Kinetic energy harvesting methods and apparatus
First Claim
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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;
an end-cap magnet configured to connect to a first end of the magnet housing,a first wire coil configured to connect 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 a second end and the center of the magnet housing, anda central magnet configured to be located within the magnet housing;
a battery;
a first rectifier/inverter electrically coupled to the first and second wire coils of the first magnet housing and configured to rectify an AC voltage generated by the wire coils into a first DC voltage;
a second rectifier/inverter electrically coupled to the first and second wire coils of the second magnet housing and configured to rectify an AC voltage generated by the wire coils into a second DC voltage; and
a connection interface electrically coupled to the battery and configured to provide power wirelessly or via a wire from the battery to a portable electronic device,wherein the central magnets of the first and second magnet housings are positioned such that a pole of the central magnet of the first magnet housing is vertically aligned in parallel with an opposite 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,wherein the first wire coils of the first and second magnet housings are wound in a first direction and the second wire coils of the first and second magnet housing are wound in a second opposite direction,wherein the first and second wire coils of the first magnet housing are connected in series,wherein the first and second wire coils of the second magnet housing are connected in series, andwherein outputs of the first and second rectifier/inverters are wired in parallel to charge the battery using the first and second DC voltages.
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Abstract
A system, method, and apparatus for kinetic energy harvesting are disclosed. An example kinetic energy harvesting apparatus includes a tubular-shaped magnet housing and an end-cap magnet configured to connect to an end of the magnet housing. The apparatus also includes a wire coil configured to be connected to the magnet housing. The apparatus further includes a central magnet configured to be located within the magnet housing and suspended via the end-cap magnet.
28 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A kinetic energy harvesting apparatus comprising:
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a first magnet housing and a second magnet housing each configured to have a tubular shape and include; an end-cap magnet configured to connect to a first end of the magnet housing, a first wire coil configured to connect 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 a second end and the center of the magnet housing, and a central magnet configured to be located within the magnet housing; a battery; a first rectifier/inverter electrically coupled to the first and second wire coils of the first magnet housing and configured to rectify an AC voltage generated by the wire coils into a first DC voltage; a second rectifier/inverter electrically coupled to the first and second wire coils of the second magnet housing and configured to rectify an AC voltage generated by the wire coils into a second DC voltage; and a connection interface electrically coupled to the battery and configured to provide power wirelessly or via a wire from the battery to a portable electronic device, wherein the central magnets of the first and second magnet housings are positioned such that a pole of the central magnet of the first magnet housing is vertically aligned in parallel with an opposite 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, wherein the first wire coils of the first and second magnet housings are wound in a first direction and the second wire coils of the first and second magnet housing are wound in a second opposite direction, wherein the first and second wire coils of the first magnet housing are connected in series, wherein the first and second wire coils of the second magnet housing are connected in series, and wherein outputs of the first and second rectifier/inverters are wired in parallel to charge the battery using the first and second DC voltages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A kinetic energy harvesting apparatus comprising:
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a first magnet housing and a second magnet housing each configured to have a tubular shape and include; an end-cap magnet configured to connect to a first 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 a second end and the center of the magnet housing, and a central magnet configured to be located within the magnet housing, wherein the central magnets of the first and second magnet housings are positioned such that a pole of the central magnet of the first magnet housing is vertically aligned in parallel with an opposite 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; a battery; a first rectifier/inverter electrically coupled to the first and second wire coils of the first magnet housing and configured to rectify an AC voltage generated by the wire coils into a first DC voltage; a second rectifier/inverter electrically coupled to the first and second wire coils of the second magnet housing and configured to rectify an AC voltage generated by the wire coils into a second DC voltage; a sensor configured to detect a charge level of the battery; and a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor and configured to provide an indication of the charge level of the battery, wherein the first wire coils of the first and second magnet housings are wound in a first direction and the second wire coils of the first and second magnet housing are wound in a second opposite direction, wherein the first and second wire coils of the first magnet housing are connected in series, wherein the first and second wire coils of the second magnet housing are connected in series, and wherein outputs of the first and second rectifier/inverters are wired in parallel to charge the battery using the first and second DC voltages. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A portable electronic device apparatus comprising:
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a first magnet housing including; a first end-cap magnet configured to connect to an end of the first magnet housing, a first wire coil connected to the first magnet housing, and a first central magnet located within the first magnet housing and arranged so as to be suspended via the first end-cap magnet; and a second magnet housing including; a second end-cap magnet configured to connect to an end of the second magnet housing, a second wire coil connected to the second magnet housing, and a second central magnet located within the second magnet housing and arranged so as to be suspended via the second end-cap magnet, wherein the first and second central magnets are positioned such that a pole of the first central magnet is vertically aligned in parallel with an opposite pole of the second central magnet when the central magnets are at rest or are moving through the respective magnet housings, wherein the first wire coil and the second wire coil are each electrically connected to a battery of the portable electronic device apparatus, and wherein the battery is a first battery and the portable electronic device apparatus includes a second battery configured to provide power to the portable electronic device apparatus, the first battery being configured to charge the second battery. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification