Self-powered wireless switch

• US 20020074898A1
• Filed: 09/07/2001
• Published: 06/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Paradiso, Joe, Feldmeier, Mark, Maue, H. Winston, Meinzer, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 6,700,310 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/311
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/076 Key stroke generating power
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/03 Application domotique, e.g. for house automation, bus connected switches, sensors, loads or intelligent wiring

Abstract

A wireless switch is provided having a twenty-year life energy harvesting arrangement for self-powering a wireless transmitter. The energy harvesting arrangement is implemented in one embodiment using a piezoelectric switch element. A tritium light source and photovoltaic device are used in a second embodiment, while a black light source and photovoltaic device are used in a third embodiment. The energy harvesting wireless switch arrangement of the present invention can be combined, for example, with a vehicle side mirror switch, to reduce the complexity of the wire harness feeding the door. The wireless switch can be located without regard to accessability of a wiring harness or connector.

Claims

1. A self-powered wireless switch comprising:

a wireless transmitter;

an energy harvesting device arranged to produce electrical power for operation of the wireless transmitter upon actuation of a switch by a user, wherein the energy harvesting device includes a piezoelectric element arranged to be distressed upon actuation of the switch; and

an electric circuit including a matching wound step down transformer coupling the piezoelectric element to a rectifier connected to a capacitor to allow the piezoelectric element to resonate and the capacitor to receive the harvested energy and supply electrical power for operation of the wireless transmitter.