A wearable article, a system, and methods include a structural material configured to enable the wearable article to the worn on a body, a piezoelectric generator, positioned with respect to the structural material in a configuration to be flexed to output a voltage, a data translator, coupled to the piezoelectric generator, configured to output electronic data based on the voltage, and an electronic data storage, coupled to the data translator, configured to store the electronic data from the data translator.

Hybrid energy harvesting devices that harvest vibrational energy over a broad frequency spectrum using several different energy harvesting mechanisms that are operable over different frequency ranges. In one embodiment, a device uses an inductive current generator to convert vibrational energy at lower frequencies to electrical energy, and also uses one or more piezoelectric charge generators to convert vibrational energy at higher frequencies to electrical energy. The electrical energy produced by these different mechanisms is provided to a controller which processes the input energy and generates an output which is applied to an energy store such as a battery. The energy stored in the battery can then be drawn by a wireless sensor or other device. The energy harvesting device may have the same form factor as a conventional battery to allow installation in battery-powered equipment without modification.

An energy harvesting device harvests energy from an energy source, and includes an inductor and a control switch coupled in series, and a control module. The series connection of the inductor and the control switch is adapted to be coupled to the energy source in parallel or in series. The control module controls the control switch such that the control switch starts to operate in an ON state for a predetermined time period from a transition time point during each predetermined cycle starting from a start time point, and such that a time difference between the transition time point and the start time point is variable. The control module obtains an output power of the energy source, and adjusts the time difference such that the output power of the energy source is increased.

A method and apparatus for waking a battery pack from a dormant mode via shaking. The battery pack has a piezo electric device coupled to a semiconductor control circuit providing a power path between a positive terminal of a battery cell and a boot input of an ASIC charge/discharge controller powered by the battery cell. Shaking of the piezo electric device energizes the semiconductor control circuit, which engages the power path to power the initial booting of the ASIC charge/discharge controller.

An article of apparel, a system, and methods include a structural material configured to enable the article of footwear to the worn on a body. A wireless transmission circuit is included and a piezoelectric generator is positioned with respect to the structural material in a configuration to be flexed to induce a voltage signal output. A voltage sensor is configured to sense the voltage profile and output a sensor signal indicative of the voltage profile. An electronic data storage, coupled to the voltage sensor, is configured to store voltage profile information based on the sensor data. A comparator, coupled to the electronic data storage, is configured to identify a change in the voltage profile information over time. The wireless transmission circuit is configured to transmit data indicative of a physical status of the article of footwear based on the change in the voltage profile information over time.

A clutch assembly includes a clutch mechanism and an energy harvesting device. The clutch mechanism includes an input member, an output member, and an actuating mechanism to govern selective torque transmission from the input member to the output member. The actuating mechanism is powered by electrical current. The energy harvesting device is electrically connected to the actuating mechanism, and the energy harvesting device is configured to scavenge available energy to generate the electrical current that powers the actuating mechanism.

A sensor device which is used to provide a control device with at least one operating parameter of an oscillating conveyor, the control device being used to control a drive device for exciting oscillation of an oscillating rail on the basis of the operating parameter, the sensor device including at least one sensor element for recording the operating parameter or at least one measured value from which the operating parameter can be determined, the sensor device including at least one communication device for wirelessly transmitting the operating parameter to the control device and an energy supply device for supplying the sensor device with operating energy, the energy supply device being used to convert a vibration generated by the drive device and/or electromagnetic radiation into the operating energy.

A wearable charging device may include a shoe. The shoe may include an outsole, an insole, and a sole compartment. The sole compartment may be defined by a void between a bottom surface of the insole, a top surface of the outsole, and an inside surface of a midsole disposed perpendicular to the top surface of the outsole and extending along a perimeter of the outsole and insole. The device may further include a power source, and a wireless charging interface. The wireless charging interface may include a wireless charging transmitter coil abutted to the top surface of the outsole and may be in electrical communication with the power source. The wearable charging device may further include at least one electric generator in electrical communication with the power source. The electric generator may convert mechanical energy into electrical energy.

The present invention relates to a device which can measure, induce, and correct perturbations acting on an electromagnetic (EM) propagation source. Piezoelectric transducers are used to measure and control perturbations within a system to improve operation of an EM source. Perturbation measurements can be used to determine the environmental and system impacts on the EM source. Moreover, measurements can be used to correct or nullify perturbations applied to the EM source, through active or passive means.

A self-powered sensing system is provided for the monitoring of quasi-static structural responses. The sensing system is comprised of: an energy concentrator having a member configured to detect a variation of a physical stimuli and change shape in response to the variation of the physical stimuli, where the variation typically occurs at a frequency less than one Hertz; a transducer coupled the member of the energy concentrator and generates a voltage in response to the change in shape of the member; and an event logging circuit configured to receive the voltage from the transducer and log the voltage in a non-volatile memory. Physical stimuli may include temperature, pressure or an applied force.