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AssigneeMicrostrain, Inc.
InventorsDavid L. Churchill, Steven W. Arms, Michael J. Hamel, James Marc Leas
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A device for harvesting an external source of energy includes an electricity generating device, a flexure, and a restoring spring. The electricity generating device generates electricity based on movement of the flexure. The flexure has a first stable position. When disregarding presence of the restoring spring the flexure also has a second stable position different from the first stable position. The restoring spring is positioned so when the flexure snaps from the first stable position toward the second stable position the restoring spring provides a restoring spring force to restore the flexure toward the first stable position. Substantially greater force is needed to snap the flexure from the first stable position toward the second stable position to overcome the restoring spring force than is required to snap the flexure from the second stable position toward the first stable position.
A device for harvesting an external source of energy, comprising an electricity generating device, a flexure, and a restoring spring, wherein said electricity generating device generates electricity based on movement of said flexure, wherein said flexure has a first stable position, wherein when disregarding presence of said restoring spring said flexure also has a second stable position different from said first stable position, wherein said restoring spring is positioned so when said flexure snaps from said first stable position toward said second stable position said restoring spring provides a restoring spring force to restore said flexure toward said first stable position, wherein substantially greater force is needed to snap said flexure from said first stable position toward said second stable position to overcome said restoring spring force than is required to snap said flexure from said second stable position toward said first stable position.
A device for harvesting an external source of energy, comprising an electricity generating device, a bi-stable flexure, and a restoring spring, wherein said bi-stable flexure has a first stable position, wherein when disregarding presence of said restoring spring said bistable flexure also has a second stable position different from said first stable position, wherein said bi-stable flexure has just said first and said second stable positions, wherein said electricity generating device generates electricity based on movement of said bi-stable flexure, wherein said restoring spring is positioned so when said bi-stable flexure snaps from said first stable position toward said second stable position said restoring spring provides a restoring spring force to restore said bi-stable-flexure toward said first stable position, wherein substantially greater force is needed to snap said bi-stable flexure from said first stable position toward said second stable position to overcome said restoring spring force than is required to snap said bi-stable flexure from said second stable position toward said first stable position.
A device for harvesting an external source of energy, comprising an electricity generating device, a flexure, and a restoring spring, wherein said flexure has a first stable position, wherein when disregarding presence of said restoring spring said flexure also has a second stable position different from said first stable position, wherein said electricity generating device generates electricity based on movement of said flexure, wherein said restoring spring is positioned so when said flexure snaps from said first stable position toward said second stable position said restoring spring provides a restoring spring force to restore said flexure toward said first stable position, wherein substantially greater force is needed to snap said flexure from said first stable position toward said second stable position to overcome said restoring spring force than is required to snap said flexure from said second stable position toward said first stable position, wherein said flexure is in a lowest energy state when in said first stable position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.