Energy conversion systems utilizing parallel array of automatic switches and generators

An energy conversion and regulation system comprising:

• a base member;
• a plurality of nanometer-scale piezoelectric generators electrically connected in a parallel configuration fixed to said base member at only one end, the other end being free-to-move;
• and
• a nanometer-scale contact in the proximity of said free-moving end such that said contact electrically couples said free-moving end when said generator produces an above-average electrical output.

An energy regulation and conversion system comprising:

• a source of DC voltage;
• a plurality of resistor-transistor assemblies coupled in a parallel configuration, each of said assemblies comprising:
• a resistor;
• and
• a nanometer-scale transistor having base, collector, and emitter terminals, wherein said transistor is electrically connected in series with said resistor, said resistor is producing Johnson Noise at said collector terminal, said base terminal is coupled to said source of DC voltage, and said DC voltage automatically turns said transistor ON when said Johnson noise exceeds a minimum level.

An energy generation and regulation system comprising:

• a source of DC voltage;
• a plurality of generator-transistor assemblies coupled in a parallel configuration, each one of said generator-transistor assemblies comprising:
• a transistor having a collector terminal, a base terminal coupled to said DC voltage, and emitter terminal;
• and
• a nanometer-scale electromotive force generator coupled in series with said transistor, wherein said generator produces an output voltage at said collector terminal and DC voltage automatically turns said transistor ON when said output voltage exceeds a minimum level.

An energy conversion and regulation system comprising:

• a base member;
• a plurality of nanometer-scale assemblies coupled to said base member, wherein each of said nanometer-scale assemblies can convert one form of energy, a non-converted energy, into another form of energy, a converted energy, wherein each one of said nanometer-scale assemblies comprising:
• an output;
• a mounting assembly coupled to said base member;
• a nanometer-scale beam fixed to said mounting assembly, said beam having a free-moving portion;
• and
• an electrically conductive automatic switch placed within the proximity of said free-moving portion, wherein said converted energy is provided to said output when said free-moving portion electrically couples said automatic switch.

An energy conversion and regulation system, said system comprising:

• a base member;
• and
• a plurality of assemblies coupled to said base member, wherein each one of said plurality of assemblies comprises:
• an assembly output;
• an energy conversion device that converts one form of energy into an electrical energy;
• and
• a nanometer-scale electrical regulator that regulates the amount of said electrical energy and provides said regulated energy to said assembly output, wherein said electrical regulator is coupled to said energy conversion device in a series configuration.

A nanometer-scale transistor comprising:

• a first input contact;
• a second input contact;
• a base member;
• a mounting assembly coupled to said base member;
• a nanometer-scale beam fixed to said mounting assembly and having a portion that is free-to-move, wherein said nanometer-scale beam is coupled to said first input contact and is provided a first charge;
• and
• a charge member layer placed in the proximity of said free-moving portion, wherein said charge member layer is coupled to said second input contact, said charge member layer is provided a second charge, and said first charge and said second charge interact to provide mechanical stress in said free-moving portion.

A nanometer-scale assembly that converts one form of energy into an electrical energy, said nanometer-scale assembly comprising:

• a nanometer-scale piezoelectric paddle mounted at one end to a base member, wherein the end opposite said one end is free-to-move, wherein said paddle comprises:
• a first electrically conductive layer;
• a second electrically conductive layer;
• a piezoelectric layer placed between said first and second conductive layers, wherein said piezoelectric paddle creates electrical energy across said first and second conductive layers when said free-moving portion is flexed;
• and
• a third electrically conductive layer separated from said second layer by an isolation gap, wherein said second metal layer electrically couples to said third metal layer when said free-moving portion is flexed.

An energy conversion system that is immersed in a working substance having a plurality of molecules that converts energy from one form to another, said system comprising:

• a first thermally conductive member;
• a second thermally conductive member;
• a first plurality of mounting points;
• a second plurality of mounting points, each of said second plurality of mounting points corresponding to one of said first plurality of mounting points;
• a plurality of nanometer members each of which is loosely mounted between one of said first and second pluralities of mounting points such that slack exists in each of said nanometer members, wherein Brownian motion causes said nanometer members to move;
• a plurality of resistive elements, each of which is thermally coupled to said first conductive member and is mounted between one of said first and second pluralities of mounting points such that there is a resistive element corresponding to each nanometer member;
• an external magnetic field that, when applied to said moving nanometer members, induces an electric field that induces current to flow;
• and
• a plurality of thermoelectric generators comprising first and second thermally responsive members, each of said first thermally responsive members being coupled to said first thermally conductive member, each of said second thermally responsive members being coupled to said second thermally conductive member.

An energy conversion system that is immersed in a working substance having a plurality of molecules, said system comprising:

• a base member;
• a plurality of nanometer-scale assemblies coupled to said base member, each of said nanometer-scale assemblies comprising:
• a molecular-scale paddle having a first end mounted to said base member and a second end that is free to move;
• a piezoelectric generator comprising a portion of piezoelectric material and a resistor assembly coupled to said first end;
• and
• at least a first heat engine comprising a HOT side and a COLD side, said HOT side being thermally coupled to one of said resistor assemblies and said COLD side being thermally coupled to a first heat sink.
• S

An energy conversion and regulation system comprising:

• a base member,
• a nanometer-scale generator coupled to said base member that converts thermal energy into a time-varying electrical signal;
• and
• a variable resistor, fabricated from superconducting material, coupled to said base member, wherein said resistor is coupled to said generator, said resistor automatically transitions from zero resistance to a finite resistance in reaction to the current of said time-varying electrical signal having at least a minimum non-zero magnitude.