Magnetostrictive / piezo remote power generation, battery and method

• US 7,808,159 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2009
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
• Original Assignee: Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company)
• Inventors: Tucker, Randall L., Carroll, Gary T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dougherty; Thomas M
• Application Number:
  US12/380,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20090167115A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 310/26, 310/311, 310/317, 310/319, 310/339
• US Class Current: 310/339
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 17/00 Structural combinations of capacitors or other devices covered by at least two different main groups of this subclass with other electric elements, not covered by this subclass, e.g. RC combinations
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/00 Piezoelectric or electrostrictive devices integrated devices or assemblies of multiple devices H10N39/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A power generation device generates power by subjecting a composite of magnetostrictive material and piezo material to a magnetic field. The composite of magnetostrictive material and piezo material may be incorporated in a battery or other storage device.

Claims

1. A battery comprising:

a) a composite of (i) a magnetostrictive material and (ii) a piezo material which generates electricity when subjected to a pulsed or continuous magnetic field;

b) a capacitor or ferro capacitor connected thereto;

c) a voltage regulator positioned between said composite and said capacitor or ferro capacitor; and

d) a flexible substrate supporting said composite, said voltage regulator and said capacitor or ferro capacitor.

2. A battery according to claim 1 wherein said piezo is lead zirconate titanate (PZT).

3. A battery according to claim 1 wherein said flexible substrate is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of polyester and polyimide.

4. A battery according to claim 1 wherein said composite has been subjected to a magnetic field having a frequency within the range of 90% to 110% of the natural resonant frequency of the composite.

5. A multi-unit battery comprising a plurality of batteries according to claim 1 wired in parallel and mounted on said flexible substrate.

6. A multi-unit battery according to claim 5 wherein said flexible substrate with said plurality of batteries mounted therein is rolled upon itself to form a cylindrical shape.

7. A multi-unit battery according to claim 6 wherein said cylindrical shape has a first end and a second end and further including a pair of electrodes, one on said first end and the other on said second end.

8. A multi-unit battery according to claim 5 further including electrodes attached to one or more of said capacitors or ferro capacitors.

9. A battery comprising:

(a) a composite of (i) a magnetostrictive material and (ii) a piezo material which generates electricity when subjected to a pulsed or continuous magnetic field;

(b) a capacitor or ferro capacitor connected thereto;

(c) a voltage regulator positioned between said composite and said capacitor or ferro capacitor; and

(d) a coil driver system for creating an electromagnetic field, said coil driver system including (i) an oscillator transmitting a signal at a first frequency to divider, said divider reducing the frequency of said signal and transmitting said reduced frequency signal to a nand gate, and (ii) an inverter for creating two phases of said reduced frequency signal received from said nand gate and transmitting said phrases, respectively, to first and second drivers, said first driver transmitting said reduced frequency signal to a first end of said capacitor or ferro capacitor and said second driver transmitting said reduced frequency signal to a second end of said capacitor or ferro capacitor.

10. A battery according to claim 9 wherein said piezo is lead zirconate titanate (PZT).

11. A battery according to claim 9 wherein said composite has been subjected to a magnetic field having a frequency within the range of 90% to 110% of the natural resonant frequency of the composite.

12. A multi-unit battery comprising a plurality of batteries mounted on a flexible substrate, each said battery including:

(a) a composite of (i) a magnetostrictive material and (ii) a piezo material which generates electricity when subjected to a pulsed or continuous magnetic field;

b) a capacitor or ferro capacitor connected thereto;

c) a voltage regulator positioned between said composite and said capacitor or ferro capacitor;

d) a flexible substrate supporting said composite, said voltage regulator and said capacitor or ferro capacitor; and

(e) a coil driver system for creating an electromagnetic field, said coil driver system including;

(i) an oscillator transmitting a signal at a first frequency to a divider, said divider reducing the frequency of said signal and transmitting said reduced frequency signal to a nand gate, and (ii) an inverter for creating two phases of said reduced frequency signal received from said nand gate and transmitting said phases, respectively, to first and second drivers, said first driver transmitting said reduced frequency signal to a first end of said capacitor or ferro capacitor and said second driver transmitting said reduced frequency signal to a second end of said capacitor or ferro capacitor.

13. A multi-unit battery according to claim 12 wherein said flexible substrate is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of polyester and polyimide.

14. A multi-unit battery according to claim 12 wherein said plurality of batteries are wired in parallel and mounted on said flexible substrate.

15. A multi-unit battery according to claim 14 wherein said flexible substrate with said plurality of batteries mounted therein is rolled upon itself to form a cylindrical shape and having a first end and a second end and further including a pair of electrodes, one on said first end and the other on said second end.

16. A multi-unit battery according to claim 14 further including electrodes attached to one or more of said capacitors or ferro capacitors.