Apparatus for harvesting electrical power from mechanical energy
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for harvesting electrical energy from mechanical energy, the apparatus comprising:
- a flux path, comprising;
a magnetic material having a magnetic property that is a function of stress on the magnetic material;
a first magnetically conductive material proximate the magnetic material;
a magnet in the flux path, wherein a magnetomotive force of the magnet causes magnetic flux; and
a component configured to transfer changes in load caused by an external source to the magnetic material along a load path, wherein the magnet is positioned independently of the load path and is not subjected to the changes in load from the external source.
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Abstract
An apparatus for harvesting electrical power from mechanical energy is described. The apparatus includes: a flux path. The flux path includes: a magnetic material having a magnetic property that is a function of stress on the magnetic material; a first magnetically conductive material proximate the magnetic material; a magnet in the flux path, wherein a magnetomotive force of the magnet causes magnetic flux; and a component configured to transfer changes in load caused by an external source to the magnetic material.
16 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for harvesting electrical energy from mechanical energy, the apparatus comprising:
a flux path, comprising; a magnetic material having a magnetic property that is a function of stress on the magnetic material; a first magnetically conductive material proximate the magnetic material; a magnet in the flux path, wherein a magnetomotive force of the magnet causes magnetic flux; and a component configured to transfer changes in load caused by an external source to the magnetic material along a load path, wherein the magnet is positioned independently of the load path and is not subjected to the changes in load from the external source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for harvesting electric energy from mechanical energy, the apparatus comprising:
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one substantially closed flux path, comprising; a magnetic material that has a magnetic property, wherein the magnetic property changes with stress; a magnetically conductive material; and a permanent magnet in the flux path, wherein the permanent magnet is oriented with at least one pole of the permanent magnet facing toward the magnetic material; a component configured to transfer changes in load caused by an external source to the magnetic material; and at least one other component that is used to apply a pre-stress on the magnetic material. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for harvesting electrical energy from mechanical energy, the method comprising:
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altering a magnetic property of a magnetic material with a component configured to transfer changes in load by an external source to the magnetic material along a load path, wherein the magnetic property is a function of stress on the magnetic material; changing a magnetic flux due to a magnetomotive force applied by at least one permanent magnet in a substantially closed flux path with no air gaps, wherein the permanent magnet is positioned independently of the load path and is not subjected to the changes in load from the external source; and inducing a voltage in conductive coils arranged relative to the flux path in response to changes in the magnetic flux within the magnetic material. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification