Kinetic energy harvesting methods and apparatus

1. A kinetic energy harvesting apparatus comprising:

a first magnet housing and a second magnet housing each configured to have a tubular shape and include:

an end-cap magnet configured to connect to a first end of the magnet housing,

a first wire coil configured to connect to the magnet housing between the first end and a center of the magnet housing,

a second wire coil configured to be connected to the magnet housing between a second end and the center of the magnet housing, and

a central magnet configured to be located within the magnet housing;

a battery;

a first rectifier/inverter electrically coupled to the first and second wire coils of the first magnet housing and configured to rectify an AC voltage generated by the wire coils into a first DC voltage;

a second rectifier/inverter electrically coupled to the first and second wire coils of the second magnet housing and configured to rectify an AC voltage generated by the wire coils into a second DC voltage; and

a connection interface electrically coupled to the battery and configured to provide power wirelessly or via a wire from the battery to a portable electronic device,

wherein the central magnets of the first and second magnet housings are positioned such that a pole of the central magnet of the first magnet housing is vertically aligned in parallel with an opposite pole of the central magnet of the second magnet housing when the central magnets are at rest or are moving through the respective magnet housings,

wherein the first wire coils of the first and second magnet housings are wound in a first direction and the second wire coils of the first and second magnet housing are wound in a second opposite direction,

wherein the first and second wire coils of the first magnet housing are connected in series,

wherein the first and second wire coils of the second magnet housing are connected in series, and

wherein outputs of the first and second rectifier/inverters are wired in parallel to charge the battery using the first and second DC voltages.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first end of each of the magnet housings is a bottom end of the respective magnet housing such that a repulsive force between the end-cap magnet and the respective central magnet is approximately equal to gravitational force to suspend the central magnet.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the end-cap magnet of each magnet housing is connected to the first end of the respective magnet housing such that (i) a north-pole end of the central magnet faces a north-pole of the end-cap magnet, or (ii) a south-pole end of the central magnet faces a south-pole of the end-cap magnet.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the end-cap magnet and the central magnet of each magnet housing each include a N52 Neodymium magnet.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first or the second wire coil of each magnet housing has a center that is aligned with a center of the respective magnet housing along a vertical axis.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a third magnet housing configured to have a tubular shape and include:

an end-cap magnet configured to connect to an end of the third magnet housing,

a wire coil configured to be connected to the third magnet housing, and

a central magnet configured to be located within the third magnet housing and arranged so as to be suspended via the end-cap magnet,

wherein the central magnet of the third magnet housing is positioned with respect to the second magnet housing such that a pole of the central magnet of the third magnet housing is vertically aligned in parallel with the opposite pole of the central magnet of the second magnet housing when the central magnets are at rest or are moving through the respective magnet housings.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second wire coils of each magnet housing are configured to be internal to the respective magnet housing and include insulated wire.

8. A kinetic energy harvesting apparatus comprising:

a first magnet housing and a second magnet housing each configured to have a tubular shape and include:

an end-cap magnet configured to connect to a first end of the magnet housing,

a first wire coil configured to be connected to the magnet housing between the first end and a center of the magnet housing,

a second wire coil configured to be connected to the magnet housing between a second end and the center of the magnet housing, and

a central magnet configured to be located within the magnet housing,

wherein the central magnets of the first and second magnet housings are positioned such that a pole of the central magnet of the first magnet housing is vertically aligned in parallel with an opposite pole of the central magnet of the second magnet housing when the central magnets are at rest or are moving through the respective magnet housings;

a battery;

a first rectifier/inverter electrically coupled to the first and second wire coils of the first magnet housing and configured to rectify an AC voltage generated by the wire coils into a first DC voltage;

a second rectifier/inverter electrically coupled to the first and second wire coils of the second magnet housing and configured to rectify an AC voltage generated by the wire coils into a second DC voltage;

a sensor configured to detect a charge level of the battery; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor and configured to provide an indication of the charge level of the battery,

wherein the first wire coils of the first and second magnet housings are wound in a first direction and the second wire coils of the first and second magnet housing are wound in a second opposite direction,

wherein the first and second wire coils of the first magnet housing are connected in series,

wherein the first and second wire coils of the second magnet housing are connected in series, and

wherein outputs of the first and second rectifier/inverters are wired in parallel to charge the battery using the first and second DC voltages.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a connection interface electrically coupled to the battery and configured to provide power wirelessly or via a wire from the battery to a portable electronic device.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the connection interface is configured for operation with at least one of a universal serial bus (“USB”) connection, a micro-USB connection, an Apple® Lightning™ connection, and a serial connection.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 ,

wherein the first wire coil for each magnet housing has a first height along the respective magnet housing and includes a first center, with respect to the first height along the respective magnet housing, that is positioned adjacent to a first end of the respective central magnet when the central magnet is at rest,

wherein the second wire coil for each magnet housing has a second height along the respective magnet housing and includes a second center, with respect to the second height along the respective magnet housing, that is positioned adjacent to a second end of the respective central magnet when the central magnet is at rest, and

wherein the first height and the second height along the magnet housing are each substantially equal to a height of the central magnet.

12. A portable electronic device apparatus comprising:

a first magnet housing including:

a first end-cap magnet configured to connect to an end of the first magnet housing,

a first wire coil connected to the first magnet housing, and

a first central magnet located within the first magnet housing and arranged so as to be suspended via the first end-cap magnet; and

a second magnet housing including:

a second end-cap magnet configured to connect to an end of the second magnet housing,

a second wire coil connected to the second magnet housing, and

a second central magnet located within the second magnet housing and arranged so as to be suspended via the second end-cap magnet,

wherein the first and second central magnets are positioned such that a pole of the first central magnet is vertically aligned in parallel with an opposite pole of the second central magnet when the central magnets are at rest or are moving through the respective magnet housings,

wherein the first wire coil and the second wire coil are each electrically connected to a battery of the portable electronic device apparatus, and

wherein the battery is a first battery and the portable electronic device apparatus includes a second battery configured to provide power to the portable electronic device apparatus, the first battery being configured to charge the second battery.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising a device housing configured to enclose the first magnet housing and the second magnet housing and cause the first magnet housing to be aligned in parallel with the second magnet housing.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the device housing is configured to enclose the first battery such that the first battery is charged from movement of the central magnets moving through the respective wire coils.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first and second magnet housings are detachable from the portable electronic device apparatus.