POWER GENERATING ELEMENT, LIGHT EMITTING ELEMENT, BAND-LIKE LIGHT EMITTING BODY, AND RESCUE DISPLAY DEVICE

• US 20170093305A1
• Filed: 09/19/2016
• Published: 03/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Tomoaki Sugawara
• Inventors: Kitamura, Megumi, SUGAWARA, Tomoaki, Natori, Junichiro, Kondoh, Tsuneaki, Arizumi, Yuko, Imai, Takahiro, Otagiri, Mizuki, Araumi, Mayuka
• Granted Patent: US 9,705,429 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/0005 by means of alarm devices for persons falling into the water, e.g. by signalling, by controlling the propulsion or manoeuvring means of the boat alarms responsive to presence of persons in a body of water in general G08B21/08
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/20 characterised by signalling means, e.g. lights arrangement or adaptation of signalling or lighting devices for ships or other waterborne vessels B63B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0076 Safety or security signalisation, e.g. smoke or burglar alarms, earthquake detectors; Self-defence devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/004 Reflective safety signalling devices attached on persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 1/04 Friction generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/181 Circuits; Control arrangements or methods
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/186 Vibration harvesters
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/304 Beam type
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/87 Electrodes or interconnections, e.g. leads or terminals

Abstract

A power generating element is provided. The power generating element includes a pair of electrodes and an intermediate layer disposed between the pair of electrodes. The intermediate layer includes an insulating elastic body. The power generating element is flexibly bendable when receiving an external force, while causing a sliding transfer between at least one of the electrodes and at least one surface of the intermediate layer which faces the at least one of the electrodes, due to a difference in curvature between the electrodes and the intermediate layer.

Claims

1. A power generating element comprising:

a pair of electrodes; and

an intermediate layer disposed between the pair of electrodes, the intermediate layer including an insulating elastic body,

wherein the power generating element is flexibly bendable when receiving an external force, while causing a sliding transfer between at least one of the electrodes and at least one surface of the intermediate layer which faces the at least one of the electrodes, due to a difference in curvature between the electrodes and the intermediate layer.

2. The power generating element of claim 1, wherein the at least one surface of the intermediate layer which faces the at least one of the electrodes, between which the sliding transfer is caused, is surface-modified.

3. The power generating element of claim 2, wherein the insulating elastic body includes a silicone rubber.

4. The power generating element of claim 1, wherein the electrodes are fixed in part to each other via an insulating member.

5. The power generating element of claim 1, further comprising a flexible film to seal the pair of electrodes and the intermediate layer therein.

6. The power generating element of claim 5, wherein at least one of the electrodes is fixed in part to the flexible film.

7. A light emitting element comprising:

the power generating element of claim 5; and

a light emitting diode connected to the power generating element via a rectifier circuit.

8. A band-like light emitting body comprising:

a plurality of the light emitting elements of claim 7 connected to each other in a band-like shape.

9. A rescue display device comprising:

a float member; and

the band-like light emitting body of claim 8 installed to the float member.