Wireless switch with multipolar electromagnetic generator

• US 8,324,998 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2010
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EcoHarvester, Inc.
• Original Assignee: EcoHarvester, Inc.
• Inventors: Takahashi, Eri, Roundy, Shadrach Joseph, Tola, Jeffry, Bircumshaw, Brian L., Carl, Stewart
• Primary Examiner(s): Enad, Elvin G
• Assistant Examiner(s): TALPALATSKI, ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US12/855,848
• Publication Number:
  US 20110063057A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 335/207, 310/15, 310/20, 310/21, 310/36, 310/37, 310/12.12, 310/12.21
• US Class Current: 335/207
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/00 Generators with reciprocating, oscillating or vibrating coil system, magnet, armature or other part of the magnetic circuit arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with generators H02K7/00, e.g. H02K7/06
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/02 with moving magnets and stationary coil systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/04 with moving coil systems and stationary magnets

Abstract

A wireless switch comprises a mechanical oscillator, a mechanical impulse deliverer, a first array of magnets positioned on a planar surface, a first conductor, and a power management circuit. The mechanical impulse deliverer delivers a mechanical impulse to the mechanical oscillator when the wireless switch is switched. The first array comprises a one dimensional or two dimensional array of magnets. The first conductor comprises a first serpentine conductor. The power management circuit provides DC power as a result of relative motion due to the mechanical oscillator between the first array of magnets and the first conductor.

Claims

1. A wireless switch comprising:

a mechanical oscillator, wherein the mechanical oscillator is preloaded, wherein the preloading uses a spring or a flexure machanism;

a mechanical impulse deliverer, wherein the mechanical impulse deliverer delivers a mechanical impulse to the mechanical oscillator when the wireless switch is switched, wherein the mechanical impulse deliverer loads the spring or the flexure mechanism and causes a release of a proof mass of the mechanical oscillator, wherein the mechanical impulse deliverer comprises a rotary dial;

a first array of magnets positioned on a planar surface, wherein the first array comprises a one dimensional or two dimensional array of magnets;

a first conductor, wherein the first conductor comprises a first serpentine conductor;

a power management circuit, wherein the power management circuit provides DC power as a result of relative motion between the first array of magnets and the first conductor, wherein the relative motion is enabled by the mechanical oscillator.

2. A wireless switch as in claim 1, wherein the first array of magnets comprises a sheet magnet with a one dimensional or two dimensional array of alternating poles.

3. A wireless switch as in claim 1, wherein the first serpentine conductor comprises a is plurality of serpentines on a single layer of a multilayer printed circuit board.

4. A wireless switch as in claim 1, further comprising a second array of magnets, wherein the second array of magnets comprises a one dimensional or a two dimensional array of magnets, and wherein the first array of magnets and the second array of magnets are on opposite sides of the first conductor.

5. A wireless switch as in claim 1, wherein the relative motion comprises motion parallel to the planar surface.

6. A method of wireless switching comprising:

providing DC power as a result of relative motion due to a mechanical oscillator between a first array of magnets and a first conductor, wherein the first array comprises a one dimensional or two dimensional array of magnets, wherein the first conductor comprises a first serpentine conductor, and wherein the mechanical oscillator oscillates as a result of a mechanical impulse delivered from switching a wireless switch, wherein the mechanical oscillator is preloaded, wherein the preloading uses a spring or a flexure mechanism, wherein a mechanical impulse deliverer further loads the spring or the flexure mechanism and causes a release of a proof mass of the mechanical oscillator, and wherein the mechanical impulse deliverer comprises a rotary dial.

7. A method as in claim 6, wherein the first array of magnets comprises a sheet magnet with a one dimensional or two dimensional array of alternating poles.

8. A method as in claim 6, wherein the first serpentine conductor comprises a plurality of serpentines on a single layer of a multilayer printed circuit board.

9. A method as in claim 6, further comprising a second array of magnets, wherein the second array of magnets comprises a one dimensional or a two dimensional array of magnets, and wherein the first array of magnets and the second array of magnets are on opposite sides of the first conductor.

10. A method as in claim 6, wherein the relative motion comprises motion parallel to the planar surface.

11. A wireless switch comprising:

a mechanical oscillator, wherein the mechanical oscillator is preloaded, wherein the preloading uses a spring or a flexure mechanism;

a mechanical impulse deliverer, wherein the mechanical impulse deliverer delivers a mechanical impulse to the mechanical oscillator when the wireless switch is switched, wherein the mechanical impulse deliverer loads the spring or the flexure mechanism and causes a release of a proof mass of the mechanical oscillator, wherein a catch or a ratchet catches the proof mass such that the spring or the flexure mechanism is preloaded again after one or more oscillations of the mechanical oscillator;

a first array of magnets positioned on a planar surface, wherein the first array comprises a one dimensional or two dimensional array of magnets;

a first conductor, wherein the first conductor comprises a first serpentine conductor;

a power management circuit, wherein the power management circuit provides DC power as a result of relative motion due to the mechanical oscillator between the first array of magnets and the first conductor.

12. A wireless switch as in claim 11, wherein the first array of magnets comprises a sheet magnet with a one dimensional or two dimensional array of alternating poles.

13. A wireless switch as in claim 11, wherein the first serpentine conductor comprises a plurality of serpentines on a single layer of a multilayer printed circuit board.

14. A wireless switch as in claim 11, further comprising a second array of magnets, wherein the second array of magnets comprises a one dimensional or a two dimensional array of magnets, and wherein the first array of magnets and the second array of magnets are on opposite sides of the first conductor.

15. A wireless switch as in claim 11, wherein the relative motion comprises motion parallel to the planar surface.

16. A method of wireless switching comprising:

providing DC power as a result of relative motion due to a mechanical oscillator between a first array of magnets and a first conductor, wherein the first array comprises a one dimensional or two dimensional array of magnets, wherein the first conductor comprises a first serpentine conductor, and wherein the mechanical oscillator oscillates as a result of a mechanical impulse delivered from switching a wireless switch, wherein the mechanical oscillator is preloaded, wherein the preloading uses a spring or a flexure mechanism, wherein a mechanical impulse deliverer further loads the spring or the flexure mechanism and causes a release of a proof mass of the mechanical oscillator, and wherein a catch or a ratchet catches the proof mass such that the spring or the flexure mechanism is preloaded again after one or more oscillations of the mechanical oscillator.

17. A method as in claim 16, wherein the first array of magnets comprises a sheet magnet with a one dimensional or two dimensional array of alternating poles.

18. A method as in claim 16, wherein the first serpentine conductor comprises a plurality of serpentines on a single layer of a multilayer printed circuit board.

19. A method as in claim 16, further comprising a second array of magnets, wherein the second array of magnets comprises a one dimensional or a two dimensional array of magnets, and wherein the first array of magnets and the second array of magnets are on opposite sides of the first conductor.

20. A method as in claim 16, wherein the relative motion comprises motion parallel to the planar surface.