Method and apparatus for motional/vibrational energy harvesting via electromagnetic induction
First Claim
1. A device, comprising:
- a magnet;
a spheroidal housing having a hollow interior; and
at least one coil positioned such that as the magnet moves within the hollow interior of the spheroidal housing, a corresponding at least one electric current is induced in the at least one coil, wherein the magnet is allowed to experience translational and rotational movement in any direction throughout the hollow interior of the spheroidal housing, wherein the diameter ratio of a diameter of the magnet and a diameter of the housing is in the range 0.375-0.75 or in the range 0.3-0.7.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for motional/vibrational energy harvesting are disclosed. Embodiments of the subject invention utilize the non-resonant chaotic behavior of a free-rolling magnet to generate power. In one embodiment, the magnet can be spherical, cylindrical, or elliptical. The magnet can roll about a linear, cylindrical, helical, or cage-like track. The changing magnetic flux due to the magnet rolling about the track induces current in surrounding coils. The coils can be provided around the track using a continuous winding placement, segmented winding placement, or fractional winding placement. Multiple coil phases are also possible. For embodiments utilizing multiple magnets, spacers can be used to maintain a separation between magnets.
48 Citations
70 Claims
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1. A device, comprising:
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a magnet; a spheroidal housing having a hollow interior; and at least one coil positioned such that as the magnet moves within the hollow interior of the spheroidal housing, a corresponding at least one electric current is induced in the at least one coil, wherein the magnet is allowed to experience translational and rotational movement in any direction throughout the hollow interior of the spheroidal housing, wherein the diameter ratio of a diameter of the magnet and a diameter of the housing is in the range 0.375-0.75 or in the range 0.3-0.7. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A device, comprising:
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a magnet; a spheroidal housing; and at least one coil positioned such that as the magnet moves within the spheroidal housing, a corresponding at least one electric current is induced in the at least one coil, wherein a diameter ratio of a diameter of the magnet to a diameter of the spheroidal housing is greater than 0.8.
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36. A method for harvesting vibrational energy, comprising:
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providing a magnet; providing a spheroidal housing having a hollow interior; and providing at least one coil positioned such that as the magnet moves within the hollow interior of the spheroidal housing, a corresponding at least one electric current is induced in the at least one coil, wherein the magnet is allowed to experience translational and rotational movement in any direction throughout the hollow interior of the spheroidal housing, wherein the diameter ratio of a diameter of the magnet and a diameter of the housing is in the range 0.375-0.75 or in the range 0.3-0.7. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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70. A method for harvesting vibrational energy, comprising:
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providing a magnet; providing a spheroidal housing; and providing at least one coil positioned such that as the magnet moves within the spheroidal housing, a corresponding at least one electric current is induced in the at least one coil, wherein the diameter ratio of a diameter of the magnet and a diameter of the housing is greater than 0.8.
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Specification