Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
322002000 | NONMAGNETIC-TYPE GENERATOR | 14 |
20080258694 | Methods and apparatuses for power generation in enclosures - An apparatus for generating power in an enclosure includes a power generation device configured to operate in the environmental conditions of the enclosure, a first power storage device connected to the power generation device and configured to store power generated by the power generation device, a power converter connected to the power storage device and configured to output power at a voltage different than that output by the power storage device, and a second power storage device connected directly or indirectly to the power converter and configured to store power output by the power converter. The second power storage device may then provide power for at least one component of an environmental monitoring system. | 10-23-2008 |
20090195226 | Power Harvesting From Apparatus, System And Method - The present invention relates to an apparatus system and method for power harvesting on roads and highways using piezoelectric generator. The invention is to provide a system and a method for power harvesting comprising a plurality of piezoelectric devices embedded in a road and configured to produce electrical power when a vehicle traverses their locations. The system includes a power conditioning unit and electrical conductors connecting said piezoelectric to said power conditioning unit. Harvested energy may be used locally in proximity to the energy generation location, stored for later use or transferred to be used in remote location | 08-06-2009 |
20090206803 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HARVESTING ENERGY FOR WIRELESS FLUID STREAM SENSORS - A method for harvesting energy for wireless fluid stream sensors is provided that includes locating a wireless fluid stream sensor in a fluid stream. The wireless fluid stream sensor includes a flexible membrane and a rod. Energy is harvested based on strain induced in the flexible membrane due to movement of the rod. The wireless fluid stream sensor may be powered with the harvested energy. The energy may be harvested with piezoelectric elements that are coupled to the flexible membrane or with piezoelectric elements or other type of energy-harvesting components that are located remotely from the wireless fluid stream sensor. | 08-20-2009 |
20110227545 | VIBRATION POWER GENERATOR, VIBRATION POWER GENERATING DEVICE AND COMMUNICATION DEVICE HAVING VIBRATION POWER GENERATING DEVICE MOUNTED THEREON - Electricity generated by a vibration power generator | 09-22-2011 |
20110260699 | ELECTRET ELECTRODE, ACTUATOR USING THE SAME, VIBRATION POWER GENERATOR, VIBRATION POWER GENERATING DEVICE, AND COMMUNICATION DEVICE USING THE VIBRATION POWER GENERATING DEVICE - An object of the present invention is to provide an electret electrode having an improved surface charge density. | 10-27-2011 |
20120212190 | METHOD OF OPERATING A THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR - A method for operating a thermoelectric generator supplying a variable-load component includes commanding the variable-load component to operate at a first output and determining a first load current and a first load voltage to the variable-load component while operating at the commanded first output. The method also includes commanding the variable-load component to operate at a second output and determining a second load current and a second load voltage to the variable-load component while operating at the commanded second output. The method includes calculating a maximum power output of the thermoelectric generator from the determined first load current and voltage and the determined second load current and voltage, and commanding the variable-load component to operate at a third output. The commanded third output is configured to draw the calculated maximum power output from the thermoelectric generator. | 08-23-2012 |
20120268083 | METHOD FOR UNDERWATER ENVIRONMENTAL ENERGY TRANSFER WITH A LONG LEAD ZIRCONATE TITANATE TRANSDUCER - The invention as disclosed is an underwater based electric energy production method. A cable having a piezoelectric core is attached on one end thereof to a floating buoy and on the other end thereof to an anchor. The system is deployed in the water such that the cable extends vertically through a water column. Movement of the cable due to water current generates electric power that can be harvested and stored. The floating buoy can be at or near the water's surface and the anchor can but need not rest on the sea floor. | 10-25-2012 |
20130181689 | BROADBAND VIBRATIONAL ENERGY HARVESTING - A system that converts environmental vibrational energy into electrical energy includes a transducer that undergoes oscillating movement in response to the vibrational energy in order to produce an oscillating electrical signal. Power electronics process the oscillating electrical signal. A control system (including at least one control element of the power electronics, at least one sensor and control electronics) carries out a control scheme that dynamically varies the dampening of the oscillating movement of the transducer over time. The control scheme is based upon a predetermined parametric relation involving a plurality of variables derived from the properties measured by the at least one sensor. In several embodiments, the plurality of variables includes a first variable representing excitation frequency of the transducer. In another embodiment, the predetermined parametric relation represents relative phase between two variables derived from the properties measured by the at least one sensor. | 07-18-2013 |
20140191733 | Fuel Cell System Having a Safety Mode - A fuel cell system for providing power to a load, and having a safety mode, is disclosed. The system includes a fuel cell configured to convert fuel to electrical power and coupled so as to provide electrical power at a fuel cell power output, a system power port having a power connection and a data connection, configured to be reversibly coupled to the load, a power connection controller, coupled to the fuel cell power output and to the system power port, and configured to enable and disable the power connection, and a fuel cell system controller coupled to the fuel cell, the data connection and the power connection controller. The fuel cell system controller has a normal mode and a safety mode. A user selection determines whether the fuel cell system controller is in the normal mode or the safety mode. If the load has a smart power port, the data connection is configured to communicate over the smart power port. In the normal mode, the fuel cell system controller is configured to enable the power connection independent of the data connection. In the safety mode, the fuel cell system controller is configured to enable the power connection only when an approved communication is received over the data connection from the load. A related method for operating the fuel cell system is also disclosed. | 07-10-2014 |
20080218132 | CIRCUITS FOR ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER GENERATORS - Described herein is a generator with an electroactive polymer transducer. The transducer has a capacitance that varies with deflection of a polymer included in the transducer. The generator also includes a generator circuit, coupled to the electroactive polymer transducer, that includes a capacitor. The generator circuit is configured such that the capacitor collects electrical energy from the electroactive polymer transducer in response to a change in capacitance of the polymer. | 09-11-2008 |
20090066298 | ELECTROSTATIC GENERATOR/MOTOR - A sub-module consists of a set of two outer sets of stationary fan-blade-shaped sectors. These outer sectors include conductive material and are maintained at ground potential in several examples. Located midway between them is a set of stationary sector plates with each plate being electrically insulated from the others. An example provides that the inner sector plates are connected together alternately, forming two groups of parallel-connected condensers that are then separately connected, through high charging circuit resistances, to a source of DC potential with respect to ground, with an additional connecting lead being provided for each group to connect their output as an AC output to a load. These same leads can he used, when connected to a driver circuit, to produce motor action. | 03-12-2009 |
20120153905 | ELECTRICAL ENERGY GENERATION DEVICE - A device for generating electrical energy from the heat dissipated by a heat source, comprising: a capacitor comprising two electrodes between which a ferroelectric material is present, said capacitor being arranged so as to be positioned to capture all or part of the heat dissipated by said heat source; a capacitive element a first electrode of which is connected to a first electrode of said capacitor; a recovery circuit interposed between the second electrode of said capacitor and the second electrode of the capacitive element, and able to have the current flowing between said second electrodes pass through it. a mechanism adapted to move the capacitor with respect to the heat source, said mechanism having at least one arm able to move between two positions, the capacitor being closer to the heat source in one of the two positions. | 06-21-2012 |
20120299559 | Energy Collection - An energy collection system may collect and use the energy generated by an electric field. Collection fibers are suspended from a support wire system supported by poles. The support wire system is electrically connected to a load by a connecting wire. The collection fibers may be made of any conducting material, but carbon and graphite are preferred. Diodes may be used to restrict the backflow or loss of energy. | 11-29-2012 |
20180026551 | ELECTROSTATIC ACTUATOR, SWITCH DEVICE, POWER SUPPLY DEVICE, AND PROGRAM | 01-25-2018 |
322002000 | Electrostatic | 5 |
20080258694 | Methods and apparatuses for power generation in enclosures - An apparatus for generating power in an enclosure includes a power generation device configured to operate in the environmental conditions of the enclosure, a first power storage device connected to the power generation device and configured to store power generated by the power generation device, a power converter connected to the power storage device and configured to output power at a voltage different than that output by the power storage device, and a second power storage device connected directly or indirectly to the power converter and configured to store power output by the power converter. The second power storage device may then provide power for at least one component of an environmental monitoring system. | 10-23-2008 |
20090195226 | Power Harvesting From Apparatus, System And Method - The present invention relates to an apparatus system and method for power harvesting on roads and highways using piezoelectric generator. The invention is to provide a system and a method for power harvesting comprising a plurality of piezoelectric devices embedded in a road and configured to produce electrical power when a vehicle traverses their locations. The system includes a power conditioning unit and electrical conductors connecting said piezoelectric to said power conditioning unit. Harvested energy may be used locally in proximity to the energy generation location, stored for later use or transferred to be used in remote location | 08-06-2009 |
20090206803 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HARVESTING ENERGY FOR WIRELESS FLUID STREAM SENSORS - A method for harvesting energy for wireless fluid stream sensors is provided that includes locating a wireless fluid stream sensor in a fluid stream. The wireless fluid stream sensor includes a flexible membrane and a rod. Energy is harvested based on strain induced in the flexible membrane due to movement of the rod. The wireless fluid stream sensor may be powered with the harvested energy. The energy may be harvested with piezoelectric elements that are coupled to the flexible membrane or with piezoelectric elements or other type of energy-harvesting components that are located remotely from the wireless fluid stream sensor. | 08-20-2009 |
20110227545 | VIBRATION POWER GENERATOR, VIBRATION POWER GENERATING DEVICE AND COMMUNICATION DEVICE HAVING VIBRATION POWER GENERATING DEVICE MOUNTED THEREON - Electricity generated by a vibration power generator | 09-22-2011 |
20110260699 | ELECTRET ELECTRODE, ACTUATOR USING THE SAME, VIBRATION POWER GENERATOR, VIBRATION POWER GENERATING DEVICE, AND COMMUNICATION DEVICE USING THE VIBRATION POWER GENERATING DEVICE - An object of the present invention is to provide an electret electrode having an improved surface charge density. | 10-27-2011 |
20120212190 | METHOD OF OPERATING A THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR - A method for operating a thermoelectric generator supplying a variable-load component includes commanding the variable-load component to operate at a first output and determining a first load current and a first load voltage to the variable-load component while operating at the commanded first output. The method also includes commanding the variable-load component to operate at a second output and determining a second load current and a second load voltage to the variable-load component while operating at the commanded second output. The method includes calculating a maximum power output of the thermoelectric generator from the determined first load current and voltage and the determined second load current and voltage, and commanding the variable-load component to operate at a third output. The commanded third output is configured to draw the calculated maximum power output from the thermoelectric generator. | 08-23-2012 |
20120268083 | METHOD FOR UNDERWATER ENVIRONMENTAL ENERGY TRANSFER WITH A LONG LEAD ZIRCONATE TITANATE TRANSDUCER - The invention as disclosed is an underwater based electric energy production method. A cable having a piezoelectric core is attached on one end thereof to a floating buoy and on the other end thereof to an anchor. The system is deployed in the water such that the cable extends vertically through a water column. Movement of the cable due to water current generates electric power that can be harvested and stored. The floating buoy can be at or near the water's surface and the anchor can but need not rest on the sea floor. | 10-25-2012 |
20130181689 | BROADBAND VIBRATIONAL ENERGY HARVESTING - A system that converts environmental vibrational energy into electrical energy includes a transducer that undergoes oscillating movement in response to the vibrational energy in order to produce an oscillating electrical signal. Power electronics process the oscillating electrical signal. A control system (including at least one control element of the power electronics, at least one sensor and control electronics) carries out a control scheme that dynamically varies the dampening of the oscillating movement of the transducer over time. The control scheme is based upon a predetermined parametric relation involving a plurality of variables derived from the properties measured by the at least one sensor. In several embodiments, the plurality of variables includes a first variable representing excitation frequency of the transducer. In another embodiment, the predetermined parametric relation represents relative phase between two variables derived from the properties measured by the at least one sensor. | 07-18-2013 |
20140191733 | Fuel Cell System Having a Safety Mode - A fuel cell system for providing power to a load, and having a safety mode, is disclosed. The system includes a fuel cell configured to convert fuel to electrical power and coupled so as to provide electrical power at a fuel cell power output, a system power port having a power connection and a data connection, configured to be reversibly coupled to the load, a power connection controller, coupled to the fuel cell power output and to the system power port, and configured to enable and disable the power connection, and a fuel cell system controller coupled to the fuel cell, the data connection and the power connection controller. The fuel cell system controller has a normal mode and a safety mode. A user selection determines whether the fuel cell system controller is in the normal mode or the safety mode. If the load has a smart power port, the data connection is configured to communicate over the smart power port. In the normal mode, the fuel cell system controller is configured to enable the power connection independent of the data connection. In the safety mode, the fuel cell system controller is configured to enable the power connection only when an approved communication is received over the data connection from the load. A related method for operating the fuel cell system is also disclosed. | 07-10-2014 |
20080218132 | CIRCUITS FOR ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER GENERATORS - Described herein is a generator with an electroactive polymer transducer. The transducer has a capacitance that varies with deflection of a polymer included in the transducer. The generator also includes a generator circuit, coupled to the electroactive polymer transducer, that includes a capacitor. The generator circuit is configured such that the capacitor collects electrical energy from the electroactive polymer transducer in response to a change in capacitance of the polymer. | 09-11-2008 |
20090066298 | ELECTROSTATIC GENERATOR/MOTOR - A sub-module consists of a set of two outer sets of stationary fan-blade-shaped sectors. These outer sectors include conductive material and are maintained at ground potential in several examples. Located midway between them is a set of stationary sector plates with each plate being electrically insulated from the others. An example provides that the inner sector plates are connected together alternately, forming two groups of parallel-connected condensers that are then separately connected, through high charging circuit resistances, to a source of DC potential with respect to ground, with an additional connecting lead being provided for each group to connect their output as an AC output to a load. These same leads can he used, when connected to a driver circuit, to produce motor action. | 03-12-2009 |
20120153905 | ELECTRICAL ENERGY GENERATION DEVICE - A device for generating electrical energy from the heat dissipated by a heat source, comprising: a capacitor comprising two electrodes between which a ferroelectric material is present, said capacitor being arranged so as to be positioned to capture all or part of the heat dissipated by said heat source; a capacitive element a first electrode of which is connected to a first electrode of said capacitor; a recovery circuit interposed between the second electrode of said capacitor and the second electrode of the capacitive element, and able to have the current flowing between said second electrodes pass through it. a mechanism adapted to move the capacitor with respect to the heat source, said mechanism having at least one arm able to move between two positions, the capacitor being closer to the heat source in one of the two positions. | 06-21-2012 |
20120299559 | Energy Collection - An energy collection system may collect and use the energy generated by an electric field. Collection fibers are suspended from a support wire system supported by poles. The support wire system is electrically connected to a load by a connecting wire. The collection fibers may be made of any conducting material, but carbon and graphite are preferred. Diodes may be used to restrict the backflow or loss of energy. | 11-29-2012 |
20180026551 | ELECTROSTATIC ACTUATOR, SWITCH DEVICE, POWER SUPPLY DEVICE, AND PROGRAM | 01-25-2018 |