Autonomous power source
First Claim
1. An autonomous power source, comprising:
- a movable structure;
a power harvester mounted to said structure such that it moves with said structure, said power harvester comprising;
a coil,a magnet,a low-friction ferrofluidic bearing in contact with and supporting one of said coil or magnet,said coil, magnet and bearing arranged such that said magnet and said coil move with respect to each other when said structure is in motion such that an electrical current is produced in said coil;
electronic circuitry;
an energy storage system connected to power said electronic circuitry; and
an interface circuit connected to receive said electrical current and to provide energy for storage in said energy storage system;
wherein said electronic circuitry comprises a sensor and a wireless transmitter which transmits a signal that varies with the output of said sensor.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An autonomous power source comprises a power harvester mounted on a movable structure. The power harvester includes a coil, a magnet, and a low-friction ferrofluidic bearing in contact with the magnet, arranged such that the magnet and coil move with respect to each other when the structure is in motion such that an electrical current is produced in the coil. This current is converted to power and stored in an energy storage system and is thus available to power electronic circuitry. The magnet and bearing are preferably enclosed within a closed linear or circular tube, with the coil mounted around the exterior of the tube. The power harvester and battery are combined with one or more sensors and a wireless transmitter to form a tire pressure monitoring system.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. An autonomous power source, comprising:
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a movable structure; a power harvester mounted to said structure such that it moves with said structure, said power harvester comprising; a coil, a magnet, a low-friction ferrofluidic bearing in contact with and supporting one of said coil or magnet, said coil, magnet and bearing arranged such that said magnet and said coil move with respect to each other when said structure is in motion such that an electrical current is produced in said coil; electronic circuitry; an energy storage system connected to power said electronic circuitry; and an interface circuit connected to receive said electrical current and to provide energy for storage in said energy storage system; wherein said electronic circuitry comprises a sensor and a wireless transmitter which transmits a signal that varies with the output of said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An autonomous power source, comprising:
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a movable structure; a power harvester mounted to said structure such that it moves with said structure, said power harvester comprising; a coil, a magnet, a low-friction ferrofluidic bearing in contact with and supporting one of said coil or magnet, said coil, magnet and bearing arranged such that said magnet and said coil move with respect to each other when said structure is in motion such that an electrical current is produced in said coil; electronic circuitry; an energy storage system connected to power said electronic circuitry; and an interface circuit connected to receive said electrical current and to provide energy for storage in said energy storage system; wherein said electronic circuitry comprises a sensor and a data storage device which stores data that varies with the output of said sensor.
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4. An autonomous power source, comprising:
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a movable structure; a power harvester mounted to said structure such that it moves with said structure, said power harvester comprising; a coil, a magnet, a low-friction ferrofluidic bearing in contact with and supporting one of said coil or magnet, said coil, magnet and bearing arranged such that said magnet and said coil move with respect to each other when said structure is in motion such that an electrical current is produced in said coil; electronic circuitry; an energy storage system connected to power said electronic circuitry; and an interface circuit connected to receive said electrical current and to provide energy for storage in said energy storage system; wherein said electronic circuitry comprises a sensor and a wireless transceiver which transmits a signal which varies with the output of said sensor.
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5. An autonomous power source, comprising:
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a movable structure; a power harvester mounted to said structure such that it moves with said structure, said power harvester comprising; a coil, a magnet, a low-friction ferrofluidic bearing in contact with and supporting one of said coil or magnet, said coil, magnet and bearing arranged such that said magnet and said coil move with respect to each other when said structure is in motion such that an electrical current is produced in said coil; electronic circuitry; an energy storage system connected to power said electronic circuitry; and an interface circuit connected to receive said electrical current and to provide energy for storage in said energy storage system; wherein said electronic circuitry comprises an air pressure sensor. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. An autonomous power source, comprising:
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a movable structure; and a power harvester mounted to said structure such that it moves with said structure, said power harvester comprising; a closed nonmagnetic tube, a coil affixed to the exterior of said tube, a magnet, and a low-friction ferrofluidic bearing in contact with and supporting one of said coil or magnet, said magnet and bearing enclosed within said tube such that said magnet is in contact with and supported by said bearing and is free to move within said tube such that said magnet and said coil move with respect to each other when said movable structure is in motion such that an electrical current is produced in said coil. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An autonomous power source, comprising:
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a movable structure; and a power harvester mounted to said structure such that it moves with said structure, said power harvester comprising; a coil, a magnet, a low-friction ferrofluidic bearing in contact with and supporting one of said coil or magnet, said coil, magnet and bearing arranged such that said magnet and said coil move with respect to each other when said structure is in motion such that an electrical current is produced in said coil; wherein said movable structure is a rotatable structure and said power harvester further comprises a closed nonmagnetic circular tube which encircles and rotates with said structure, said coil and bearing enclosed within said circular tube such that said coil is in contact with and supported by said bearing and is free to move within said tube when said structure is in motion, said magnet mounted to said structure outside of said tube such that said magnet and said coil move with respect to each other when said structure is in motion such that an electrical current is produced in said coil. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A wireless tire pressure monitoring system, comprising:
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an autonomous power source, comprising; a power harvester mounted to a vehicle wheel such that it rotates with said wheel, said power harvester comprising; a coil, a magnet, a low-friction ferrofluidic bearing in contact with and supporting said magnet, said coil, magnet and bearing arranged such that said magnet and said coil move with respect to each other when said wheel is in motion such that an electrical current is produced in said coil; an air pressure sensor for sensing the air pressure within a tire mounted on said wheel; a data storage and/or wireless transmitter circuit which stores and/or transmits data which varies with said sensor output; a rechargeable battery connected to power said circuit; and an interface circuit connected to receive said electrical current and to provide energy to recharge said rechargeable battery. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification