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

Abstract

A floor power generation device (100) is characterized by being provided with: a stepping plate (20) that sinks when a load is applied, and is capable of returning from the sunken state when the load is removed; a magnet unit (24) composed of a permanent magnet; a power generation element (10) that generates power due to a change in magnetic field based on a relative displacement in position between the stepping plate (20) and the magnet unit (24) resulting from sinking and recovery of the stepping plate (20); a rectification unit (62) that rectifies a voltage output by the power generation element (10); and a power storage unit (64) that stores the voltage rectified by the rectification unit (62).

Description

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

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

[0002] When a magnetic material is magnetized under tension or with residual internal stress, the magnetic domain walls inside the magnetic material move all at once, causing the magnetization direction to reverse in an extremely short time. This is known as the large Barkhausen effect. When a pickup coil is wound around a magnetic material that exhibits 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 material.

[0003] Based on the large Barkhausen effect, energy harvesting technology is known, which uses human activity (for example, walking) or machine vibrations as energy available in the environment to generate electricity.

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses a pulse generator 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, due to changes in 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.

[0006] Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 55-074134 Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 55-146621

[0007] However, the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 each induce only a portion of the magnetic field lines generated from the magnet to the Wiegand wire, which is the magnetic core, and therefore have the problem of poor efficiency in guiding the magnetic field lines generated from the magnet to 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.

[0009] The power generation module of the present disclosure is characterized by comprising a plate that sinks when a load is applied and can recover from the sinking state when the load is removed, a magnet part composed of a permanent magnet, and a power generation element that 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 recovery of the plate.

[0010] The power generation device of the present disclosure is characterized by comprising the power generation module 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 the 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 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 changes in magnetic field based on the relative displacement of its position with the magnet part caused by the sinking and restoration of the plate.

[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.

[0013] 5A and 5B are perspective and side views, respectively, showing the configuration of a power generation element used in the vibration power generation module and vibration power generation device according to the first and second embodiments. (a) is a perspective and side view, respectively, showing the configuration of a power generation element different from the power generation element shown in FIG. 1 . (a) is an explanatory diagram of the flow of magnetic field lines in the power generation element, and (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. 3A. A planar perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a floor power generation device according to the first embodiment. (a) is a side view showing a state in which no load is applied to the footplate of the floor power generation device according to the first embodiment, and (b) is an enlarged view of the area 40 surrounded by the dashed line in FIG. 5A. (a) is a side view showing a state in which a load is applied to the footplate 20 of the floor power generation device 100 according to the first embodiment, and (b) is an enlarged view of the area 42 surrounded by the dashed line in FIG. 6A. An explanatory diagram showing a magnetic flux density waveform in the magnet thickness direction. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the displacement directions of a first magnet and a second magnet and the magnetic flux collector of a power generating element; (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 (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 according to embodiment 1; (b) is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a floor power generating apparatus according to embodiment 1; (c) is a schematic diagram of a power generating module according to embodiment 2; (d) is a schematic diagram of a modified example of the power generating module according to embodiment 2; and (e) is a schematic diagram of a power generating module according to embodiment 3.

[0014] The power generation module, power generation device, and floor power generation device according to embodiments 1 and 2 will be described below with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are merely examples, and the embodiments can be combined as appropriate and each embodiment can be modified as appropriate.

[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 embodiments 1 and 2, and Fig. 1(b) is a side view thereof. The power generating element 10 according to embodiments 1 and 2 has one or more composite magnetic wires that form a magnetic core 11 that generates the 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 arranged at both ends of the magnetic core 11 as a first magnetic collector 13A and a second magnetic collector 13B, respectively, and a coil 12 is wound around the magnetic core 11. The soft magnetic material used for the magnetic collector 13 is preferably a steel material such as SS400 or S45C, a magnetic stainless steel material such as SUS430 or SUS440, or a high-permeability material such as permalloy or permendur, but any material with a magnetic permeability equal to or greater than that of air (a material with a relative magnetic permeability greater than 1) will do. 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 schematically illustrating the configuration of a power generating element 70 that is 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 the narrowed portion of the magnetic bobbin. Note that the power generating element 70 can also be made only from a soft magnetic material such as iron as shown in FIG. 2, but power generation efficiency is improved by including a magnetic core 11 that generates the large Barkhausen effect as shown in FIG. 1.

[0017] The flow of magnetic field lines 84 in the power generating element 10 shown in FIG. 1 will be described using FIG. 3( a). FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the flow of magnetic field lines in the power generating element 10, showing the power generating element 10 and the magnet section 24 from a side view. FIG. 3( a) is an explanatory diagram of the flow of magnetic field lines in the power generating element. 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). In FIG. 3( a), magnetic field lines 84 emerging from the magnetized surface 80 (north pole) of the magnet section 24 along the magnetization direction 82 enter the first magnetic collector 13A, pass through the magnetic core 11, and exit into the air from the second magnetic collector 13B. That is, the magnetic field lines 84 passing through the first magnetic collector 13A and the second magnetic collector 13B both point in the +Y direction. Note that some of the magnetic field lines 84 enter 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 (south pole) of the magnet portion 24, which is the opposite of the case shown in FIG. 3( a). Therefore, the magnetic field lines 94 pass from the second magnetic collector 13B through the magnetic core 11 and then through the first magnetic collector 13A toward the magnetized surface 90 (south 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 emerging from the magnetized surfaces 80, 90 of the magnet section 24 enter the magnetic field collector 13 straight, travel almost straight through the magnetic core 11 in the power generating element 10, and emerge from the magnetic field collector 13 on the opposite side. This results in very little loss of the magnetic field lines 84, 94 emerging from the magnet section 24, making it possible to obtain the most efficient electromagnetic induction power generation.

[0019] <<Embodiment 1>> Fig. 4 is a plan perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a floor power generation system 100 according to embodiment 1. The floor power generation system 100 shown in Fig. 4 includes a footplate 20 that floats on springs 21 supporting a bottom surface 20A, sinks within a predetermined range when a load such as a tread force acts on an upper surface 20B, and is able to restore itself from the sunken state by the springs 21 when the load is removed, as well as a plurality of power generation elements 10 as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, and a plurality of magnets 24. The footplate 20 floats with support posts 22 provided near each of 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 other figures, and the support posts 22 move up and down in accordance with the stoppers 23 as the footplate 20 sinks and restores itself from the sunken state. The spring 21 may be provided not in the center of the bottom surface 20A of the footboard 20 as shown in Figure 4, but between the tip of the support post 22 and the bottom surface inside the stopper 23, or between the outer periphery of the support post 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 that floats using, for example, air pressure or hydraulic pressure.

[0020] Figure 5(a) is a side view of the floor power generation system 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 the dashed line in Figure 5(a).

[0021] As shown in Figures 5(a) and 5(b), a first magnet 25 and a second magnet 26, which are permanent magnets, are provided as magnet section 24 on bottom surface 20A of footplate 20 so as to face each of magnetic flux collectors 13 provided at both ends of power generating element 10. The magnetized surfaces of first magnet 25 and second magnet 26 face magnetic flux collector 13 with gap 29 between them. As shown in Figures 5(b) and 8, the narrower gap 29, which is the distance between magnetic flux collector 13 and magnetic flux collector 13 of first magnet 25 and second magnet 26, the greater the magnetic force acting on magnetic core 11, and the greater the amount of power generated. Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the magnetic flux density waveform of magnet section 24 when gap 29 is 0.5 mm, 1 mm, and 2 mm. As shown in Figure 7, among the conditions where the gap 29 is 0.5 mm, 1 mm, and 2 mm, the magnetic flux density is maximum when the gap 29 is 0.5 mm, but because a magnetic attraction force acts between the first magnet 25 and the second magnet 26 and the 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., the direction of magnetic moment 25M or magnetic moment 26M, has two peaks on the positive side of the magnetic flux density. When gap 29 is 1 mm, the peak spacing is approximately 6 mm, so the most efficient width of magnetic collector 13 is 6 mm. In order to obtain even more magnetic force when gap 29 is 1 mm, for example, by installing magnetic collector 13 with a width of approximately 8 mm, it becomes possible to collect even more magnetic lines of force 52 in magnetic core 11, and theoretically, approximately 90% of the magnetic flux of magnet portion 24 can be induced to magnetic core 11.

[0023] The first magnets 25 and the second magnets 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 their magnetic forces are equal and their magnetic poles (directions of magnetization) are opposite, as indicated by arrow-shaped magnetic moments 25M and 26M. The predetermined interval in the vertical movement direction is preferably equivalent to the length of sinking of the step plate 20 when stepped on. In FIGS. 5( a) and 6( a), the first magnets 25 and the second magnets 26 are attached to the magnetic yoke 27 in groups of three, alternately arranged in the vertical movement direction of the step plate 20. A plurality of power generating elements 10 are placed on a stand 15 installed on a base 32. The side of the stand 15, as viewed from the left and right in FIG. 5( a), is, for example, E-shaped, and the power generating elements 10 are placed in a recess cut out laterally like the E. The magnet unit 24, including the first magnet 25 and the second magnet 26, is arranged to correspond to the multiple power generating elements 10. Providing multiple power generating elements 10 improves power generation efficiency. In the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , 40 power generating elements 10 are mounted as seen from above the footplate 20, and a total of 120 power generating elements 10 are mounted by multiplying three stages in the vertical movement direction of the footplate 20. Even if the power output from each power generating element 10 is weak, by storing the power obtained by the multiple power generating elements 10 in a power storage unit (described later), power sufficient to drive a corresponding power load can be obtained. Furthermore, the magnetic yoke 27 is made of a soft magnetic material such as iron. In the first embodiment, the magnetic yoke 27, which secures the first magnet 25 and the second magnet 26, is magnetized by the magnetic forces of the first magnet 25 and the second magnet 26, thereby increasing the magnetic force acting on the power generating elements 10.

[0024] The width W1 of the magnetic flux collector 13 in the power generating element 10 in the direction of relative displacement of its position with the magnet portion 24 caused by the sinking and restoration of the footboard 20 is approximately 60% of the widths W2 and W3 of the magnetized surfaces of the first magnet 25 and the second magnet 26 of the magnet portion 24 facing the magnetic flux collector 13 in the direction of relative displacement, with an upper limit of 80%. The magnet portion 24 requires at least two magnets, the first magnet 25 and the second magnet 26, and the narrower the installation distance between the first magnet 25 and the second magnet 26, the smaller the amount of magnet displacement required to generate power. If the width of the magnetic flux 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, and exceeding the most efficient width (6 mm) described above is disadvantageous in terms of magnet spacing. Therefore, in this embodiment, from the perspective of the balance between magnetic force and magnet spacing, the width of the magnetic flux collector 13 is preferably 60% of the width of the magnets, with an upper limit of 80%.

[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. As a result, the upward magnetic field lines 52 and the downward magnetic field lines 52 cancel each other out within the magnetic core 11, resulting in a slower change in magnetic flux within 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 larger 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), when 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 the end of the first magnet 25, the other magnetic collector 13 of the power generating element 10 is attached so as to face the end of the first magnet 25 of the magnet section 24 arranged across the base 15. When one magnetic collector 13 of the power generating element 10 faces the end of the second magnet 26, the other magnetic collector 13 of the power generating element 10 is attached so as to face the end of the second magnet 26 of the magnet section 24 arranged across the base 15. Therefore, when the footboard 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 first magnet 25-power generating element 10-first magnet 25 or second magnet 26-power generating element 10-second magnet 26, so that magnetic field lines 52 generated from one of the first magnets 25 or second magnets 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 will be 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 magnet facing each of the magnetic collectors 13 of the power generating element 10 is 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 occurs 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), the step 20 when no load is applied is slightly raised from the floor boards 30 surrounding the floor power generation device 100, so in embodiment 1, the edges of the four corners of the step 20 are chamfered to prevent pedestrians from tripping over the step 20.

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

[0030] 6(a) and 6(b), when a load is applied to the footplate 20, the magnet portion 24 sinks together with the footplate 20. As a result, the magnet of the magnet portion 24 facing each of the magnetic collectors 13 of the multiple power generating elements 10 is 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, 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 on the footplate 20 is no longer applied, the magnet portion 24 returns to the state shown in FIGS. 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] 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, and therefore 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. The magnetic field lines 52 generated from the first magnet 25 or the second magnet 26 then propagate along the magnetic core 11, penetrating the power generating element 10. When the magnet portion 24 moves in the displacement direction 50 due to a change in the load on the footplate 20, the magnet facing the magnetic field collector 13 of the power generating element 10 switches, for example, from the first magnet 25 to the second magnet 26, and the direction of the magnetic field lines 52 acting on the magnetic field 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] 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 that does not have 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 that does not have the Large Barkhausen effect in FIG. 9(a) has a wide pulse width and a large amount of generated charge, but a low peak voltage of 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 voltage waveform 142 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 approximately 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. Efficient charging of a capacitor requires both a potential difference and an electric charge, 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 generation system 100 according to the first embodiment. The power generation module 60 includes a power generation element 10 and a magnet section 24, and generates a voltage in the coil 12 due to the displacement of the magnet section 24 relative to the power generation element 10. The voltage generated in the coil 12 exhibits a positive and negative pulse shape as shown in Fig. 9(b), and is therefore full-wave rectified by a rectifier 62. In the first embodiment, the rectifier 62 is provided for each of the power generation elements 10 constituting the power generation module 60. The rectifier 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 storage unit 64. The storage unit 64 is a rechargeable secondary battery, a capacitor, or the like. 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. Therefore, if 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, a capacitor is used for the storage unit 64.

[0037] The electricity 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 an independent power generating device in areas without power lines.

[0038] As described above, according to the floor power generation system 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 guided to the magnetic core 11 via the magnetic collector 13. As a result, it is possible to increase the amount of power generation by maximizing the electromagnetic induction component in addition to the large Barkhausen effect.

[0039] Furthermore, in the floor power generation system 100 according to the first embodiment, the magnet section 24 is attached to the footboard 20, and the power generation 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 generation element 10 are rectified and stored in the power storage section 64. The power storage section 64 that stores the electric power can be used as an emergency power source in the event of a disaster, or as a power generation system for independent power sources in areas without power lines, thereby contributing to disaster countermeasures. The footboard 20 can be attached not only to floors, but also to chair seats, stairs, or various other steps, and used as a power generation system other than the floor power generation system 100.

[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 tread 20 when a person walks, but also by the load caused by the movement of a vehicle. For example, the tread 20 of the floor power generating system 100 may be installed on a roadway, and power may be generated by the passage of vehicles. Furthermore, the floor power generating system 100 according to embodiment 1 may be installed on the floor of a parking lot entrance, 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, carbon-neutral power generation can be realized without consuming 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 reverse may be true, with the power generating element 10 provided on the footboard 20 side and the magnet section 24 provided 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 portion 24, but this is not limiting. The power generating element 10 may be configured with only the magnetic core 11 and the coil 12 without the magnetic collector 13. Also, the magnetized surface of the magnet portion 24 and the magnetic collector 13 may not face each other. Furthermore, the power generating element 10 may be configured without the magnetic core 11, with the bobbin-shaped member being made of only a soft magnetic material such as iron.

[0044] Next, we will explain embodiment 2. Embodiment 2 can be configured in two ways, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, depending on the magnetization directions 430, 432 of magnet 410. Figure 11 shows a case where magnetization direction 430 of magnet 410 is the longitudinal direction, and Figure 12 shows a case where magnetization direction 432 of magnet 410 is the thickness direction of magnet 410.

[0045] The configuration in Figure 11 shows an example of a configuration in which the magnetized surface 410A of the magnet 410 and the magnetized surface 110A of the power generating element 110 do not face each other. Utilizing the property that magnetic field lines are incident perpendicularly on the surface of a magnetic material, the magnetized surfaces 110A and 110B are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (the direction in which the magnetic field lines flow) of the magnetic core 111, and the magnetic field lines incident on the magnetized surface 110A are guided straight into the magnetic core 111. The magnetization direction of the magnet 410 is the longitudinal direction (the left-right direction in the figure), and the left side of the magnet 410 becomes the magnetized surface 410A with a north pole. The magnetic field lines 420 emerging from the magnetized surface 410A go around the periphery of the magnet 410 and enter the south pole of the magnetized surface 410B. At this time, power generating element 110 is located above magnet 410, and the magnetic field lines circling around magnet 410 are collected by magnetism collecting surface 110A and take a path that passes through magnetic core 111 from magnetism collecting surface 110B to magnetized surface 410B of magnet 410. In this case, only a portion of the magnetic field lines emanating from magnetized surface 410A are collected by magnetism collecting body 112 and guided to power generating element 110, resulting in lower electromagnetic induction efficiency compared to embodiment 1. However, if the power consumption of the power load connected to the power generating device according to embodiment 2 is significantly reduced to obtain power that is operable even with the inefficient electromagnetic induction component, there is the advantage of a high degree of freedom in the placement of the power generating element relative to magnet 410.

[0046] 12 shows a modification of Embodiment 2 in which magnetism collecting surface 110A of power generating element 110 is configured as a side surface of magnetism collector 112, so that the magnetized surface of magnet 410 faces magnetism collecting surface 110A of power generating element 110. The magnetization direction of magnet 410 is the thickness direction (the vertical direction in the figure), with magnetism collecting surface 410A with a north pole on the upper left surface of magnet 410 and magnetism collecting surface 410B with a south pole on the upper right surface of magnet 410. Magnetic field lines 422 emitted from magnetism surface 410A are concentrated by magnetism collecting surface 110A on the side surface of magnetism collector 112, and travel a path through magnetic core 111 from magnetism collecting surface 110B to magnetized surface 410B of magnet 410.

[0047] In this case, there are two issues: Issue (1): Because the longitudinal directions of the magnetic field collecting surface 110A and the magnetic core 111 (the direction of the magnetic field lines that contribute to power generation in the coil) are parallel, the magnetic field lines entering from the magnetic field collecting surface 110A must be guided into the magnetic core 111 so as to bend at approximately 90 degrees. As a result, some of the magnetic field lines do not bend completely within the magnetic field collecting body 112, and instead travel straight and leak out into the air (shown by the dashed lines in the figure), which reduces the efficiency of electromagnetic induction. Issue (2): When multiple composite magnetic wires are bundled together in the magnetic core 111 as shown in Figure 1, the magnetic field lines of the composite magnetic wires closer to the magnet 410 tend to penetrate easily, while the magnetic field lines of the composite magnetic wires farther from the magnet 410 tend not to penetrate easily, which causes variations in the internal magnetic flux among the multiple composite magnetic wires and reduces the efficiency of electromagnetic induction.

[0048] Note that, 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 that contribute to power generation in the coil), the magnetic field lines emitted from magnetized surface 410A of magnet 410 enter magnetization surface 110A straight, continue 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 configuration that enables the most efficient electromagnetic induction power generation.

[0049] Next, a third embodiment will be described. Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a power generation module according to the third embodiment. In Fig. 13, a power generation 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 generation element 10 shown in Fig. 1 in that no magnetic collector 112 is used.

[0050] In this configuration, since the magnetic collector 112 is not provided, the power generation efficiency is even lower than 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 that is sufficient to operate even with inefficient electromagnetic induction components, the number of components can be reduced and the power generation module can be constructed inexpensively.

[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 Rectification section, 64 Storage section, 70 Power generating element, 100 Floor power generating device.

Claims

1. A power generation module comprising: a plate that sinks when a load acts thereon and can be restored from the sunken state when the load disappears; a magnet portion composed of permanent magnets; and a power generation element that generates electricity based on a change in a magnetic field caused by a relative displacement in position between the magnet portion and the plate caused by the sinking and restoration of the plate.

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

3. The magnet portion includes a first magnet and a second magnet each provided such that their magnetic poles are opposite to each other. The power generation element has magnetic flux concentrators made of soft magnetic material at both longitudinal ends of a magnetic core around which a coil is wound, facing a magnetized surface of either the first magnet or the second magnet. Thus, magnetic force lines from either the first magnet or the second magnet are collected by the magnetic flux concentrators and then gathered to the magnetic core. Additionally, due to the relative displacement, the magnetized surface facing the magnetic flux concentrator switches from the first magnet to the second magnet or from the second magnet to the first magnet. The power generation device according to claim 2 is characterized by this.

4. Two magnet portions are provided for one power generation element so as to face each of the magnetic flux concentrators provided at both ends of the power generation element. Each of the magnet portions has the magnetized surfaces of the first magnet and the second magnet fixed to a magnetic yoke such that the magnetized surfaces of the first magnet and the second magnet that do not face the magnetic flux concentrators are arranged corresponding to the direction of the relative displacement. The power generation device according to claim 3 is characterized by this.

5. The power generation device according to claim 3, wherein the magnetic core and the magnetic flux concentrator are integrally formed in a bobbin shape.

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

7. The power generation device according to claim 3, wherein there is a non-magnetic gap between the first magnet and the second magnet, and the gap is equal to or greater than the width of the magnetic flux concentrator in the direction of the relative displacement.

8. The power generation device according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the magnetic core is made of one or more composite magnetic wires that produce the giant Barkhausen effect.

9. A floor power generation device comprising the power generation device according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the plate floats from the base by a spring, sinks when a load acts on the plate, and is restored from the sunken state by the spring when the load disappears, and the magnet portion 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 power based on a change in the magnetic field due to a relative displacement in the position of the magnet portion caused by the sinking and restoration of the plate. A floor power generation device characterized by the above.

10. The floor power generation device according to claim 9, wherein the edge portion of the plate is chamfered.

11. A floor power generation device comprising the power generation device according to claim 8, wherein the plate floats from the base by a spring, sinks when a load acts on the plate, and is restored from the sunken state by the spring when the load disappears, and the magnet portion 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 power based on a change in the magnetic field due to a relative displacement in the position of the magnet portion caused by the sinking and restoration of the plate. A floor power generation device characterized by the above.

12. The floor power generation device according to claim 11, wherein the edge portion of the plate is chamfered.

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