Techniques and systems for generating power using multi-spectrum energy

• US 9,831,706 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2013
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Duncan S. Macwilliams, Graham T. Macwilliams
• Original Assignee: Duncan S. Macwilliams, Graham T. Macwilliams
• Inventors: MacWilliams, Graham T., MacWilliams, Duncan S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thienvu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baxter, Brian K
• Application Number:
  US13/920,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20140368046A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,625 Days
• Field of Search: 307 80
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/32 for charging batteries from a charging set comprising a non-electric prime mover rotating at constant speed
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers

Abstract

The present invention is directed to techniques and apparatus for generating power using multi-spectrum energy. An apparatus includes an electrical device and a power source, the power source comprising a multi-spectrum power generation system in electrical communication with the mobile electrical device, the multi-spectrum power generation system including a photovoltaic electrical power generator, and a microelectromechanical power generator; a primary power storage system in electrical communication with the electrical device; and a controller system in data communication with the multi-spectrum energy power generator systems to regulate electrical communication between the power storage system and the power generation system. In an alternative embodiment, the multi-spectrum power generation system may further a thermoelectric power generator.

Claims

1. An apparatus including a portable electrical device and a power source, said power source comprising:

a multi-spectrum power generation system in electrical communication with the portable electrical device, said multi-spectrum power generation system including a photovoltaic electrical power generator, a thermoelectric power generator, and a microelectromechanical power generator;

a primary power storage system in electrical communication with the portable electrical device; and

a controller system in data communication with the multi-spectrum energy power generation system to regulate electrical communication between said power storage system and said multi-spectrum energy power generation system, with said primary energy storage system being positioned adjacent to said controller system and said thermoelectric power generator including first and second layers, said microelectromechanical power generator and said controller system being positioned between said first and second layers.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 further including a thermoelectric power generator and a thermal dissipater coupled between said thermoelectric power generator and said microelectromechanical power generator.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said primary power storage system is positioned adjacent to and spaced-apart from said microelectromechanical power generator, with said controller system being disposed therebetween and said thermoelectric power generator including first and second segments, said microelectromechanical power generator, said controller system and said primary energy storage system being disposed between said first and second segments.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 further including a thermal dissipation system to allow thermal energy to propagate away from said portable electrical device and a thermoelectric power generator, wherein said primary energy storage system being positioned adjacent to and spaced-apart from said microelectromechanical power generator, with said controller system being disposed therebetween and said thermoelectric power generator including first and second segments, said microelectromechanical power generator, said controller system and said primary power storage system being disposed between said first and second segments, a first layer of said thermal dissipation system extending between said microelectromechanical power generator and said first segment, and a second layer of said thermal dissipation system extending between said primary power storage system and said second segment.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 further including a thermal dissipation system to allow thermal energy to propagate away from said portable electrical device, wherein said primary power storage system is positioned adjacent to and spaced-apart from said microelectromechanical power generator, with said controller system being disposed therebetween and said thermoelectric power generator including first and second segments, said microelectromechanical power generator, said controller system and said primary power storage system being disposed between said first and second segments, a first layer of said thermal dissipation system extending between said microelectromechanical power generator and said first segment, and a second layer of said thermal dissipation system extending between said primary power storage system and said second segment, said photovoltaic electrical power generator being positioned adjacent to one of said first and second segments, with said primary power storage system being adjacent to the remaining one of said first and second segments.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said controller system further includes a processor and a memory for storing non-transitory computer readable code, with said memory being in data communication with said processor, said non-transitory computer readable code including a first set of instructions operated on by said processor to sense a quantity of stored electrical power in said primary power storage system and a second set of instructions to allow one of said photovoltaic electrical power generator, said thermoelectric power generator and said microelectromechanical power generator to transmit electrical energy to said primary power storage system in response to said quantity reaching a pre-determined level.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said controller system further includes a processor and a memory for storing non-transitory computer readable code, with said memory being in data communication with said processor, said non-transitory computer readable code including a first set of instructions operated on by said processor to sense a quantity of stored electrical power in said primary power storage system and a second set of instructions to measure electrical energy being generated by each said photovoltaic electrical power generator, said thermoelectric power generator and a microelectromechanical power generator and a third set of instructions to transmit electrical energy to said primary power storage system from one of said photovoltaic electrical power generator, said thermoelectric power generator and a microelectromechanical power generator, with the one of one of said photovoltaic electric power generator, said thermoelectric power generator and a microelectromechanical power generator transmitting electrical energy to the primary power storage system producing the greatest amount of electrical energy amongst said photovoltaic electrical power generator, said thermoelectric power generator and said microelectromechanical power generator.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said power source further includes a secondary power storage system electrically coupled between said primary power storage system and said multi-spectrum power generation system.

9. A system including a mobile electrical device and a power source, said power source comprising:

a multi-spectrum power generation system in electrical communication with the mobile electrical device, said multi-spectrum power generation system having opposed sides and including a photovoltaic electrical power generator, a bifurcated thermoelectric power generator having first and second segments and a microelectromechanical power generator, with said photovoltaic electrical power generator being disposed on one of said opposed sides and said first segment being disposed upon the remaining of said opposed sides adjacent to said mobile electrical device;

a primary power storage system in electrical communication with mobile electrical device;

a controller system in data communication with the multi-spectrum power generation system to regulate electrical communication between said primary power storage system and said power generation system; and

a thermal dissipation system having first and second layers of thermally conductive material, with said second layer being disposed between said bifurcated thermoelectric power generator and said controller system to propagate thermal energy away from said mobile electrical device.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said first layer extends over a first plane between said first segment and said photovoltaic electrical power generator and in thermal communication with a heat sink, said heat sink extending along a second plane orientated orthogonally to said first plane.

11. The system as recited in claim 9 wherein said primary energy storage system is positioned adjacent to and spaced-apart from said microelectromechanical power generator, with said controller system being disposed therebetween and said controller system and said primary power storage system being disposed between said first and second layers.

12. The system as recited in claim 9 wherein said primary power storage system is positioned adjacent to and spaced-apart from said microelectromechanical power generator, with said controller system being disposed therebetween and said microelectromechanical power generator, said controller system and said primary power storage system being disposed between said first and second segments, said second layer extending between said microelectromechanical power generator and one of the first and section segments and a second layer extending between said primary power storage system and the remaining one of said first and second segments.

13. The system as recited in claim 9 wherein said power source further includes a secondary power storage system electrically coupled between said primary power storage system and said multi-spectrum power generation system.

14. A system including a mobile electrical device and a power source, said power source comprising:

a multi-spectrum power generation system in electrical communication with the mobile electrical device, said multi-spectrum power generation system having opposed sides and including a photovoltaic electrical power generator, a bifurcated thermoelectric power generator having first and second segments and a microelectromechanical power generator, with said photovoltaic electrical power generator being disposed on one of said opposed sides and said first segment being disposed upon the remaining of said opposed sides adjacent to said mobile electrical device;

a primary power storage system in electrical communication with mobile electrical device;

a controller system in data communication with the multi-spectrum power generation system to regulate electrical communication between said primary power storage system and said multi-spectrum power generation system and including a processor and a memory for storing non-transitory computer readable code, with said memory being in data communication with said processor, said non-transitory computer readable code including a first set of instructions operated on by said processor to sense a quantity of stored electrical power in said primary power storage system and a second set of instructions to measure electrical energy being generated by each said photovoltaic electrical power generator, said bifurcated thermoelectric power generator and said microelectromechanical power generator and a third set of instructions to transmit electrical energy to said primary power storage system from one of said photovoltaic electrical power generator, said bifurcated thermoelectric power generator and a microelectromechanical power generator, with the one of one of said photovoltaic electrical power generator, said bifurcated thermoelectric power generator and said microelectromechanical power generator transmitting electrical energy to the primary power storage system producing the greatest amount of electrical energy amongst said photovoltaic electrical power generator, said said bifurcated thermoelectric power generator and said microelectromechanical power generator; and

a thermal dissipation system coupled between said bifurcated thermoelectric power generator and said controller system to propagate thermal energy away from said mobile electrical device, said thermal dissipater includes a first layer of thermally conductive material extending over a first plane between said second segment and said primary power storage system and in thermal communication with a heat sink, said heat sink extending along a second plane orientated orthogonally to said first plane.

15. The system as recited in claim 14 wherein said power source further includes a secondary power storage system electrically coupled between said primary power storage system and said multi-spectrum power generation system.

16. The system as recited in claim 14 wherein said non-transitory computer readable code further includes an additional set of instructions to sense a storage level of said secondary power storage system and transmitting energy stored in said secondary power storage system to said primary power storage system upon sensing present conditions.

17. An apparatus including an electrical device and a power source, said power source comprising:

a multi-spectrum power generation system in electrical communication with the mobile electrical device, said multi-spectrum power generation system including a photovoltaic electrical power generator, and a thermoelectric power generator having first and second layers;

a primary power storage system in electrical communication with the electrical device; and

a controller system in data communication with the multi-spectrum energy power generator systems to regulate electrical communication between said power primary storage system and said multi-spectrum power generation system, said microelectromechanical generator, said controller system and said primary energy storage system being disposed between said first and second layers.