Power generation module, power generation device, and floor power generation device

Abstract

The floor power generating device (100) is characterized by comprising a footplate (20) that sinks when a load is applied and can restore from the sunken state when the load is removed, a magnet section (24) composed of a permanent magnet, a power generating element (10) that generates power by a change in magnetic field based on a relative displacement of the position of the magnet section (24) caused by the sinking and restoration of the footplate (20), a rectifier section (62) that rectifies the voltage output by the power generating element (10), and a storage section (64) that stores the voltage rectified by the rectifier section (62).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a power generation module, a power generation device, and a floor power generation device. [Background technology]

[0002] The Large Barkhausen effect is known, in which when a magnetic body is magnetized under tension or with residual internal stress, the magnetic domain walls inside the magnetic body move all at once, causing the magnetization direction to reverse in an extremely short time. When a pickup coil is wound around a magnetic body having the Large Barkhausen effect, a pulse voltage can be generated in the pickup coil in response to the reversal of the magnetization direction of the magnetic body.

[0003] Based on the large Barkhausen effect, energy harvesting technology is known that converts human activity (such as walking) or machine vibrations into energy that is readily available around us and can be used to generate electricity.

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses a pulse generating device that obtains a pulse voltage from a pickup coil wound around a Wiegand wire (composite magnetic wire) having a large Barkhausen effect and placed near a rotating magnet, by changing the magnetic field of the magnet.

[0005] Patent Document 2 discloses a device that detects the operation of a switch by a pulse voltage generated in response to the operation of the switch from a pickup coil wound around a Wiegand wire located near a magnet whose position changes in conjunction with the operation of the switch. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 55-074134 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 55-146621 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, in both of the technologies described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, only a portion of the magnetic field lines generated from the magnet are guided to the Wiegand wire, which is the magnetic core, and there is a problem in that the magnetic field lines generated from the magnet are not guided efficiently into the magnetic core.

[0008] The present disclosure aims to provide a power generation module, a power generation device, and a floor power generation device that can increase the amount of power generation by improving the induction efficiency of magnetic field lines generated from a magnet to a magnetic core. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The power generation module of the present disclosure includes a plate that sinks when a load is applied and can be restored from the sunken state when the load is removed, a magnet unit formed of a permanent magnet, and a power generation element that generates power by a change in a magnetic field based on a relative displacement of the position of the magnet unit caused by the sinking and restoration of the plate; The power generating element includes a magnetic collector made of a soft magnetic material at both ends in the longitudinal direction of a magnetic core around which a coil is wound, the magnetic collector having a magnetic collecting surface perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the magnetic core, and the magnet portion is disposed so that the magnetized surface of the permanent magnet faces the magnetic collecting surface. It is characterized by:

[0010] The power generation device of the present disclosure is characterized by comprising a power generation module as described in claim 1, a rectification unit that rectifies the voltage output by the power generation element, and a storage unit that stores the voltage rectified by the rectification unit.

[0011] The floor power generation device of the present disclosure is a floor power generation device equipped with a power generation device described in any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the plate is a floor plate that floats from a base by a spring, sinks when a load is applied to the plate, and returns to its sunken state by the spring when the load is removed, the magnet portion is provided on the bottom surface of the plate and the power generation element is provided on the base side, and the power generation element generates electricity by a change in magnetic field based on the relative displacement of its position with the magnet portion caused by the sinking and restoration of the plate. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a power generation module, a power generation device, and a floor power generation device that can increase the amount of power generation by improving the induction efficiency of magnetic lines of force generated from a magnet to a magnetic core. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing a configuration of a power generating element used in the vibration power generating module and vibration power generating device according to the first and second embodiments, and FIG. [Diagram 2] 2(a) is a perspective view that illustrates a schematic configuration of a power generating element different from the power generating element illustrated in FIG. 1, and (b) is a side view thereof. [Diagram 3] 3(a) is an explanatory diagram of the flow of magnetic field lines in a power generating element, and FIG. 3(b) is an explanatory diagram of the flow of magnetic field lines when the magnetization direction of the magnet section is opposite to that of FIG. 3(a). [Figure 4] 1 is a plan view perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a floor power generating apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. [Diagram 5] 5(a) is a side view of the floor power generating apparatus according to the first embodiment when no load is acting on the footplate, and FIG. 5(b) is an enlarged view of an area 40 enclosed by a dashed line in FIG. 5(a). [Figure 6] 6(a) is a side view of the floor power generating apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment in a state where a load is applied to the footboard 20, and (b) is an enlarged view of an area 42 surrounded by a dashed line in FIG. 6(a). [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a magnetic flux density waveform in the thickness direction of a magnet. [Figure 8] 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the displacement directions of the first magnet and the second magnet and the magnetic collector of the power generating element. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 1(a) is a schematic diagram showing an example of a voltage waveform generated by electromagnetic induction in a coil wound around an iron core not having the Large Barkhausen effect, and a voltage waveform due only to the Large Barkhausen effect, and FIG. 1(b) is a schematic diagram showing an example of a voltage waveform generated in a coil due to electromagnetic induction and the Large Barkhausen effect in accordance with embodiment 1. [Figure 10]1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a floor power generating apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a power generation module according to a second embodiment. [Figure 12] 11 is a schematic diagram of a modified example of the power generation module according to the second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a power generation module according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] The power generation module, the power generation device, and the floor power generation device according to the first and second embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are merely examples, and the embodiments can be appropriately combined and modified.

[0015] FIG. 1(a) is a perspective view showing the configuration of a power generating element 10 used in the power generating module, power generating device, and floor power generating device according to the first and second embodiments, and FIG. 1(b) is a side view thereof. The power generating element 10 according to the first and second embodiments has one or more composite magnetic wires that are magnetic cores 11 that generate a large Barkhausen effect. The power generating element 10 desirably has a magnetic collector (soft magnetic material) 13 that surrounds the outer periphery of the magnetic core 11. The magnetic collectors 13 are disposed at both ends of the magnetic core 11 as a first magnetic collector 13A and a second magnetic collector 13B, respectively, and the coil 12 is wound around the magnetic core 11. The soft magnetic material used for the magnetic collector 13 is desirably a steel material such as SS400 or S45C, a magnetic stainless steel material such as SUS430 or SUS440, or a high magnetic permeability material such as permalloy or permendur, but any material having a magnetic permeability equal to or higher than that of air (a material having a relative magnetic permeability greater than 1) may be used. The magnetic core 11 has a magnetostrictive effect, and expands and contracts due to magnetostriction in response to changes in the applied magnetic field.

[0016] FIG. 2(a) is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a power generating element 70 different from the power generating element 10 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2(b) is a side view thereof. The power generating element 70 shown in FIG. 2 has a bobbin shape. In this case, the power generating element 70 is also called a magnetic bobbin. The coil 12 is wound around a cylindrical magnetic member 131, which is a narrowed portion of the magnetic bobbin. Note that the power generating element 70 can be made only of soft magnetic materials such as iron as shown in FIG. 2, but power generation efficiency is improved by providing a magnetic core 11 that generates a large Barkhausen effect as shown in FIG. 1.

[0017] The flow of the magnetic field lines 84 in the power generating element 10 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 3(a). FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the flow of the magnetic field lines in the power generating element 10, and is a diagram showing the power generating element 10 and the magnet section 24 from a side. FIG. 3(a) is an explanatory diagram of the flow of the magnetic field lines in the power generating element. FIG. 3(b) is an explanatory diagram of the flow of the magnetic field lines when the magnetization direction of the magnet section is opposite to that of FIG. 3(a). In FIG. 3(a), the magnetic field lines 84 coming out of the magnetized surface 80 (N pole) of the magnet section 24 according to the magnetization direction 82 enter the first magnetic collector 13A, pass through the magnetic core 11, and exit from the second magnetic collector 13B into the air. That is, the magnetic field lines 84 passing through the first magnetic collector 13A and the second magnetic collector 13B are both oriented in the +Y direction. Note that a part of the magnetic field lines 84 enters the magnetic core 11 directly.

[0018] Next, the flow of magnetic field lines 94 in the power generating element 10 in which the magnetization direction 92 of the magnet portion 24 is opposite to that shown in FIG. 3(a) will be described with reference to FIG. 3(b). In FIG. 3(b), the first magnetic collector 13A faces the magnetized surface 90 (S pole) of the magnet portion 24, which is the opposite to that shown in FIG. 3(a). Therefore, the magnetic field lines 94 pass from the second magnetic collector 13B through the magnetic core 11 and pass through the first magnetic collector 13A toward the magnetized surface 90 (S pole). In other words, the magnetic field lines 94 passing through the first magnetic collector 13A and the second magnetic collector 13B are both oriented in the -Y direction. Note that some of the magnetic field lines 84 enter the magnetic core 11 directly. As shown in Figures 3(a) and 3(b), the magnetized surfaces 80, 90 of the magnet section 24 and the magnetic field collector 13 of the power generating element 10 face each other, and the magnetic field collector surfaces 13A, 13B are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the power generating element 10 (the direction of the magnetic field lines 84, 94 that contribute to power generation in the coil). As a result, the magnetic field lines 84, 94 emitted from the magnetized surfaces 80, 90 of the magnet section 24 enter the magnetic field collector 13 straight, proceed almost straight through the magnetic core 11 in the power generating element 10, and exit the magnetic field collector 13 on the opposite side. As a result, there is very little loss of the magnetic field lines 84, 94 emitted from the magnet section 24, and it is possible to obtain the most efficient electromagnetic induction power generation.

[0019] First Embodiment Fig. 4 is a plan view perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the floor power generation apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment. The floor power generation apparatus 100 shown in Fig. 4 includes a footboard 20 that floats with a spring 21 supporting a bottom surface 20A, sinks within a predetermined range when a load such as a stepping force acts on an upper surface 20B, and can be restored from the sunken state by the spring 21 when the load is removed, a plurality of power generation elements 10 described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, and a plurality of magnet parts 24. The footboard 20 floats with the support posts 22 provided near the four corners of the bottom surface 20A inserted into cylindrical stoppers 23 fixed to a base 32 as shown in Fig. 5(a) and the like, and when the footboard 20 sinks and restores from the sinking state, the support posts 22 move up and down in accordance with the stoppers 23. The spring 21 may be provided not in the center of the bottom surface 20A of the footboard 20 as shown in Fig. 4 but between the tip of the support 22 and the bottom surface inside the stopper 23, or between the outer periphery of the support 22 and the tip of the stopper 23. Also, the spring 21 may be a leaf spring instead of a coil spring. Also, the mechanism for floating after sinking does not have to be a spring, and may be a mechanism for floating using, for example, air pressure or hydraulic pressure.

[0020] Figure 5(a) is a side view of the floor power generation device 100 of embodiment 1 in a state where no load is acting on the footplate 20, and Figure 5(b) is an enlarged view of the area 40 surrounded by a dashed line in Figure 5(a).

[0021] As shown in Fig. 5(a) and Fig. 5(b), a first magnet 25 and a second magnet 26, which are permanent magnets, are provided as the magnet section 24 on the bottom surface 20A of the footboard 20 so as to face each of the magnetic collectors 13 provided at both ends of the power generating element 10. The magnetized surfaces of the first magnet 25 and the second magnet 26 face the magnetic collector 13 with a gap 29. As shown in Fig. 5(b) and Fig. 8, the narrower the gap 29, which is the distance between the magnetic surfaces of the first magnet 25 and the second magnet 26 and the magnetic collector 13, the greater the magnetic force acting on the magnetic core 11, and the greater the amount of power generation. Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the magnetic flux density waveform of the magnet section 24 when the gap 29 is 0.5 mm, 1 mm, and 2 mm. As shown in FIG. 7, among the conditions where gap 29 is 0.5 mm, 1 mm, and 2 mm, the magnetic flux density is maximum when gap 29 is 0.5 mm. However, because a magnetic attraction force acts between first magnet 25 and second magnet 26 and magnetic collector 13, the minimum gap 29 that can actually be assembled is about 1 mm.

[0022] 7 shows that the magnetic flux density waveform in the magnet thickness direction, i.e., in the direction of magnetic moment 25M or magnetic moment 26M, has two peaks on the positive side of the magnetic flux density. When the gap 29 is 1 mm, the interval between the peaks is about 6 mm, so the width of the magnetic collector 13 that is most efficient is 6 mm. In order to obtain even more magnetic force when the gap 29 is 1 mm, for example, by installing a magnetic collector 13 with a width of about 8 mm, it becomes possible to collect even more magnetic lines 52 at the magnetic core 11, and theoretically, about 90% of the magnetic flux of the magnet section 24 can be induced to the magnetic core 11.

[0023] The first magnet 25 and the second magnet 26 are attached to a magnetic yoke 27 suspended from the bottom surface 20A of the step plate 20 at a predetermined interval in the vertical movement direction of the step plate 20 (the direction of relative displacement of the magnetic collector 13) so that the magnetic forces are equal and the magnetic poles (directions of magnetization) are opposite to each other, as shown by the arrow-shaped magnetic moments 25M and 26M. The predetermined interval in the vertical movement direction is preferably equivalent to the length of the step plate 20 that sinks when stepped on. In Fig. 5(a) and Fig. 6(a), the first magnet 25 and the second magnet 26 are attached to the magnetic yoke 27 in groups of three alternately in the vertical movement direction of the step plate 20. A plurality of the power generating elements 10 are placed on a stand 15 installed on a base 32. The side surface of the stand 15 when viewed from the left and right direction in Fig. 5(a) is, for example, E-shaped, and the power generating element 10 is placed in a recess hollowed out horizontally like E. The magnet section 24 including the first magnet 25 and the second magnet 26 is disposed in correspondence with the plurality of power generating elements 10. By providing a plurality of power generating elements 10, power generation efficiency is improved. In the first embodiment, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, 40 power generating elements 10 are mounted as seen from the top of the step plate 20, and a total of 120 power generating elements 10 are mounted by multiplying three stages in the vertical movement direction of the step plate 20. Even if the power output from each power generating element 10 is weak, the power obtained by the plurality of power generating elements 10 is stored in the power storage section described later, thereby obtaining power capable of driving a corresponding power load. In addition, the magnetic yoke 27 is made of a soft magnetic material such as iron. In the first embodiment, the magnetic yoke 27 to which the first magnet 25 and the second magnet 26 are fixed is magnetized by the magnetic force of each of the first magnet 25 and the second magnet 26, and as a result, the magnetic force acting on the power generating element 10 can be increased.

[0024] The width W1 of the magnetic collector 13 in the power generating element 10 in the direction of relative displacement of the position with the magnet section 24 caused by the sinking and restoration of the footboard 20 is about 60% of the widths W2 and W3 of the magnetized surfaces of the first magnet 25 and the second magnet 26 of the magnet section 24 facing the magnetic collector 13 in the direction of the relative displacement, with an upper limit of 80%. At least two magnets, the first magnet 25 and the second magnet 26, are required for the magnet section 24, and the narrower the installation interval between the first magnet 25 and the second magnet 26, the smaller the displacement of the magnets that can generate power. If the width of the magnetic collector 13 in the direction of relative displacement is wide, the gap 28 between the first magnet 25 and the second magnet 26 must be wide, so if the width exceeds the most efficient width (6 mm) described above, it will be disadvantageous in terms of the magnet interval. Therefore, in this embodiment, the width of the magnetic collector 13 is preferably 60% of the width of the magnet, with an upper limit of 80%, from the viewpoint of the balance between the magnetic force and the magnet interval.

[0025] The gap 28 provided between the first magnet 25 and the second magnet 26 is made of a non-magnetic material, and the width of the gap 28 in the direction of relative displacement is desirably equal to or greater than the width of the magnetic collector 13 in the direction of relative displacement. The gap 28 may be an air gap, or may be filled with a non-magnetic material such as copper, aluminum, or synthetic resin. If the width of the magnetic collector 13 in the direction of relative displacement is wide, when the magnetic collector 13 straddles the first magnet 25 and the second magnet 26 due to relative displacement, the magnetic collector 13 will collect both the upward magnetic field lines 52 of the first magnet 25 and the downward magnetic field lines 52 of the second magnet 26, and the upward magnetic field lines 52 and the downward magnetic field lines 52 will be offset in the magnetic core 11, resulting in a slower change in the magnetic flux in the magnetic core 11. By providing a gap 28 between the first magnet 25 and the second magnet 26 that is approximately the same as or greater than the width of the magnetic collector 13, as shown in Figures 5(b) and 8, the risk of the magnetic collector 13 straddling the first magnet 25 and the second magnet 26 is reduced, and the internal magnetic flux change of the magnetic core 11 can be increased.

[0026] 5(a) and 5(b), in a state where the footboard 20 is not lowered, the power generating element 10 is attached so that each of the magnetic collectors 13 at both ends of the power generating element 10 faces one end (magnetized surface) of the first magnet 25 and the second magnet 26. In the first embodiment, when one magnetic collector 13 of the power generating element 10 faces an end of the first magnet 25, the other magnetic collector 13 of the power generating element 10 is attached so as to face an end of the first magnet 25 of the magnet section 24 arranged across the stand 15. When one magnetic collector 13 of the power generating element 10 faces an end of the second magnet 26, the other magnetic collector 13 of the power generating element 10 is attached so as to face an end of the second magnet 26 of the magnet section 24 arranged across the stand 15. Therefore, when the step board 20 is not submerged, the power generating element 10 and the first magnet 25 or the second magnet 26 are arranged in series, such as the first magnet 25-power generating element 10-first magnet 25 or the second magnet 26-power generating element 10-second magnet 26, so that the magnetic field lines 52 generated from one of the first magnet 25 or second magnet 26 reach the other first magnet 25 or second magnet 26 via the magnetic core 11 of the power generating element 10. As a result, the magnetic field lines 52 generated from the first magnet 25 or second magnet 26 can be efficiently guided to the magnetic core 11.

[0027] As described later, when a load acts on the upper surface 20B of the step plate 20, the magnet section 24 including the first magnet 25 and the second magnet 26 sinks together with the step plate 20. As a result, the magnets facing each of the magnetic collectors 13 of the power generating element 10 are switched, for example, from the first magnet 25 to the second magnet 26, and the magnetic field applied to the magnetic core 11 of the power generating element 10 is reversed. This reversal of the magnetic field causes a large Barkhausen effect in which the magnetization direction inside the magnetic core 11 is reversed, and electromagnetic induction is generated in the coil 12, generating a pulse voltage with a waveform as shown in FIG. 9(b) in the coil 12 wound around the power generating element 10.

[0028] As shown in Figure 5(a), when no load is applied, the step 20 is slightly raised from the floor boards 30 surrounding the floor power generation device 100. Therefore, in embodiment 1, the edges of the four corners of the step 20 are chamfered to prevent pedestrians from tripping on the step 20.

[0029] FIG. 6(a) is a side view of the floor power generation apparatus 100 according to embodiment 1 with a load acting on the footplate 20, and FIG. 6(b) is an enlarged view of an area 42 surrounded by a dashed line in FIG. 6(a).

[0030] As shown in Figures 6(a) and 6(b), when a load is applied to the footboard 20, the magnet section 24 sinks together with the footboard 20. As a result, the magnets of the magnet section 24 facing each of the magnetic collectors 13 of the power generating elements 10 are switched, for example, from the first magnet 25 to the second magnet 26, so that the magnetic field applied to the magnetic core 11 of the power generating element 10 is reversed, and a pulse voltage is generated in the coil 12 based on the large Barkhausen effect, in which the magnetization direction inside the magnetic core 11 is reversed, and electromagnetic induction. When the load is no longer applied to the footboard 20, the magnet section 24 returns to the state shown in Figures 5(a) and 5(b). As a result, the magnets facing each of the magnetic collectors 13 of the power generating element 10 are switched, for example, from the second magnet 26 to the first magnet 25, so that the magnetic field applied to the magnetic core 11 of the power generating element 10 is reversed, and a pulse voltage of the opposite polarity to the pulse voltage when the first magnet 25 and the second magnet 26 sink is generated in the coil 12.

[0031] Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the displacement direction 50 of the first magnet 25 and the second magnet 26 and the magnetic collector 13 of the power generating element 10. The displacement direction 50 shown in Fig. 8 is the amount of change in the relative position of the magnet section 24 with respect to the power generating element 10 when a load is applied to the footboard 20, as shown in Figs.

[0032] In the first embodiment, the magnetic field collector 13 of the power generating element 10 faces the magnetized surface of each of the first magnet 25 and the second magnet 26, so that most of the magnetic field lines 52 generated from the first magnet 25 or the second magnet 26 propagate to the magnetic core 11 via the magnetic field collector 13 facing the magnetized surface. As a result, the magnetic field lines 52 can be efficiently guided to the magnetic core 11 via the magnetic field collector 13. Then, the magnetic field lines 52 generated from the first magnet 25 or the second magnet 26 propagate along the magnetic core 11 so as to penetrate the power generating element 10. When the magnet section 24 moves in the displacement direction 50 due to a change in the load on the footboard 20, the magnet facing the magnetic flux collector 13 of the power generating element 10 is switched, for example, from the first magnet 25 to the second magnet 26, and the direction of the magnetic flux lines 52 acting on the magnetic flux collector 13 is reversed. As a result, a voltage is generated in the coil 12 due to the large Barkhausen effect and electromagnetic induction.

[0033] Fig. 9(a) is a schematic diagram showing an example of a voltage waveform 140 generated by electromagnetic induction in a coil 12 wound around an iron core not having the Large Barkhausen effect, and a voltage waveform 141 due to only the Large Barkhausen effect. The voltage waveform 140 generated in the coil wound around an iron core not having the Large Barkhausen effect in Fig. 9(a) shows a wide pulse width and a large amount of generated charge, but the peak voltage is low at about 5 V. The voltage waveform 141 due to only the Large Barkhausen effect has a high peak voltage of 15 to 20 V, but a narrow pulse width of about 80 μS or less and a small amount of charge.

[0034] 9(b) is a schematic diagram showing an example of a waveform 142 of a voltage generated in the coil 12 by electromagnetic induction and the Large Barkhausen effect according to the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, a high voltage of about 20 to 25 V can be obtained by superimposing a voltage waveform with a large amount of charge due to electromagnetic induction and a voltage waveform with a significant peak voltage due to the Large Barkhausen effect. In order to efficiently charge a capacitor, both a potential difference and a charge are necessary, and the power generation device according to the first embodiment is suitable for charging a capacitor.

[0035] Fig. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the floor power generating apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment. The power generating module 60 includes a power generating element 10 and a magnet section 24, and generates a voltage in the coil 12 due to the displacement of the position of the magnet section 24 relative to the power generating element 10. The voltage generated in the coil 12 has a positive and negative pulse shape as shown in Fig. 9(b), and is full-wave rectified by a rectifier section 62. In the first embodiment, the rectifier section 62 is provided for each of the power generating elements 10 constituting the power generating module 60. The rectifier section 62 may perform half-wave rectification instead of full-wave rectification.

[0036] The voltage full-wave rectified by the rectifier 62 is stored in the power storage unit 64. The power storage unit 64 is a rechargeable secondary battery, a capacitor, or the like. Since the waveform of the voltage output by the power generating element 10 exhibits a pulse shape with a prominent peak due to the Barkhausen effect, a capacitor is used for the power storage unit 64 when there is a risk that the voltage will exceed the allowable voltage for storage in a secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery, a nickel metal hydride battery, or a nickel cadmium battery.

[0037] The power stored in the power storage unit 64 can be used to power loads such as lighting, allowing the floor power generating device 100 to be used as an emergency power source in the event of a disaster, or as a power generating device for an independent power source in areas without power lines.

[0038] As described above, according to the floor power generating apparatus 100 of the first embodiment, in addition to the magnetization reversal in the magnetic core 11 due to the large Barkhausen effect, the magnetic core 11 is actively utilized as an electromagnetic induction core, so that the magnetic field lines 52 generated from the magnet section 24 are induced to the magnetic core 11 via the magnetic collector 13. As a result, the amount of power generation can be increased by maximizing the electromagnetic induction component in addition to the large Barkhausen effect.

[0039] Furthermore, in the floor power generating device 100 according to the first embodiment, the magnet section 24 is attached to the footboard 20, and the power generating element 10 is attached to the base 32 side, and the positive and negative pulse voltages generated by the relative displacement between the magnet section 24 and the power generating element 10 are rectified and stored in the power storage section 64. The power storage section 64 that stores power can be used as an emergency power source in the event of a disaster, or as a power generating device for independent power sources in areas without power lines, thereby contributing to disaster countermeasures. The footboard 20 can be used as a power generating device other than the floor power generating device 100 by attaching it not only to the floor but also to the seat of a chair, stairs, or various other steps.

[0040] The relative displacement between the magnet section 24 and the power generating element 10 may be caused not only by the load acting on the footboard 20 when a person walks, but also by the load caused by the running of a vehicle. For example, the footboard 20 of the floor power generating apparatus 100 may be placed on a roadway, and power may be generated by the passing of vehicles. Furthermore, the floor power generating apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment may be placed on the floor surface of the entrance / exit of a parking lot, and the power generated by vehicles entering and exiting the parking lot may be used as a backup power source for the parking lot facility.

[0041] By obtaining the relative displacement between the magnet section 24 and the power generating element 10 required for power generation by utilizing human walking or the like, it is possible to realize carbon-neutral power generation that does not involve the consumption of fossil fuels.

[0042] In the first embodiment, the magnet section 24 is provided on the footboard 20 side and the power generating element 10 is provided on the base 32 side, but the power generating element 10 may be provided on the footboard 20 side and the magnet section 24 on the base 32 side.

[0043] In the first embodiment, the power generating element 10 is provided with the magnetic collector 13 that efficiently guides the magnetic field lines 52 generated from the magnet section 24, but the present invention is not limited to this. The power generating element 10 may be configured with only the magnetic core 11 and the coil 12 without the magnetic collector 13. The power generating element 10 may also be configured such that the magnetized surface of the magnet section 24 and the magnetic collector 13 do not face each other. Furthermore, the power generating element 10 may not have the magnetic core 11, and the member integrally forming the bobbin shape may be configured with only a soft magnetic material such as iron.

[0044] Second Embodiment Next, embodiment 2 will be described. In embodiment 2, two configurations are possible, as shown in Fig. 11 and Fig. 12, depending on magnetization directions 430, 432 of magnet 410. Fig. 11 shows a case where magnetization direction 430 of magnet 410 is the longitudinal direction, and Fig. 12 shows a case where magnetization direction 432 of magnet 410 is the thickness direction of magnet 410.

[0045] 11 shows a configuration example in which the magnetized surface 410A of the magnet 410 and the magnetization surface 110A of the power generating element 110 do not face each other. Utilizing the property that magnetic field lines are perpendicular to the surface of a magnetic material, the magnetization surfaces 110A and 110B are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (direction in which the magnetic field lines flow) of the magnetic core 111, and the magnetic field lines that are incident on the magnetization surface 110A are guided straight to the magnetic core 111. The magnetization direction of the magnet 410 is the longitudinal direction (left-right direction in the figure), and the left side surface of the magnet 410 becomes the magnetized surface 410A with the north pole. The magnetic field lines 420 coming out of the magnetized surface 410A go around the magnet 410 and enter the south pole of the magnetized surface 410B. At this time, the power generating element 110 is located above the magnet 410, and the magnetic field lines going around the magnet 410 are collected by the magnetism collecting surface 110A and take a path from the magnetism collecting surface 110B through the magnetic core 111 to the magnetized surface 410B of the magnet 410. In this case, only a part of the magnetic field lines emanating from the magnetized surface 410A are collected by the magnetism collecting body 112 and guided to the power generating element 110, so the efficiency of the electromagnetic induction is lower than that of the first embodiment. However, if the power consumption of the power load connected to the power generating device according to the second embodiment can be made very small to obtain power that can operate even with the inefficient electromagnetic induction component, there is an advantage in that the freedom of installation of the power generating element relative to the magnet 410 is high.

[0046] Variation of the Second Embodiment 12 shows a modified example of the second embodiment in which the magnetization surface of the magnet 410 and the magnetization surface 110A of the power generating element 110 face each other by making the magnetization surface 110A of the magnetization element 110 a side surface of the magnetization collector 112. The magnetization direction of the magnet 410 is the thickness direction (the vertical direction in the figure), and the upper left surface of the magnet 410 is the magnetization surface 410A with the N pole, and the upper right surface of the magnet 410 is the magnetization surface 410B with the S pole. The magnetic field lines 422 emitted from the magnetization surface 410A are collected at the magnetization surface 110A on the side surface of the magnetization collector 112, and take a path that passes through the magnetic core 111 from the magnetization surface 110B to the magnetization surface 410B of the magnet 410.

[0047] In this case, there are two issues to be addressed: Issue (1): Because the longitudinal directions of magnetic field collecting surface 110A and magnetic core 111 (the direction of magnetic field lines that contribute to power generation in the coil) are parallel, the magnetic field lines entering from magnetic field collecting surface 110A need to be bent at approximately 90 degrees to be induced into magnetic core 111. As a result, some of the magnetic field lines are unable to bend completely inside magnetic field collecting body 112 and instead travel straight and leak out into the air (dotted lines in the figure), which reduces the efficiency of electromagnetic induction. Problem (2): When multiple composite magnetic wires are bundled together in magnetic core 111 as shown in Figure 1, the magnetic field lines tend to enter the composite magnetic wires closer to magnet 410 and tend to not enter the composite magnetic wires farther from magnet 410. This causes variation in the internal magnetic flux between the multiple composite magnetic wires, resulting in poor efficiency of electromagnetic induction.

[0048] In addition, as in embodiment 1, when magnetized surface 410A of magnet 410 and magnetization surface 110A of power generating element 110 face each other and magnetization surface 110A is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of power generating element 110 (the direction of the magnetic field lines contributing to power generation in the coil), the magnetic field lines emitted from magnetized surface 410A of magnet 410 enter magnetization surface 110A straight, proceed straight through power generating element 110 and exit from magnetization surface 110B on the opposite side. This results in very little loss of the magnetic field lines emitted from magnet 410, and is a desirable form in which the most efficient electromagnetic induction power generation can be obtained.

[0049] Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment will be described. Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a power generating module according to the third embodiment. In Fig. 13, a power generating element 110 uses a composite magnetic wire that generates a large Barkhausen effect as a magnetic core 111 around which a coil 120 is wound, but differs from the power generating element 10 shown in Fig. 1 in that no magnetic collector 112 is used.

[0050] Since this configuration does not include magnetic collector 112, the power generation efficiency is even inferior to that of FIG. 11 or FIG. 12. However, if the power consumption of the power load connected to the power generation device of embodiment 3 can be made very small to obtain power sufficient to operate even with the inefficient electromagnetic induction component, the number of components can be reduced and the power generation module can be constructed at low cost. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 10 power generating element, 11 magnetic core, 12 coil, 13 magnetic collector, 15 stand, 21 spring, 22 support, 23 stopper, 24 magnet section, 25 first magnet, 25M magnetic moment, 26 second magnet, 26M magnetic moment, 27 magnetic yoke, 28 gap, 29 gap, 60 power generating module, 62 rectifier section, 64 storage section, 70 power generating element, 100 floor power generating device.

Claims

1. a plate that sinks when a load is applied and can recover from the sinking state when the load is removed; a magnet portion formed of a permanent magnet; a power generating element that generates power by a change in a magnetic field based on a relative displacement between the magnet portion and the plate caused by the plate sinking and restoring; the power generating element includes magnetic collectors made of soft magnetic material at both longitudinal ends of a magnetic core around which a coil is wound, the magnetic collector has a magnetic collecting surface perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the magnetic core, The magnet portion is arranged so that the magnetized surface of the permanent magnet faces the magnet collecting surface. Power generation module.

2. The power generation module according to claim 1; a rectification unit that rectifies the voltage output by the power generation element; a storage unit that stores the voltage rectified by the rectification unit; A power generation device comprising:

3. the permanent magnets of the magnet unit include a first magnet and a second magnet that are respectively provided so that their magnetic poles are oriented in opposite directions; The power generating element has magnetic collectors made of soft magnetic material at both longitudinal ends of a magnetic core around which a coil is wound, and these magnetic collectors face the magnetized surface of either the first magnet or the second magnet, so that magnetic lines of force from either the first magnet or the second magnet are collected at the magnetic core via the magnetic collectors, and the relative displacement causes the magnetized surface facing the magnetic collector to switch from the first magnet to the second magnet, or from the second magnet to the first magnet. The power generating device according to claim 2 .

4. two magnet sections are provided for each power generating element so as to face the magnetic collectors provided at both ends of the power generating element, In each of the magnet portions, the magnetized surfaces of the first magnet and the second magnet that do not face the magnetic collector are fixed to a magnetic yoke so that the magnetized surfaces of the first magnet and the second magnet are aligned in accordance with the direction of the relative displacement. The power generating device according to claim 3,

5. The power generating device according to claim 3 , wherein the magnetic core and the magnetic flux collector are integrally formed into a bobbin shape.

6. The width of the magnetic collector in the direction of the relative displacement is 60% of the width of the magnetized surface of the magnet portion facing the magnetic collector in the direction of the relative displacement. The power generating device according to claim 3,

7. A non-magnetic gap is provided between the first magnet and the second magnet, and the gap is equal to or greater than the width of the magnetic collector in the direction of the relative displacement. The power generating device according to claim 3,

8. The magnetic core is made of one or more composite magnetic wires that produce a large Barkhausen effect. The power generating device according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein:

9. A floor power generation system including the power generation system according to any one of claims 2 to 7, The plate is a floor plate that floats from the base by a spring, sinks when a load is applied to the plate, and returns to its original state by the spring when the load is removed, and the magnet part is provided on the bottom surface of the plate, and the power generation element is provided on the side of the base, and the power generation element generates electricity by a change in magnetic field based on the relative displacement of the position of the magnet part caused by the sinking and restoration of the plate. A floor power generation device characterized by the above.

10. The floor power generating apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the plate has chamfered edges.

11. A floor power generation system including the power generation system according to claim 8, The plate is a floor plate that floats from the base by a spring, sinks when a load is applied to the plate, and returns to its original state by the spring when the load is removed, and the magnet part is provided on the bottom surface of the plate, and the power generation element is provided on the side of the base, and the power generation element generates electricity by a change in magnetic field based on the relative displacement of the position of the magnet part caused by the sinking and restoration of the plate. A floor power generation device characterized by the above.

12. The floor power generating apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the plate has chamfered edges.

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