generator to the electrical load by using a random walk algorithm.

16. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the memory is configured to provide the controller with instructions which when executed cause the controller to adjust the coupling of the mechanical power source through the electrical power generator to the electrical load by using a user feedback device.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the user feedback device comprises one or more of the following:

an LED display, an audible pulse or a tactile pulse.

26. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the memory is configured to provide the controller with instructions which when executed cause the controller to adjust the coupling of the mechanical power source through the electrical power generator to the electrical load to improve ergonomics for the user.

27. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the memory is configured to provide the controller with instructions which when executed cause the controller to adjust the coupling of the mechanical power source through the electrical power generator to the electrical load to avoid a resonance.

28. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the memory is configured to provide the controller with instructions which when executed cause the controller to adjust the coupling of the mechanical power source through the electrical power generator to the electrical load to avoid a dead start at an early part of a generation cycle.

29. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the memory is configured to provide the controller with instructions which when executed cause the controller to adjust the coupling of the mechanical power source through the electrical power generator to the electrical load to keep a tension on the mechanical power source below a threshold.

30. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the memory is configured to provide the controller with instructions which when executed cause the controller to adjust the coupling of the mechanical power source through the electrical power generator to the electrical load to keep a generation frequency of the electrical power generator'"'"'s from exceeding a threshold.

31. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the memory is configured to provide the controller with instructions which when executed cause the controller to adjust the coupling of the mechanical power source through the electrical power generator to the electrical load based on a user selectable optimization target.

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

20. A method of coupling a mechanical power source through an electrical power generator to an electrical load, comprising:

measuring a characteristic of an electrical output from the electrical power generator produced during a power generation cycle during which there is a coupling of the mechanical power source through the electrical power generator to the electrical load; and

adjusting the coupling of the mechanical power source through the electrical power generator to the electrical load during a subsequent power generation cycle based at least in part on the measured characteristic of the electrical output.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the mechanical power source is of human or animal effort.

22. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein adjusting the coupling of the mechanical power source through the electrical power generator to the electrical load increases the average output power of the electrical power generator attainable by the mechanical power source at a given level of effort.

23. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein adjusting the coupling of the mechanical power source through the electrical power generator to the electrical load enhances the capacity of the mechanical power source to generate electrical power using the electrical power generator.

24. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the mechanical power source is of human or animal effort and adjusting the coupling of the mechanical power source through the electrical power generator to the electrical load enhances human or animal comfort.

25. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the electrical load is a battery being charged.