Method and structure for kinetic energy based generator for portable electronic devices
An asymmetric flywheel is coupled to an input gear that is attached to a lever or alike. The input gear and flywheel gear are engaged as the user rotates the lever. As a result, the flywheel spins and electricity is generated by the micro electromagnetic generator. When there is no direct user manual input, the input gear and the flywheel gear are disengaged. The flywheel is an unbalanced pivoted mass that rotates with inertial forces from physical accelerations by user's movement and gravitational forces, similar to a self-winding mechanism automatic watch. AC electricity is generated as a result of the flywheel's movement.
1. A portable electric generator apparatus comprising:
an electro-magnetic electric generator member comprising a first terminal, a second terminal, a symmetric flywheel rotatably coupled to a shaft, a substrate disposed at a close distance from a first side of the symmetric flywheel, an asymmetric flywheel rotatably coupled to the shaft on the second side of the symmetric flywheel, and a first gear disposed between the symmetric flywheel and the asymmetric flywheel;
a kinetic energy generating member comprising an input flywheel with a second gear, the kinetic energy generating member being configured to receive motion energy from an external source, the second gear being configured to engage the first gear; and
a storage device having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, the positive terminal being coupled to the first terminal; and the negative terminal being coupled to the second terminal;
wherein the storage device is a capacitor and/or a battery.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a housing, the housing enclosing the electro-magnetic electric generator member, the kinetic energy generating member, and the storage device.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the input flywheel, is coupled to a drive member for converting the motion energy into rotation of the input flywheel.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the drive member comprises a rotating crank device, the rotating crank device being operable to move by a human user.
5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the drive member comprises a pull member, the pull member being operable to move in a first direction by a human user.
6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the drive member comprises a level member, the level member being operable to move in one or more directions by a human user.
7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the second gear of the input flywheel can be shifted from a disengaging position to an engaging position with the first gear to transfer the rotation of the input flywheel to rotation of the symmetric flywheel and the asymmetric flywheel.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the symmetric flywheel comprises one or more magnetic regions at the first side, the substrate comprises an electric coil member, wherein the rotation of the symmetric flywheel moves the one or more magnetic regions against the electric coil member at the close distance, inducing an electric current on one or more portions of the electric coil member.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the electric coil member is characterized by a planar structure.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the one or more magnetic regions comprises one or more films of magnetic material.
11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the one or more magnetic regions comprises one or more discrete magnetic devices.
12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the electric current is provided to conditioning device via the first terminal and the second terminal, the conditioning device converting the electric current to electric charges stored in the storage device between the positive terminal and the negative terminal.
13. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the asymmetric flywheel comprises an unbalanced pivoted mass configured to cause further rotation of the symmetric flywheel after the second gear is shifted back to the disengaging position from the engaging position.