SELF-POWERED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

• US 20080116746A1
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Hein, David A.
• Application Number:
  US11/560,967
• Publication Number:
  US 20080116746A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/403 Power supply in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00634 Power supply for the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0065 by solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00174 Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/32 for charging batteries from a charging set comprising a non-electric prime mover rotating at constant speed

Abstract

The embodiments described herein include an electrical system and method for providing electrical energy. In one embodiment, an energy conversion device is configured to produce electrical energy from at least one of vibrations or movement experienced by the energy conversion device. An energy storage device is configured store the electrical energy. Additionally, an electrical device is coupled to the energy storage device and is configured to receive the electrical energy and transmit a signal to a receiving device to perform a desired function.

Claims

1. An electrical system for providing electrical energy comprising:

an energy conversion device configured to produce electrical energy from at least one of vibrations and movement experienced by the energy conversion device and light received by the energy conversion device;

an energy storage device coupled to the energy conversion device for storing the electrical energy; and

an electrical device coupled to the energy storage device and configured to receive the electrical energy and transmit a signal to a receiving device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiving device includes a receiving device configured to cause functioning of at least one of a vehicle door and a keyless entry module.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical device includes a switch.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical device includes a sensor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal transmitted by the electrical device is a radio-frequency (RF) signal.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal transmitted by the electrical device is a signal transmitted through the use of a wire.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device includes at least one of a capacitor and a battery.

8. A method for providing electrical energy comprising:

producing electrical energy from at least one of vibrations and movement experienced by an energy conversion device;

storing the electrical energy through the use of an energy storage device being coupled to the energy conversion device;

receiving the electrical energy through the use of an electrical device being coupled to the energy storage device; and

transmitting a signal to a receiving device upon receiving the electrical energy.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the receiving device includes a receiving device configured to cause functioning of at least one of a door and a keyless entry module.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the electrical device includes a switch.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the electrical device includes a sensor.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein transmitting the signal to a receiving device includes transmitting a radio-frequency (RF) signal.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein transmitting the signal to a receiving device includes transmitting a signal through the use of a wire.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the energy storage device includes a capacitor.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the energy storage device includes a battery.

16. An electrical system for providing electrical energy to a vehicle, the system comprising:

an energy conversion device mounted on the vehicle and being configured to produce electrical energy from at least one of vibrations and movement experienced by the energy conversion device, wherein the energy conversion device contains a piezoelectric element that enables conversion of the at least of the vibrations and movement into electrical energy;

an energy storage device coupled to the energy conversion device for storing the electrical energy; and

an electrical device coupled to the energy storage device and configured to receive the electrical energy and transmit a signal to a receiving device, wherein the receiving device causes functioning of a vehicle system.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the electrical device includes a switch.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the electrical device includes a sensor.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the signal transmitted by the electrical device is a radio-frequency (RF) signal.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the signal transmitted by the electrical device is transmitted through the use of a wire.