Power generation apparatus and switch

• US 9,041,231 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2012
• Issued: 05/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd. (Minebea Mitsumi, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd. (Minebea Mitsumi, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kaneko, Toshio, Tsuneyoshi, Nobutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Girardi, Vanessa
• Application Number:
  US13/977,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20130270092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.E, 200/501, 310/80
• US Class Current: 290/1.E
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 15/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/076 Key stroke generating power
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/16 Driving mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/06 Means for converting reciprocating motion into rotary motion or vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1853 driven by intermittent forces

Abstract

A power generation apparatus includes an operation member that has a first operation part or a second operation part operated upon power generation; a power generation part that generates an induced electromotive force upon being driven by a slide member that moves in a first direction or a second direction; first and second elastic units that accumulate an elastic force; a first connection release mechanism that prompts the first elastic unit to accumulate elastic force when the first operation part is operated and allows the elastic force to be output to move the slide member in the second direction when accumulation is completed; and a second connection release mechanism that prompts the second elastic unit to accumulate the elastic force when the second operation part is operated and allows the elastic force to be output to move the slide member in the first direction when accumulation is completed.

Claims

1. A power generation apparatus comprising:

a case;

an operation member including a first operation part and a second operation part, the operation member being configured to have one of the first operation part or the second operation part operated upon power generation;

a power generation part that generates an induced electromotive force when a driven part is driven;

a slide member that is arranged at the case and is movable in a first direction and a second direction, which is different from the first direction, the slide member being configured to drive the driven part by moving in at least one of the first direction and the second direction;

a first elastic unit and a second elastic unit that are configured to accumulate an elastic force upon application of an external force, output the accumulated elastic force, and urge the slide member to move;

a first connection release mechanism that prompts the first elastic unit to accumulate the elastic force by prompting the slide member to move in the first direction when the first operation part of the operation member is operated, releases a connection between the operation member and the slide member when the operation member passes a first accumulation completed position, and allows the first elastic unit to output the accumulated elastic force to prompt the slide member to move in the second direction; and

a second connection release mechanism that prompts the second elastic unit to accumulate the elastic force by prompting the slide member to move in the second direction when the second operation part of the operation member is operated, releases the connection between the operation member and the slide member when the operation member passes a second accumulation completed position, and allows the second elastic unit to output the accumulated elastic force to prompt the slide member to move in the first direction.

2. The power generation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein

each of the first connection release mechanism and the second connection release mechanism is rotatably mounted to the case and includes a pinwheel having a plurality of engagement protrusions that extend in a radial direction, the engagement protrusions being configured to be engageable with the operation member and the slide member through rotation of the pinwheel.

3. The power generation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a gear that is arranged at the driven part; and

a rack that is arranged at the slide member and is configured to engage the gear.

4. A switch comprising:

the power generation apparatus as claimed in claim 1;

an identification circuit that identifies which one of the first operation part and the second operation part has been operated based on a characteristic of the induced electromotive force generated by the power generation apparatus; and

a communication circuit that is activated by the induced electromotive force generated by the power generation apparatus and is configured to transmit a switch signal based on an identification result of the identification circuit.

5. The power generation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

one detection unit that is configured to engage the first operation part or the second operation part that has been operated and output a detection signal when one of the first operation part or the second operation part is operated.

6. A switch comprising:

the power generation apparatus as claimed in claim 5;

an identification circuit that identifies which one of the first operation part and the second operation part has been operated based on a detection result of the detection unit and the induced electromotive force generated by the power generation apparatus; and

a communication circuit that is activated by the induced electromotive force generated by the power generation apparatus and is configured to transmit a switch signal based on an identification result of the identification circuit.