Methods and systems for harnessing electrical energy from ambient vibrational motion of a moving vehicle

• US 7,161,254 B1
• Filed: 01/07/2004
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Janky, James M., Riter, Bruce, Ahearn, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Gonzalez; J
• Application Number:
  US10/753,503
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.R, 180/165, 310/339
• US Class Current: 290/1.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/32 for charging batteries from a charging set comprising a non-electric prime mover rotating at constant speed
• 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

Abstract

Vibrational motion caused by a moving vehicle is transduced into electrical energy by a vibrational-to-electric energy converter, and stored in an electrical energy storage device such as a rechargeable battery. The electrical energy storage device may then power one or more electronic components located on the moving vehicle. Where a radio transmitter is used, information produced by the electronic components located on the moving vehicle may be transmitted to other locations/devices.

Claims

1. A system comprising a vibration-to-electric energy converter mounted to a mast that is attached to a moveable vehicle, and an electrical energy storage device coupled to the mast to receive and store electrical energy produced by the mast-mounted vibration-to-electric energy converter.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an electronics package coupled to be powered by the electrical energy storage device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the electronics package includes a radio transmitter.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the electronics package includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the electronics package further includes a radio transmitter coupled to the GPS receiver.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the electrical energy storage device comprises a rechargeable battery.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the electrical energy storage device comprises a capacitor.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the electrical energy storage device comprises a pair of rechargeable batteries.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the vibrational-to-electric energy converter includes a generator having a permanent magnet.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the generator comprises a linear permanent magnet generator.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the generator comprises a toroidal permanent magnet generator.

12. A method, comprising converting vibrational motion of a mast that is attached to a moving vehicle into electrical energy using a vibrational-to-electric energy converter, and charging an electrical energy storage device coupled to the mast using the electrical energy produced by the vibrational-to-electric energy converter.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising powering one or more electronic components located on the moving vehicle from the electrical energy storage device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising transmitting information produced by the one or more electronic components located on the moving vehicle.

15. A system, comprising:

a mast attached to a vehicle;

a vibration-to-electric energy converter coupled to the mast and configured to produce electric energy in response to movement of the mast; and

a electric energy storage device coupled to the mast to store the electric energy produced by the vibration-to-electric energy converter in response to movement of the mast.