POWER GENERATION DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20170310196A1
• Filed: 11/26/2015
• Published: 10/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Weidplas GmbH (Techniplas LLC)
• Original Assignee: Weidplas GmbH (Techniplas LLC)
• Inventors: BUEHRLE, Sascha, BODMER, Urs
• Application Number:
  US15/532,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20170310196A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/01908 Acceleration or inclination sensors characterised by the use of gyroscopes B60G21/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/14 to electric lighting circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/323 on or for doors illuminated exterior door handles B60Q1/2669; illuminated door locks E05B17/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/217 Doors, e.g. door sills; Steps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/64 for a single lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 43/00 Devices for using the energy of the movements of the vehicles
• 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: H02J 50/00 Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/02 with moving magnets and stationary coil systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/04 with moving coil systems and stationary magnets
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1892 Generators with parts oscillating or vibrating about an axis
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 1/08 with conductive charge carrier, i.e. capacitor machines
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/30 with mechanical input and electrical output, e.g. functioning as generators or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/90 Energy harvesting concepts as power supply for auxiliaries' energy consumption, e.g. photovoltaic sun-roof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 30/00 Transportation of goods or passengers via railways, e.g. energy recovery or reducing air resistance

Abstract

Disclosed is a power-generating backlit trim strip for a vehicle, comprising an oscillation system (3, 4; 3, 14), an induction unit (2), a sensor (17) and a control unit (8). The oscillation system (3, 4; 3, 14) includes a movably arranged gyrating mass (3), and the induction unit (2) is used for inductively converting kinetic energy of the gyrating mass (3) into electricity. The sensor (17) is used for determining a frequency of the vehicle vibrations, and the control unit (8) is used for adjusting the resonant frequency of the oscillation system (3, 4; 3, 14) to a determined frequency of the vehicle vibrations.

Claims

1. An electric power generating, backlightable trim strip for a vehicle, having

an oscillation system having a movably disposed inertial mass and

an induction unit for inductively converting kinetic energy of the inertial mass into electrical energy;

at least one sensor for determining an oscillation frequency of the vehicle and

a control unit for adjusting the resonant frequency of the oscillation system to a determined oscillation frequency of the vehicle.

2. The backlightable trim strip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor is an acceleration sensor.

3. The backlightable trim strip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the induction unit has at least one induction coil having a multiplicity of windings, wherein at least one winding can be switched into and out of circuit for the purpose of adjusting the resonant frequency of the oscillation system.

4. The backlightable trim strip as claimed in claim 1, having a housing, having an interior within which the oscillation system, the induction unit and the sensor are disposed.

5. The backlightable trim strip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the trim strip has an interior, in which the oscillation system, the induction unit and the sensor, and at least one lighting element, are disposed.

6. The backlightable trim strip as claimed in claim 5, wherein the interior is covered outwardly by a cover that is translucent to the lighting element, in particular has backlightable through-holes.

7. The backlightable trim strip as claimed in claim 1, which has a lighting element for the purpose of backlighting, and which additionally has a light sensor, in order to detect the opening state of a vehicle door and to switch the lighting element on or off in dependence on the detected opening state of the vehicle door.

9. The backlightable trim strip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the backlightable trim strip has at least one spring in order, upon the inertial mass moving out of its neutral position, to exert, as a restoring element, a restoring force on the inertial mass, in the direction of the neutral position.

10. The backlightable trim strip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the backlightable trim strip has at least one magnet in order, upon the inertial mass moving out of its neutral position, to exert, as a restoring element, a restoring force on the inertial mass, in the direction of the neutral position.

11. The backlightable trim strip as claimed in claim 1, additionally having an energy storage, in particular a capacitor storage, for storing the electrical energy generated by the induction unit.

12. The backlightable trim strip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inertial mass has a permanent magnet.

8. The backlightable trim strip as claimed in , wherein the resonant frequency of the oscillation system is in the range of from 15 to 80 Hz.

13. A vehicle having a backlightable trim strip that comprises

an oscillation system having a movably disposed inertial mass;

and

an induction unit for inductively converting kinetic energy of the inertial mass into electrical energy;

at least one sensor for determining an oscillation frequency of the vehicle; and

a control unit for adjusting the resonant frequency of the oscillation system to a determined oscillation frequency of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle as claimed in claim 13, wherein the backlightable trim is fixedly connected to the body of the vehicle.

15. The vehicle as claimed in claim 13, wherein the oscillation system of the backlightable trim strip, with regard to the direction of motion of the inertial mass when in the oscillating state, is disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.