ENERGY HARVESTING CIRCUITS FOR A SMART RING
A charging system can include a magnet. The ring charging system also can include a band. The band can include a housing configured to be worn by a user. The band also can include a power source located in or at the housing. The band further can include a charging circuit including an induction coil located in or at the housing. The charging circuit can be configured to charge the power source by way of electrical energy generated by a change in magnetic flux from the magnet through the induction coil. The housing can be configured to move relative to the magnet when actuated by a user motion such that moving the housing relative to the magnet causes the change in the magnetic flux. Other embodiments are disclosed.
1 . A ring charging system comprising:
a magnet; and
a band comprising:
a housing configured to be worn by a user;
a power source located in or at the housing; and
a charging circuit including an induction coil located in or at the housing, wherein:
the charging circuit is configured to charge the power source by way of electrical energy generated by a change in magnetic flux from the magnet through the induction coil; and
the housing is configured to move relative to the magnet when actuated by a user motion such that moving the housing relative to the magnet causes the change in the magnetic flux.
2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a component disposed within the housing, wherein the component is configured to:
sense a physical phenomenon external to the housing;
draw energy from the power source; and
implement a user interface.
3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a magnet module comprising one or more magnets, wherein:
the one or more magnets comprise the magnet; and
the magnet module comprises at least one of a golf club, a steering wheel, a second band, a bracelet, or a keyboard.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the housing comprises a partial annular shape.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
a shape of the magnet comprises at least one of a cylinder, a bar, a block, or a horseshoe.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
an axis of the magnet is radial with respect to the housing.
7 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more additional magnets distributed at a regular radial interval with the magnet, wherein the magnet and the one or more additional magnets are oriented in a radial direction.
8 . A method for operating a ring charging system, the method comprising:
providing a magnet; and
providing a band comprising:
providing a housing configured to be worn by a user;
providing a power source located in or at the housing; and
providing a charging circuit including an induction coil located in or at the housing, wherein:
the charging circuit is configured to charge a power source by way of electrical energy generated by a change in magnetic flux from the magnet through the induction coil; and
the housing is configured to move relative to the magnet when actuated by a user motion such that moving the housing relative to the magnet causes the change in the magnetic flux.
9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
providing a component disposed within the housing, wherein the component is configured to:
sense a physical phenomenon external to the housing;
draw energy from the power source; and
implement a user interface.
10 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
providing a magnet module comprising one or more magnets, wherein:
the one or more magnets comprise the magnet; and
the magnet module comprises at least one of a golf club, a steering wheel, a second band, a bracelet, or a keyboard.
11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the housing comprises a partial annular shape.
12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein:
a shape of the magnet comprises at least one of a cylinder, a bar, a block, or a horseshoe.
13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein:
an axis of the magnet is radial with respect to the housing.
14 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
providing one or more additional magnets distributed at a regular radial interval with the magnet, wherein the magnet and the one or more additional magnets are oriented in a radial direction.
15 . A ring charging system comprising:
a band comprising:
a housing configured to be worn by a user;
an induction coil; and
a charging circuit; and
a magnet, wherein:
the magnet is configured to move relative to the induction coil when actuated by a user motion such that moving the magnet relative to the induction coil causes a change in a magnetic flux; and
the charging circuit is configured to charge a power source by way of electrical energy generated by the change in the magnetic flux from the magnet through the induction coil.
16 . The system of claim 15 , further comprising:
a component disposed within the housing, wherein the component is configured to:
sense a physical phenomenon external to the housing;
draw energy from the power source; and
implement a user interface.
17 . The system of claim 15 , further comprising:
a magnet module comprising one or more magnets, wherein:
the one or more magnets comprise the magnet; and
the magnet module comprises at least one of a golf club, a steering wheel, a second band, a bracelet, or a keyboard.
18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein:
the band is a partial annular shape.
19 . The system of claim 15 , wherein:
a shape of the magnet is at least one of a cylinder, a bar, a block, or a horseshoe.
20 . The system of claim 15 , wherein:
an axis of the magnet is radial with respect to the ring.