Self-powered wireless switch
First Claim
1. A self-powered wireless switch comprising:
- a wireless transmitter;
an energy harvesting device arranged to produce electrical power for operation of the wireless transmitter upon actuation of a switch by a user, wherein the energy harvesting device includes a piezoelectric element arranged to be distressed upon actuation of the switch; and
an electric circuit including a matching wound step down transformer coupling the piezoelectric element to a rectifier connected to a capacitor to allow the piezoelectric element to resonate and the capacitor to receive the harvested energy and supply electrical power for operation of the wireless transmitter wherein a capacitance of the piezoelectric element and an inductance of the electric circuit have a resonate frequency substantially equal to a mechanical resonate frequency of the piezoelectric element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless switch is provided having a twenty-year life energy harvesting arrangement for self-powering a wireless transmitter. The energy harvesting arrangement is implemented in one embodiment using a piezoelectric switch element. A tritium light source and photovoltaic device are used in a second embodiment, while a black light source and photovoltaic device are used in a third embodiment. The energy harvesting wireless switch arrangement of the present invention can be combined, for example, with a vehicle side mirror switch, to reduce the complexity of the wire harness feeding the door. The wireless switch can be located without regard to accessability of a wiring harness or connector.
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Citations
1 Claim
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1. A self-powered wireless switch comprising:
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a wireless transmitter;
an energy harvesting device arranged to produce electrical power for operation of the wireless transmitter upon actuation of a switch by a user, wherein the energy harvesting device includes a piezoelectric element arranged to be distressed upon actuation of the switch; and
an electric circuit including a matching wound step down transformer coupling the piezoelectric element to a rectifier connected to a capacitor to allow the piezoelectric element to resonate and the capacitor to receive the harvested energy and supply electrical power for operation of the wireless transmitter wherein a capacitance of the piezoelectric element and an inductance of the electric circuit have a resonate frequency substantially equal to a mechanical resonate frequency of the piezoelectric element.
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Specification