Maximizing power generation in and distributing force amongst piezoelectric generators

• US 7,304,416 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2004
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey D. Mullen
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey D. Mullen
• Inventors: Mullen, Jeffrey D
• Primary Examiner(s): BUDD, MARK OSBORNE
• Application Number:
  US10/785,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20050258717A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,380 Days
• Field of Search: 310/328, 310330-332, 310/339
• US Class Current: 310/339
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/00 Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/38 with power sources
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/42 where power is generated by conversion of mechanical movement to electricity, e.g. by piezoelectric means
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/18 producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators for measurement devices G01
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/30 with mechanical input and electrical output, e.g. functioning as generators or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/308 Membrane type

Abstract

It is an object of the present invention to array and utilize piezoelectric generators. It is also an object of the invention to implement properly configured piezoelectric generators into applications that can recapture expelled kinetic energy that is otherwise wasted. Particularly, piezoelectric generators, or arrays, may be, for example, placed in shoes, clothing, tires, roads, and sidewalks in order to recapture the energy expelled in everyday human activities (e.g., walking, moving, and driving).

Claims

1. A piezoelectric generator comprising:

a first piezoelectric layer;

a second piezoelectric layer;

a guide-tooth; and

a guide-frame for said first and second piezoelectric layers, wherein said first and second piezoelectric layers are located between said guide-tooth and said guide-frame, said guide-frame is operable to receive said guide-tooth such that at least a portion of said guide-tooth is operable to fit into said guide-frame, said first and second piezoelectric layers are distorted into said guide-frame by said guide-tooth when said guide-frame receives said guide-tooth, wherein said first and second piezoelectric layers do not vertically overlap between said guide-tooth and guide-frame.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first metal layer provided between at least a portion of said first piezoelectric layer and at least a portion of said guide-tooth; and

a second metal layer provided between at least a portion of said first piezoelectric layer and at least a portion of said guide-frame.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising an electrical energy storage device, coupled to said first piezoelectric layer, for receiving and storing electrical energy provided by said first piezoelectric layer.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a spring located between said guide-tooth and guide-frame and coupled to said first piezoelectric layer, wherein said spring is operable of providing force against said first piezoelectric layer.

2. A flexible array of piezoelectric generators, said array comprising:

a first layer having a plurality of flexible first piezoelectric generators, wherein each one of said first piezoelectric generators include at least one piezoelectric element, at least two of said first piezoelectric generators are physically separated by at least an isolation layer, and said isolation layer has a stiffness greater than the stiffnesses of at least one of said first piezoelectric generators; and

a second layer, coupled to said first layer, having a plurality of flexible second piezoelectric generators, wherein one of said plurality of said flexible second piezoelectric generators is aligned with said isolation layer.

4. The flexible array of claim 2, wherein said flexible array is electrically coupled to an electrical energy storage device to store electrical energy generated by said plurality of flexible first piezoelectric generators.

5. The flexible array of claim 2, wherein at least one of said at least one piezoelectric elements is located between a first flexible metal layer and a second flexible metal layer.

3. A flexible array of piezoelectric generators, said array comprising:

a first layer having a plurality of flexible first piezoelectric generators, wherein each one of said first piezoelectric generators include at least one piezoelectric element, at least two of said first piezoelectric generators are separated by an isolation layer and said isolation layer has a second stiffness, smaller than the stiffness of at least one of said first piezoelectric generators; and

a second layer, coupled to said first layer, having a plurality of flexible second generators, wherein one of said plurality of said flexible second generators is aligned with said isolation layer.

6. The flexible array of claim 3, wherein said flexible array is electrically coupled to an electrical energy storage device to store electrical energy generated by said plurality of flexible first piezoelectric generators.

7. The flexible array of claim 3, wherein at least one of said at least one piezoelectric elements is located between a first flexible metal layer and a second flexible metal layer.

11. A piezoelectric generator that creates a potential when physically distorted, said generator comprising:

a piezoelectric layer;

a spring coupled to said piezoelectric layer; and

a guide-frame for receiving said piezoelectric layer, wherein said spring is coupled to said guide-frame, said guide-frame is operable to receive said piezoelectric layer such that at least a portion of said piezoelectric layer is operable to fit into said guide frame, and wherein said piezoelectric layer is distorted into said guide-frame when said guide-frame receives said piezoelectric layer.

12. The generator of claim 11, wherein said spring is operable to physically distort said piezoelectric layer.

13. The generator of claim 11, wherein said spring comprises a cushion having a spring constant operable to physically distort said piezoelectric layer.

14. The generator of claim 11, wherein an energy storage device is coupled to said piezoelectric layer to store electrical energy provided by said piezoelectric layer.

18. The generator of claim 11, wherein said spring extends said piezoelectric layer away from said guide-frame when no force is exerted against said spring towards said guide-frame and said spring is condensed into said guide frame when said piezoelectric layer is forced into said guide frame.

19. The generator of claim 11, further comprising a guide-tooth, wherein said guide-tooth is aligned with said guide-frame is operable to distort said piezoelectric layer into said guide-frame.

20. The generator of claim 11, further comprising:

a first metal layer coupled to one side of said piezoelectric layer;

a second metal layer coupled to another side of said piezoelectric layer; and

an electrical energy storage device coupled to said first and second metal layers.

15. A system comprising:

a plurality of piezoelectric generators, wherein each one of said piezoelectric generators comprise a piezoelectric layer;

a first layer having a plurality of guide-teeth, wherein at least one of said guide-teeth is aligned with at least one of said plurality of piezoelectric generators and a force applied to one of said guide-teeth is distributed amongst other portions of said first layer having other guide-teeth; and

a second layer having a plurality of guide-teeth receivable frames, wherein said plurality of piezoelectric generators are located between said first layer and said second layer, wherein each one of said guide-teeth receivable frames is operable to receive at least a part of at least one of said guide-teeth wherein each one of said piezoelectric generators are distorted into at least one of said guide-teeth frames by at least one of said guide-teeth when said guide-teeth frames receive said guide-teeth.

16. The generator of claim 15, wherein at least one energy storage device is coupled to said plurality of piezoelectric layers to store electrical energy generated by said plurality of piezoelectric layers.

17. The generator of claim 15, further comprising a material having a spring constant coupled to at least one of said piezoelectric layers and located between said first and second layers, wherein said material having a spring constant is operable of providing force against at least one of said at least one piezoelectric layers that is coupled to said material.

21. The generator of claim 15, wherein at least one electrical energy storage device is coupled to a first and second metal layer, said first metal layer being coupled to one side of, and said second metal layer being coupled to another side of, at least one of said plurality of piezoelectric layers.