Back to results
US 7,126,497 B2Granted
Self-powered switch initiation system
AssigneeFace International Corporation
InventorsBradbury R. Face, Alfredo Vazquez Carazo, Glenn F. Rogers, Jr., Gregory A Thomas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self-powered switching system using electromechanical generators generates power for activation of a latching relay. The electromechanical generators comprise electroactive elements or magnetic based microgenerators that may be mechanically actuated to generate electrical power. The associated signal generation circuitry may be coupled to a transmitter or transceiver for sending and/or receiving RF signals to/from a receiver which actuates the latching relay. Power may be stored within the circuit using rechargeable batteries for powering or supplementing power to the transmitter or transceiver.
Claims17
A self-powered switching system, comprising:
- an electroactive transducer having first and second ends, said electroactive transducer comprising;
- a first electroactive member having opposing first and second electroded major faces and first and second ends;
- a flexible substrate bonded to said second major face of said first electroactive member;
- said flexible substrate having first and second ends adjacent said first and second ends of said first electroactive member;
- wherein said electroactive transducer is adapted to deform from a first position to a second position upon application of a force to said electroactive transducer;
- and wherein said electroactive transducer is adapted to return to said first position from said second position upon release of said force from said electroactive transducer;
- and wherein upon said deformation from said first position to second position, said electroactive transducer is adapted to generate a first voltage potential between said first electroded major face and said second electroded major face;
- and wherein upon said return from said first position to second position, said electroactive transducer is adapted to generate a second voltage potential between said first electroded major face and said second electroded major face;
- a mounting member for retaining said first end of said electroactive transducer;
- said mounting member comprising at least one retaining means adjacent said first end of said flexible substrate of said first electroactive member;
- mechanical deflection means for application of a force to said second end of said electroactive transducer, said mechanical deflection means being adapted to apply a force sufficient to deform said electroactive transducer from said first position to said second position, thereby generating a first voltage potential;
- a first conductor electrically connected to said first electroded major face of said first electroactive member;
- a second conductor electrically connected to said second electroded major face of said first electroactive member;
- a rectifier having an input side and an output side;
- said input side of said rectifier being electrically connected between said first and second conductors in parallel with said first and second electroded major faces of said electroactive transducer;
- a voltage regulator having an input side and an output side;
- said input side of said voltage regulator being electrically connected to said output side of said rectifier;
- an encoder having an input and an output side, said output side of said voltage regulator being connected to said input side of said encoder;
- said encoder being adapted to generate a coded waveform;
- an output signal at said output side of said encoder being an electrical signal having said coded waveform;
- first signal transmission means electrically connected to said output side of said encoder;
- said first signal transmission means comprising a first radio frequency generator subcircuit connected to an antenna;
- said radio-frequency generator subcircuit being adapted to generate a first radio-frequency signal modulated by said output signal of said encoder for transmission by said antenna;
- signal reception means for receiving a first signal transmitted by said first signal transmission means;
- said signal reception means being adapted to generate a relay signal in response to said first signal transmitted by said first signal transmission means;
- and
- a relay device for operating an electrical appliance;
- said relay device being in communication with said signal reception means;
- said relay device having a plurality of positions, each of said positions in said plurality of positions corresponding to an operating mode of said electrical appliance
- said relay device being adapted to change between a first position to a second position in said plurality of positions in response to said relay signal.
27 more elements
A self-powered switching system, comprising:
- an electroactive transducer having first and second ends, said electroactive transducer comprising;
- a first electroactive member having opposing first and second electroded major faces and first and second ends;
- a flexible substrate bonded to said second major face of said first electroactive member;
- said flexible substrate having first and second ends adjacent said first and second ends of said first electroactive member;
- wherein said electroactive transducer is adapted to deform from a first position to a second position upon application of a force to said electroactive transducer;
- and wherein said electroactive transducer is adapted to return to said first position from said second position upon release of said force from said electroactive transducer;
- and wherein upon said deformation from said first position to second position, said electroactive transducer is adapted to generate a first voltage potential between said first electroded major face and said second electroded major face;
- and wherein upon said return from said first position to second position, said electroactive transducer is adapted to generate a second voltage potential between said first electroded major face and said second electroded major face;
- a mounting member for retaining said first end of said electroactive transducer;
- said mounting member comprising at least one retaining means adjacent said first end of said flexible substrate of said first electroactive member;
- mechanical deflection means for application of a force to said second end of said electroactive transducer, said mechanical deflection means being adapted to apply a force sufficient to deform said electroactive transducer from said first position to said second position, thereby generating a first voltage potential;
- a first conductor electrically connected to said first electroded major face of said first electroactive member;
- a second conductor electrically connected to said second electroded major face of said first electroactive member;
- a rectifier having an input side and an output side;
- said input side of said rectifier being electrically connected between said first and second conductors in parallel with said first and second electroded major faces of said electroactive transducer;
- a voltage regulator having an input side and an output side;
- said input side of said voltage regulator being electrically connected to said output side of said rectifier;
- an encoder having an input and an output side, said output side of said voltage regulator being connected to said input side of said encoder;
- said encoder being adapted to generate a first coded waveform;
- an output signal at said output side of said encoder being an electrical signal having said first coded waveform;
- a first transceiver electrically connected to said output side of said encoder;
- said first transceiver comprising a first radio frequency generator subcircuit connected to a first antenna;
- said first transceiver comprising a first radio frequency receiver connected to said first antenna;
- said first radio-frequency generator subcircuit being adapted to generate a first radio-frequency signal modulated by said output signal of said encoder for transmission by said first antenna;
- a second transceiver for receiving said first radio-frequency signal transmitted by said first transceiver;
- said second transceiver comprising a second radio frequency generator subcircuit connected to a second antenna;
- said second transceiver comprising a second radio frequency receiver connected to said second antenna;
- said second transceiver being adapted to generate a relay signal in response to said first radio frequency signal transmitted by said first transceiver;
- and
- a relay device for operating an electrical appliance;
- said relay device being in communication with said second transceiver;
- said relay device having a plurality of positions, each of said positions in said plurality of positions corresponding to an operating mode of said electrical appliance
- said relay device being adapted to change between a first position to a second position in said plurality of positions in response to said relay signal.
30 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.