Provided herein are a flexible organic light-emitting display (OLED) and a spring component. The film layers are pulled one on one by spring components to make the film layers flat when being unfolded and free of irreversible deformation when being folded. A lubricating layer is disposed between adjacent film layers so that the action force between the adjacent film layers is reduced, thereby making the flexible organic light-emitting display (OLED) flat and free of creases when being unfolded.

A system for efficiently capturing the kinetic and/or potential energy of a moving vehicle includes an arc roller configured to move along an arcuate path upon impact by the moving vehicle, and a torsional spring configured to wind in response to the movement of the speed bump and, thereby, to store energy associated with the impact. The torsional spring may be configured to wind continually in response to the movement of another speed bump and, thereby, to store additional energy associated with the impact of the vehicle with the other speed bump. The system may include alternators or generators producing electricity from energy released from unwinding of the torsional spring. Electricity is further stored and utilized for onboard computing, traffic analytics, safety feature operating functions and communications.

A power generation mechanism includes a first movable member, a second movable member, a twisted coil spring, a power generator, and a housing. The first and second movable members are gears. First and second wound parts of the spring are wound around a first center shaft in opposite directions. Initial elastic energies ie1 and ie2 are respectively applied to the first and second wound parts, absolute values of ie2 and ie1 being equal. The second movable member is turnable by a force from outside the mechanism, engaging teeth of the first and second movable members together to turn the first movable member. With ie12 accumulating on the first wound part and with the teeth disengaged from each other, the first center shaft is turned in an opposite direction by ie12 to generate power in the power generator. Also, the first center shaft is turned by ie1 and ie2.

A system for efficiently capturing the kinetic and/or potential energy of a moving vehicle includes an arc roller configured to move along an arcuate path upon impact by the moving vehicle, and a torsional spring configured to wind in response to the movement of the speed bump and, thereby, to store energy associated with the impact. The torsional spring may be configured to wind continually in response to the movement of another speed bump and, thereby, to store additional energy associated with the impact of the vehicle with the other speed bump. The system may include alternators or generators producing electricity from energy released from unwinding of the torsional spring. Electricity is further stored and utilized for onboard computing, traffic analytics, safety feature operating functions and communications.

A system for exerting torque on a shaft includes: a spring assembly having; a spring; a companion member to the spring, wherein at least one of the spring and the companion member is in compression and the other of the spring and companion member is in tension; connecting structure for transmitting a force associated with the spring outside of the gear assembly; and a gear train for connecting the connecting structure to the shaft to apply torque to the shaft. A method of exerting torque on a shaft includes: arranging a plurality of spring assemblies arranged in an array around the shaft, each spring assembly having; a spring; connecting structure for transmitting a force associated with the spring; attaching a gear train to the connecting structure; and configuring the gear train to apply the force associated with the spring to the shaft in the form of torque on the shaft.

Yarn energy harvesters containing conducing nanomaterials (such as carbon nanotube (CNT) yarn harvesters) that electrochemically convert tensile or torsional mechanical energy into electrical energy. Stretched coiled yarns can generate 250 W/kg of peak electrical power when cycled up to 24 Hz, and can generate up to 41.2 J/kg of electrical energy per mechanical cycle. Unlike for other harvesters, torsional rotation produces both tensile and torsional energy harvesting and no bias voltage is required, even when electrochemically operating in salt water. Since homochiral and heterochiral coiled harvester yarns provide oppositely directed potential changes when stretched, both contribute to output power in a dual-electrode yarn. These energy harvesters were used in the ocean to harvest wave energy, combined with thermally-driven artificial muscles to convert temperature fluctuations to electrical energy, sewn into textiles for use as self-powered respiration sensors, and used to power a light emitting diode and to charge a storage capacitor.

A bike pedal assembly uses a pawl, a gear and a torque spring to enable a rider to store and release torque energy while pedaling a bike. The pawl and gear are connected to a nut on an axle, which is connected to a crank arm of the bike. Being connected to the gear and a foot pedal, the torque spring stores torsional energy when one end is stationary and the other rotates with the foot pedal during half of the crank arm resolution, while releases torsional energy during the second half to the crank arm. Thus, the pedal assembly, which can be efficiently installed on each of the foot pedals of the bike, allows the rider to store and utilize additional torque energy and provides a more efficient means of storing torque energy than the conventional system.

A manually-wound or charged, powered toothbrush includes a winding mechanism, an energy storage element, and an output gear train to cause a rotating, oscillating or sweeping brush head to move, thus improving the efficacy of the user's oral-care regimen. The toothbrush may include a removable, replaceable brush head that includes a clip that also serves as a removal tool for a spent brush head.

A bike pedal assembly uses a pawl, a gear and a torque spring to enable a rider to store and release torque energy while pedaling a bike. The pawl and gear are connected to a nut on an axle, which is connected to a crank arm of the bike. Being connected to the gear and a foot pedal, the torque spring stores torsional energy when one end is stationary and the other rotates with the foot pedal during half of the crank arm resolution, while releases torsional energy during the second half to the crank arm. Thus, the pedal assembly, which can be efficiently installed on each of the foot pedals of the bike, allows the rider to store and utilize additional torque energy and provides a more efficient means of storing torque energy than the conventional system.

A power generation mechanism includes a first movable member, a second movable member, a twisted coil spring, a power generator, and a housing. The first and second movable members are gears. First and second wound parts of the spring are wound around a first center shaft in opposite directions. Initial elastic energies ie1 and ie2 are respectively applied to the first and second wound parts, absolute values of ie2 and ie1 being equal. The second movable member is turnable by a force from outside the mechanism, engaging teeth of the first and second movable members together to turn the first movable member. With ie12 accumulating on the first wound part and with the teeth disengaged from each other, the first center shaft is turned in an opposite direction by ie12 to generate power in the power generator. Also, the first center shaft is turned by ie1 and ie2.