Pulse generator harvesting energy from a moving element

A pulse generator comprising:

• a mounting configured to hold two bodies in proximity to each other;
• first and second magnetic elements movably held in said mounting, such that the magnetic elements align with each other in a first alignment in one of two stable states;
• a coil surrounding said magnetic elements in said mounting;
• a force application device for applying a force to said first magnetic element, said force being such as to cause said first magnetic element to break said first alignment and cause said first and second magnetic elements to realign in said second stable state, said second stable state being in a second alignment different from said first alignment, thereby to generate a pulse in said coil wherein said first and second magnetic elements comprise an ordered row of at least two magnetic cylinders magnetized across their length and confined in at least one cavity, and wherein in both stable positions each magnetic cylinder aligns with a neighboring magnetic cylinder in said row.

A pulse generator comprising:

• a mounting configured to hold two bodies in proximity to each other;
• first and second magnetic elements movably held in said mounting, such that the magnetic elements align with each other in a first alignment in one of two stable states;
• a coil surrounding said magnetic elements in said mounting;
• a force application device for applying a force to said first magnetic element, said force being such as to cause said first magnetic element to break said first alignment and cause said first and second magnetic elements to realign in said second stable state, said second stable state being in a second alignment different from said first alignment, thereby to generate a pulse in said coil, wherein the force application device is part of a rotating element, such that said pulse generator counts rotations of said rotating element, and said force application device comprises two oppositely aligned magnets circumferentially separated on said rotating element.

A device for measuring rotation of a shaft comprising:

• a) a pulse generator comprising:
• a mounting configured to hold two bodies in proximity to each other;
• first and second magnetic elements movably held in said mounting, such that the magnetic elements align with each other in a first alignment in one of two stable states;
• a coil surrounding said magnetic elements in said mounting;
• a force application device for applying a force to said first magnetic element, said force being such as to cause said first magnetic element to break said first alignment and cause said first and second magnetic elements to realign in said second stable state, said second stable state being in a second alignment different from said first alignment, thereby to generate a pulse in said coil;
• and
• b) a rotating shaft;
• and wherein said force application device is located on said rotating shaft to generate pulses in accordance with rotation of said rotating shaft, said force application device comprising two oppositely aligned magnets circumferentially separated on said rotating shaft.