1341results about "From muscle energy" patented technology

A triboelectric power system includes a triboelectric generator, a rechargeable energy storage unit and a power management circuit. The rechargeable energy storage unit is associated to the triboelectric generator. The power management circuit is configured to receive an input current from the triboelectric generator and to deliver an output current corresponding to the input current to the rechargeable battery so that the output current has a current direction and a voltage that will recharge the rechargeable battery.

A system comprising a control device and a wireless energy source electrically coupled to the control device is disclosed. The wireless energy source comprises an energy harvester to receive energy at an input thereof in one form and to convert the energy into a voltage potential difference to energize the control device. Also disclosed, is the system further comprising a partial power source. Also disclosed, is the system further comprising a power source.

Magnetic levitation technology is incorporated in a toothbrush to supply power useable to power movable cleaning elements, emit light or sound and other functions. Power is generated by merely shaking the toothbrush.

A brushless generator with permanent-magnet multi-pole rotor disks and coreless stator winding disks includes integral electronics to efficiently generate regulated DC current and voltage from shaft input power over a broad speed range. Its power rating is scalable, and it incurs no cogging torque, or friction from gearing. Integral power control electronics includes high-frequency pulse-width-modulated boost regulation, which provides regulated current at requisite voltage over its broad speed range. A main embodiment to produce DC power at widely variable speeds includes signal processing so output power varies according to the third power of speed. A version for use with vertical-axis wind turbines has a relatively large diameter to facilitate a large number of poles. Combined boost-regulation, zero cogging torque, and no gearing, enable a wide speed range, for better power quality and higher wind energy yields. An alternate embodiment is intended to produce DC power from a variety of shaft drive sources, with selectable shaft torque.

A ball includes a shell defining a spheroid. The shell includes an opening and a panel to close the opening. The panel has a sleeve that extends radially inward. A generation module is disposed in a cavity defined by the shell. The generation module includes a housing. A pendulum, an electric generator, and a battery are disposed in the housing. The pendulum is mechanically coupled to a rotor of the electric generator at a first axis of rotation of the pendulum and the electric generator is electrically coupled to the battery. An acceleration of the ball causes the pendulum to rotate about the first axis of rotation. The rotation of the pendulum rotates the rotor of the electric generator. The rotation of the rotor of the electric generator generates electricity, and at least a portion of the generated electricity is stored by the battery.

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for harvesting energy from motion of one or more joints. Energy harvesters comprise: a generator for converting mechanical energy into corresponding electrical energy; one or more sensors for sensing one or more corresponding characteristics associated with motion of the one or more joints; and control circuitry connected to receive the one or more sensed characteristics and configured to assess, based at least in part on the one or more sensed characteristics, whether motion of the one or more joints is associated with mutualistic conditions or non-mutualistic conditions. If conditions are determined to be mutualistic, energy harvesting is engaged. If conditions are determined to be non-mutualistic, energy harvesting is disengaged.

When large numbers of children play in a playground, part of the power of their play could be usefully harnessed resulting in large energy storage. This stored energy can then be converted for basic, low-power, applications in the school such as lighting, communication, or operating fans. Energy can be produced through the use of pneumatic (i.e., compressed air) systems such as cylinders, motors, valves, and regulators for the conversion of human power of children's play in school playgrounds and other public places. The energy of the compressed air can then be converted to electricity for purposes such as lighting and communication. This provides a low-cost, low-resource means of generation of electricity, especially for use in developing countries.

A method for reducing an exerted energy associated with muscles acting across a joint is provided. The method including: storing energy during one or more periods of a periodic motion of the joint in which energy is absorbed by the muscles; and at least partially returning the stored energy to the muscles during one or more periods of the periodic motion in which the muscles are performing work.

A brushless generator with permanent-magnet multi-pole rotor disks and stator winding disks in their axial magnetic field includes integral electronics to efficiently generate regulated DC current and voltage from mechanical input power over a broad speed range. All power for the electronics is provided by rectifier diodes from its stator windings. Differential amplifiers provide stator voltage feedback signals. Its power rating is scalable, depending on the number of its disks. Having no iron cores and no gears, it incurs no cogging torque, and no gear friction. Integral power control electronics includes high-frequency pulse-width-modulated boost regulation, which provides regulated current at requisite voltage over its broad speed range. A main wind-powered embodiment to produce DC power for a constant voltage DC load over a broad speed range includes signal processing so output power varies according to the third power of speed. Combined boost-regulation, zero cogging torque, and no gearing, enable a wide speed range, for better power quality and higher wind energy yields.

The present disclosure provides for improved systems, apparatus and methods whereby electrical energy may be generated by the action of the user of the apparatus while, for example, walking, running or other activity that places the user's weight alternately on each heel and / or toe in sequence.

A user-powered apparatus, system, and method of providing a pedestrian with information is disclosed. The present invention harvests energy created by a moving pedestrian and takes the harvested energy and uses it to recharge an energy storage device that is embedded in the same footwear. Also built into the footwear may be a microcontroller and sensor, and a transmitter / receiver mechanism by which signals may be transmitted to and received from a wrist watch, iPod®, cell phone and / or any similar portable device on the pedestrian. The footwear may be capable of receiving signals transmitted by the portable device or GPS satellite. The GPS satellite may provide information about the geographical location of the pedestrian. Since the energy storage device may be flexible, it can survive on footwear that gets flexed a significant amount. The energy harvester may harvest energy from the footsteps of the pedestrian or some other source and recharge the energy storage device so that there is no need to replace the energy storage device that is an integral and inseparable part of the footwear.

A suspended-load backpack designed to permit the load to move relative to the backpack frame during walking and running so that the large movements between the load and the frame of the backpack reduce the fluctuations of absolute vertical motion of the load. Because the hip (and thus the pack frame) go up a down a good deal during walking, a large relative movement between the frame and the load reduces the absolute excursion of the load. This movement may be, in turn, transferred to a motor through, for example, a rack and pinion gear, to convert the mechanical movement to electrical energy. The movement may also be converted to electrical energy by using an electroactive polymer (EAP) to connect the suspended load to the frame. Such designs allow the load to move in a controlled fashion to prevent the patient from losing his or her balance as the load moves up and down along the backpack frame. Such movement of the suspended-load relative to the frame also reduces the forces on the wearer's shoulders while walking or running, thus reducing the likelihood of orthopedic injury.

To harness the power generated by the fitness machines as a result of work expanded by human operators, the health equipment facility includes an On-Site Energy Generation, Storage and Distribution (GSD) module that serves as a medium between the local facility power distribution system and an external power grid. In general, the GSD module includes hardware, firmware and / or software for converting the mechanical energy generated by one or more fitness machines to electrical power, as well as computer executable instructions for allocating the electrical power between the local distribution system and an external power grid, or storing the generated power for future use.

The invention relates to a piezoelectric self-powersupply low power consumption remote controller, belonging to the technical field of energy resources and electronics. The metal substrate of a bending piezoelectric vibrator is fixed on a lower shell by a pressing block; the piezoelectric vibrator is connected with a power circuit on a printing circuit board by a lead; the printing circuit board is fixed on an upper shell; the upper shell is provided with an upper locating block; the inside of the lower shell is fixedly connected with a lower locating block; the two shaft ends of a rotary force-applying mechanism are connected with the inclined slideway of a shell in a sliding way; a button is connected with the rotary force-applying mechanism in a pressing way; an offsetting spring is connected with a top block; the top block is contacted and connected with the rotary force-applying mechanism; the shaft of the rotary force-applying mechanism is fixedly connected with two groups of locating gears and a group of tines; the power circuit is connected with the circuit of the remote controller. The piezoelectric self-powersupply low power consumption remote controller has the advantage of utilizing a piezoelectric generating device to supply power for the remote controller, thus being capable of avoiding the problems of inconvenient use brought by replacing batteries and incapable use brought by not replacing the batteries in time when the power is out of use; and being capable of avoiding the secondary cost in use and the environment pollution caused by a plurality of waste batteries.

A suspended-load backpack designed to permit the load to move relative to the wearer during walking and running so that the large movements between the load and the wearer of the backpack reduce the fluctuations of vertical motion of the load with respect to ground. Because the hip (and thus the pack body) goes up a down a good deal during walking, a large relative movement between the wearer and the load reduces the absolute excursion of the load. This movement may be, in turn, transferred to a motor through, for example, a rack and pinion gear, to convert the mechanical movement to electrical or mechanical energy. Such movement of the suspended-load relative to the wearer also reduces the forces on the wearer's body while walking or running, thus reducing the likelihood of orthopedic injury. The suspended-load backpack includes a suspension system having a first portion connected to shoulder straps directly or through an interface and a second portion connected to the pack body and a compliant mechanism that permits the second portion of the suspension system and the pack body to move up and down relative to the first portion of the suspension system in accordance with a gait of the wearer of the backpack.

A method for exercising muscles acting across a joint is provided. The method including: absorbing energy during one or more periods of a periodic motion of the joint in which the muscles are performing work; and at least partially transferring the absorbed energy to at least one of the muscles and another device during one or more periods of the periodic motion in which energy is absorbed by the muscles.

A fitness equipment energy regenerating and saving system is provided. The system includes a bidirectional power converter, a bidirectional power drive, a generator, and an energy managing circuit. The energy managing circuit activates the bidirectional power converter so as to enable the bidirectional power drive to feedback the power generated by the generator to an electrical grid when the generator is operated in a generator mode. The energy managing circuit sets the bidirectional power converter to a current-regulating mode so as to enable the bidirectional power drive to obtain the power required for driving from the electrical grid when the generator is operated in a motor mode.

The present invention teaches an energy generator comprising a generally flat and partially flexible traffic surface on which pedestrians and traffic may pass. Underneath the traffic surface, a plurality of dynamo cells each have a dynamo therein, each dynamo having two electricity generating elements (magnets, coils, etc) and an operative electrical connection to an electrical load such as a battery, capacitor, light, an electrical network or the like. A first electrical generating element in each dynamo may be disposed so that it moves downward when weight from traffic is applied to the traffic surface, while a second electricity generating element remains stationary supported. by the bottom surface of the energy generator. A spring and bottom support may urge the first (moving) element back upwards when the imposed force is released.

A thermoelectric power generation system having a thermoelectric unit is provided for an engine, through which cooling water flows. A part of cooling water circulates through the engine and a radiator, where cooling water is cooled. Cooling water of a discharge side of the engine and that of a discharge side of the radiator are respectively used as a high-temperature side heat source and a low-temperature side heat source of the thermoelectric unit. Thus, the thermoelectric unit is provided with a steady temperature difference to generate power, without increasing a component number and deteriorating a cooling of the engine.

A system and method for generating energy with human powered devices and providing environmental feedback to users is disclosed which motivates individuals to use the equipment for the purpose of improving the environment. Fitness equipment is fitted with energy conversion devices such as electric generators to convert human powered energy to electrical energy. Energy that is generated by the user is converted to a quantitative or qualitative environmental feedback parameter. The environmental feedback parameter is indicative of the user's positive effect on the environment as a function of the energy generated by their use of the fitness equipment. The environmental feedback parameter is displayed to the users during their use of the equipment, and may be stored as a log of individual session use, or cumulative total use, for later examination by the users or for group use.

A stepped exercising and electricity generating machine includes two pedals, a transmission mechanism, and an electricity generator, the pedals being connected with the electricity generator through the transmission mechanism, characterized in that the stepped exercising and electricity generating machine further includes a frame having a housing disposed on the bottom thereof, in the housing are mounted a rechargeable battery and a DC / AC box, an input end of the rechargeable battery is electrically connected with an output end of the electricity generator and an output end of the rechargeable battery is electrically connected with an input end of the DC / AC box, an output end of the DC / AC box is coupled with a socket by using a wire, such that user can exercise to store energy and the stored energy can be used to supply power to the electrical product as using the electrical product.

An exercise treadmill includes a machine body, which has at least two rollers, a flywheel linked with one of the two rollers, a support assembly mounted between the two rollers, and a running belt fitted around and engaged with the two rollers and arranged around the support assembly. The exercise treadmill is provided with an accelerating means so that, while a user is walking or running on the machine body, the treading force provided by the user allows the running belt to be accelerated to move around the two rollers for generating electrical power. In addition to improving body heath, the electrical power produced by the treadmill in the training activity can reduce the electrical consumption of city power.

A motion control apparatus and method is disclosed. The motion control apparatus comprises a movable mechanism coupled to an external energy source, the energy source providing kinetic energy to the mechanism. An energy conversion module is mechanically coupled to the mechanism for converting kinetic into electrical energy. An electronic circuit is coupled to the energy conversion module and a storage module and a mechanism controller is coupled to the electronic circuit. A sensor module is coupled to both the electronic circuit and the movable mechanism to sense the movement of the movable mechanism to determine speed of the movable mechanism and transmit speed information to the electronic circuit. The method comprises applying energy to a movable mechanism, converting kinetic to electrical energy, storing the electrical energy converted, controlling the motion of the mechanism and sensing the movement of the mechanism.

An apparatus for harvesting energy from motion of a prosthetic limb, wherein the prosthetic limb has motion in at least one degree of freedom, may include a hydraulic amplifier mechanically coupled with a generator. The hydraulic amplifier may include an input member configured to receive an input motion when a first motion in a degree of freedom of the prosthetic limb causes pressure and motion of hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic amplifier is configured to amplify the input motion of the input member to a greater output motion. The generator is configured to convert mechanical energy of the output motion into corresponding electrical energy delivered to one of an electrical load and an electrical storage reservoir.

The invention discloses an electronic scale with self-powered function, which comprises a scale body and a measurement display unit. The electronic scale is characterized in that the electronic scale also comprises an energy-storing device of the measurement display unit and a generating device for supplying electric energy to the energy-storing device; the generating device applies external force through human bodies, for example, pedals by use of feet or pushes by use of hands to drive a generator to generate electric energy; the generating device comprises a transmission device and the generator or a generation component in other forms; the transmission device changes small-stroke rectilinear or swinging motion into high-speed circular motion, and comprises gear transmission mechanisms from Grade 1 to Grade 10 moving along with human external force; a force-applying operation part of the transmission device is positioned above the weighing surface of the scale body or arranged around the scale body, or is an scale-body upper cover connected with the transmission device; and the energy-storing device comprises a capacitor for storing electricity, a storage battery or a rechargeable battery and other electricity-storing devices. The electronic scale has the advantages that: the electronic scale adopts the own generating device to supply power, thereby not only reducing use cost, but also avoiding producing waste batteries to pollute environment.