Wearable generator device

• US 8,723,342 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2010
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Kozinsky, Inna, Luschas, Susan
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Tulsidas C
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, VIET P
• Application Number:
  US12/783,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20110285146A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,455 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.R, 368/203, 368/204
• US Class Current: 290/1.R
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 5/06 other than of endless-walk type
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 5/062 driven by humans
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/02 with moving magnets and stationary coil systems

Abstract

A wearable generator system in one embodiment includes a plurality of coils, each of the plurality of coils extending within a respective one of a plurality of planes, a magnet for generating a magnetic field, and a support attached to a support anchor point and to the magnet, and suspending the magnet at a position whereat the magnet is not frictionally engaged with a fixed surface, the support having a length selected such that the magnetic field is movable across each of the plurality of coils.

Claims

1. A wearable generator system comprising:

a belt sized to be worn on the body of a person;

at least one generator element mounted on said belt, said generator element including;

a plurality of coils, each of the plurality of coils extending within a respective one of a plurality of non-coplanar planes, said coils defining a three-dimensional volume;

a magnet for generating a magnetic field; and

a support attached to a support anchor point attached to said plurality of coils, and to the magnet, and suspending the magnet at a position whereat the magnet is not frictionally engaged with a fixed surface, the support having a length selected such that the magnetic field is movable within the three-dimensional volume across each of the plurality of coils to generate electrical power by movement in three dimensions.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a tether anchor point located below the height of the support anchor point; and

a tether attached to the magnet and to the tether anchor point.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the support and the tether is resiliently stretchable.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of coils comprises a first group of at least two coils and a second group of at least two coils;

each of the coils in the first group of coils extends within a first plane;

each of the coils in the second group of coils extends within a second plane; and

the first plane intersects the second plane.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein:

the plurality of coils comprises a third group of at least two coils;

each of the coils in the third group of coils extends within a third plane; and

the third plane intersects the first plane and the second plane.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein:

the plurality of coils comprises a third group of at least two coils and a fourth group of at least two coils;

each of the coils in the third group of coils extends within a third plane;

each of the coils in the fourth group of coils extends within a fourth plane; and

the third plane intersects the first plane and the fourth plane.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said generator element includes a charging and conditioning circuit electrically connected to said plurality of coils to condition electricity generated in said coils by movement of said magnetic field across said the coils.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said at least one generator element includes an electrical energy storage device electrically connected to said charging and conditioning circuit.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one generator element includes a plurality of generator elements mounted at spaced apart locations on said belt.