Magnetostrictive / piezo remote power generation, battery and method

• US 20090167115A1
• Filed: 02/27/2009
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
• Original Assignee: Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company)
• Inventors: Carroll, Gary T., Tucker, Randall L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,808,159 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/339
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 17/00 Structural combinations of capacitors or other devices covered by at least two different main groups of this subclass with other electric elements, not covered by this subclass, e.g. RC combinations
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/00 Piezoelectric or electrostrictive devices integrated devices or assemblies of multiple devices H10N39/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A power generation device generates power by subjecting a composite of magnetostrictive material and piezo material to a magnetic field. The composite of magnetostrictive material and piezo material may be incorporated in a battery or other storage device.

Claims

1. A battery comprising:

a) a composite of (i) a magnetostrictive material and (ii) a piezo material which generates electricity when subjected to a pulsed or continuous magnetic field; and

b) a capacitor or ferro capacitor connected thereto.

2. A battery according to claim 1 wherein said piezo is lead zirconate titanate (PZT).

3. A battery according to claim 2 further including a voltage regulator positioned between said composite and said capacitor or ferro capacitor.

4. A battery according to claim 2 further including a flexible substrate supporting said composite and said capacitor or ferro capacitor.

5. A battery according to claim 4 wherein said flexible substrate is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of polyester and polyimide.

6. A battery according to claim 3 further including a flexible substrate supporting said composite, said voltage regulator and said capacitor or ferro capacitor.

7. A battery according to claim 1 wherein said composite has been subjected to a magnetic field having a frequency within the range of 90% to 110% of the natural resonant frequency of the composite.

8. A multi-unit battery comprising a plurality of batteries according to claim 2 wired in parallel and mounted on a flexible substrate.

9. A multi-unit battery according to claim 8 wherein said flexible substrate with said plurality of batteries mounted therein is formed to a cylindrical shape.

10. A multi-unit battery according to claim 9 wherein said cylindrical shape has a first end and a second end and further including a pair of electrodes, one on said first end and the other on said second end.

11. A multi-unit battery according to claim 8 further including a voltage regulator positioned between said composite and said capacitor or ferro capacitor on at least some of said batteries.

12. A multi-unit battery according to claim 11 further including electrodes attached to one or more of said capacitors or ferro capacitors.

13-29. -29. (canceled)