System for generating electrical energy from ambient energy

• US 8,030,786 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2008
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Strategic Design Federation W, LLC
• Original Assignee: Willowview Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Harris, David, Gardner, John F., Jackson, Ronald Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuevas; Pedro J
• Application Number:
  US12/196,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20100045119A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.E, 290/1.R, 290/54
• US Class Current: 290/1.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 5/06 other than of endless-walk type
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 5/061 driven by animals
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 5/062 driven by humans
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/08 recovering energy derived from swinging, rolling, pitching or like movements, e.g. from the vibrations of a machine
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/02 with moving magnets and stationary coil systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/116 with gears
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1853 driven by intermittent forces
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1876 with reciprocating, linearly oscillating or vibrating parts

Abstract

A system for generating electrical energy from ambient energy such as the energy of ambient motion and acoustic vibrations. The system has at least two stages, a resonating electrical generator and a kinetic energy conversion system. The stages have differing resonant frequencies to enable harvesting energy from lower frequency ambient motion and converting the energy to higher frequency resonant oscillation for efficiently generating electrical energy. A multiaxial system having a plurality of systems for generating electrical energy from ambient motion each oriented to be responsive to motion along a different axis. An embodiment of a system for generating electrical energy from ambient motion for which the resonating electrical generator is at least part of a driving mass of the kinetic energy conversion system.

Claims

1. A system for generating electrical energy from ambient energy, the system comprising:

a first biasing element configured to store potential energy when forced from a resting position to a strained position;

a driving mass coupled to the first biasing element, the driving mass configured to harvest ambient energy by forcing the first biasing element from a resting position to a strained position in response to ambient energy, wherein the driving mass further comprises a vibration-driven electrical generator; and

one or more stops configured to aid in transferring harvested energy to the vibration-driven electrical generator, the one or more stops positioned so that the driving mass can strike the one or more stops upon a sufficient force being applied to the driving mass,

wherein energy is transferred to the vibration-driven electrical generator upon the driving mass striking the one or more stops and the transferred energy drives the vibration-driven electrical generator to generate electrical energy.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first biasing element comprises a spring.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first biasing element comprises a cantilever beam.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first biasing element comprises a torsion shaft.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first biasing element comprises a flexible membrane.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the vibration-driven electrical generator comprises a velocity-damped resonant generator comprising:

a coil;

a second biasing element tuned to a natural frequency that is higher than the natural frequency of the first biasing element; and

a magnet to generate a magnetic field, the magnet coupled to the second biasing element and disposed in proximity to the coil such that the coil is located within the magnetic field, wherein the second biasing element enables a resonant oscillation of the magnet relative to the coil that generates an electric current in the coil.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the second biasing element comprises a spring.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the second biasing element comprises a flexible membrane.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the second biasing element comprises a cantilever beam.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the biasing element comprises a torsion shaft.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the biasing element comprises a flexible membrane.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the vibration-driven electrical generator further comprises:

a plurality of coils; and

one or more additional biasing elements tuned to the natural frequency of the second biasing element and configured to facilitate oscillations of the magnet along a plurality of axes to generate electrical energy in the plurality of coils.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the vibration-driven electrical generator comprises a piezoelectric material.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the vibration-driven electrical generator comprises a Coulomb-damped resonating generator.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the vibration-driven electrical generator comprises a Coulomb-force parametric generator.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the force applied to the driving mass, to cause it to strike the one or more stops, comprises force generated from energy stored and released by the first biasing element.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the force applied to the driving mass, to cause it to strike the one or more stops, further comprises gravity.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the force applied to the driving mass, to cause it to strike the one or more stops, comprises force resulting from ambient energy.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy is transferred to the vibration-driven electrical generator by producing a resonant vibration of the vibration-driven electrical generator.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy is transferred to the vibration-driven electrical generator by producing an acceleration that increases the vibration amplitude of the vibration-driven electrical generator.

21. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more additional biasing elements configured to facilitate harvesting kinetic energy from ambient movements in a plurality of directions, wherein the one or more additional biasing elements are coupled to the driving mass and configured to be forced from a resting position to a strained position by the driving mass in response to ambient motion.

22. A system for generating electrical energy from ambient motion comprising:

an electrical generator to convert motion to electrical energy; and

a kinetic energy conversion system to harvest energy from ambient motion, the conversion system comprising;

a first biasing element to store potential energy when forced from a resting position to a strained position;

a driving mass configured to force the first biasing element from a resting position to a strained position in response to ambient motion; and

one or more stops configured to transfer energy from the kinetic energy conversion system to the electrical generator, wherein the stops are positioned such that the driving mass can strike the one or more stops upon a sufficient force being applied to the driving mass,

wherein the electrical generator is at least partially housed within the driving mass of the kinetic energy conversion system, and

wherein the driving mass, upon striking the one or more stops, transfers energy to the electrical generator to drive the electrical generator and thereby generate electrical energy.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the kinetic energy conversion system further comprises a plurality of biasing elements to harvest kinetic energy from ambient movements along a plurality of axes, the plurality of biasing elements configured to be force from a resting position to a strained position by the driving mass.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the vibration-driven electrical generator comprises a velocity-damped resonating generator.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the vibration-driven electrical generator comprises a piezoelectric material.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the vibration-driven electrical generator comprises a Coulomb-damped resonating generator.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein the vibration-driven electrical generator comprises a Coulomb-force parametric generator.

28. The system of claim 22, further comprising a second kinetic energy conversion system, the second kinetic energy conversion system comprising:

a second biasing element tuned to resonate at a frequency lower than the frequency of the first biasing element, the second biasing element configured to store potential energy when forced from a resting position to a strained position;

a second driving mass coupled to the second biasing element and configured to force the first biasing element from a resting position to a strained position in response to ambient motion, wherein the second driving mass comprises the first kinetic energy conversion system; and

one or more second stops configured to transfer energy from the second kinetic energy conversion system to the first kinetic energy conversion system, wherein the second stops are positioned such that the second driving mass can strike the one or more second stops upon a sufficient force being applied to the second driving mass,

wherein energy is transferred to the first kinetic energy conversion system upon the second driving mass striking the one or more second stops, thereby producing a vibration at the frequency of the biasing element of the first stage.

29. The system of claim 22, further comprising a second vibration-driven electrical generator, the second vibration-driven electrical generator comprising

a magnet to generate a magnetic field;

and

a coil positioned within the magnetic field of the magnet;

wherein oscillations of the driving mass of the first kinetic energy conversion system produce movement of the magnet and magnetic field relative to the coil, thereby generating electrical energy within the coil.

30. A multi-module system for generating electrical energy from multiaxial ambient motion comprising:

a plurality of systems for generating electrical energy from ambient motion, wherein the plurality of systems are oriented along a plurality of axes, and wherein each of the plurality of systems comprises;

an electrical generator to convert motion to electrical energy, the electrical generator having;

a coil;

a first biasing element tuned to resonate at a first frequency; and

a magnet generating a magnetic field, the magnet coupled to the first biasing element and disposed in proximity to the coil such that the coil is positioned within the magnetic field, wherein the first biasing element enables a resonant oscillation of the magnet, and wherein movement of the magnet relative to the coil generates an electric current in the coil; and

a kinetic energy conversion system to harvest energy from ambient motion, the conversion system having;

a second biasing element to store potential energy when forced from a resting position to a strained position, the second biasing element tuned to resonate at a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency;

a driving mass configured to force the second biasing element from a resting position to a strained position in response to ambient motion; and

one or more stops adapted to transfer energy from the kinetic energy conversion system to the electrical generator, wherein the stops are positioned such that the driving mass can strike the one or more stops upon a sufficient force being applied to the driving mass,

wherein the electrical generator is at least partially housed within the driving mass of the kinetic energy conversion system, and

wherein the driving mass transfers energy to the electrical generator upon striking the one or more stops, generating a resonant oscillation of the magnet of the electrical generator at the first frequency to drive the electrical generator and thereby generate electrical energy.

31. A system for generating electrical energy from multiaxial ambient motion comprising:

a multiaxial vibration-driven electrical generator to convert multiaxial motion to electrical energy, the generator comprising;

a plurality of coils;

a plurality of biasing elements configured to resonate along a plurality of axes; and

a magnet generating a magnetic field, the magnet coupled to the plurality of biasing elements and disposed in proximity to the plurality of coils such that the plurality coils are located within the magnetic field, wherein the plurality of biasing elements enable resonant oscillation of the magnet relative to the plurality of coils to thereby generate an electric current in the plurality of coils; and

a multiaxial kinetic energy conversion system coupled to the multiaxial vibration-driven electrical generator and configured to harvest ambient energy, the kinetic energy conversion system comprising;

a second plurality of biasing elements to store potential energy when forced from a resting position to a strained position, wherein the second plurality of biasing elements are tuned to resonate at a second frequency near the frequency of ambient motions, the second plurality of biasing elements oriented along a plurality of axes;

a driving mass configured to force the second plurality of biasing elements from a resting position to a strained position in response to ambient motion; and

one or more stops adapted to transfer energy from the kinetic energy conversion system to the multiaxial vibration-driven electrical generator, wherein the stops are positioned such that the driving mass can strike the one or more stops upon sufficient force being applied to the driving mass,

wherein the multiaxial vibration-driven electrical generator is partially housed by the driving mass of the multiaxial kinetic energy conversion system, and

wherein the driving mass, upon striking the one or more stops, transfers energy to the multiaxial vibration-driven electrical generator to drive the generator and thereby generate electrical energy.

32. A method of generating electrical energy from ambient motion comprising:

harvesting energy from ambient motion by utilizing a kinetic energy conversion system comprising a first biasing element and a driving mass coupled to the first biasing element and adapted to displace the first biasing element from a resting position to a strained position in response to the ambient motion, wherein the first biasing element is tuned to resonate at a first frequency near the frequency of the ambient motion;

periodically transferring the harvested to a resonating electrical generator that is integrated with the driving mass of the kinetic energy conversion system, wherein the resonating electrical generator comprises a coil, a second biasing element, and a magnet, wherein the second biasing element is tuned to a natural frequency that is higher than the first frequency, wherein the second biasing element is configured to facilitate a resonant oscillation of the magnet, and wherein the magnet produces a magnetic field and the coil is positioned within the magnetic field such that resonant oscillation of the magnet relative to the coil generate electrical energy within the coil.