Electronic device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices that generate power using heat sources require an external power supply, limiting their usage to areas where such a supply is available.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device incorporating a light-receiving device, a loop-type heat pipe with an operating fluid in a loop-shaped flow path, and a thermoelectric conversion element that converts temperature differences into electric power, utilizing solar light as a natural energy source to generate heat and power without the need for an external power supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an external power supply is used to drive the heat-generating component, then the electronic device can generate electric power through thermoelectric conversion, but the device cannot be used at places where external power supply is unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic device uses its own heat-generating component (CPU) to produce the heat required for power generation, eliminating the need for external power supply. The system is self-sufficient by converting waste heat from its operational components into useful electric power through the thermoelectric conversion element.
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers waste heat that would otherwise be discarded from the heat-generating component and converts it into electric power through thermoelectric conversion. This回收利用 of waste energy enables the device to operate independently without external power infrastructure.
2Power
If a heat-generating component is used as the heat source, then electric power can be generated through thermoelectric conversion, but an external power supply is required to drive the heat-generating component
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the waste heat that would normally be a harmful byproduct into a beneficial resource for generating electric power. The heat-generating component's waste heat is captured and utilized to drive the thermoelectric conversion element, turning an energy loss into a useful power source.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat-generating component serves dual purposes: performing its primary computational function and simultaneously generating heat for power production. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate external power supply while maintaining operational capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the use of electronic devices in locations where external power supplies are unavailable by harnessing solar energy to generate electric power through temperature differences in the loop-type heat pipe, increasing the device's operational flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
a light-receiving device configured to receive solar light
Implementation Method 2
a loop-type heat pipe to which heat is input from the light-receiving device and in which an operating fluid is enclosed in a loop-shaped flow path
Implementation Method 3
an operating fluid is enclosed in a loop-shaped flow path
Implementation Method 4
a thermoelectric conversion element configured to convert a temperature difference of the loop-type heat pipe into electric power
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device includes a light-receiving device configured to receive solar light, a loop-type heat pipe to which heat is input from the light-receiving device and in which an operating fluid is enclosed in a loop-shaped flow path, and a thermoelectric conversion element configured to convert a temperature difference of the loop-type heat pipe into electric power.