Method and apparatus to harness keyboard strokes and mouse movement to charge an electrical storage device

• US 8,742,717 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2011
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Megatrends Incorporated
• Original Assignee: American Megatrends Incorporated
• Inventors: Ayanam, Varadachari Sudan, Parthiban, Baskar
• Primary Examiner(s): Muralidar, Richard V
• Application Number:
  US13/095,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20120274267A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101, 320/138
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/32 Means for saving power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• 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: 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

In one aspect, the a system for charging an electrical storage device of a computer is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes at least one user input device that is operatively connected to the computer and configured to communicate input data to the computer in response to an action of a user. The input device has one or more transducers that are configured to receive a mechanical force resulting from user input to the input device and to convert the received mechanical force into electrical energy. The input device also has a connector that is configured to operatively connect the user input device to the electrical storage device of the computer and to deliver the electrical energy from the user input device to the electrical storage device.

Claims

1. A system for charging an electrical storage device of a computer, comprising:

at least one user input device operatively connected to the computer and configured to communicate input data to the computer in response to an action of a user, having at least one transducer configured to receive a mechanical force and convert the mechanical force into electrical energy; and

a connector, configured to operatively connect the user input device to the electrical storage device of the computer and deliver the electrical energy from the user input device to the electrical storage device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user input device is configured such that an amount of electrical energy delivered to the electrical storage device from the user input device is greater than an amount of electrical energy required by the user input device to generate the input data and communicate the input data to the computer.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the user input device is configured to receive at least the required amount of electrical energy from a source separate from the transducer.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the user input device is configured to receive at least the required amount of energy from the transducer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the connector is further configured to communicate the input data to the computer.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical storage device comprises a rechargeable battery.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the user input device comprises at least one mechanically actuatable member for input device configured to provide the received mechanical force to the transducer.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the user input device comprises a keyboard having a plurality of keys and the actuatable member is operatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of keys.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the user input device comprises a ball member configured to rotate in response to a translational movement and the actuatable member is operatively connected to the ball member such that rotation of the ball member causes a mechanical force to be applied to the transducer.

10. A system for charging an electrical storage device of a computer, comprising:

a plurality of user input devices operatively connected to the computer, each configured to communicate input data to the computer in response to an action of a user and each having at least one piezoelectric element configured to receive a mechanical force and convert the mechanical force into electrical energy; and

at least one connector configured to operatively connect a corresponding at least one of the plurality of user input devices to the electrical storage device of the computer and deliver the electrical energy from the respective user input device to the electrical storage device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of user input devices is configured such that an amount of electrical energy delivered to the electrical storage device from the user input device is greater than an amount of electrical energy required by the user input device to generate the input data and communicate the input data to the computer.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of user input devices is configured to receive at least the required amount of electrical energy from a source separate from the piezoelectric element.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of user input devices is configured to receive at least the required amount of energy from at least one corresponding piezoelectric element.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one connector is further configured to communicate the input data to the computer.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the electrical storage device comprises a rechargeable battery.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of user input devices comprises at least one mechanically actuatable member configured to provide the received mechanical force to the piezoelectric element.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein at least one of the plurality of user input devices comprises a keyboard having a plurality of keys and the actuatable member is operatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of keys.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein at least one of the plurality of user input devices comprises a ball member configured to rotate in response to a translational movement and the actuatable member is operatively connected to the ball member such that rotation of the ball member causes a mechanical force to be applied to the piezoelectric element.

19. A system for charging an electrical storage means of a computing means, comprising:

at least one user input means operatively connected to the computing means, for communicating input data to the computing means in response to an action of a user, having at least one energy conversion means for receiving a mechanical force and converting the received mechanical force into electrical energy; and

a connection means for operatively connecting the user input means to the electrical storage means and delivering the electrical energy from the user input means to the electrical storage means.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the user input means is configured such that an amount of electrical energy delivered to the electrical storage means from the user input means is greater than an amount of electrical energy required by the user input means to generate the input data and communicate the input data to the computing means.