ENERGY HARVESTER

• US 20090256361A1
• Filed: 04/15/2008
• Published: 10/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Inventors: Theuss, Horst, Elian, Klaus
• Granted Patent: US 8,841,785 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/1.R
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 19/00 Tyre parts or constructions not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 2019/005 Magnets integrated within the tyre structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/041 Means for supplying power to the signal- transmitting means on the wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0413 Wireless charging of active radio frequency circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/08 recovering energy derived from swinging, rolling, pitching or like movements, e.g. from the vibrations of a machine
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1846 structurally associated with wheels or associated parts dynamos arranged in the wheel hub of cycles B62J6/12
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49012 Rotor

Abstract

An energy harvesting system and method includes a rotatable member with an electrically conductive coil mounted to the rotatable member and adapted to move with the rotatable member such that the movement of the coil through a magnetic field induces a voltage in the coil. An energy storage device is coupled to the coil.

Claims

1. An energy harvesting system, comprising:

a rotatable member;

an electrically conductive coil mounted to the rotatable member and adapted to move with the rotatable member such that the movement of the coil through a magnetic field induces a voltage in the coil; and

an energy storage device coupled to the coil.

2. The energy harvesting device of claim 1, wherein the coil has a predetermined number of turns.

3. The energy harvesting device of claim 1, wherein the rotatable member is a tire.

4. The energy harvesting device of claim 3, wherein the coil is embedded in the material of the tire.

5. The energy harvesting device of claim 3, wherein the coil defines an axis generally parallel to a line tangent to the tire.

6. The energy harvesting device of claim 3, wherein the coil defines an axis generally radial to an axis of rotation of the tire.

7. The energy harvesting device of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device includes a capacitor.

8. The energy harvesting device of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device includes a battery.

9. The energy harvesting device of claim 3, further comprising a sensor mounted to the tire, wherein the sensor is connected to the conductive coil.

10. The energy harvesting device of claim 3, further comprising a sensor mounted to the tire, wherein the sensor is connected to the energy storage device.

11. A tire system, comprising:

a tire;

an electrically conductive coil mounted to an inside portion of the tire and adapted to move with the tire such that the movement of the coil through a magnetic field induces a voltage in the coil; and

a sensor mounted to the tire, wherein the sensor is coupled to the coil to receive power from the coil.

12. The tire system of claim 11, wherein the coil is embedded in the material of the tire.

13. The tire system of claim 11, wherein the coil defines an axis generally parallel to a line tangent to the tire.

14. The tire system of claim 11, wherein the coil defines an axis generally radial to an axis of rotation of the tire.

15. A method of producing an energy harvester, comprising:

providing a tire,

mounting a conductive coil inside the tire; and

connecting the coil to a sensor to power the sensor.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising connecting the coil to an energy storage device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein connecting the coil to the energy storage device includes connecting the coil to a capacitor.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein connecting the coil to the energy storage device includes connecting the coil to a battery.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein mounting the coil includes embedding the coil in material of the tire.

20. The method according to claim 15, further comprising mounting the sensor to the tire.

21. A method of harvesting energy, comprising:

mounting a conductive coil inside a rotatable member;

connecting the coil to an energy storage device;

rotating the rotatable member through a magnetic field of the Earth to induce a voltage in the coil;

storing the induced voltage in the energy storage device.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising powering an electronic device with the induced voltage.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein mounting the conductive coil inside a rotatable member comprises mounting the conductive coil inside a tire.

24. A tire system, comprising:

a tire;

an electronic device mounted to the tire; and

means for powering the electronic device in response to a magnetic field of the Earth.

25. The tire system of claim 24, further comprising means for storing energy.