646results about "From muscle energy" patented technology

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.

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.

Devices and systems for generating energy for powering implanted medical devices such as a pacemakers and defibrillators.

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 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 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.

A human energy harvesting and storage system that captures energy from various human activities and stores that energy on a vehicle to be used for various vehicle applications. In one embodiment, piezoelectric devices, or other types of energy generating devices, are provided in the seat of the vehicle that generate electricity from the weight and movement of a person sitting in the seat that is collected by a suitable electrical storage device. The electrical storage device provides power to a power port in the vehicle so that various devices can be plugged into the power port to be operated. In alternate embodiments, the energy is collected outside of the vehicle by human activity, and the storage device is brought into the vehicle to be plugged into the power port.

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.

A device, including a rotor, a stator, a coil wound around the stator, wherein the stator has a coil support structure having at least one side edge arranged along a line which is not parallel to a line extending from an axis of the rotor through a center of the coil.

A rotary disk acceleration mechanism for exercise equipment includes a stationary axle; a first large rotary disk; at least one acceleration disk assembly; a first belt, which is coupled between the acceleration disk assembly and the first large rotary disk; a first bearing, which is mounted to the stationary axle; a second small rotary disk, which is rotatably mounted by the first bearing to the stationary axle and is coaxial with the first large rotary disk; and a second belt, which is coupled between the acceleration disk assembly and the second small rotary disk, so that the acceleration disk assembly drives, via the second belt, the second small rotary disk to rotate.

A method for exercising muscles acting across a joint is provided. The method incl;uding: 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 generator assembly for converting human generated mechanical energy into electrical power for charging at least one rechargeable device is provided herein. The generator assembly generally includes a housing, a primary gear supported within the housing, an input mechanism mounted to the primary gear for receiving the human generated mechanical energy, an alternator for converting the mechanical energy converting the mechanical energy into electrical power, and a charging mechanism mounted to the housing with the charging mechanism directly connected to the alternator, where the charging mechanism has at least one rechargeable interface for transferring the electrical power to the rechargeable device. A method of charging at least one rechargeable device with a generator assembly and a method of authorizing use of a generator assembly are also provided.

An apparatus and method for generating electricity using piezoelectric material. The apparatus comprises a first elongate member and a second elongate member that are joining together at first and second points which are spaced apart from each other. The second elongate member comprises a piezoelectric element, or has a piezoelectric element mounted thereon. When pressure is applied to the first elongate member, the second elongate member is stretched and the stretching force is applied to the piezoelectric element. This generates electricity. A similar arrangement with a third elongate member may be provided on the other side of the second elongate member. The apparatus may be placed in a shoe or underneath a floor, so that the variation in pressure caused by walking may be used in generate electricity.

The invention pertains to the field of living goods, which particularly relates to an electric shoe driven by a piezocrystal. The shoe can power supply or charge for portable electrical apparatuses at any time. The shoe which can generate electricity consists of a sole and an upper and is characterized in that a generating device is arranged at the inside part of the heel of the sole; the outside of the shoe is provided with an accumulator; the generating device consists of a pedal, a stressing body, a dowel block, a piezocrystal, a slot-type box and a socket. The accumulator consists of a plug and an electric storage apparatus. The generating device is connected with the electric storage apparatus by the socket and the plug. The inside of the heel is provided with a rectangular groove; the external side of the rectangular groove is provided with a lead wire groove; the external side of the heel is provided with a round hole for arranging the socket; the upper part of the heel is provided with a pedal slot for preventing the horizontal movement of the pedal. The shoe which can generate electricity has simple and compact structure, hardly being damaged, high efficiency of generating electricity and comfortable wearing and can power supply or charge portable electric apparatuses such as mobile phone and mp3 at any time, thus bringing great convenience to the life and traveling of people.

The invention provides a multi-source charger, which has a box body, wherein the upper side of the box body is provided with an illuminating lamp and a Mini USB interface; the lower side of the box body is provided with a standard USB interface; the left side of the box body is provided with a power indicating lamp and a press handle; the right side of the box body is provided with a DC input interface, a handle clamping lock and an AC rotary input interface; a generating device, a control circuit board and an built-in energy storage device are arranged inside the box body; the generating device is connected to the press handle; and the illuminating lamp, the Mini USB interface, the standard USB interface, the power indicating lamp, the DC input interface, the AC rotary input interface, the generating device and the built-in energy storage device are both connected to the control circuit board. The multi-source charger provided by the invention can convert AC commercial power or a dry battery into standard power so as to be output, generates power by use of the built-in energy storage device or manually when no external power source exists, is used for supplying power to mobile equipment or charging 3.7V standard lithium batteries, is suitable for all mobile equipment holders, and can charge the mobile equipment or the 3.7V standard lithium batteries under the circumstance with or without a power source.

Methods and systems for sending multicast messages are disclosed. A multicast message is received to be transmitted to a plurality of access terminals at a radio access network (RAN), the received multicast message having a first format. The first format may correspond to a conventional multicast message format. The RAN determines whether the received multicast message requires special handling. If the RAN determines the received multicast message requires special handling, the radio access network converts the received multicast message from the first format into a second format. The RAN transmits the converted multicast message with the second format (e.g., a data over signaling (DOS) message) on a control channel to at least one of the plurality of access terminals. The access terminals receiving the converted multicast message interpret the message as a multicast message.

The invention provides an automatic power generation device of pedestrian stairs. The automatic power generation device comprises stair pedals and a plurality of power generation units arranged at the bottoms of the stair pedals; a bracket of each power generation unit is fixed on a bottom plate, and the top of the bracket is fixedly connected with a bracket end cover; the top of a vertical moving pin is fixedly connected to an upper plate, the vertical clearance of the lower end of the vertical moving pin passes through the bracket end cover, and a limiting sleeve is arranged on the bracket end cover; a pressure spring is sleeved on the vertical moving pin and positioned between the upper plate and the bracket end cover; a limiting pin and multilayer strip permanent magnets are fixedly arranged at the position where the vertical moving pin is positioned below the bracket end cover; corresponding to the end face of the magnetic pole of each strip permanent magnet, an electromagnetic coil wound on an iron core is embedded into the bracket; a clearance is formed between the end face of the magnetic pole of the permanent magnet and the iron core; and all the electromagnetic coils of the power generation units are connected in series and then connected with an output terminal. When pedestrians tread on the stair pedals, the strip permanent magnets move up and down, the electromagnetic coils generate induced electromotive force and current, and walking of the pedestrians is used for generating power.

The present invention provides a non-power source type monitor device installed in a place where a non-power source system needs to be used or a place preferably suitable for the non-power source system, in which a quantity of generated energy not lower than several ten times as much as an output of electric current obtained by a usual piezoelectric power generating device using steel balls can be assuredly obtained by striking a piezoelectric ceramics element once and a piezoelectric power generating device is formed commonly with means capable of automatically repeatedly striking the piezoelectric ceramics element so that a quantity of generated energy of a practical level can be assuredly ensured as a power source of such type of monitor device. The structure thereof includes, in principle,

Here is disclosed an apparatus 30 of foot pedal working type for health maintenance equipped with a DC generator 3 wherein electric current generated by the DC generator 3 adapted to be driven by foot pedal working force 1 is supplied to an electric device 4 via a DC/DC converter, characterized in that the generated electric current supplied from the DC/DC converter to the electric device 4 is controlled to increase or decrease and thereby a reaction force 1 necessary for foot pedal working causing the DC generator 3 to generate the electric current is controlled to increase or decrease.

The present invention is directed to a method of generating electricity from the unharnessed existing kinetic movement of various self-propelled sources: vehicles, wheeled vehicles, pedestrians, objects and/or wheeled objects with the aid of natural phenomena (i.e., gravity, buoyancy, magnetism, etc.) in combination with supporting undersurfaces, over surfaces and side surfaces upon which or about which they translate. In a first embodiment, floating platforms over which moving objects pass are implanted into a road surface. In a second embodiment, rollers rather than platforms are utilized. In a third embodiment, the moving vehicles, pedestrians and/or objects are provided with magnetic material generating electricity by passing over, under or by magnetized kinetic capturing panels containing coiled metallic wire (“kinetic panels”).

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 emergent danger avoiding system under a shaft of a coal mine. The emergent danger avoiding system has a self-generating function and is not limited by the energy of batteries, so the system can provide illumination, the indication of escape routes, communication, calling for help and the like for distressed personnel under the shaft for a long time by utilizing a self-generating device; and ambient environmental parameters are detected by utilizing a sensor and are calculated and analyzed, and the optimum route map for avoiding disasters and a reasonable contingency plan are selected from a plurality of prestored route maps for avoiding the disasters and contingency plans according to the analyzed result. According to the emergent danger avoiding system, the distressed personnel are prevented from being invaded by secondary accidents by an automatic detection function and an environmental parameter overranging alarm function; and rescue personnel on the ground can position the positions of the distressed personnel quickly and accurately to rescue the distressed personnel in time by functions of wireless communication and voice, so that personal casualties caused by the accidents are prevented to a maximum degree.