Mobile device with manually operated power source

• US 7,333,783 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2005
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Teledyne Scientific & Imaging, LLC (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Teledyne Licensing, LLC (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rode, Jonathan P.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THUAN T
• Application Number:
  US11/107,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20060234669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 455/127.1, 455/127.2, 455/127.3, 455/266, 455/141.1, 455/501, 455/403, 455/127.5, 455/414.1, 455/550.1
• US Class Current: 455/127.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/02 with moving magnets and stationary coil systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1853 driven by intermittent forces
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers

Abstract

A mobile device with a manually operated power source which generates power sufficient to operate the device when shaken by a user. A cable connected between the power source and mobile device carries the generated power from the power source to the mobile device such that the mobile device can be powered. The cable has a length sufficient to enable a user to hold the mobile device in one hand and the power source in the other hand such that the mobile device can be held stationary and used while the power source is simultaneously shaken. The mobile device and power source are preferably arranged such that they can be mechanically coupled together to form a single unit.

Claims

1. A mobile device with manually operated power source, comprising:

a manually operated power source which generates power when shaken by a user;

a mobile device; and

a cable connected between said power source and said mobile device which carries said generated power from said power source to said mobile device to power said mobile device, said mobile device capable of being powered by the power generated by said power source when said power source is shaken, said cable having a length sufficient to enable a user to hold said mobile device in one hand and said power source in the other hand such that said mobile device can be held stationary and used while said power source is simultaneously shaken.

2. The mobile device with manually operated power source of claim 1, wherein said manually operated power source comprises:

a conductive 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 power source is in motion such that an electrical current is produced in said coil.

3. The power source of claim 2, wherein said manually operated power source further comprises a closed nonmagnetic tube, said coil affixed to the exterior of said tube, 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 power source is in motion such that an electrical current is produced in said coil.

4. The power source of claim 3, wherein said power source comprises two or more of said magnets, each of which is supported by respective ferrofluidic bearings, said magnets arranged within said tube such that each magnet is separated from its adjacent magnets by a gap maintained by magnetic repulsion.

5. The power source of claim 3, wherein said closed nonmagnetic tube is a circular tube.

6. The power source of claim 3, wherein said closed nonmagnetic tube is a box-shaped tube.

7. The power source of claim 3, wherein said closed nonmagnetic tube is a linear tube and said magnet slides between the opposite ends of said tube when said power source is in motion.

8. The power source of claim 7, further comprising recoil end magnets affixed at opposite ends of said closed nonmagnetic linear tube, the polarities of said end magnets selected to repel said sliding magnet when it comes into close proximity with said end magnets.

9. The power source of claim 7, wherein said power source comprises two or more of said magnets, each of which is supported by respective ferrofluidic bearings, said magnets arranged within said tube such that each magnet is separated from its adjacent magnets by a gap maintained by magnetic repulsion and such that said magnets slide between the opposite ends of said tube when said power source is in motion.

10. The power source of claim 9, further comprising recoil end magnets affixed at opposite ends of said closed tube, the polarities of said end magnets selected to repel the sliding magnet adjacent to said end magnet when said sliding magnet comes into close proximity with said end magnets.

11. The mobile device with manually operated power source of claim 1, wherein said cable is a coiled cable.

12. The mobile device with manually operated power source of claim 1, further comprising a means by which said mobile device and said manually operated power source can be mechanically coupled together to form a single unit.

13. The mobile device with manually operated power source of claim 12, wherein said cable is a coiled cable which substantially retracts into said single unit when said mobile device and said manually operated power source are mechanically coupled together.

14. The mobile device with manually operated power source of claim 12, wherein said means comprises a recessed area within said mobile device having a size sufficient to accommodate said power source.

15. The mobile device with manually operated power source of claim 12, wherein said means comprises guide rails on an exterior surface of said mobile device arranged to accommodate said power source.

16. The mobile device with manually operated power source of claim 1, further comprising an energy storage system connected to receive and store said generated power and to make said stored power available for powering said mobile device.

17. The mobile device with manually operated power source of claim 16, wherein said energy storage system comprises a battery.

18. The mobile device with manually operated power source of claim 16, wherein said energy storage system comprises a capacitor.

19. The mobile device with manually operated power source of claim 16, wherein said manually operated power source produces an alternating current, said energy storage system further comprising an interface circuit which receives and rectifies said alternating current.

20. The mobile device with manually operated power source of claim 16, wherein said power source is further arranged to generate power from unintended motion, said power stored in said energy storage system and made available for powering said mobile device.

21. The mobile device with manually operated power source of claim 20, further comprising a means by which said mobile device and said manually operated power source can be mechanically coupled together to form a single unit, said power source capable of generating power from unintended motion that occurs while said mobile device and said manually operated power source are coupled together.

22. The mobile device with manually operated power source of claim 1, wherein said mobile device includes a jack and said cable is terminated with a plug that mates with said jack such that said cable is connected to said mobile device by inserting said plug into said jack.

23. A mobile device with manually operated power source, comprising:

a manually operated power source which generates power when shaken by a user or due to unintended motion of said power source;

a mobile device, said mobile device including a means by which said manually operated power source and said mobile device can be mechanically coupled together to form a single unit;

an energy storage system connected to receive and store said power generated due to unintended motion when said mobile device and said manually operated power source are coupled together and to make said stored power available for powering said mobile device; and

a cable connected between said power source and said mobile device which carries said generated power from said power source to said mobile device to power said mobile device, said mobile device capable of being powered by the power generated by said power source when said power source is shaken or by power stored in said energy storage system, said cable having a length sufficient to enable a user to hold said mobile device in one hand and said power source in the other hand such that said mobile device can be held stationary and used while said power source is simultaneously shaken.

24. A mobile device with manually operated power source, comprising:

a manually operated power source which generates power when shaken by a user, said power source comprising;

a conductive 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 power source is in motion such that an alternating current is produced in said coil;

an interface circuit which receives and rectifies said alternating current;

a mobile device, said mobile device including a means by which said manually operated power source and said mobile device can be mechanically coupled together to form a single unit; and

a cable connected between said power source and said mobile device which carries said generated power from said power source to said mobile device to power said mobile device, said mobile device capable of being powered by said rectified current when said power source is sufficiently shaken, said cable having a length sufficient to enable a user to hold said mobile device in one hand and said manually operated power source in the other hand such that said mobile device can be held stationary and used while said power source is simultaneously shaken.

25. The mobile device with manually operated power source of claim 24, wherein said cable is a coiled cable which substantially retracts into said single unit when said mobile device and said manually operated power source are mechanically coupled together.

26. The mobile device with manually operated power source of claim 24, further comprising an energy storage system connected to receive and store said rectified current and to make said stored power available for powering said mobile device.

27. The mobile device with manually operated power source of claim 24, wherein said power source is further arranged to generate power as a result of unintended motion that occurs while said mobile device and said manually operated power source are mechanically coupled together to form a single unit, said power generated as a result of unintended motion stored in said energy storage system and made available for powering said mobile device.