Kinetic energy harvesting methods and apparatus

• US 9,331,559 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2015
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryde Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Stryde Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Shastry, Tejas Attreya, Geier, Michael, Smith, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, John K
• Application Number:
  US14/606,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20150214823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 310/14, 310/17, 310/25, 310/15, 290/1.R, 362/192, 362/205
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 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: H02K 1/02 characterised by the magnetic material
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 1/06 characterised by the shape, form or construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/28 Layout of windings or of connections between windings windings for pole-changing H02K17/06, H02K17/14, H02K19/12, H02K19/32
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 33/02 with armatures moved one way by energisation of a single coil system and returned by mechanical force, e.g. by springs
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 33/18 with coil systems moving upon intermittent or reversed energisation thereof by interaction with a fixed field system, e.g. permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/02 with moving magnets and stationary coil systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/04 Casings or enclosures characterised by the shape, form or construction thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1876 with reciprocating, linearly oscillating or vibrating parts

Abstract

A system, method, and apparatus for kinetic energy harvesting are disclosed. An example kinetic energy harvesting apparatus includes a tubular-shaped magnet housing, a first end-cap magnet configured to connect to a first end of the magnet housing and a second end-cap magnet configured to connect to a second end of the magnet housing. The apparatus also includes a first wire coil configured to be connected to the magnet housing between the first end and a center of the magnet housing and a second wire coil configured to be connected to the magnet housing between the second end and the center of the magnet housing. The apparatus further includes a central magnet configured to be located within the magnet housing between the first end and the second end such that the central magnet is suspended within the magnet housing.

Claims

1. A kinetic energy harvesting apparatus comprising:

a first magnet housing and a second magnet housing each configured to have a tubular shape and include;

a first end-cap magnet configured to connect to a first end of the magnet housing;

a second end-cap magnet configured to connect to a second end of the magnet housing;

a first wire coil configured to be connected to the magnet housing between the first end and a center of the magnet housing;

a second wire coil configured to be connected to the magnet housing between the second end and the center of the magnet housing; and

a central magnet configured to be located within the magnet housing between the first end and the second end such that a north-pole end of the central magnet faces a north-pole of the first end-cap magnet and a south-pole end of the central magnet faces a south-pole of the second end-cap magnet causing the central magnet to be suspended between the first and second end-caps of the magnet housing,

wherein the first wire coil has a first height along the respective magnet housing and includes a first center, with respect to the first height along the respective magnet housing, that is positioned adjacent to the north-pole end of the central magnet when the central magnet is at rest,

wherein the second wire coil has a second height along the respective magnet housing and includes a second center, with respect to the second height along the respective magnet housing, that is positioned adjacent to the south-pole end of the central magnet when the central magnet is at rest, and

wherein the central magnets of the first and second magnet housings are positioned such that the north-pole of the central magnet of the first magnet housing is vertically aligned in parallel with the south-pole of the central magnet of the second magnet housing when the central magnets are at rest or are moving through the respective magnet housings.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first wire coil and the second wire coil are configured to be internal to the magnet housing and include insulated wire.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a combination of the first height and the position of the first wire coil is configured to enable the first end of the central magnet to pass through the first wire coil while concurrently enabling the second end of the central magnet to pass through the second wire coil.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second end-cap magnet has a greater magnetic field strength than the first end-cap magnet to compensate for Earth'"'"'s gravity.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and the second end-cap magnets and the central magnet each include a N52 Neodymium magnet.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second end-cap magnets have less field strength than the central magnet.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magnet housing has a height between 0.25 and 6 inches.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first height and the second height along the respective magnet housing are each substantially equal to a height of the respective central magnet.

9. A kinetic energy harvesting apparatus comprising:

first and second tubular-shaped magnet housings that each include;

a first end-cap magnet configured to connect to a first end of the magnet housing;

a second end-cap magnet configured to connect to a second end of the magnet housing;

a first wire coil configured to be connected to the magnet housing between the first end and a center of the magnet housing;

a second wire coil configured to be connected to the magnet housing between the second end and the center of the magnet housing; and

a central magnet configured to be suspended within the magnet housing between the first end and the second end such that a north-pole end of the central magnet faces a north-pole of the first end-cap magnet and a south-pole end of the central magnet faces a south-pole of the second end-cap magnet,

wherein the central magnets of the first and second tubular-shaped magnet housings are positioned such that the north-pole of the central magnet of the first tubular-shaped magnet housing is vertically aligned in parallel with the south-pole of the central magnet of the second tubular-shaped magnet housing when the central magnets are at rest or are moving through the respective tubular-shaped magnet housings.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first end-cap magnet and the second-end cap magnet is detachable from the magnet housing.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a third-end cap magnet may replace at least one of the detachable first-end cap magnet and the detachable second-end cap magnet, the third-end cap magnet having a different field strength than the first-end cap magnet and the second end-cap magnet.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the third-end cap magnet is used to replace at least one of the first-end cap magnet and the second-end cap magnet to change a speed and oscillation of the central magnet to correspond to a user'"'"'s activity.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the third-end cap magnet is used to replace at least one of the first-end cap magnet and the second-end cap magnet to change a speed and oscillation of the central magnet to correspond to a user'"'"'s physical attributes.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a third-end cap magnet may be connected to at least one of the first-end cap magnet and the second-end cap magnet to change a speed or an oscillation of the central magnet.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a location of at least one of the first wire coil and the second wire coil is adjustable along the magnet housing.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first wire coil has a height along the respective magnet housing and includes a first center, with respect to the height along the respective magnet housing, that is positioned adjacent to the north-pole end of the respective central magnet when the central magnet is at rest.

25. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the height of the first wire coil is substantially equal to a height of the central magnet.

17. A kinetic energy harvesting apparatus comprising:

a first tubular magnet housing including;

a first end-cap magnet configured to connect to a first end of the magnet housing,

a second end-cap magnet configured to connect to a second end of the magnet housing,

a first wire coil configured to be connected to the magnet housing between the first end and a center of the magnet housing,

a second wire coil configured to be connected to the magnet housing between the second end and the center of the magnet housing, and

a central magnet configured to be located within the magnet housing between the first end and the second end such that a north-pole of the central magnet faces a north-pole of the first end-cap magnet and a south-pole of the central magnet faces a south-pole of the second end-cap magnet causing the central magnet to be suspended between the first and second end-caps of the magnet housing;

a second tubular magnet housing including;

a first end-cap magnet configured to connect to a first end of the magnet housing,

a second end-cap magnet configured to connect to a second end of the magnet housing,

a first wire coil configured to be connected to the magnet housing between the first end and a center of the magnet housing,

a second wire coil configured to be connected to the magnet housing between the second end and the center of the magnet housing, and

a central magnet configured to be located within the magnet housing between the first end and the second end such that a north-pole of the central magnet faces the north-pole of a first end-cap magnet and a south-pole of the central magnet faces a south-pole of the second end-cap magnet causing the central magnet to be suspended between the first and second end-caps of the magnet housing;

a battery; and

a circuitry configured to;

rectify an AC voltage generated by the first and second wire coils of the first and second tubular magnet housings into a DC voltage, and

charge the battery using the DC voltage,

wherein the central magnets of the first and second tubular magnet housings are positioned such that the north-pole of the central magnet of the first tubular magnet housing is vertically aligned in parallel with the south-pole of the central magnet of the second tubular magnet housing when the central magnets are at rest or are moving through the respective tubular magnet housings.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a device housing configured to enclose the first tubular magnet housing, the second tubular magnet housing, the battery, and the circuitry.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first wire coils of the first tubular magnet housing and the second tubular magnet housing are configured to be wired in series and the second wire coils of the first tubular magnet housing and the second tubular magnet housing are configured to be separately wired in series.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the central magnets of the first and second tubular magnet housings are configured to each have a height along the respective tubular magnet housings that is substantially equal to a height of the respective first wire coils.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the central magnets of the first and second tubular magnet housings are configured to be magnetically coupled to move in the same direction at the same time to increase the amount of voltage summed by the circuitry.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the circuitry is configured to:

detect an electrical connection to a device; and

charge the device using the battery.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the circuitry is configured to:

determine a current charge of the battery;

determine a rate at which the battery is being charged; and

transmit the current charge state and the rate to a user device.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the kinetic energy harvesting apparatus is included within a portable electronic device.