Self-powered wireless switch

US6933655B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Lear Corporation · US

Inventors

• Gerald O. Morrison · Beverly Hills, US
• H. Winston Maue · Northville, US
• Brian Skarb · Warren, US
• Michael Berta · Rochester Hills, US
• Richard A. Meinzer · Glastonbury, US
• Joseph Paradiso · Medford, US
• Mark Feldmeier · Waukesha, US
• John Youngs · Southgate, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 14, 2003
• Grant date: Aug 23, 2005
• Expiry date: Jun 27, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01H2300/03
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A wireless switch is provided having a twenty-year life energy harvesting arrangement for self-powering a wireless transmitter. The energy harvesting arrangement is implemented in one embodiment using a piezoelectric switch element. A tritium light source and photovoltaic device are used in a second embodiment, while a black light source and photovoltaic device are used in a third embodiment. The energy harvesting wireless switch arrangement of the present invention can be combined, for example, with a vehicle side mirror switch, to reduce the complexity of the wire harness feeding the door. The wireless switch can be located without regard to accessability of a wiring harness or connector.