A power storage apparatus includes a storage battery chargeable and dischargeable, a voltage stepping-up/down circuit that performs a voltage stepping-up operation of stepping up by PWM control a voltage supplied from the storage battery and outputting a stepped-up voltage to a high-voltage DC bus line, and a voltage stepping-down operation of stepping down by PWM control a voltage supplied from the high-voltage DC bus line and supplying a stepped-down voltage to the storage battery. Moreover, a detection device is provided that outputs a detection signal indicating a full-charged state of the storage battery, and a controller keeps a high-side switch in the voltage stepping-up/down circuit in an off state in response to input of the detection signal.

A power storage apparatus includes a storage battery chargeable and dischargeable, a voltage stepping-up/down circuit that performs a voltage stepping-up operation of stepping up by PWM control a voltage supplied from the storage battery and outputting a stepped-up voltage to a high-voltage DC bus line, and a voltage stepping-down operation of stepping down by PWM control a voltage supplied from the high-voltage DC bus line and supplying a stepped-down voltage to the storage battery. Moreover, a detection device is provided that outputs a detection signal indicating a full-charged state of the storage battery, and a controller keeps a high-side switch in the voltage stepping-up/down circuit in an off state in response to input of the detection signal.

The innovation disclosed and claimed herein, in at least one aspect thereof, comprises continuously charging a cell phone while the user utilizes the cellular phone for ordinary activities (e.g. posting to social media sites, texting, talking, etc.). The signals from routine cellular phone operations will send signals to a photocoupler or other dedicated sensor. The dedicated sensor will output current to drive a magnet mechanism which will in turn drive a fan that generates current to charge to a super/ultra-capacitor.

The invention relates to a piezoelectric energy harvesting system (10) configured to be installed on a vehicle (1), characterized in that the system (10) comprises: —an inner panel (12); —an outer panel (14) slidably movable relative to the inner panel (12); —at least one deformable piezoelectric element (16) disposed between the inner panel (12) and the outer panel (14), said piezoelectric element (16) being capable of producing electrical power when it is deformed; —a plurality of impact elements (18) fixedly connected to the outer panel (14) and adapted to apply a compression force on the at least one piezoelectric element (16) when the outer panel (14) and the inner panel (12) are close enough to each other, said compression force causing a mechanical deformation of the at least one piezoelectric element (16); —repulsion means (22) adapted to move the outer panel (14) away from the inner panel (12); —an electrical power storage unit (24); —a one-way electrical circuit (26) connecting the at least one piezoelectric element (16) to the electrical power storage unit (24), said one-way electrical circuit (26) being adapted to charge the electrical power storage unit (24) with the electrical power produced by the at least one piezoelectric element (16) while preventing the application of an electrical charge to the at least one piezoelectric element (16) from the electrical power storage unit (24).

The invention relates to a piezoelectric energy harvesting system (10) configured to be installed on a vehicle (1), characterized in that the system (10) comprises: —an inner panel (12); —an outer panel (14) slidably movable relative to the inner panel (12); —at least one deformable piezoelectric element (16) disposed between the inner panel (12) and the outer panel (14), said piezoelectric element (16) being capable of producing electrical power when it is deformed; —a plurality of impact elements (18) fixedly connected to the outer panel (14) and adapted to apply a compression force on the at least one piezoelectric element (16) when the outer panel (14) and the inner panel (12) are close enough to each other, said compression force causing a mechanical deformation of the at least one piezoelectric element (16); —repulsion means (22) adapted to move the outer panel (14) away from the inner panel (12); —an electrical power storage unit (24); —a one-way electrical circuit (26) connecting the at least one piezoelectric element (16) to the electrical power storage unit (24), said one-way electrical circuit (26) being adapted to charge the electrical power storage unit (24) with the electrical power produced by the at least one piezoelectric element (16) while preventing the application of an electrical charge to the at least one piezoelectric element (16) from the electrical power storage unit (24).

A flywheel assembly for a renewable energy generation system includes a flywheel housing defining a cavity therein, a flywheel rotatably disposed within the cavity of the flywheel housing, where the flywheel is simultaneously formed from the same component as the flywheel housing, a magnetic levitation disk defining opposed upper and lower surfaces, the upper surface supporting the flywheel and the lower surface including a first plurality of magnets disposed thereon, and a base plate having a second plurality of magnets disposed on a surface thereof that is facing the first plurality of magnets, the second plurality of magnets having a polarity that is opposite of a polarity of the first plurality of magnets such that the magnetic force of the first and second plurality of magnets urges the magnetic levitation disk away from the base plate.

This application is directed to an apparatus for providing electrical charge to a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a driven mass, a generator, a charger, a hardware controller, and a communication circuit. The driven mass rotates in response to a kinetic energy of the vehicle and is coupled to a shaft such that rotation of the driven mass causes the shaft to rotate. The driven mass exists in one of (1) an extended position and (2) a retracted position. The generator generates an electrical output based on a mechanical input coupled to the shaft such that rotation of the shaft causes the mechanical input to rotate. The charger is electrically coupled to the generator and: receives the electrical output, generates a charge output based on the electrical output, and conveys the charge output to the vehicle. The controller controls whether the driven mass is in the extended position or the retracted position in response to a signal received from the communication circuit.

A printer is described comprising a movable functional element, a chargeable energy-storing device and a charger to charge the chargeable energy-storing device using energy discharged from the movable functional element.

This application is directed to an apparatus for providing electrical charge to a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a driven mass configured to rotate in response to a kinetic energy of the vehicle, the driven mass coupled to a shaft, where rotation of the driven mass causes the shaft to rotate. The apparatus further comprises a hardware controller. The hardware controller identifies output power parameters for the vehicle and generate a control signal based on the identified output power parameters for the vehicle. The apparatus also comprises a generator that generates an electrical output based on a mechanical input and a conditioning circuit electrically coupled to the generator. The conditioning circuit receives the electrical output from the generator and the control signal from the hardware controller, generates a charge output based on the electrical output and the control signal, and conveys the charge output to the vehicle.

A power management integrated circuit includes a reconfigurable converter connected to a rechargeable battery and a control circuit. The reconfigurable converter includes an indcutor to accumulate energy based on an input voltage from a thermoelectric device, provides a wireless sensor node connected to an output node with an output voltage based on the input voltage and an internal input voltage of the rechargeable battery, operates in one of operation modes based on an available power provided from the thermoelectric device and a power consumption by the wireless sensor node and drives the wireless sensor node in response to the wireless sensor node consuming a current greater than a maximum current generated by the thermoelectric device. The control circuit to control the reconfigurable converter based on the input voltage, a first voltage of a first switching node, a second voltage of a second switching node and the output voltage.