# US 2013/0154573 A1 · Method and Apparatus Pertaining to Powering a Movable Barrier Operator Remote Controller > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0154573 A1 - Document ID: US20130154573A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/330,851 - Filed: 2011-12-20 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-20 - Assignees: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. - Inventors: James Joseph Fitzgibbon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130154573A1 ## CPC - G08C 17/02: using a radio link - F03G 7/08: recovering energy derived from swinging, rolling, pitching or like movements, e.g. from the vibrations of a machine - F03G 7/081: {recovering energy from moving road or rail vehicles, e.g. collecting vehicle vibrations in the vehicle tyres or shock absorbers} - G08C 23/04: using light waves, e.g. infrared - G08C 2201/112: Mechanical energy, e.g. vibration, piezoelectric - G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G) - F03G: SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (arrangements in connection with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60K16/00; electric propulsion with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60L8/00) ## Abstract A movable barrier operator remote controller can comprise a vibration-powered electrical generator, a user interface, and a wireless transmitter configured to transmit a movable barrier operator communication in response to the user interface and as powered, at least in part, by the vibration-powered electrical generator. The controller can further comprise an electrical-energy storage unit (such as a battery and/or a capacitor) that is coupled to an electric power output of the vibration-powered electrical generator to thereby receive and store electric power from the vibration-powered electrical generator. So configured, the electrical-energy storage unit can provide operating power to the wireless transmitter on an as-needed basis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A movable barrier operator remote controller comprising: a vibration-powered electrical generator having an electric power output; a user interface; a wireless transmitter configured to transmit a movable barrier operator communication in response to the user interface and as powered, at least in part, by the vibration-powered electrical generator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The movable barrier operator remote controller of claim 1 wherein the vibration-powered electrical generator is configured to respond to low vibrational frequencies. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The movable barrier operator remote controller of claim 2 wherein the low vibrational frequencies are within the vibrational frequencies of an operating motor vehicle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The movable barrier operator remote controller of claim 2 wherein the low vibrational frequencies are less than 40 Hertz. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The movable barrier operator remote controller of claim 4 wherein the low vibrational frequencies are less than 10 Hertz. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The movable barrier operator remote controller of claim 1 wherein the user interface comprises, at least in part, a first button. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The movable barrier operator remote controller of claim 1 further comprising: an electrical-energy storage unit that is coupled to the electric power output of the vibration-powered electrical generator to receive and store electric power from the vibration-powered electrical generator. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The movable barrier operator remote controller of claim 7 wherein the electrical-energy storage unit is coupled to the wireless transmitter such that the vibration-powered electrical generator powers the wireless transmitter via the electrical-energy storage unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The movable barrier operator remote controller of claim 8 wherein the electrical-energy storage unit comprises, at least in part, a battery. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The movable barrier operator remote controller of claim 8 wherein the electrical-energy storage unit comprises, at least in part, a capacitor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The movable barrier operator remote controller of claim 1 further comprising: a housing that at least substantially contains the vibration-powered electrical generator and the wireless transmitter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The movable barrier operator remote controller of claim 11 wherein the housing comprises a portable, hand-held container. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The movable barrier operator remote controller of claim 11 wherein the housing comprises a vehicular sun visor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The movable barrier operator remote controller of claim 11 wherein the housing is sealed and cannot be non-destructively opened. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The movable barrier operator remote controller of claim 1 wherein the vibration-powered electrical generator is configured to mechanically up-convert low-frequency vibrations to higher-frequency vibrations. ### Claim 16 A method comprising: at a movable barrier operator remote controller: generating electricity as a function of mechanical vibrations being imparted to the movable barrier operator remote controller; using the electricity to facilitate transmitting a movable barrier operator communication. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the mechanical vibrations have low vibrational frequencies. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein the low vibrational frequencies are within the vibrational frequencies of an operating motor vehicle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein the low vibrational frequencies are less than 40 Hertz. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein the low vibrational frequencies are less than 10 Hertz. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein generating electricity as a function of mechanical vibrations comprises, at least in part, mechanically up-converting the mechanical vibrations to higher-frequency mechanical vibrations. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein using the electricity to facilitate transmitting a movable barrier operator communication comprises, at least in part: storing at least some of the electricity to provide stored electricity; using the stored electricity to power a wireless transmitter. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22 wherein storing at least some of the electricity comprises storing at least some of the electricity in a battery. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22 wherein storing at least some of the electricity comprises storing at least some of the electricity in a capacitor.