Electrostatically activated gating mechanism
First Claim
1. An electrostatically activated gating mechanism, comprising:
- mechanical motion detecting means for detecting mechanical motion consciously generated by an intelligent agency;
electrical energy generating means for generating electric energy in response to and utilizing energy derived from said mechanical motion detected by said mechanical motion detecting means;
an electronic decision making apparatus solely powered by the electrical energy generated by the electrical energy generating means, the decision making apparatus being adapted to receive information, to make one of a set of possible decisions based thereon, and to generate a specific low power electrical output in response to a selected one of said set of possible decisions being made;
a mechanical gate having at least two positions; and
electrical to mechanical energy converting means for electrostatically converting said low power electrical output into a minute mechanical force/movement and for applying said minute mechanical force/movement to position said gate in a selected one of said positions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electromechanical gating mechanism comprises an electrical energy generating system for generating electrical energy in response to and utilizing energy derived from mechanical motion consciously generated by an intelligent agency. An electronic decision making apparatus is solely powered by the electrical energy generated by the electrical energy generating device. The decision making apparatus, which may include a non-volatile memory, is adapted to receive information, to make one of a set of possible decisions based on the information and on its logic and/or data in its memory and to generate a specific low power electrical output in response to a selected one of the set of possible decisions being made. A mechanical gate has at least two positions. An electrical to mechanical energy conversion device serves for converting electrostatically the low power electrical output into a minute mechanical force/movement and for applying the minute mechanical force/movement to position the gate in a selected one of its positions. An apparatus as set forth above does not require a separate power source, be it a battery or access to AC power. Thus wiring and installation costs are significantly reduced.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An electrostatically activated gating mechanism, comprising:
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mechanical motion detecting means for detecting mechanical motion consciously generated by an intelligent agency; electrical energy generating means for generating electric energy in response to and utilizing energy derived from said mechanical motion detected by said mechanical motion detecting means; an electronic decision making apparatus solely powered by the electrical energy generated by the electrical energy generating means, the decision making apparatus being adapted to receive information, to make one of a set of possible decisions based thereon, and to generate a specific low power electrical output in response to a selected one of said set of possible decisions being made; a mechanical gate having at least two positions; and electrical to mechanical energy converting means for electrostatically converting said low power electrical output into a minute mechanical force/movement and for applying said minute mechanical force/movement to position said gate in a selected one of said positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 22)
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- 13. An electrostatically activated gating mechanism as set forth in clam 1, wherein said electrical to mechanical energy converting means includes a piezoelectric member which is deformable on being charged and charge applying means for selectively applying a charge thereto.
Specification