Electromagnetic energy converter

• US 7,391,135 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2005
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EnOcean GmbH
• Original Assignee: EnOcean GmbH
• Inventors: Schmidt, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrera; Ramon M
• Application Number:
  US11/245,711
• Publication Number:
  US 20060087392A1
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 310/15, 310/28, 335/229
• US Class Current: 310/15
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/076 Key stroke generating power
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/04 with moving coil systems and stationary magnets
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/06 with moving flux distributors, and both coil systems and magnets stationary

Abstract

An electromagnetic energy transducer comprising a permanent magnet (1), a soft-magnetic element (9), an electrical coil (6), and stop points (8a-8d). The electrical coil surrounds a part of the magnetic circuit, wherein the permanent magnet (1) and said soft-magnetic element (9) are arranged to form a magnetic circuit with a first flux direction. At least one of the soft-magnetic element (9) and the permanent magnet (1) is mounted for rotary movement about an axis (4) with respect to the other. End points of the rotary movement are formed by the stop points (8a-8d).

Claims

1. An electromagnetic energy converter, comprising:

a permanent magnet comprising two concentric rings which are connected by a base plate such that a face of the two concentric rings which is opposite the base plate forms a magnetic north pole and a magnetic south pole;

a moving element; and

an electrical coil that surrounds at least a part of one of the permanent magnet and the moving element;

wherein said moving element is configured such that any movement of the moving element from one of a first rest position and a second rest position causes one of opening and closing of a magnetic circuit which is formed by the permanent magnet and the moving element.

2. The electromagnetic energy converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the moving element comprises a soft-magnetic material.

3. The electromagnetic energy converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the moving element is held in the first or the second rest position by magnetic latching forces.

4. The electromagnetic energy converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said moving element comprises:

a spring element that renders the second rest position unstable, so that the moving element returns to the first rest position after a movement to the second rest position.

5. The electromagnetic energy converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the moving element has a dead-center mechanism, which results in one of rapid opening and closing of the magnetic circuit as soon as a predetermined force acting on the moving element is exceeded.

6. The electromagnetic energy converter as claimed in claim 2, wherein the soft-magnetic material is one of iron, ferrite, a nickel/iron alloy and electrical or transformer laminate.

7. The electromagnetic energy converter as claimed in claim 4, wherein the moving element consists of the spring element.

8. The electromagnetic energy converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the concentric rings is connected to the base plate and the other of the concentric rings is connected to the moving element.

9. The electromagnetic energy converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein a discontinuity in the magnetic circuit is formed by an air gap.

10. The electromagnetic energy converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic energy converter has a diameter of less than or equal to 1.5 cm.

11. The electromagnetic energy converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic energy converter supplies an autonomous-power switch with electrical power.

12. The electromagnetic energy converter as claimed in claim 11, wherein the electrical power is rectified by rectifiers.

13. The electromagnetic energy converter as claimed in claim 11, wherein the electrical power is stored in a capacitor.

14. The electromagnetic energy converter as claimed in claim 11, wherein the autonomous-power switch is physically connected to the electromagnetic energy converter.

15. The electromagnetic energy converter as claimed in claim 12, wherein the rectifiers comprise semiconductor metal-contact diodes.