Sensors for power conversion systems
US6522048B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 20, 2001 |
| Grant date | Feb 18, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 20, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/30
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Systems and circuits embodying the invention include means for sensing at least one of the peaks, amplitude and frequency of an oscillatory input force impinging on a power generating device for controlling the turn-on of a switch used to transfer energy collected by the power generating device to an associated load. The power generator may be a transducer such as a piezoelectric device or a wave energy converter (WEC). Sensors and sensing means embodying the invention are used to control the point in time at which power extracting circuits are switched in circuit with the power generating device. The power extracting circuit may include components which can resonate with the power generating circuit at a higher frequency than, and independent of, the frequency at which the power generating device is being operated. Thus, an electric power generator device operated and controlled by a slowly changing source of energy (e.g., ocean waves, wind, eddies of water) may develop energy at one frequency and may be operated to transfer the energy, at a selected point in time, at another frequency.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.