Energy harvesting based on user-interface of mobile computing device

• US 8,134,341 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2009
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Limited (Intel Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Naeimi, Helia, Ma, Qing
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Huy Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): Allgood, Alesa
• Application Number:
  US12/435,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20100277126A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 320/137
• US Class Current: 320/137
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/32 for charging batteries from a charging set comprising a non-electric prime mover rotating at constant speed
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1853 driven by intermittent forces
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1861 driven by animals or vehicles H02K7/1853 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/18 producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators for measurement devices G01
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate to a mobile computing device with ambient energy harvesting capability. Embodiments of the invention, when manually operated by a user, convert the kinetic motion of a part of the user'"'"'s hand, applied onto a controller of the device, to electrical energy. The energy can be used to power the device, or to charge the battery of the device. Embodiments of the invention include an electrical power storage device disposed in a housing, a display screen attached to the housing to display a plurality of user-interactive interfaces, and a manually operable input controller interactable with the interfaces and being coupled to an energy transformer in the housing to electrically charge the power storage device when operated.

Claims

1. A mobile computing apparatus, comprising:

an electrical power storage device disposed in a housing to power the apparatus;

a display screen attached to the housing to display a plurality of user-interactive interfaces; and

a manually operable input controller interactable with the interfaces and being coupled to an energy transformer in the housing to electrically charge the power storage device when operated, wherein the manually operable input controller includes a belt that is disposed along edges of the apparatus, the belt including an interior side having a plurality of teeth;

wherein the input controller includes a plurality of axially rotatable wheels disposed within the housing, each wheel of the wheels including a plurality of teeth to mesh with the plurality of teeth of the belt, each wheel of the plurality of wheels to be rotated when the belt is laterally displaced, each wheel of the plurality of wheels being operable to generate electricity;

wherein the energy transformer converts kinetic energy of the controller when operated to electrical energy to be channeled to the power storage device, the kinetic energy including movement of the belt in operation driving each wheel of the plurality of wheels.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each wheel of the plurality of wheels is disposed at one of a plurality of corners of the apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a rigidity of each wheel of the plurality of wheels is adaptable to increase when a charge of the electric power storage device is at a low level.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a rigidity of each wheel of the wheels is adaptive to the user-interactive interfaces.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy transformer includes at least a pair of stationary magnets for each wheel of the wheels, and wherein a conductor for each wheel of the plurality of wheels is disposed in an electromagnetic field provided by opposing poles of the stationary magnets for the wheel.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein each wheel of the plurality of wheels includes a plurality of conductive wires coiled around the wheel.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy transformer includes a plurality of piezoelectric members for each wheel of the plurality of wheels, the plurality of piezoelectric members for a wheel being configured to be vibrated by a plurality of protruding members fixably connected to the wheel when the wheel is being axially rotated.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the piezoelectric members for each wheel of the plurality of wheels include microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-type cantilevers.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user-interactive interfaces each includes a graphical object of a graphical user interface controllable by the controller.

10. An energy harvesting system in a mobile device, comprising:

a rechargeable battery disposed in a housing of the device;

at least one manually accessible interface controller using a user'"'"'s kinetic motion to interact with the device, the controller includes a plurality of axially rotatable wheels, each wheel of the plurality of wheels having a plurality of teeth, and includes a belt disposed along edges of the mobile device, the belt including an interior side having a plurality of teeth to mesh with the teeth of each wheel of the plurality of wheels, lateral movement of the belt operating to drive rotation of the plurality of wheels; and

an energy transformer coupled to the controller capable of translating the kinetic motion to electrical energy being stored in the battery, the energy transformer providing for converting kinetic energy of the plurality of wheels into electricity to charge the rechargeable battery.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the energy transformer includes conductive wires disposed on each wheel of the plurality of wheels, and is disposed between at least a first and a second stationary magnet, each magnet having a first end directly adjacent to the respective wheel, the first end of the first magnet having a magnetic pole opposite to the first end of the second magnet.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the energy transformer includes a plurality of piezoelectric members configured to be vibrated by a plurality of protruding members extending from each wheel of the plurality of wheels when the wheel is being axially rotated.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the piezoelectric members for each wheel of the plurality of wheels include microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-type cantilevers.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein a rigidity of each wheel of the plurality of wheels when rotated is adaptive to a plurality of user-interactive interfaces of an application executed by the mobile device.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein a rigidity of each wheel of the plurality of wheels is adaptable to increase when a charge of the rechargeable battery is at a low level.

16. An energy harvesting system in a mobile device, comprising:

a rechargeable battery disposed in a housing of the device;

a display screen attached to the housing to display a plurality of user-interactive interfaces of an application executed by the device;

a plurality of axially rotatable wheels coupled to the housing, each wheel of the plurality of wheels being manually rotatable by a user'"'"'s manual kinetic motion to interact with the interfaces, each wheel of the plurality of wheels including a plurality of teeth;

a belt disposed along edges of the mobile device, the belt including an interior side having a plurality of teeth to mesh with the teeth of each of the plurality of wheels to drive rotation of the plurality of wheels when the belt is laterally displaced; and

an energy transformer aligned to each wheel of the plurality of wheels to convert the kinetic motion of the wheel when rotated to electrical energy charging and being stored in the battery.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the energy transformer includes conductive wires coiled around each wheel of the plurality of wheels, each wheel being disposed between a respective first and a respective second stationary magnet, a first end of the magnets for each wheel being directly adjacent to the wheel and having opposing magnetic poles.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the energy transformer includes a plurality of piezoelectric cantilevers configured to be vibrated by a plurality of protruding members extending from each wheel of the plurality of wheels when the wheel is being axially rotated.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein a rigidity of each wheel of the plurality of wheels is adaptable to increase when a charge of the rechargeable battery is at a low level.