POWER GENERATION DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE

Abstract

Disclosed is a power-generating backlit trim strip for a vehicle, comprising an oscillation system (3, 4; 3, 14), an induction unit (2), a sensor (17) and a control unit (8). The oscillation system (3, 4; 3, 14) includes a movably arranged gyrating mass (3), and the induction unit (2) is used for inductively converting kinetic energy of the gyrating mass (3) into electricity. The sensor (17) is used for determining a frequency of the vehicle vibrations, and the control unit (8) is used for adjusting the resonant frequency of the oscillation system (3, 4; 3, 14) to a determined frequency of the vehicle vibrations.

Claims

1. An electric power generating, backlightable trim strip for a vehicle, having an oscillation system having a movably disposed inertial mass and an induction unit for inductively converting kinetic energy of the inertial mass into electrical energy; at least one sensor for determining an oscillation frequency of the vehicle and a control unit for adjusting the resonant frequency of the oscillation system to a determined oscillation frequency of the vehicle.

2. The backlightable trim strip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor is an acceleration sensor.

3. The backlightable trim strip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the induction unit has at least one induction coil having a multiplicity of windings, wherein at least one winding can be switched into and out of circuit for the purpose of adjusting the resonant frequency of the oscillation system.

4. The backlightable trim strip as claimed in claim 1, having a housing, having an interior within which the oscillation system, the induction unit and the sensor are disposed.

5. The backlightable trim strip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the trim strip has an interior, in which the oscillation system, the induction unit and the sensor, and at least one lighting element, are disposed.

6. The backlightable trim strip as claimed in claim 5, wherein the interior is covered outwardly by a cover that is translucent to the lighting element, in particular has backlightable through-holes.

7. The backlightable trim strip as claimed in claim 1, which has a lighting element for the purpose of backlighting, and which additionally has a light sensor, in order to detect the opening state of a vehicle door and to switch the lighting element on or off in dependence on the detected opening state of the vehicle door.

8. The backlightable trim strip as claimed in , wherein the resonant frequency of the oscillation system is in the range of from 15 to 80 Hz.

9. The backlightable trim strip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the backlightable trim strip has at least one spring in order, upon the inertial mass moving out of its neutral position, to exert, as a restoring element, a restoring force on the inertial mass, in the direction of the neutral position.

10. The backlightable trim strip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the backlightable trim strip has at least one magnet in order, upon the inertial mass moving out of its neutral position, to exert, as a restoring element, a restoring force on the inertial mass, in the direction of the neutral position.

11. The backlightable trim strip as claimed in claim 1, additionally having an energy storage, in particular a capacitor storage, for storing the electrical energy generated by the induction unit.

12. The backlightable trim strip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inertial mass has a permanent magnet.

13. A vehicle having a backlightable trim strip that comprises an oscillation system having a movably disposed inertial mass; and an induction unit for inductively converting kinetic energy of the inertial mass into electrical energy; at least one sensor for determining an oscillation frequency of the vehicle; and a control unit for adjusting the resonant frequency of the oscillation system to a determined oscillation frequency of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle as claimed in claim 13, wherein the backlightable trim is fixedly connected to the body of the vehicle.

15. The vehicle as claimed in claim 13, wherein the oscillation system of the backlightable trim strip, with regard to the direction of motion of the inertial mass when in the oscillating state, is disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the following on the basis of the drawings, which serve merely for explanation and which are not to be construed as limiting. There are shown in the drawings:

[0030] FIG. 1 a sectional view through a partially represented first embodiment of a device according to the invention in the form of a backlightable trim strip, having vertical and horizontal spring-mass oscillation systems;

[0031] FIG. 2 a sectional view through a partially represented second embodiment of a device according to the invention in the form of a backlightable trim strip, having two spring-mass oscillation systems, which are disposed on one side;

[0032] FIG. 3 a sectional view through a partially represented third embodiment of a device according to the invention in the form of a backlightable trim strip, having two spring-mass oscillation systems, which are disposed on both sides;

[0033] FIG. 4 a sectional view through a partially represented fourth embodiment of a device according to the invention in the form of a backlightable trim strip, having two magnet-magnet oscillation systems, which are disposed on both sides;

[0034] FIG. 5 a sectional view through a partially represented fifth embodiment of a device according to the invention in the form of a backlightable trim strip, having two magnet-magnet oscillation system, which are disposed on one side;

[0035] FIG. 6 a sectional view through a partially represented sixth embodiment of a device according to the invention in the form of a backlightable trim strip, having two rotatory oscillation systems, which are disposed on both sides;

[0036] FIG. 7 a schematic illustration of the x, y and z axis of a vehicle;

[0037] FIG. 8a the x component of the data determined by the acceleration sensor;

[0038] FIG. 8b the y component of the data determined by the acceleration sensor;

[0039] FIG. 8c the z component of the data determined by the acceleration sensor;

[0040] FIG. 9a the frequency spectrum of the data shown in FIG. 8a;

[0041] FIG. 9b the frequency spectrum of the data shown in FIG. 8b; and

[0042] FIG. 9c the frequency spectrum of the data shown in FIG. 8c.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0043] FIGS. 1 to 6 show differing embodiments of electric power generating devices according to the invention for a vehicle. All of the devices shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 are trim strips that, preferably, are disposed as an entry strip in the foot region of one of the vehicle doors. The trim strips may, however, be disposed at any other location inside or on the outside of the vehicle, such as, for example, in the region of the trunk door or the dashboard. Preferably, the trim strips have a longitudinal direction, defined by the maximum longitudinal extent of the trim strip, that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis 20 of the vehicle. Advantageously, the trim strip is fixedly connected to the vehicle body. In particular, it may be stuck onto a vehicle element that is fixedly connected to the vehicle body, or fastened by means of magnets, i.e. indirectly fastened to the vehicle body, or directly fastened to the vehicle body.

[0044] In respect of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, respectively the same references are used for elements that are the same or similar, or that are the same or similar in their effect.

[0045] The trim strip shown in FIG. 1 has a housing having an interior 18. The interior 18 is delimited outwardly by a flat cover 11 and a support plate 7, which constitute a part of the housing. Whereas the cover 11, with its side that faces away from the interior 18, forms the visible side of the trim strip, the support plate 7, with its side that faces away from the interior 18, forms the back side of the trim strip. The cover 11 delimits the interior 18, not only forward, toward the visible side, but also all the way around laterally (shown partially in FIGS. 2 and 5).

[0046] Provided within the cover 11 are through-holes 13 that each form an opening, in order for light, emitted by a lighting element 9 disposed in the interior, to be passed through to the outside. The through-holes 13, because of their outer shape, may form, for example, letters, logotypes, symbols or similar. In order to prevent the ingress of moisture and dirt particles into the interior 18, the through-holes 13 are each closed with a translucent material such as, for example, polymethyl methylacrylate (PMMA).

[0047] Disposed directly behind the through-holes 13, in the interior 18, is a plate-type light guide 12, which serves to direct light, emitted by the lighting element 9, toward the through-holes 13. The light guide 12 may be designed, in particular, as a diffusor, such that the through-holes 13 can be uniformly backlit by the light that is emitted by a single lighting element 9. The lighting element 9 is preferably one or more LEDs, disposed at the side of the light guide 12. The lighting element 9 and the light guide 12 are disposed substantially at the same level between the cover 11 and the support plate 7. The trim strip is consequently of minimal height.

[0048] Disposed laterally in relation to the light guide 12, in the interior 18, are a plurality of oscillation systems and induction units. The oscillation systems each have an inertial mass, in the form of a magnet 3, disposed in a movable manner in the interior 18, and a restoring element in the form of springs 4 or fixed magnets 14. In the case of an excursion of the magnet 3 out of its neutral position, the restoring elements serve to exert a restoring force on the magnet 3, in the direction of its neutral position. The strength of the restoring force is proportional to the excursion of the magnet 3 out of its neutral position. In the case of an external action of force on the oscillation system, such as, in particular, in the case of a vibration caused by the vehicle, the magnet 3 is deflected out of its neutral position, in each case due to inertia, and, because of the restoring elements, goes into an oscillation motion.

[0049] Disposed next to each other, on the left side of the light guide 12, in the view of FIG. 2, are two oscillation systems, each having a movable magnet 3 and corresponding restoring elements for holding the magnet. In the case of both oscillation systems, the restoring elements in each case are two springs 4, which are realized as helical springs. The first of these springs 4 is attached, by its first end, to the magnet 3, and by its second end to the cover 11. The second spring 4 is attached, by its first end, to the magnet 3, and by its second end to the support plate 7. The magnet 3 held by the two springs 4 can thus in each case oscillate back and forth in the vertical direction between the cover 11 and the support plate 7.

[0050] On the right side of the light guide 12, in the view of FIG. 1, a third oscillation system is provided with a movable magnet 3. This third oscillation system comprises, as restoring elements, two fixed magnets 14. The two fixed magnets 14 are immovably fastened, in the interior 18 of the trim strip, to a coil and magnet holder 15, in such a manner that they can exert a magnetic restoring force on the intermediately disposed magnet 3. Since the two magnets 14 are both disposed at the same level between the support plate 7 and the cover 11 in the interior 18, the movable magnet can oscillate back and fort in a horizontal direction between the two fixed magnets 14. The movable magnet 3 in this case is guided, in respect of its motion, by the coil and magnet holder 15.

[0051] Since the embodiment of FIG. 1 has oscillation systems oriented both in the horizontal and in the vertical direction, an electric current can be generated irrespective of the direction of the vehicle vibrations.

[0052] In order to convert the kinetic energy of the magnet 3 during the back and forth oscillation into an electric current, all oscillation systems respectively have at least one induction unit. An induction unit comprises, respectively, a coil body 2 having a plurality of windings.

[0053] The coil body 2 is disposed in such a manner that, during the oscillation motion of the magnet 3, an electric current is generated in the windings of the coil body by means of electromagnetic induction. For this purpose, the magnet 3 is usually designed as a permanent magnet. For the purpose of setting the resonant frequency of the oscillation system, the windings of the coil body 2 can each be switched into and out of circuit individually.

[0054] The electric current induced in the coil bodies 2 is conducted to an ultracapacitor 10. The ultracapacitor 10 has a flat structural form, and is disposed between the support plate 7 and the light guide 12. It serves, as an energy storage, to store the current induced in the coil bodies 2, such that electrical energy continues to be available even after stoppage of the vehicle.

[0055] The trim strip shown in FIG. 1 additionally has an acceleration sensor 17 disposed in the interior 18. The acceleration sensor 17 serves to determine the vibration frequencies of the vehicle. For this purpose, the acceleration data acquired by the acceleration sensor 17 are routed to an electronic device 8, in which a frequency analysis is performed and the current vibration frequencies of the vehicle are determined. Depending on the level of the determined vibration frequencies, more or fewer windings of the coil body 2 are switched into or out of circuit by the electronic device 8, which is a control unit. Depending on the number of windings of the coil body 2 that are switched into circuit during the oscillation motion of the magnet 3, a higher or lower resonant frequency of the oscillation system ensues, according to Lenz's law. By means of the acceleration sensor 17 and the switching into circuit of more or fewer windings of the coil body 2, the resonant frequency of the oscillation systems provided in the trim strip can thus be adjusted, by the electronic device 8, to a current oscillation frequency of the vehicle. The electric power generation can thereby be matched automatically to the vehicle type, the tires, the road condition (asphalt, gravel, snow, etc.), the charge state, etc.

[0056] Unlike the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, in each of the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3 there are only two oscillation systems, which each comprise a magnet 3 that is movable in the horizontal direction. The magnet 3 is disposed between two helical springs 4, and is held by respectively one end of these springs 4. The springs 4 are each attached, by their other end, to a spring holder 1 that is fixed in the interior 18. Whereas the spring-based oscillation systems in the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 are both disposed on the same side of the light guide 12, in the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 there is a respective horizontal, spring-based oscillation system provided on both sides, next to the light guide 12.

[0057] The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 differs from the embodiment of FIG. 1 in that, instead of the two vertical, spring-based oscillation systems, a single horizontal, magnet-based oscillation system is provided. Thus, here, disposed on both sides of the light guide 12 there are identically realized oscillation systems, each having a magnet 3, which is movable between two fixed magnets 14 and, moreover, encompassed by corresponding coil bodies 2.

[0058] Whereas the two horizontal, magnet-based oscillation systems in the case of the embodiment of FIG. 4 are disposed on both sides next to the light guide 12, in the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 they are disposed on one side next to the light guide 12.

[0059] FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment, in which the inertial masses, i.e. the magnets 3, do not each oscillate translationally back and forth during the oscillating state, but execute a rotational motion (rotation direction 16). For this purpose, the magnets 3 each have the shape of a disk that lies flat in the horizontal plane of the trim strip 3. The magnets 3 in this case are each connected to a torsion spring, not visible in FIG. 6, that serves here as a restoring element. Here, also, a coil body 2 encompasses the magnet 3, at least partly, such that, upon a motion of the magnet 3, an electric current is induced in the coil body 2.

[0060] The embodiment shown in FIG. 6 additionally has a light sensor 19, in order to detect the opening state of the door and, in dependence thereon, to switch the lighting element 9 on or off. The use of a light sensor 19 is advantageous, in particular, if the electric power generating device is an entry strip. The light sensor 19, which is usually connected to the electronic device 8, could clearly also be provided in the case of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5.

[0061] Illustrated in FIG. 7 are the x, y and z axes of a vehicle, the origin of the coordinate system formed by the x, y and z axes being disposed within the electric power generating device. The longitudinal axis 20 of the vehicle extends parallel to the x axis, along the direction of travel. The inertial masses 3, shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, of the horizontally oriented oscillation systems are preferably each movable along the x axis.

[0062] FIGS. 8a, 8b and 8c show the acceleration data of a vehicle determined by the acceleration sensor 17 in a trial over a certain period of time. With reference to FIG. 7, FIG. 8a represents the x component, FIG. 8b the y component, and FIG. 8c the z component of the acceleration caused by the vehicle vibrations. FIGS. 9a, 9b and 9c show the corresponding spectra in the frequency domain. The conversion of the data from the time domain to the frequency domain and vice versa is achieved by means of a Fourier transformation, which can be performed, in particular, by the electronic device 8. The Fourier transformation has long been known to persons skilled in the art. On the basis of these spectra, in the electronic device 8 one or more frequencies, in particular maximum frequencies, are selected, to which the respective resonant frequency of the oscillation systems 3, 4 or 3, 14 shown in FIGS. 1-6 is then adjusted.

[0063] Clearly, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but, rather, a multiplicity of modifications are possible. Thus, for example, the device need not necessarily have a light guide 12. For example, a lighting element could also be disposed behind each of the through-holes 13. The coil bodies 2 need not necessarily be disposed in such a manner that the movable magnets 3, in their oscillation motion, are at least partly encompassed by these coil bodies. During the oscillation, for example, the magnets 3 could also move perpendicularly back and forth in relation to the longitudinal directions of the coil bodies, in front of the latter. Instead of a coil body, it would also be possible to use one or more straight wires, in which an electric current is induced during the oscillation motion. Instead of being used in a trim strip, the electric power generating device, with the oscillation system and the induction unit, could be used in any other vehicle region, and used, for example, for interior or trunk illumination, for illuminating the dashboard or the vehicle registration, etc. A multiplicity of further modifications are possible.

TABLE-US-00001 LIST OF REFERENCES 1 spring holder 2 coil body 3 magnet (movable) 4 spring 5 movement direction 6 free space 7 support plate 8 electronic device 9 lighting element 10 ultracapacitor 11 cover 12 light guide 13 through-hole 14 magnet (fixed) 15 coil and magnet holder 16 rotation direction 17 acceleration sensor 18 interior 19 light sensor 20 longitudinal axis