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US 9,755,131 B2Granted
Athletic activity monitoring device with energy capture
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsSummer Schneider, Vikram Malhotra, Marcus Ward, Jerry Wiant
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Aspects relate to an energy harvesting device adapted for use by an athlete while exercising. The device may utilize a mass of phase-change material to store heat energy, the stored heat energy subsequently converted into electrical energy by one or more thermoelectric generator modules. The energy harvesting device may be integrated into an item of clothing, and such that the mass of phase change material may store heat energy as the item of clothing is laundered.
Claims20
An energy harvesting device, configured to be integrated into an item of clothing, comprising:
- an insulated container, configured to be transitioned between an expanded configuration and a compressed configuration, comprising:
- a deformable outer membrane comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface being in contact with an external environment;
- a deformable inner membrane, spaced apart from the deformable outer membrane, comprising an outer surface and an inner surface;
- an outer cavity spaced between the deformable outer membrane and the deformable inner membrane;
- an inner cavity encapsulated by the deformable inner membrane;
- an outer heat exchanger coupled to the deformable outer membrane, comprising an outer surface exposed to the external environment, and an inner surface exposed to the outer cavity;
- a thermoelectric generator, positioned within the inner cavity, the thermoelectric generator comprising an outer surface exposed to the outer cavity through the deformable inner membrane, and an inner surface, thermally-coupled to an inner heat exchanger;
- an activity monitoring circuit powered by the thermoelectric generator, an output of the thermoelectric generator connected to an interrupt input of the activity monitoring circuit;
- a phase-change material membrane, at least a portion of the phase-change material membrane coupled to the inner heat exchanger, and encapsulating a mass of phase-change material,
- wherein a primary axis of conduction through the inner heat exchanger, the thermoelectric generator, and the outer heat exchanger has a first thermal conductivity when the insulated container is in the expanded configuration,
- wherein the primary axis of conduction has a second thermal conductivity, greater than the first thermal conductivity, when the insulated container is in the compressed configuration, and
- wherein when transitioned from the expanded configuration to the compressed configuration, a voltage output generated by the thermoelectric generator at the interrupt input transitions the activity monitoring circuit from a first power configuration to a second power configuration.
9 more elements
An energy harvesting device, comprising:
- an insulated container, configured to be transitioned between an expanded configuration and a compressed configuration, comprising:
- a deformable outer membrane comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface being in contact with an external environment;
- a deformable inner membrane, spaced apart from the deformable outer membrane, comprising an outer surface and an inner surface;
- an cavity spaced between the deformable outer membrane and the deformable inner membrane;
- an outer heat exchanger coupled to the deformable outer membrane, comprising an outer surface exposed to the external environment, and an inner surface exposed to the cavity;
- a thermoelectric generator, the thermoelectric generator comprising an outer surface exposed to the cavity through the deformable inner membrane, and an inner surface, thermally-coupled to an inner heat exchanger;
- an activity monitoring circuit powered by the thermoelectric generator;
- a phase-change material membrane, at least a portion of the phase-change material membrane coupled to the inner heat exchanger, and encapsulating a mass of phase-change material,
- wherein a primary axis of conduction through the inner heat exchanger, the thermoelectric generator, and the outer heat exchanger has a first thermal conductivity when the insulated container is in the expanded configuration,
- wherein the primary axis of conduction has a second thermal conductivity, greater than the first thermal conductivity, when the insulated container is in the compressed configuration, and
- wherein the thermoelectric generator outputs a first voltage when the insulated container is in the expanded configuration and a second voltage, higher than the first voltage when in the compressed configuration.
8 more elements
An energy harvesting device, comprising:
- an insulated container, configured to be transitioned between an expanded configuration and a compressed configuration, comprising:
- a deformable outer membrane comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface being in contact with an external environment;
- an inner membrane, spaced apart from the deformable outer membrane, comprising an outer surface and an inner surface;
- a cavity spaced between the deformable outer membrane and the inner membrane;
- an outer heat exchanger coupled to the deformable outer membrane, comprising an outer surface exposed to the external environment, and an inner surface exposed to the cavity;
- a thermoelectric generator, the thermoelectric generator comprising an outer surface exposed to the cavity through the inner membrane, and an inner surface, thermally-coupled to an inner heat exchanger;
- a phase-change material membrane, at least a portion of the phase-change material membrane coupled to the inner heat exchanger, and encapsulating a mass of phase-change material,
- wherein a primary axis of conduction through the inner heat exchanger, the thermoelectric generator, and the outer heat exchanger has a first thermal conductivity when the insulated container is in the expanded configuration,
- wherein the primary axis of conduction has a second thermal conductivity, greater than the first thermal conductivity, when the insulated container is in the compressed configuration, and
- wherein the thermoelectric generator outputs a first voltage when the insulated container is in the expanded configuration and a second voltage, higher than the first voltage when in the compressed configuration.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.