Apparatus, system and method for converting vibrational energy to electric potential

• US 20090243433A1
• Filed: 04/01/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jeff Slayton, Joe Dirr
• Original Assignee: Jeff Slayton, Joe Dirr
• Inventors: Dirr, Joe, Slayton, Jeff
• Application Number:
  US12/080,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20090243433A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/319
• 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: H02N 2/181 Circuits; Control arrangements or methods
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/186 Vibration harvesters

Abstract

An apparatus, a system and a method convert vibrational energy to electric potential. The apparatus, the system and the method use vibrational energy to provide voltage to an electrical device. A piezoelectric element converts the vibrational energy to electric potential. The vibrational energy allows the electrical device to recharge a battery or function without a battery and/or exterior electrical wires.

Claims

1. A system for providing power to an electrical device, the system comprising:

a piezoelectric element wherein the piezoelectric element is manufactured from a crystal that does not have a center of symmetry wherein the piezoelectric element generates an electric potential in response to vibration; and

a rectifier connected to the piezoelectric element wherein input for the rectifier is the electric potential generated by the piezoelectric element in AC voltage and output for the rectifier is the electric potential in DC voltage.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

an amplifier connected to the piezoelectric element wherein the amplifier increases the electric potential generated by the piezoelectric element.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

an amplifier connected to the rectifier wherein the amplifier allows the electric potential to be processed as an AC signal.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a capacitor connected to the piezoelectric element.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an electrode connected to the piezoelectric element wherein the electrode transmits the electric potential from the piezoelectric element to the rectifier.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

connecting means attached to the piezoelectric element and the rectifier.

7. An apparatus for providing power to a mobile phone wherein the mobile phone has a battery charged by the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a piezoelectric component wherein the piezoelectric component is manufactured from a crystal that does not have a center of symmetry wherein the piezoelectric component generates an electric potential in response to vibration; and

connecting means attached to the piezoelectric component.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising:

an amplifier connected to the piezoelectric component wherein the amplifier increases the electric potential generated by the piezoelectric component.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising:

a rectifier connected to the piezoelectric component wherein input for the rectifier is the electric potential generated by the piezoelectric component in AC voltage and the output for the rectifier is the electric potential in DC voltage.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising:

an electrode connected to the piezoelectric component wherein the electrode receives the electric potential from the piezoelectric component.

11. A method for providing electrical power to an electrical device wherein the electrical device has an exterior and an interior, the method comprising the steps of:

converting vibrations to electric potential wherein the vibrations are converted to the electrical potential by a piezoelectric element wherein the piezoelectric element is manufactured from a crystal that does not have a center of symmetry; and

transmitting the electrical potential to the electrical device.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:

amplifying the electrical potential.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:

charging a battery of the electrical device with the electrical potential.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:

transmitting power from a battery of the electrical device if the electrical potential converted from the vibrations is less than a predetermined amount.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:

converting the electrical potential from AC voltage to DC voltage.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:

activating the electrical device with the electrical potential.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:

using the electrical potential to sustain a function of the electrical device.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:

processing the electrical potential.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:

connecting the piezoelectric element to the exterior of the electrical device.

20. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:

connecting the piezoelectric element to the interior of the electrical device.