Multiple layer solar energy harvesting composition and method, solar energy harvesting buckyball, inductive coupling device; vehicle chassis; atmospheric intake hydrogen motor; electrical energy generating tire; and mechanical energy harvesting device

• US 20070028958A1
• Filed: 08/04/2006
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gridkicker, LLC
• Original Assignee: Gridkicker, LLC
• Inventors: Retti, Kahrl
• Application Number:
  US11/498,759
• Publication Number:
  US 20070028958A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/244
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/005 without mechanical contact between the collector and the power supply line
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/00 Electric propulsion with power supply from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind
• CPC Class Codes: B60M 7/00 Power lines or rails specially adapted for electrically-propelled vehicles of special types, e.g. suspension tramway, ropeway, underground railway
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0206 Non-hydrocarbon fuels, e.g. hydrogen, ammonia or carbon monoxide
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0227 Means to treat or clean gaseous fuels or fuel systems, e.g. removal of tar, cracking, reforming or enriching
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0296 Manufacturing or assembly; Materials, e.g. coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 45/00 Discharge tubes functioning as thermionic generators structural combination of fuel element with thermoelectric element G21C3/40; nuclear power plants using thermionic converters G21D7/04; structural combination of a radioactive source with a thermionic converter, e.g. radioisotope batteries G21H1/10; generators in which thermal or kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy by ionisation of a fluid and removal of the charge therefrom H02N3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0352 characterised by their shape or by the shapes, relative sizes or disposition of the semiconductor regions
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/056 the light-reflecting means being of the back surface reflector [BSR] type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1876 with reciprocating, linearly oscillating or vibrating parts
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/18 producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators for measurement devices G01
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/30 with mechanical input and electrical output, e.g. functioning as generators or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

Provided is a multiple layer composition and method for deposition of a solar energy harvesting strip onto a driving surface that will allow electric cars to charge by an inductive coupling. The multiple layer composition includes at least one magnetic material for generating a magnetic field, wherein at least one of the multiple layers comprises the magnetic material. Further, the a multiple layer composition includes at least one solar energy harvesting material for converting at least one of thermal and photonic energy into electrical energy, wherein at least one of the multiple layers comprises the at least one solar energy harvesting material and wherein the at least one solar energy harvesting material is located within a magnetic field generated by the at least one magnetic material. An alternative multiple layer composition includes a thermal energy harvesting material for converting thermal energy into electrical energy, wherein at least one layer comprises the thermal energy harvesting material, and a photonic energy harvesting material for converting photonic energy into electrical energy, wherein at least one layer comprises the thermal energy harvesting material. Additionally provided is a solar energy harvesting buckyball, inductive coupling device, vehicle chassis for storing electrical energy, atmospheric intake hydrogen motor, electrical energy generating tire and mechanical energy harvesting device.

Claims

1. A method for harvesting solar energy, the method comprising:

depositing a plurality of layers onto a surface area that is incident to solar energy, wherein at least one of the plurality of layers comprises at least one solar energy harvesting material and at least one of the plurality of layers comprises at least one magnetic material; and

converting at least one of thermal and photonic energy into electrical energy by the at least one solar energy harvesting material, wherein the at least one solar energy harvesting material is located within a magnetic field generated by the at least one magnetic material.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one discharge capacitor is comprised by one or among more than one of the plurality of layers, the discharge capacitor comprising at least two conductors that are spaced apart and substantially parallel and at least one dielectric material between the conductors, wherein the at least one discharge capacitor is charged by the electrical energy and augments the magnetic field.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the depositing of the plurality of layers onto a surface area comprises depositing one or more of the plurality of layers by spraying, hand application, or film deposition.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one magnetic material is deposited as a line array of a plurality of adjacent magnet portions substantially parallel to the surface area and substantially parallel to each other, wherein opposing polar regions of each of the plurality of magnet portions are oriented such that a line between the opposing polar regions of each of the plurality of magnet portions is perpendicular to the line array, further wherein each of the plurality of magnet portions have a substantially similar or opposite magnetic field orientation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the magnetic material is at least partially used for retaining and conveying information by staggering or eliminating portions of the magnetic material, or by adding diamagnetic material to the magnetic material to act as a magnetic field modifier.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one solar energy harvesting material is a thermal harvesting material for converting thermal energy into electrical energy and a photonic energy harvesting material for converting photonic energy into electrical energy, wherein the thermal harvesting material and photonic energy harvesting material are comprised by different layers of the plurality of layers.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of layers comprising the at least one solar energy harvesting material further comprises a plurality of carbon buckyballs or microballs with the at least one solar energy harvesting material located thereon.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the buckyballs or microballs comprise a magnetic material for orienting the buckyballs or microballs in the magnetic field.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the at least one of the plurality of layers comprising the buckyballs or microballs comprises a doped substrate surrounding at least a portion of each the plurality of buckyballs or microballs and an N-type material surrounding the remaining portion of each the plurality of buckyballs or microballs.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein one of the plurality of layers comprises a basecoat on which the magnetic material is deposited and another one of the plurality of layers comprises a transparent sealant material.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the surface area that is incident to solar energy is one of a driving surface and a body panel of a vehicle.

12. A multiple layer solar energy harvesting composition for deposition onto a surface area that is incident to solar energy, the composition comprising:

at least one magnetic material for generating a magnetic field, wherein at least one of the multiple layers comprises the magnetic material; and

at least one solar energy harvesting material for converting at least one of thermal and photonic energy into electrical energy, wherein at least one of the multiple layers comprises the at least one solar energy harvesting material and wherein the at least one solar energy harvesting material is located within a magnetic field generated by the at least one magnetic material.

13. The multiple layer solar energy harvesting composition according to claim 12, wherein at least one discharge capacitor is comprised by one or among more than one of the multiple layers, the discharge capacitor comprising at least two conductors that are spaced apart and substantially parallel and at least one dielectric material between the conductors, wherein the at least one discharge capacitor is charged by the electrical energy and augments the magnetic field.

14. The multiple layer solar energy harvesting composition according to claim 13, wherein the deposition of the multiple layers onto a surface area comprises depositing one or more of the plurality of layers by spraying, hand application, or film deposition.

15. The multiple layer solar energy harvesting composition according to claim 12, wherein the at least one magnetic material is deposited as a line array of a plurality of adjacent magnet portions substantially parallel to the surface area and substantially parallel to each other, wherein opposing polar regions of each of the plurality of magnet portions are oriented such that a line between the opposing polar regions of each of the plurality of magnet portions is perpendicular to the line array, further wherein each of the plurality of magnet portions have a substantially similar or opposite magnetic field orientation.

16. The multiple layer solar energy harvesting composition of claim 12, wherein the magnetic material is at least partially used for retaining and conveying information by staggering or eliminating portions of the magnetic material, or by adding diamagnetic material to the magnetic material to act as a magnetic field modifier.

17. The multiple layer solar energy harvesting composition according to claim 12, wherein the at least one solar energy harvesting material is a thermal harvesting material for converting thermal energy into electrical energy and a photonic energy harvesting material for converting photonic energy into electrical energy, wherein the thermal harvesting material and photonic energy harvesting material are comprised by different layers of the plurality of layers.

18. The multiple layer solar energy harvesting composition according to claim 12, wherein the at least one of the plurality of layers comprising the at least one solar energy harvesting material further comprises a plurality of carbon buckyballs or microballs with the at least one solar energy harvesting material located thereon.

19. The multiple layer solar energy harvesting composition according to claim 18, wherein the buckyballs or microballs comprise a magnetic material for orienting the buckyballs or microballs in the magnetic field.

20. The multiple layer solar energy harvesting composition according to claim 19, wherein the at least one of the plurality of layers comprising the buckyballs or microballs comprises a doped substrate surrounding at least a portion of each the plurality of buckyballs or microballs and an N-type material surrounding the remaining portion of each the plurality of buckyballs or microballs.

21. The multiple layer solar energy harvesting composition of claim 12, wherein one of the plurality of layers comprises a basecoat on which the magnetic material is deposited and another one of the plurality of layers comprises a transparent sealant material.

22. The multiple layer solar energy harvesting composition according to claim 12, wherein the surface area that is incident to solar energy is one of a driving surface and a body panel of a vehicle.

23. A method for harvesting solar energy, the method comprising:

depositing a plurality of layers onto a surface area that is incident to solar energy, wherein at least one of the plurality of layers comprises thermal energy harvesting material and at least one of the plurality of layers comprises a photonic energy harvesting material; and

converting thermal and photonic energy into electrical energy by the thermal and photonic energy harvesting materials, respectively.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the depositing of the plurality of layers onto a surface area comprises depositing one or more of the plurality of layers by spraying, hand application, or film deposition.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein at least one of the plurality of layers comprises a magnetic material for generating a magnetic field, the magnetic material being deposited as a line array of a plurality of adjacent magnet portions substantially parallel to the surface area and substantially parallel to each other, wherein opposing polar regions of each of the plurality of magnet portions are oriented such that a line between the opposing polar regions of each of the plurality of magnet portions is perpendicular to the line array, further wherein each of the plurality of magnet portions have a substantially similar or opposite magnetic field orientation.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein at least one discharge capacitor is comprised by one or among more than one of the plurality of layers, the discharge capacitor comprising at least two conductors that are spaced apart and substantially parallel and at least one dielectric between the conductors, wherein the at least one discharge capacitor is charged by the electrical energy and augments the magnetic field.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the magnetic material is at least partially used for retaining and conveying information by staggering or eliminating portions of the magnetic material, or by adding diamagnetic material to the magnetic material to act as a magnetic field modifier.

28. The method according to claim 23, wherein the thermal harvesting material and photonic energy harvesting material are comprised by different layers of the plurality of layers.

29. The method according to claim 23, wherein at least one of the plurality of layers comprises a plurality of carbon buckyballs or microballs with the thermal energy harvesting material and photonic energy harvesting material comprised on each of the plurality of carbon buckyballs or microballs.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the buckyballs or microballs comprise a magnetic material for orienting the buckyballs or microballs by a magnetic field.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the at least one of the plurality of layers comprising the buckyballs or microballs comprises a doped substrate surrounding at least a portion of each the plurality of buckyballs or microballs and an N-type material surrounding the remaining portion of each the plurality of buckyballs or microballs.

32. The method of claim 23, wherein one of the plurality of layers comprises a basecoat and another one of the plurality of layers comprises a transparent sealant material.

33. The method according to claim 23, wherein the surface area that is incident to solar energy is one of a driving surface and a body panel of a vehicle.

34. A multilayer solar energy harvesting composition for deposition onto a surface area that is incident to solar energy, the composition comprising:

a thermal energy harvesting material for converting thermal energy into electrical energy, wherein at least one layer comprises the thermal energy harvesting material; and

a photonic energy harvesting material for converting photonic energy into electrical energy, wherein at least one layer comprises the thermal energy harvesting material.

35. The multiple layer solar energy harvesting composition according to claim 34, wherein the deposition of the plurality of layers onto a surface area comprises depositing one or more of the plurality of layers by spraying, hand application, or film deposition.

36. The multiple layer solar energy harvesting composition according to claim 34, wherein at least one of the plurality of layers comprises a magnetic material for generating a magnetic field, the magnetic material being deposited as a line array of a plurality of adjacent magnet portions substantially parallel to the surface area and substantially parallel to each other, wherein opposing polar regions of each of the plurality of magnet portions are oriented such that a line between the opposing polar regions of each of the plurality of magnet portions is perpendicular to the line array, further wherein each of the plurality of magnet portions have a substantially similar or opposite magnetic field orientation.

37. The multiple layer solar energy harvesting composition according to claim 36, wherein at least one discharge capacitor is comprised by one or among more than one of the plurality of layers, the discharge capacitor comprising at least two conductors that are spaced apart and substantially parallel and at least one dielectric between the conductors, wherein the at least one discharge capacitor is charged by the electrical energy and augments the magnetic field.

38. The multiple layer solar energy harvesting composition of claim 36, wherein the magnetic material is at least partially used for retaining and conveying information by staggering or eliminating portions of the magnetic material, or by adding diamagnetic material to the magnetic material to act as a magnetic field modifier.

39. The multiple layer solar energy harvesting composition according to claim 34, wherein the thermal harvesting material and photonic energy harvesting material are comprised by different layers of the plurality of layers.

40. The multiple layer solar energy harvesting composition according to claim 34, wherein at least one of the plurality of layers comprises a plurality of carbon buckyballs or microballs with the thermal energy harvesting material and photonic energy harvesting material comprised on each of the plurality of carbon buckyballs or microballs.

41. The multiple layer solar energy harvesting composition according to claim 40, wherein the buckyballs or microballs comprise a magnetic material for orienting the buckyballs or microballs by a magnetic field.

42. The multiple layer solar energy harvesting composition according to claim 41, wherein the at least one of the plurality of layers comprising the buckyballs or microballs comprises a doped substrate surrounding at least a portion of each the plurality of buckyballs or microballs and an N-type material surrounding the remaining portion of each the plurality of buckyballs or microballs.

43. The multiple layer solar energy harvesting composition of claim 34, wherein one of the plurality of layers comprises a basecoat and another one of the plurality of layers comprises a transparent sealant material.

44. The multiple layer solar energy harvesting composition according to claim 34, wherein the surface area that is incident to solar energy is one of a driving surface and a body panel of a vehicle.

45. A carbon buckyball for harvesting solar energy, comprising:

a thermal energy harvesting material on at least a portion of the exterior of the buckyball for converting thermal energy into electrical energy; and

a photonic energy harvesting material on at least a portion of the exterior of the buckyball for converting photonic energy into electrical energy.

46. The carbon buckyball of claim 45, wherein the buckyball comprises a first hemisphere with the thermal energy harvesting material located thereon and a second hemisphere with the thermal energy harvesting material located thereon.

47. The carbon buckyball of claim 46, wherein the carbon buckyball is equatorially divided into a first and second hemisphere by a carbon structure comprising a first dielectric coating on a first side facing the first hemisphere and on a second dielectric coating on a second side facing the second hemisphere.

48. The carbon buckyball of claim 47, wherein the first and second hemisphere each comprise a hollow portion comprising one of a dielectric and magnetic material and a first and second tuned carbon nanotube, wherein in both first and second hemispheres, the first tuned carbon nanotube exits the buckyball at a pole with a given length so as to provide an electrode for a termination point, and the second tuned carbon nanotube comprises a termination point at the dielectric coating of the carbon structure.

49. The carbon buckyball of claim 48, wherein at least one of the tuned carbon nanotubes comprises a hollow portion comprising silicon nanocrystals and/or a magnetic material.

50. The carbon buckyball of claim 45, wherein the carbon buckyball comprises a microball.

51. The carbon buckyball of claim 45, wherein the carbon buckyball is a nanobattery or nanocapacitor.

52. An inductive coupling device for a vehicle, said vehicle being at least partially powered by electrical energy, the inductive coupling device comprising:

a spherical inductive coupler for inducing current in a magnetic field.

53. The inductive coupling device of claim 52, further comprising a motor for rotating the spherical inductive coupler in the magnetic field when the vehicle is stationary, wherein the spherical inductive coupler generates electrical energy when rotated the magnetic field.

54. The inductive coupling device of claim 52, wherein the spherical inductive coupler comprises a plurality of spheres.

55. The inductive coupling device of claim 54, wherein at least two of the plurality of spheres are different sizes.

56. The inductive coupling device of claim 54, wherein at least two of the plurality of spheres are the same size.

57. The inductive coupling device of claim 54, wherein the plurality of spheres comprise a first sphere surrounded by N second spheres, wherein the N second spheres are smaller than the first sphere, wherein N is greater than one.

58. The inductive coupling device of claim 57, wherein the first sphere comprises a magnetic material and the N second spheres comprise a dielectric material.

59. The inductive coupling device of claim 52, wherein the inductive coupler converts electrical current into a magnetic field.

60. A vehicle chassis for storing electrical energy for use in a vehicle that is at least partially powered by electrical energy, the vehicle chassis comprising:

a first conductor;

a second conductor; and

a material for energy storage disposed between the first and second conductors, wherein the chassis supports a body of the vehicle.

61. The vehicle chassis of claim 60, wherein each of the first and second conductor comprise a carbon fiber sheet.

62. The vehicle chassis of claim 61, wherein a material for energy storage comprises a honeycomb structure filled with an electrolyte suspended in a polymer, wherein the vehicle chassis is a gel type rechargeable battery.

63. The vehicle chassis of claim 61, wherein a material for energy storage comprises a dielectric material, wherein the vehicle chassis is a parallel plate discharge capacitor.

64. An atmospheric intake hydrogen motor that obtains hydrogen fuel from condensed atmospheric water vapor, the atmospheric intake hydrogen motor comprising:

an atmospheric intake for intaking air;

at least one sensor for sensing at least one characteristic of the intaken air;

a condensation bladder for condensing water from the air; and

a cooling and/or heating device for cooling or heating the condensation bladder according to the sensed at least one characteristic of the intaken air, wherein the cooling and/or heating device cools or heats the condensation bladder to condensate the water from the air.

65. An electrical energy generating tire for a vehicle, the electrical energy generating tire comprising:

a first reinforcement strip formed circumferentially on the tire, the first reinforcement strip comprising a conductive material and forming as a positive conductor;

a second reinforcement strip formed circumferentially on the tire, formed circumferentially on the tire, the second reinforcement strip comprising the conductor material and forming as a negative conductor;

a annular strip comprised of piezo ceramic material and/or thermal harvesting material that is disposed between the first and second reinforcement strip; and

at least one sidewall conductor coupled to at least one of the first and second reinforcement strips.

66. The electrical energy generating tire of claim 65, wherein the at least one sidewall conductor is further coupled to a wheel rim.

67. The electrical energy generating tire of claim 66, wherein the wheel rim comprises two halves that are electrically insulated from each other.

68. The electrical energy generating tire of claim 66, wherein the wheel rim is electrically coupled to the vehicle.

69. A mechanical energy harvesting device for converting mechanical motion into electrical current for use in a vehicle, the mechanical energy harvesting device comprising:

an electrical winding; and

a magnetic travel rod surrounded by the winding and moveable relative to the winding, wherein electrical current is induced when the magnetic travel rod moves relative to the winding.

70. A mechanical energy harvesting device of claim 69, wherein the mechanical energy harvesting device is a shock absorber.

71. A linear mechanical energy harvesting device of claim 69, wherein the travel rod moves relative to the winding as a result of movement by one of a door, hood, hatchback, break pedal, accelerator pedals, knob, switch or car seat.

72. A linear mechanical energy harvesting device of claim 69, further comprising a diode bridge to orient the induced current with respect to the mechanical movement of the magnetic travel rod in either of a first or second direction.

73. A linear mechanical energy harvesting device of claim 69, further comprising a thermal harvesting material to convert thermal energy into electrical energy.