公开(公告)号：US11218087B2

公开(公告)日：2022-01-04

申请号：US16956416

申请日：2018-12-19

Applicant: SINGLE BUOY MOORINGS INC.

Inventor： Rick Van Kessel

IPC: H02N1/00 ,  G01R19/00

Abstract: An electrical energy harvesting system includes at least one variable capacitor, preferably of electro-active polymer, two voltage sources, and a half-bridge network. The voltage sources are arranged in series with an interconnecting node between a first polarity terminal of the first voltage source and a second opposite polarity terminal of the second voltage source. For each variable capacitor the half-bridge network includes a pair of diodes in series with a common node therebetween, connected in parallel with the first voltage source, an inductor connected between the common node and a first terminal of the variable capacitor, a first switch in parallel with the first diode, and a second switch in parallel with the second diode. The second terminal of the variable capacitor is connected to the first polarity terminal of the second voltage source.

公开(公告)号：US10312834B2

公开(公告)日：2019-06-04

申请号：US15036155

申请日：2014-11-13

Applicant: SINGLE BUOY MOORINGS INC.

Inventor： Rick Van Kessel

IPC: H01L41/113 ,  H01L41/18 ,  H02N2/18

Abstract: Method including a plurality of EAP based sections, a power source/sink unit and a controller. Each EAP based section includes an electronic charge/discharge unit and variable capacitor having an elastically deformable body with an arrangement of stretchable synthetic material and electrodes functioning as the capacitor with a variable capacitance as the deformable body stretches and relaxes. Each EAP based section is connected to the power source/sink unit by the respective electronic charge/discharge unit under control of the controller which includes: a processing unit coupled to a sensing circuitry which is coupled to the variable capacitor of each EAP based section, and a driving circuitry coupled to the electronic charge/discharge unit. The method includes for each EAP based section: receiving a state parameter signal/signals from the capacitor; establishing a dedicated control signal based on the associated state parameter signal/signals received; transmitting the dedicated control signal to the associated electronic charge/discharge unit.

公开(公告)号：US09735706B2

公开(公告)日：2017-08-15

申请号：US14399311

申请日：2013-05-07

Applicant: SINGLE BUOY MOORINGS INC.

Inventor： Rick Van Kessel

IPC: H02N1/08 ,  H02N10/00 ,  H02N11/00 ,  H02N2/18

CPC classification number: H02N1/08 ,  H02N2/181 ,  H02N10/00 ,  H02N11/002

Abstract: Method for harvesting energy using an EAP based deformable body. The EAP based deformable body is an elastically deformable body including an arrangement of stretchable synthetic material and electrodes being arranged as a variable capacitor with a capacitance that varies as the deformable body stretches and relaxes. The method includes: looping through an energy harvesting cycle with a) stretching the deformable body from a minimal relaxed size L1 to a maximal stretched size L2; b) at the maximal stretched size electrically charging of the variable capacitor to create an electric field over the capacitor with an upper electric field level value; and subsequently c) a relaxation step from maximal stretched size to the minimal relaxed size; d) at the minimal relaxed size of the deformable body, electrically discharging the capacitor to a minimal charge level and a minimal electric field level value.

公开(公告)号：US20150097536A1

公开(公告)日：2015-04-09

申请号：US14399969

申请日：2013-05-08

Applicant: SINGLE BUOY MOORINGS INC.

Inventor： Rick Van Kessel

IPC: H02M3/158

CPC classification number: H02M3/158 ,  F03B13/14 ,  F05B2280/50 ,  H02N2/18 ,  H02N2/181 ,  Y02E10/38

Abstract: An electromechanical energy conversion system includes a variable capacitor, an electronic charging/discharging unit and a power source/sink; the power source/sink being coupled to the electronic charging/discharging unit which is coupled to the variable capacitor; the variable capacitor including first and second electrodes that are separated by an intermediate medium providing a gap distance therebetween; the gap distance being adjustable between a minimal distance and a maximal distance as a function of an externally applied mechanical force; the electronic charging/discharging unit being arranged for charging the variable capacitor from the power source/sink at substantially a state of the variable capacitor when the gap distance is minimal and the area of the elastically deformed body maximal, and for discharging the variable capacitor to the power source/sink at substantially a state of the variable capacitor when the gap distance is maximal and the area of the elastically deformed body minimal.

Abstract translation: 一种机电能量转换系统，包括可变电容器，电子充电/放电单元和电源/吸收器; 电源/吸收器耦合到耦合到可变电容器的电子充电/放电单元; 所述可变电容器包括第一和第二电极，所述第一和第二电极被间隔开的中间介质隔开; 间隙距离可以在最小距离和最大距离之间作为外部施加的机械力的函数进行调节; 所述电子充电/放电单元被布置成当所述间隙距离最小并且所述弹性变形体的面积最大时，基本上在所述可变电容器的状态下从所述电源/吸收器对所述可变电容器充电，并且用于将所述可变电容器放电到 当间隙距离最大并且弹性变形体的面积最小时，在可变电容器的大致状态下的电源/吸收器。

公开(公告)号：US20150076962A1

公开(公告)日：2015-03-19

申请号：US14399311

申请日：2013-05-07

Applicant: SINGLE BUOY MOORINGS INC.

Inventor： Rick Van Kessel

IPC: H02N1/08

CPC classification number: H02N1/08 ,  H02N2/181 ,  H02N10/00 ,  H02N11/002

Abstract: Method for harvesting energy using an EAP based deformable body. The EAP based deformable body is an elastically deformable body including an arrangement of stretchable synthetic material and electrodes being arranged as a variable capacitor with a capacitance that varies as the deformable body stretches and relaxes. The method includes: looping through an energy harvesting cycle with a) stretching the deformable body from a minimal relaxed size L1 to a maximal stretched size L2; b) at the maximal stretched size electrically charging of the variable capacitor to create an electric field over the capacitor with an upper electric field level value; and subsequently c) a relaxation step from maximal stretched size to the minimal relaxed size; d) at the minimal relaxed size of the deformable body, electrically discharging the capacitor to a minimal charge level and a minimal electric field level value.

Abstract translation: 使用基于EAP的变形体收获能量的方法。 基于EAP的可变形体是可弹性变形的主体，其包括可拉伸的合成材料和电极的布置，电极被布置为随着可变形体伸展和松弛而变化的电容的可变电容器。 该方法包括：循环通过能量收集循环，a）将可变形体从最小松弛尺寸L1拉伸至最大拉伸尺寸L2; b）在最大拉伸尺寸下对可变电容器进行充电，以在电容器上产生具有较高电场电平值的电场; 并且随后c）从最大拉伸尺寸到最小松弛尺寸的松弛步骤; d）在可变形体的最小松弛尺寸下，将电容器放电到最小电荷水平和最小电场电平值。