Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
MAGNETIC STRUCTURE
STATEMENT REGARDING GOVERNMENT INTEREST
This invention was made with United States Government support
under Contract No. DE-AC07-05-1 D14517 awarded by the United States
Department of Energy. The United States Government has certain rights in the
invention.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
This disclosure generally relates to a magnetic structure and more
particularly to a magnetic structure suitable for use in electro-magnetic and
electro-mechanical devices and applications.
Description of the Related Art
Electro-magnetic and electro-mechanical devices and
applications, such as, for example, motors, generators and alternators,
typically
employ coils and/or magnets. Conventional magnetic structures employ a
single magnet to generate a magnetic field, or a plurality of magnets arranged
to generate a magnetic field. The magnets are typically permanent magnets or
electromagnets.
When an increase in output or performance was desired,
conventionally the size or number of coils was increased or the size or
strength
of the magnets would be increased. These approaches introduce weight, cost,
size and durability issues. These approaches also are not practical for many
applications.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, an electro-mechanical system comprises a
magnetic structure comprising a first magnetic element having a physical
1
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
property of a first magnitude, a first pole of a first polarity and a second
pole of
a second polarity opposite of the first polarity and a second magnetic element
having a second magnitude of the physical property, different from the first
magnitude, a first pole of the first polarity and a second pole of the second
polarity, and a support structure configured to hold the first and second
magnetic elements spaced apart a distance closer than an ambient distance
with the first pole of the first magnetic element generally facing the first
pole of
the second magnetic element. In one embodiment, the first magnetic element
comprises a rare earth magnet. In one embodiment, the second magnetic
element comprises a rare earth magnet. In one embodiment, the physical
property is a length and the first magnitude is greater than the second
magnitude. In one embodiment, the support structure is configured to hold the
magnetic elements in a position to generate an unbalanced magnetic field
comprising a region with a high-gradient magnetic field. In one embodiment,
the support structure is configured to facilitate movement of the magnetic
structure and a coil system with respect to each other. In one embodiment, the
region passes through the coil system when the magnetic structure moves with
respect to the coil system. In one embodiment, the system is configured to
receive mechanical force and to generate an electrical signal in response to
the
receipt of the mechanical force. In one embodiment, the system is configured
to receive an electrical signal and to generate mechanical force in response
to
the receipt of the electrical signal. In one embodiment, the coil system
comprises a plurality of coils. In one embodiment, the plurality of coils
comprises a first coil wound about an axis in a first direction and a second
coil
wound about the axis in a second direction different from the first direction.
In
one embodiment, the first coil comprises a first number of turns and the
second
coil comprises a second number of turns different from the first number of
turns.
In one embodiment, the first coil comprises a first wire having a first radius
and
the second coil comprises a second wire having a second radius different from
the first radius. ln one embodiment, the coil system comprises a plurality of
pairs of coils coupled together in a series-parallel configuration. In one
2
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
embodiment, a first coil in a pair of coifs in the plurality of coils
comprises a first
wire wound in a first direction and a second coil in the pair of coils
comprises a
second wire wound in a second direction opposite of the first direction. In
one
embodiment, the system further comprises a mechanical transmission system.
In one embodiment, the mechanical transmission system is configured to
facilitate relative linear movement between the magnetic structure and the
coil
system. In one embodiment, the mechanical transmission system is configured
to facilitate relative rotational movement between the magnetic structure and
the coil system. In one embodiment, the system is configured to facilitate
relative circular movement of the magnetic structure with respect to the coil
system. In one embodiment, the first pole of the first magnetic element has a
substantially semi-toroidal-shaped face and the first pole of the second
magnetic element has a substantially semi-toroidal-shaped face. In one
embodiment, the substantially semi-toroidal-shaped faces are dimensioned to
form a substantially toroidal-shaped cavity between the first magnetic element
and the second magnetic element. In one embodiment, the coil system
comprises a substantially toroidal-shaped coil. In one embodiment, the
magnetic structure comprises a substantially toroidal-shaped cavity between
the first magnetic structure and the second magnetic structure.
in one aspect, a method of generating power comprises
generating a magnetic field by positioning a first magnetic element and a
second magnetic element a distance apart with like poles substantially facing
each other, the magnetic field being unbalanced with respect to the magnetic
elements and compressed in a region adjacent to the plurality of magnet
elements, and facilitating relative movement between a coil system and the
magnetic field. In one embodiment, the magnetic elements comprise
permanent magnets. In one embodiment, the method further comprises
rectifying a current generated in the coil system. In one embodiment, the
method further comprises storing energy in an energy storage system. In one
embodiment, the facilitating relative movement comprises moving the
permanent magnets with respect to the coil system. In one embodiment,
3
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
moving the permanent magnets with respect to the coil system comprises
moving the permanent magnets along a generally linear path. In one
embodiment, moving the permanent magnets with respect to the coil system
comprises moving the permanent magnets along a generally circular path. In
one embodiment, moving the permanent magnets with respect to the coil
system comprises rotating the permanent magnets. In one embodiment, the
method further comprises optimizing a gradient in the compressed region of the
unbalanced magnetic field: In one embodiment, the coil system comprises a
first coil wound in a first direction and a second coil wound in a second
direction
different from the first direction. In one embodiment, the first coil
comprises a
first number of turns and the second coil comprises a second number of turns
different from the first number of turns. In one embodiment, the first coil
comprises a first wire having a first radius and the second coil comprises a
second wire having a second radius different from the first radius. In one
embodiment, moving the permanent magnets with respect to the coil system
comprises moving the permanent magnets along a generally circular path. In
one embodiment, the first magnetic element has a substantially semi-toroidal-
shaped face and the second magnetic element has a substantially semi-
toroidal-shaped face. In one embodiment, the substantially-toroidal-shaped
faces are dimensioned to form a substantially toroidal-shaped cavity between
the first magrietic element and the second magnetic element. In one
embodiment, the coil system comprises a substantially toroidal-shaped coil.
In one aspect, a method of generating mechanical force
comprises generating a magnetic field by positioning a first magnetic element
and a second magnetic element a distance apart with like poles substantially
facing each other, the magnetic field being unbalanced with respect to the
magnetic elements and compressed in a region adjacent to the plurality of
magnet elements, and conducting a current through a coil system in proximity
to the magnetic elements. In one embodiment, the current is an alternating
current. In one embodiment, the magnetic elements comprise permanent
magnets. In one embodiment, the method further comprises facilitating relative
4
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
movement between the magnetic elements and the coil system. In one
embodiment, facilitating relative movement comprises moving the permanent
magnets with respect to the coil system. In one embodiment, moving the
permanent magnets with respect to the coil system comprises moving the
permanent magnets along a generally linear path. In one embodiment, moving
the permanent magnets with respect to the coil system comprises moving the
permanent magnets along a generally circular path. In one embodiment,
moving the permanent magnets with respect to the coil system comprises
rotating the permanent magnets. In one embodiment, the method further
comprises optimizing a gradient in the compressed region of the unbalanced
magnetic field. In one embodiment, the coil system comprises a first coil
wound
in a first direction and a second coil wound in a second direction different
from
the first direction. In one embodiment, the first coil comprises a first
number of
turns and the second coil comprises a second number of turns different from
the first number of turns. In one embodiment, the first coil comprises a first
wire
having a first radius and the second coil comprises a second wire having a
second radius different from the first radius. In one embodiment, moving the
permanent magnets with respect to the coil system comprises moving the
permanent magnets along a generally circular path. In one embodiment, the
first magnetic element has a substantially semi-toroidal-shaped face and the
second magnetic element has a substantially semi-toroidal-shaped face. In one
embodiment, the substantially-toroidal-shaped faces are dimensioned to form a
substantially toroidal-shaped cavity between the first magnetic element and
the
second magnetic element. In one embodiment, the coil system comprises a
substantially toroidal-shaped coil.
In one aspect, a system comprises a case, an electro-mechanical
system contained within the case and comprising a coil system and a magnetic
structure comprising a first magnetic element having a physical property of a
first magnitude, a first pole of a first polarity and a second pole of a
second
polarity opposite of the first polarity, and a second magnetic element having
a
second magnitude of the physical property, different from the first magnitude,
a
5
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
first pole of the first polarity and a second pole of the second polarity, and
a
support structure configured to position the first and second magnetic
elements
spaced apart a distance with the first pole of the first magnetic element
generally facing the first pole of the second magnetic element to generate an
unbalanced magnetic field with respect to the first and second magnetic
etements, and an energy storage device contained within the case. In one
embodiment, the first magnetic element comprises a rare earth magnet. In one
embodiment, the second magnetic element comprises a rare earth magnet. In
one embodiment, the physicat property is a length and the first magnitude is
greater than the second magnitude. In one embodiment, the unbalanced
magnetic field comprises a region where the magnetic field is compressed. In
one embodiment, the support structure is configured to facilitate movement of
the niagnetic structure and the coil system with respect to each other. In one
embodiment, the region passes through the coil system when the magnetic
structure moves with respect to the coil system. In one embodiment, the coil
system comprises a plurality of coils. In one embodiment, the plurality of
coils
comprises a first coil wound in a first direction and a second coil wound in a
second direction different from the first direction. In one embodiment, the
first
coil comprises a first number of turns and the second coil comprises a second
number of turns different from the first number of turns. In one embodiment,
the first coil comprises a first wire having a first radius and the second
coil
comprises a second wire having a second radius different from the first
radius.
In one embodiment, the coil system comprises a plurality of pairs of coils
coupled together in a series-parallel configuration. In one embodiment, a
first
coil in a pair of coils in the plurality of coils comprises a first wire wound
in a first
direction, and a second coil in the pair of coils comprises a second wire
wound
in a second direction opposite of the first direction. In one embodiment, the
physical property is a strength and the first magnitude is greater than the
second magnitude. In one embodiment the coil system comprises a trace on
an insulating sheet. In one embodiment the coil system comprises a plurality
of
traces on a plurality of insulating sheets. In one embodiment, the system is
6
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
configured to facilitate relative circular movement of the magnetic structure
with
respect to the coil system. In one embodiment, the first pole of the first
magnetic element has a substantially semi-toroidal-shaped face and the first
pole of the second magnetic element has a substantially semi-toroidal-shaped
face. In one embodiment, the substantially semi-toroidal-shaped faces are
dimensioned to form a substantially toroidal-shaped cavity between the first
magnetic element and the second magnetic element. In one embodiment, the
coil system comprises a substantially toroidal-shaped coil.
In one aspect, an electromechanical system comprises first
means for generating a magnetic field, second means for generating a
magnetic field, means for positioning the first and second means for
generating
magnetic fields with respect to each other to generate an unbalanced magnetic
field that is compressed in a region adjacent to the means for generating a
compressed magnetic field, means for conducting a current, and means for
facilitating relative movement between the compressed region and the means
for conducting a current. In one embodiment, the means for generating
magnetic fields comprises permanent magnets. In one embodiment, the means
for conducting a current comprises a pair of coils, a first coil in the pair
comprising a first wire wound a first number of turns in a first direction and
having a first perimeter, a second coil in the pair comprising a second wire
wound a second number of turns, different from the first number of turns, in a
second direction, different from the first direction, and having a second
perimeter different from the first perimeter. In one embodiment, the first
number of turns is greater than the second number of turns and the first
perimeter is less than the second perimeter. In one embodiment, the means for
conducting a current further comprises a coupling configured to couple the
first
coil to the second coil such that a contribution from the first coil to a
potential
across an output has a same polarity as a contribution to the potential from
the
second coil. In one embodiment, the system is configured to facilitate
relative
circular movement of the region with respect to the means for conducting a
current. In one embodiment, the first means for generating a magnetic field
has
7
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
a substantially semi-toroidal-shaped face and the second means for generating
a magnetic field has a substantially semi-toroidal-shaped face. In one
embodiment, the substantially semi-toroidal-shaped faces are dimensioned to
form a substantially toroidai-shaped cavity between the first and second means
for generating a magnetic field. In one embodiment, the means for conducting
a current comprises a substantially toroidal-shaped coil.
In one aspect, a system comprises a first magnetic element
having a substantially semi-toroidal-shaped face, a second magnetic element
having a substantially semi-toroidal-shaped face, and a support structure
configured to hold the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element
apart to form a substantially toroidal-shaped cavity between the first and
second magnetic elements. In one embodiment, the system further comprising
a coil system. In one embodiment, the first magnet element is substantially
identical to the second magnetic element. In one embodiment, a length of the
first magnetic element is longer than a length of the second magnetic element.
In one embodiment, the first magnetic element comprises a substantially
cylindrical permanent magnet. In one embodiment, the first magnetic element
has a physical property of a first magnitude, a first pole of a first polarity
and a
second pole of a second polarity opposite of the first polarity and the second
magnetic element has a second magnitude of the physical property, different
from the first magnitude, a first pole of the first polarity and a second pole
of the
second polarity, and the support structure is configured to hold the first and
second magnetic elements spaced apart a distance closer than an ambient
distance with the first pole of the first magnetic element generally facing
the first
pole of the second magnetic element. In one embodiment, the first magnetic
element comprises a rare earth magnet. In one embodiment, the second
magnetic element comprises a rare earth magnet. In one embodiment, the
physical property is a length and the first magnitude is greater than the
second
magnitude. In one embodiment, the support structure is configured to hold the
magnetic elements in a position to generate an unbalanced magnetic field
comprising a region with a high-gradient magnetic field. In one embodiment,
8
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
the support structure is configured to facilitate movement of the magnetic
elements and a coil system with respect to each other. In one embodiment, the
region passes through the coil system when the magnetic elements move with
respect to the coil system. In one embodiment, the system is configured to
receive mechanical force and to generate an electrical signal in response to
the
receipt of the mechanical force. In one embodiment, the system is configured
to receive an electrical signal and to generate mechanical force in response
to
the receipt of the electrical signal. In one embodiment, the coil system
comprises a plurality of coils. In one embodiment, the plurality of coils
comprises a first coil wound about an axis in a first direction and a second
coil
wound about the axis in a second direction different from the first direction.
In
one embodiment, the first coil comprises a first number of turns and the
second
coil comprises a second number of turns different from the first number of
turns.
In one embodiment, the first coil comprises a first wire having a first radius
and
the second coil comprises a second wire having a second radius different from
the first radius. In one embodiment, the coil system comprises a plurality of
pairs of coils coupled together in a series-parallel configuration. In one
embodiment, a first coil in a pair of coils in the plurality of coils
comprises a first
wire wound in a first direction and a second coil in the pair of coils
comprises a
second wire wound in a second direction opposite of the first direction. In
one
embodiment, the system further comprises a mechanical transmission system.
In one embodiment, the mechanical transmission system is configured to
facilitate relative linear movement between the magnetic elements and the coil
system. In one embodiment, the mechanical transmission system is configured
to facilitate relative rotational movement between the magnetic elements and
the coil system. In one embodiment, the system is configured to facilitate
relative circular movement of the magnetic elements with respect to the coil
system.
In one aspect, an electro-mechanical system comprises a
magnetic structure comprising a first magnetic element having a first
strength, a
first pole of a first polarity and a second pole of a second polarity opposite
of
9
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
the first polarity and a second magnetic element having a second strength
approximately equal to the first strength, a first pole of the first polarity
and a
second pole of the second polarity, and a support structure configured to hold
the first and second magnetic elements spaced apart a distance with the first
pole of the first magnetic element generally facing the first pole of the
second
magnetic element, a coil system, and a suspension system configured to
facilitate relative movement of the magnetic structure with respect to the
coil
system, wherein the magnetic structure is configured to generate a magnetic
field having a gradient in a region adjacent to the magnetic structure that is
at
least as large as a gradient of a single magnet having a strength of five
times
the first strength. In one embodiment, the gradient in the region adjacent to
the
magnetic structure is at least as large as a gradient of a single magnet
having a
strength of seven times the first strength.
In one aspect, an electro-mechanical system comprises a coil
system comprising a first coil and a second coil unmatched with respect to the
first coil and coupled to the first coil, and a magnetic structure configured
to
move relative to the coil system. In one embodiment, the system is configured
to receive mechanical force and to generate an electrical signal in response
to
the receipt of the mechanical force. In one embodiment, the system is
configured to receive an electrical signal and to generate mechanical force in
response to the receipt of the electrical signal. In one embodiment, the first
coil
comprises a first wire wound in a first direction and the second coil
comprises a
second wire wound in a second direction different from the first direction. In
one embodiment, the first coil has a first equivalent diameter and the second
coil has a second equivalent diameter different from the first equivalent
diameter. In one embodiment, the magnetic structure comprises a first
magnetic element having a first pole of a first polarity and a second pole of
a
second polarity opposite of the first polarity, a second magnetic element
having
a first pole of the first polarity and a second pole of the second polarity,
and a
support structure configured to hold the first and second magnetic elements
spaced apart a distance closer than an ambient distance with the first pole of
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
the first magnetic element generally facing the first pole of the second
magnetic
element. In one embodiment, the first magnetic element comprises a rare earth
magnet. In one embodiment, the first magnetic element and the second
magnetic element have different lengths. In one embodiment, the support
structure is configured to hold the magnetic elements in a position to
generate
an unbalanced magnetic field with respect to the magnetic structure, the
unbalanced magnetic field comprising a region with a high-gradient magnetic
field. In one embodiment, the system further comprises a mechanical
transmission system. In one embodiment, the mechanical transmission system
is configured to facilitate relative linear movement between the magnetic
structure and the coil system. In one embodiment, the mechanical transmission
system is con.figured to facilitate relative rotational movement between the
magnetic structure and the coil system. In one embodiment, the first coil and
the second coil have different lengths. In one erribodirnent, the first coil
and the
second coil have different widths. In one embodiment, the first coil and the
second coil have different cross-sectional areas with respect to a vector. In
one
embodiment, the first coil comprises a first wire with a first diameter and
the
second coil comprises a second wire with a second diameter different from the
first diameter. In one embodiment, the first coil comprises a trace on a layer
of
insulating material. In one embodiment, a contribution to a potential from the
first coil to an output from the coil system has a same polarity as a
contribution
to the potential from the second coil. In one embodiment, the coil system
comprises a plurality of pairs of unmatched coils coupled together in a series-
parallel configuration. In one embodiment, the coil system comprises a
substantially toroidal coil form. In one embodiment, the magnetic structure
comprises a permanent magnet with a substantially semi-toroidal face. In one
embodiment, the magnetic structure comprises a substantially toroidal cavity.
In one aspect, a method of generating power comprises coupling
a pair of unmatched coils together and moving a magnetic structure relative to
the pair of coils. In one embodiment, coupling the pair of coils together
comprises coupling the pair of coils together in a series-parallel
configuration.
11
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
In one embodiment, the method further comprises rectifying a current
generated in the coil system. In one embodiment, the method further
comprises storing energy in an energy storage system. In one embodiment,
the method further comprises generating a compressed magnetic field with the
magnetic structure. In one embodiment, the pair of coils comprises a first
coil
wound about an axis in a first direction and a second coil wound about the
axis
in a second direction different from the first direction. In one embodiment,
the
first coil comprises a first number of turns and the second coil comprises a
second number of turns different from the first number of turns. In one
embodiment, the first coil comprises a first wire having a first radius and
the
second coil comprises a second wire having a second radius different from the
first radius. In one embodiment, the pair of unmatched coils are wound on a
substantially toroidal coil form. In one embodiment, the magnetic structure
comprises a permanent magnet with a substantially semi-toroidal face. In one
embodiment, the magnetic structure comprises a substantially toroidal cavity.
In one aspect, a system comprises a case, an electro-mechanical
system contained within the case and comprising a magnetic structure, a coil
system comprising a first coil and a second coil unmatched with respect to the
first coil and coupled to the first coil, and a support structure configured
to
facilitate relative movement of the magnetic structure and the coil system,
and
an energy storage device contained within the case and coupled to the coil
system. In one embodiment, the magnetic structure is configured to generate a
compressed magnetic field. In one embodiment, the compressed magnetic
field is unbalanced with respect to the magnetic structure. In one embodiment,
the coil system comprises a plurality of pairs of coils coupled together in a
series-parallel configuration. In one embodiment, the first coil is wound in a
first
direction and the second coil is wound in a second direction different from
the
first direction. In one embodiment, the first coil comprises a first number of
turns and the second coil comprises a second number of turns different from
the first number of turns. In one embodiment, the first coil comprises a first
wire
having a first radius and the second coil comprises a second wire having a
12
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
second radius different from the first radius. In one embodiment, the coil
system comprises a substantially toroidal coil form. In one embodiment, the
magnetic structure comprises a permanent magnet with a substantially semi-
toroidal face. In one embodiment, the magnetic structure comprises a
substantially toroidal cavity.
In one aspect, an electromechanical system comprises means for
generating a magnetic field, a coil system comprising first means for
conducting
a current and second means for conducting a current coupled to the first means
for conducting a current and unmatched with respect to the first means for
conducting a current, and means for facilitating relative movement between the
means for generating a magnetic field and the first and second means for
conducting a current. In one embodiment, the means for generating a magnetic
field comprises a plurality of permanent magnets. In one embodiment, the
means for generating a magnetic field is configured to generate a compressed
magnetic field. In one embodiment, a contribution from the first means for
conducting a current to a potential across an output of the coil system has a
same polarity as a contribution to the potential from the second means for
conducting a current. In one embodiment, the first means for conducting a
current comprises a conductive trace on an insulating layer. In one
embodiment, the coil system comprises a substantially toroidal coil form. In
one embodiment, the means for generating a magnetic field comprises a
permanent magnet with a substantially semi-toroidal face. In one embodiment,
the means for generating a magnetic field comprises a substantially toroidal
cavity.
In one aspect, an electromechanical system comprises a case, a
coil system contained within the case, an energy storage system contained
within the case, a magnetic structure contained within the case and comprising
a plurality of magnetic elements spaced apart with like poles facing together,
and a suspension system configured to facilitate relative movement between
the magnetic structure and the coil system. In one embodiment, the
electromechanical system further comprises an energy transfer control system
13
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
coupled to the coil system and the energy storage system. In one embodiment,
the case has an internal volume of less than 3.2 cubic inches. In one
embodiment, the system is configured to respond to a sine stimulus at a
frequency of 10 Hz over a five minute time period by storing approximately
18.24 Joules of energy in the energy storage system. In one embodiment, the
energy storage system comprises a supercapacitor. In one embodiment, the
system is configured to respond to a sine-wave stimulus at a frequency of 10
Hz over a five minute time period by storing at least 18 Joules of energy in
the
energy storage system. In one embodiment, a voltage level of the energy
storage system is approximately 3 volts. In one embodiment, the system is
configured to respond to a square-wave stimulus at a frequency of 10 Hz over a
five minute time period by storing at least 16 Joules of energy in the energy
storage system. In one embodiment, a voltage level of the energy storage
system is' approximately 2.83 volts. In one embodiment, the system is
configured to respond to a sine-wave stimulus at a frequency of 10 Hz over a
five minute time period by providing at least 14 Joules of energy to a load of
180 Ohms at a voltage level of approximately 2.7 volts. In one embodiment,
the system is configured to respond to a sine-wave stimulus at a frequency of
10 Hz over a five minute time period by providing at least 11 Joules of energy
to
a load of 90 Ohms at a voltage level of approximately 2.4 volts.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
The sizes and relative positions of elements in the drawings are
not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the shapes of various elements
and angles are not drawn to scale, and some of these elements are arbitrarily
enlarged and positioned to improve drawing legibility. Further, the particular
shapes of the elements as drawn are not necessariiy intended to convey any
information regarding the actual shape of particular elements, and have been
selected solely for ease of recognition in the drawings.
Figure 1 is a diametric cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a
bi-metal coil.
14
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
Figure 2 is a side plan view of an embodiment of a multi-coil
system in accordance with the present disclosure.
Figure 3 is a side plan view of another embodiment of a multi-coil
system in accordance with the present disclosure.
Figure 4 is a top view of another embodiment of a multi-coil
system in accordance with the present disclosure.
Figure 5 is a bottom view of the embodiment of a multi-coil system
illustrated in Figure 4.
Figure 6 is another top view of the embodiment of a multi-coil
system illustrated in Figure 4.
Figure 7 is a side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the
multi-coil system illustrated in Figure 4.
Figure 8 is a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of
a multi-coil system in accordance with the present disclosure.
Figure 9 is a top view of an embodiment of a layer suitable for use
in the embodiment of a multi-coil system of Figure 8.
Figure 10 is a side cross-sectional of an embodiment of a trace
suitable for use in the embodiment of a multi-coil system of Figure 8.
Figure 11 is a top view of another embodiment of a layer suitable
for use in the embodiment of a multi-coil system of Figure 8.
Figure 12 is a side cross-sectional of another embodiment of a
trace suitable for use in the embodiment of a multi-coil system of Figure 8.
Figure 13 is a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of
a multi-coil system in accordance with the present disclosure.
Figure 14 is functional block diagram showing the relative physical
positions of pairs of coils in an embodiment of a multi-coil system.
Figure 15 is a functional block diagram illustrating an embodiment
of a series-parallel coupling of the pairs of coils illustrated in Figure 14.
Figures 16A and 16B are graphic illustrations of the magnetic flux
generated by a permanent magnet.
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
Figures 17A and 17B are graphic illustrations of the magnetic flux
generated by two permanent magnets with like poles facing each other and
held together between an ambient distance and a substantially touching
position.
Figures 18A and 18B are graphic illustrations of the magnetic flux
generated by an embodiment of an unbalanced magnetic structure with two
permanent magnets of different lengths with like poles facing each other and
held together between an ambient distance and a substantially touching
position.
Figures 19A and 19B are graphic illustrations of the magnetic flux
generated by another embodiment of an unbalanced magnetic structure with
two permanent magnets of different lengths with like poles facing each other
and held together between an ambient distance and a substantially touching
position.
Figures 20A and 20B are graphic illustrations of the magnetic flux
generated by another embodiment of an unbalanced magnetic structure with
two permanent magnets of different lengths with like poles facing each other
and held together between an ambient distance and a substantially touching
position.
Figure 21 is a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of
an unbalanced magnetic structure.
Figure 22 is a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of
an unbalanced magnetic structure.
Figure 23 is a diametric cross-sectional view of an embodiment of
a battery.
Figure 24 is a side sectional view of another embodiment of a
battery.
Figure 25 is a diametric cross sectional view of an embodiment of
an electromechanical system.
Figure 26 is a diametric cross sectional view of another
embodiment of an electromechanical system.
16
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
Figure 27 is a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of
an unbalanced magnetic structure.
Figure 28 is a view of another embodiment of a coil system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the following description, certain details are set forth in order to
provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of devices, methods
and articles. However, one of skill in the art will understand that other
embodiments may be practiced without these details. In other instances, well-
known structures and methods associated with magnetic structures, coils,
batteries, linear generators, and control systems have not been shown or
described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the
embodiments.
Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the
specification and claims which follow, the word "comprise" and variations
thereof, such as "comprising," and "comprises," are to be construed in an
open,
inclusive sense, that is, as "inc{uding, but not limited to."
Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment," or
"an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic
described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one
embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phases "in one embodiment," or "in
an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not
necessarily referring to the same embodiment, or to all embodiments.
Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be
combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments to obtain further
embodiments.
The headings are provided for convenience only, and do not
interpret the scope or meaning of this disclosure or the claimed invention.
Figure 1 is a diametric cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a
bi-metal coil 100. The coil 100 comprises a non-magnetic winding form 102, a
non-magnetic, electrical conductive winding 104 and a magnetic conductive
17
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
winding 106. The use of an electrical conductive winding, such as the
electrical
conductive winding 104, with a magnetic conductive winding, such as the
magnetic conductive winding 106, facilitates focusing of a magnetic field
passing through or generated by an electrical conductive winding of a coil,
such
as the winding 104 of the coil 100. Focusing of the magnetic field can
significantly increase the efficiency of the coil 100. For example, when the
coil
100 is employed in a generator, as a magnetic structure is passed through the
coil 100 the electrical conductive winding 104 produces electron flow, while
the
magnetic conductive winding 106 focuses magnetic flux in the electrical
conductive winding 104 and causes an increase in power output from the coil
100.
A first layer 108 and a second layer 110 of the electrical
conductive winding 104 are wound onto the winding form 102. In one
embodiment, the electrical conductive winding 104 is continuous. In other
embodiments, the electrical conductive winding 104 may comprise a plurality of
windings, which may be electrically connected in series or in parallel. A
first
layer 112 of the magnetic conductive winding 106 is wound over the second
layer 110 of the electrical conductive winding 104. A third layer 114 and a
fourth layer 116 of the electrical conductive winding 104 are wound over the
first layer 112 of the magnetic conductive winding 106. A second layer 118 of
the magnetic conductive winding 106 is wound over the fourth layer 116 of the
electrical conductive winding 104. A fifth layer 119 of the electrical
conductive
winding 104 is wound over the second layer 118 of the magnetic conductive
winding 106.
The electrical conductive winding 104 may comprise any suitable
electrically conductive material, such as, for example, metallic materials,
such
as copper, copper coated with silver or tin, aluminum, silver, gold and/or
alloys.
The electrical conductive winding 104 may comprise, for example, solid wires,
strands, twisted strands, insulated strands, sheets or combinations thereof.
For
example, Litz wire may be employed. The electrical conductive winding 104
may vary significantly in size from the illustration, and may be substantially
18
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
smaller or substantially larger than illustrated. The electrical conductive
winding
104 is typically covered with an insulating material 120. The electrical
conductive winding 104 is coupled to the leads 122, 124 for the coil 100.
The magnetic conductive winding 106 may comprise any suitable
magnetic conductive material, for example, a magnetic shielding material, such
as, for example, nickel, nickel/iron alfoys, nickelltin alloys, nickel/silver
alloys,
plastic magnetic shielding, and/or nickel/iron/copper/molybdenum alloys.
Magnetic shielding materials are commercially available under several
trademarks, including MuMetal@, Hipernom , HyMu 80 , and Perrnalloy .
The magnetic conductive winding 106 may comprise, for example, solid wires,
strands, twisted strands, insulated strands, sheets or combinations thereof.
The magnetic conductive winding 106 may vary significantly in size from the
illustration, and may be substantially smaller or substantially larger than
illustrated. The magnetic conductive winding 106 is typically covered with an
insulating material 126. The magnetic conductive winding 106 forms a closed
loop, as illustrated by the connection 128, and as illustrated is connected to
a
ground 130.
Other configurations of layers of an electrical conductive winding
and a magnetic conductive winding may be employed. For example, m layers
of an electrical conductive winding may alternate with n layers of a magnetic
conductive winding, instead of two layers of electrical conductive winding
alternating with one layer of magnetic conductive winding as illustrated, with
m
and n positive integers. In another example, m and n need not remain
constant. For example, the number of layers may increase or decrease. An
example layer pattern would be 2E, 1 M, 3E, 2M, 4E, with E indicating
electrically conductive layers and M indicating magnetically conductive
layers.
Typically, the first and last layers comprise layers of the electrical
conductive winding 104. In one experimental embodiment, a configuration with
the first and last layer comprising the electrical conductive winding 104
produced better performance in a generator application than when the last
layer
was comprised of the magnetic conductive winding 106. In another example, a
19
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
plurality of electrical conductive windings could be employed. Additional
example embodiments of bi-metal coils are described in co-pending U.S.
Application No. 11/475,389, filed on June 26, 2006 and entitled BI-METAL
COIL.
Figure 2 is a functional block diagram of an embodiment of a
multi-coil system 200. The system 200 comprises a first coil 202, a second
coil
204 and a coil form 206. As illustrated, the two coils 202 and 204 are wound
on
a single coil form 206. In some embodiments, separate coil forms may be
employed for the first and second coils. In some embodiments, the diameter of
the coil form or forms may vary. As illustrated, the coil form 206 is
cylindrical in
shape. Other coil form shapes may be employed, such as a substantially
toroidal-shaped coil form (see Figure 28). A substantially toroidal-shaped
coil
form may comprise, for example, a true toroidal-shaped coil form, a toroidal-
shaped coil form reflecting manufacturing tolerances, or a modified toroidal-
shaped coil form, such as an elliptical-shaped coil form.
The first coil 202.comprise.s a wire 208. The wire 208 is wound a
first number of turns n in a winding 207 on the coil form 206. The wire 208
has
a perimeter defined by a first thickness 210. In the case where the wire is
round, the thickness is the diameter of the wire and the perimeter is the
circumference of the wire, and the diameter is related to the circumference
according to:
Circumference = rr * Diameter
The wire 208 also has an equivalent diameter, which is the cross-
section of the wire with respect to a vector divided by the perimeter. In the
case
of a round wire, the equivalent diameter may be defined according to:
Equivalent Diameter = Diameter / Perimeter
Wires with different shapes may be employed in some
embodiments. It is not necessary to employ round wires.
The first coil 202 is wound in a first direction Y as indicated by
direction arrow 212. The first coil 202 has a first lead 214 and a second lead
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
216. The second coil 204 comprises a wire 218. The wire 218 is wound a
second number of turns m in a winding 217 on the coil form 206. In the case
where the wire 218 is round, the wire 218 has a circumference defined by a
second thickness 220 or diameter. The second coi1204 is wound in a second
direction Z as indicated by the direction arrow 222. The second coil has a
first
lead 224 and a second lead 226. Details of the windings 207, 217 of the coils
202, 204 are omitted for ease of illustration. For example, the coils 202, 204
would each typically have multiple layers in the windings 207, 217. In some
embodiments, the coils 202, 204 may have, for example, several hundred turns.
The wires 208, 218 may comprise any suitable electrically
conductive material, such as, for example, metallic materials, such as copper,
copper coated with silver or tin, aluminum, silver, gold and/or alloys. The
wires
208, 218 may comprise, for example, solid wires, strands, twisted strands,
insulated strands, sheets or combinations thereof. For example, Litz wire may
be employed. The coils 202, 204 may vary significantly in size from the
illustration, and may be substantially smaller or substantially larger than
illustrated. The wires 208, 218 are typically covered with an insulating
material
(see insulating material 120 in Figure 1).
The system 200 also has an optional magnetic structure 228
configured to move through the coil form 206 along an axis 230 illustrated
using
a dashed line. For example, a suspension system (see, for example,
suspension system 432 in Figure 7) may be employed to facilitate movement of
the magnetic structure 228 through the coil form 206 along the axis 230. The
magnetic structure 228 may be a conventional single magnet or other magnetic
structures may be employed, such as those described below and those
described in co-pending U.S. Application No. 11/475,858, filed on June 26,
2006 and entitled Magnetic Structure. As illustrated, the magnetic structure
228
may be configured to move through the coil form 206 along a generally linear
path. In some embodiments, the magnetic structure 228 may be configured to
move through the coil form 206 along other paths. For example, a generally
circular path may be employed with a toroidal coil. (See Figure 28).
21
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
As illustrated, the first and second coils 202, 204 are unmatched
in that they have at least one physical property that is different. Example
physical properties of coils include length, width, diameter, cross-sectional
area
with respect to a vector, equivalent diameter and conductivity. As
illustrated, at
least two physical properties are different. Specifically, the first thickness
210 is
less than the second thickness 220, and the first number of turns n is greater
than the second number of turns m. In addition, the first direction Y is
different
from the second direction Z. In some embodiments, the number of turns n of
the winding 207 of the first coil 202 may be the same as or less than the
number of turns m of the winding 217 of the second coil 204. In some
embodiments, the first thickness 210 may be the same as or greater than the
second thickness 220. The system 200 may be employed, for example, as a
generator to generate electrical energy in response to movement of the
magnetic structure 228 through the coil form 206.
As illustrated, the first lead 214 of the first coil 202 is coupled to
the second lead 226 of the second coil 204. An optional load 232 is coupled
between the second lead 216 of the first coil and the first lead 224 of the
second coil. In the illustrated embodiment, the first coil 202 will provide
the
largest voltage component of a potential V produced between the second lead
216 of the first coil 202 and the first lead 224 of the second coil 204 in
response
to a movement of the magnetic structure 228 through the coil form 206, with
both the first and the second coils 202, 204 contributing a potential
component
of the same polarity in response to the movement. In addition, the second coil
204 will provide the largest component of a current i flowing through the load
232, with both coils 202, 204 contributing to the current flow in the same
direction in response to the movement.
In some embodiments, the first coil 202 may be coupled to the
second coil 204 in different ways. For example, in some embodiments the first
lead 214 of the first coil 202 may be coupled to the first lead 224 of the
second
coil 204 and the load 232 may be coupled across the second lead 216 of the
first coil 202 and the second lead 226 of the second coil 204. In another
22
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
example, the second lead 216 of the first coil 202 may be coupled to the first
lead 224 of the second coil 204 and the load 232 may be coupled across the
first lead 214 of the first coil 202 and the second lead 226 of the second
coil
224. In another example, the second lead 216 of the first coil 202 may be
coupled to the second lead 226 of the second coil 204 and the load 232 may be
coupled across the first Iead 214 of the first coil 202 and the first lead 224
of the
second coil 204. In another example, the first lead 214 of the first coii 202
may
be coupled to the first lead 224 of the second coil 204, the second lead 216
of
the first coi1202 may be coupled to the second lead 226 of the second coil
204,
and the load 232 may be coupled across the pair of coupled leads.
Some embodiments may employ additional coils and/or pairs of
coils coupled together in various ways. Some embodiments may employ one
or more bi-metal coils. See, for example, bi-metal coil 100 of Figure 1. For
example, in some embodiments the first coil 202, the second coil 204, or both
coils. may comprise bi-metal coils. In some embodiments, the magnetic
structure 228 may be configured to move along side the first and second coils
202, 204, rather than through the coils 202, 204. In some embodiments, the
first and second coils may comprise a series of wire segments coupled
together, instead of or in addition to wires wound on a coil form.
Figure 3 is a functional block diagram of another embodiment of a
multiple-coil system 300. The system 300 comprises a first coil 302, a second
coil 304 and a coil form 306. As illustrated, the two coils 302 and 304 are
wound on a single coil form 306. In some embodiments, separate coil forms
may be employed for the first and second coils 302, 304. In some
embodiments, the diameter of the coil form or forms may vary.
The first coil 302 comprises a wire 308 of a first thickness 310,
which is wound a first number of turns n on the coil form 306 in a first
direction
Y as indicated by direction arrow 312. The first coil 302 has a first lead 314
and
a second lead 316. The second coil 304 comprises a wire 318 of a second
thickness 320, which is wound a second number of turns m in the same
direction Y indicated by the direction arrow 312. A typical coil in some
23
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
embodiments may have, for example, several hundred turns. The second coil
304 has a first lead 324 and a second lead 326. Details of the windings 307,
317 of the coils 302, 304 are omitted for ease of illustration. For example,
the
coils 302, 304 would each typically have multiple layers of windings. The
wires
308, 318 may comprise any suitable electrical conductive material and are
typically coated with an insulating material, as discussed above with respect
to
the wires 208, 218 of Figure 2. A perimeter and an equivalent diameter may be
defined for the wires 308, 318.
The system 300 also has an optional magnetic structure 328
configured to move through the coil form 306 along an axis 330 illustrated
using
dashed line. For example, a suspension system (see suspension system 432
Figure 7) may be employed to facilitate movement of the magnetic structure
328 through the coil form 306 along the axis 330. The magnetic structure 328
may be a conventional single magnet or other magnetic structures may be
employed, such as those described below and those described in co-pending
U.S. Application No. 11/475,858, filed on June 26, 2006 and entitled Magnetic
Structure.
As illustrated, the first thickness 310 is less than the second
thickness 320 and the first number of turns n is greater than the second
number
of turns m. Thus, the coils 302, 304 are unmatched. In some embodiments,
the number of turns n of the first coii 302 may be the same as or less than
the
number of turns m of the second coil 304. In some embodiments, the first
thickness 310 may be the same as or greater than the second thickness 320.
The system 300 may be employed, for example, as a generator to generate
electrical energy in response to movement of the magnetic structure 328
through the coil form 306.
As illustrated, the second lead 316 of the first coil 302 is coupled
to the first lead 324 of the second coil 304. An optional load 332 is coupled
between the first lead 314 of the first coil 302 and the second lead 326 of
the
second coil 304. In the illustrated embodiment, the first coil 302 will
provide the
largest voltage component of a potential V produced between the first lead 314
24
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
of the first coil 202 and the second lead 326 of the second coil 304 in
response
to a movement of the magnetic structure 328 through the coil form 306, with
both the first and the second coils 302, 304 contributing a potential
component
of the same polarity in response to the movement. In addition, the second coil
304 will provide the largest component of a current i flowing through the load
332, with both coi(s contributing to the current flow in the same direction in
response to the movement.
In some embodiments, the first coil 302 may be coupled to the
second coil 304 in different ways. For example, in some embodiments the first
lead 314 of the first coil 302 may be coupled to the first lead 324 of the
second
coil 304 and the load 332 may be coupled across the second lead 316 of the
first coil 302 and the second lead 326 of the second coil 304. In another
example, the first lead 314 of the first coil 302 may be coupled to the second
lead 326 of the second coil 304 and the load 332 may be coupled across the
second lead 316 of the first coil 302 and the first lead 324 of the second
coil
304. In another example, the second lead 316 of the first coil 302 may be
coupled to the second lead 326 of the second coil 304 and the load 332 may be
coupled across the first lead 314 of the first coil 302 and the first lead 324
of the
second coil 304. In another example, the first lead 314 of the first coil 302
may
be coupled to the first lead 324 of the second coil 304, the second lead 316
of
the first coil 302 may be coupled to the second lead 326 of the second coil
304,
and the load 332 may be coupled across the pair of coupled leads.
Some embodiments may employ additional coils and/or pairs of
coils coupled together in various ways. Some embodiments may employ one
or more bi-metal coils. For example, in some embodiments the first coil 302,
the second coil 304, or both coils may comprise bi-metal coils (see bi-metal
coil
100 of Figure 1). In some embodiments, the magnetic structure 326 may be
configured to move along side the first and second coils 302, 304, rather than
through the coils 302, 304. In some embodiments, the first and second coils
may comprise a series of wire segments coupled together, instead of or in
addition to wires wound on a coil form.
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
Figures 4 through 7 illustrate another embodiment of a multi-coil
system 400 employing unmatched coils. Figures 4 through 7 are not drawn to
scale for ease of illustration. Figure 4 is a top view of the multi-coil
system 400.
The multi-coil system 400 comprises a layer of insulating material 402 with an
upper surface 404. The layer of insulating material 402 may comprise, for
example, an integrated circuit board, a substrate or a thin film or sheet of
insulation. Commercially available insulating materials are sold, for example,
under the trademark MylarO. A first electrical conductive winding or trace 406
forms a first coil 408 on the upper surface 404 of the layer of insulating
material
402. The first electrical conductive trace 406 may comprise any suitable
electrical conductive material, such as, for example, copper, aluminum, gold,
and silver, and alloys. Well-known techniques for forming traces on substrates
may be employed, such as those used in connection with RFID devices and
antennas. The layer of insulating material 402 has an opening 410. The
electrically conductive trace 406 has a first thickness 412 and is wound in a
first
direction Y with respect to the opening 410 when viewed from above. The first
electrical trace 406 also has a first number of turns n, which as illustrated
is four
turns. The trace 406 is not necessarily drawn to scale and any number of turns
n may be employed. A typical embodiment for use in a small generator may
have, for example, one to fifty turns. The first coil 408 has a first terminal
414
and a second terminal 416.
Figure 5 is a bottom view of the embodiment of a multi-coil system
400 illustrated in Figure 4. The layer of insulating material 402 has a lower
surface 418. A second electrical conductive winding or second trace 420 forms
a second coil 422 on the lower surface 418 of the layer of insulating material
402. The second electrical conductive trace 420 may comprise any suitable
electrical conductive material, such as, for example, copper, aluminum, gold,
and silver, and alloys. Well-known techniques for forming traces on substrates
may be employed, such as those used in connection with RFID devices and
antennas. The electrically conductive trace 420 has a second thickness 424
and is wound in a second direction Z with respect to the opening 410 when
26
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
viewed from above. The electrical trace 420 has a second number of turns m,
which as illustrated is two turns. The trace 420 is not necessarily drawn to
scale and any number of turns m may be employed. A typical embodiment for
use in a small generator may have, for example, one to fifty turns. The second
coil 422 has a first terminal 426 and a second terminal 428.
As illustrated in Figure 4, the first direction Y has a clockwise
orientation with respect to the opening 410 when viewed from above. The
second direction Z has a counterclockwise orientation with respect to the
opening 410 when viewed from above. When viewed from below, however, (as
shown in Figure 5), the second direction Z has a clockwise orientation with
respect to the opening 410. Figure 6 is another top view of the system 400 and
illustrates that, when viewed from the same perspective, namely above, the
first
direction Y is opposite of the second direction Z. In some embodiments, the
first and second coils 408, 422 may both be wound in the same direction (such
as direction Y) with respect to the opening 410 when viewed from the same
perspective, for example, when viewed from above.
Figure 7 is a side view of an embodiment of the multi-coil system
400 illustrated in Figures 4-6, showing an optional magnetic structure 430 and
suspension system 432, which facilitates the magnetic structure 430 passing
through the opening 410. Some details are omitted from Figure 7 to facilitate
illustration. The system 400 may be configured to operate as a generator to
generate electrical energy in response to movement of the magnetic structure
430 through the opening 410. The system 400 may also be configured to
operate as a motor to move the magnetic structure 430 in response to the
application of electrical energy to the coils 408, 422. In the illustrated
embodiment when configured as a generator, when the first terminal 414 of the
first coil 408 is coupled to the second terminal 428 of the second coil 422,
the
first coil 408 will provide the largest voltage component of a potential
produced
between the second terminal 416 of the first coil 408 and the first terminal
426
of the second coil 422 in response to a passing of the magnetic structure 430
through the first and second coils 408 and 422, with the first coil 408 and
the
27
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
second coil 422 both contributing a voltage component of the same polarity in
response to the movement. In addition, the second coil 422 will provide the
largest component of a current i, with both coils 408, 422 contributing to the
current flow in the same direction in response to the movement.
Some embodiments may employ additional coils and/or pairs of
coils coupled together in various ways. Some embodiments may employ one
or more bi-metal coils. For example, in some embodiments the first coil 408,
the second coil 422, or both coils may comprise bi-metal coils (see bi-metal
coil
100 of Figure 1, as well as the bi-metal coils illustrated in co-pending U.S.
Patent Application No. 11/475,389, filed June 26, 2006 and entitled "Bi-Metal
Coil"). In some embodiments, the magnetic structure 430 may be configured to
move along side or around the first and second coils 408, 422, rather than
through the coils 408, 422. In some embodiments, the first and second coils
may comprise a series of trace segments coupled together, instead of or in
addition to wound traces.
Figures 8 through 11 illustrate another embodiment of a multi-coil
system 800 employing coils that are unmatched. Figure 8 is a side cross-
sectional view of the multi-coil system 800. The system 800 comprises a first
coil 802 and a second coil 804. The first coil 802 has at least one physical
property or characteristic that is different than the corresponding physical
property of the second coil 804.
The first coil 802 comprises a number n of stacked layers of
insulating material 806. Figure 9 illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a
iayer 806 of the first coil 802. Any number n of layers of insulating material
806
may be stacked together in the first coil 802. For example, some embodiments
may have a single layer of insulating material 806, while other embodiments
may employ several hundred layers of insulating material 806. The layers of
insulating material 806 may comprise, for example, an integrated circuit
board,
a substrate or a thin film or sheet of insulation. Commercially available
insulating materials are sold, for example, under the trademark MylarO. The n
layers 806 have an electrically conductive trace 808 wound in a first
direction Y
28
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
with respect to a center hole 810 in the layer 806 when viewed from above, as
shown in more detail in Figure 9. The electrical conductive trace 808 may
comprise any suitable electrical conductive material, such as, for example,
copper, aluminum, gold, and silver, and alloys. Well-known techniques for
forming traces on substrates may be employed, such as those used in
connection with RFID devices and antennas. A first lead 812 couples a first
end 814 (see Figure 9) of the electrical traces 808 together and a second lead
816 couples a second end 818 (see Figure 9) of the electrical traces 808
together. As illustrated, each trace 808 has a perimeter 811 defined by depth
809 and a width 807 (see Figure 10). Specifically, as illustrated the
perimeter
of a trace 808 is defined according to:
Perimeter = 2*(depth of trace) + 2*(width of trace)
The traces 808 need not be rectilinear. Thus, the perimeter 811
may be defined by other dimensions. The traces 808 have an equivalent
diameter when relative movement occurs with respect to a magnetic field (See,
for example, the magnet fields illustrated by magnetic flux lines in Figures
16-
20), which may vary based on the orientation of the coil 804 with respect to a
vector of the relative movement. The equivalent diameter may be defined as
the cross-sectional area of the coil perpendicular to the vector of relative
movement divided by the perimeter of the coil. For example, when an optional
magnetic structure 840 is moved with respect to the coil 802 along an axis 842
perpendicular to the layer 806, the equivalent diameter of a rectilinear trace
808
of the first coil 802 can be expressed as:
Equivalent Diameter = (width of trace)/(perimeter of trace)
The traces 808 as illustrated do not form a complete turn. Some
embodiments may employ traces with one or more turns, such as those
illustrated in Figures 4 through 7, above. Adding turns to a trace may
increase
the equivalent diameter of the trace. The traces need not be curved. For
example, some embodiments may employ traces comprising straight line
29
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
segments. The equivalent diameter of a coil comprised of traces may be
expressed as the sum of the equivalent diameters of the traces.
The second coil 804 comprises a number m of stacked layers of
insulating material 820. Figure 11 illustrates a top view of an embodiment of
a
layer 820 of the second coil 804. Any number m of layers of insulating
material
820 may be stacked together in the second coil 804. For example, some
embodiments may have a single layer of insulating material 820, while other
embodiments may employ several hundred layers of insulating material 820.
The layers of insulating material 820 may comprise, for example, an integrated
circuit board, a substrate or a thin film or sheet of insulation. Commercially
available insulating materials are sold, for example, under the trademark
Mylar . Each layer 820 has an electrically conductive trace 822 wound in a
second direction Z with respect to a center hole 824 in the layer 822, as
shown
in more detail. in Figure 11. The electrical conductive trace 822 may comprise
any suitable electrical conductive material, such as, for example, copper,
aluminum, gold, and silver, and alloys. Well-known techniques for forming
traces on substrates may be employed, such as those used in connection with
RFID devices and antennas. A first lead 826 couples a first end 828 (see
Figure 11) of the electrical traces 822 together and a second lead 830 couples
a second end 832 (see Figure 11) of the electrical traces 822 together. As
illustrated, each trace 822 has a perimeter 825 defined by a depth 823 and a
width 821 (see Figure 12), as discussed above with respect to trace 808. The
traces 822 need not be rectilinear. Thus the perimeter 825 may be defined by
other dimensions. As discussed above with respect to traces 808 of the first
coil 802, the traces 822 of the second coil 804 have an equivalent diameter
when, relative movement occurs with respect to a magnetic field. The traces
822 as illustrated do not form a complete turn. Some embodiments may
employ traces with one or more turns, such as those illustrated in Figures 4
through 7, above.
An optional coil form 834, which may be a hollow tube, fits into the
openings 810, 824 of the coils 802, 804. The respective perimeters 811, 825 of
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
the traces 808, 822 of the coils 802, 804 may be the same or may vary. In
some embodiments, the depth 809 of the traces 808 of the first coil 802 will
be
the same as the depth 823 of the traces 822 of the second coil 804. In some
embodiments, the first and second coils 802, 804 may have traces 808, 822
with different depths. In some embodiments, the width 807 of the traces 808 of
the first coil 802 will be the same as the width 821 of the traces 822 of the
second coil 804. In some embodiments, the first and second coils 802, 804
may have traces 808, 822 with different widths. In some embodiments, the
traces 808, 822 of the first and second coils 802, 804 may have different
respective equivalent diameters.
The system 800 may be configured to operate as a generator to
generate electrical energy in response to a movement of the magnetic structure
840 through the first coil 802 and the second coil 804. For example, when the
first lead 812 of the first coil 802 is coupled to the second lead 830 of the
second coil 804, n is greater than m, and the equivalent diameter of the
traces
808 of the first coil 802 is less than the equivalent diameter of the traces
822 of
the second coil 804, the first coil 802 will provide the largest voltage
component
of a potential produced between the second lead 816 of the first coil 802 and
the first lead 826 of the second coil 804 in response to a passing of the
magnetic structure 840 through the first and second coils 802, 804, with the
first
coil 802 and the second coil 804 both contributing a voltage component of the
same polarity in response to the movement. In addition, the second coil 804
will provide the largest component of a current flow i, with both coils 802,
804
contributing to the current flow in the same direction in response to the
movement. The system 800 may also be configured to operate as a motor. As
illustrated, the coil form 834 facilitates generally linear movement of the
magnetic structure 840 through the coils 802, 804. Other paths may be
employed. For example, in some embodiments the magnetic structure 840
may be configured to move relative to the coils 802, 804 along a generally
circular path. For example, a toroidal coil system (see Figure 28) may be
employed in some embodiments.
31
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
Some embodiments may employ additional coils and/or pairs of
coils coupled together in various ways. Some embodiments may employ one
or more bi-metal coils. For example, in some embodiments the first coil 802,
the second coil 804, or both coils may comprise bi-metal coils (see bi-metal
coil
100 of Figure 1, as well as the bi-metal coils illustrated in co-pending U.S.
Patent Application No. 11/475,389, filed June 26, 2006 and entitled "Bi-Metal
Coil"). In some embodiments, the magnetic structure 840 may be configured to
move along different vectors with respect to the first and second coils 802,
804,
rather than through the coils 802, 804 along the vector corresponding to the
axis 842. In some embodiments, the first and second coils may comprise a
series of straight trace segments coupled together, instead of or in addition
to
curved trace segments.
Figure 13 is a side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a
multi-coil system 100 comprising four coils 102, 104, 106, 108. Details of the
coils 102, 104, 106, 108 are omitted for ease of illustration. Embodiments of
the system 100 may, for example, employ coils similar to those illustrated in
Figures 1 through 12 and to those illustrated in co-pending United States
Patent
Application No. 11/475,389, filed June 26, 2006 and entitled "Bi-Metal Coil."
The system 100 has a common coil form 110. Some embodiments may
employ additional coil forms. The first coil 102 is wound in a clockwise
manner
with respect to the coil form 110 when viewed from above, as illustrated by
the
arrow 112. The second coil 104 is wound in a counter-clockwise manner with
respect to the coil form 110 when viewed from above, as illustrated by the
arrow 114. The first and second coils 102, 104 may be matched or unmatched.
For example, the first coil 102 and the second coil 104 may be unmatched by
employing coils with different equivalent diameters, different numbers of
turns,
or combinations thereof. The third coil 106 is wound in a clockwise manner
with respect to the coil form 110 when viewed from above, as illustrated by
the
arrow 116. The fourth coil 108 is wound in a counter-clockwise manner with
respect to the coil form 110 when viewed from above, as illustrated by the
arrow 118. The third and fourth coils 106, 108 may be matched or unmatched.
32
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
The first coil 102 has an upper lead 120 and a lower lead 122. The second coil
104 has an upper lead 124 and a lower lead 126. The third coil 106 has an
upper lead 128 and a lower lead 130. The fourth coil 108 has an upper lead
132 and a lower lead 134. A magnetic structure 136 is coupled to a suspension
system 138 configured to move the magnetic structure 136 through the coil
form 110. Some embodiments may employ additional coils or pairs of matched
or unmatched coils.
As illustrated, the upper lead 120 of the first coil 102 is coupled to
the lower lead 130 of the third coil 106, the upper lead 124 of the second
coil
104 is coupled to the lower lead 134 of the fourth coil 108, the lower lead
122 of
the first coil 102 is coupled to the lower lead 126 of the second coil 104,
and the
upper lead 128 of the third coil 106 is coupled to the upper lead 132 of the
fourth coil 108. A first output 140 is coupled to the lower leads 122, 126 of
the
first and second coils 102, 104. A second output 142 is coupled to the upper
leads 128, 132 of the third and fourth coils 106, 108. The illustrated
coupling of
the coils may be described as a series-parallel configuration. Some
embodiments may couple the coils 102, 104, 106, 108 and outputs 140, 142
together in other configurations. Additional pairs of coils may be coupled
together in a series-parallel configuration. See, for example, Figures 14 and
15, below.
The system 100 illustrated in Figure '13 may be configured to
operate as a generator to generate electrical energy in response to movement
of the magnetic structure 136 through the coil form 110. In the illustrated
embodiment, when the first coil 102 and the third coil 106 have a larger
number
of turns than the second coil 104 and the fourth coil 108, respectively, then
the
first and third coils 102, 106 will provide the largest voltage component of a
potential V produced between the first output 140 and the second output 142 in
response to a passing of the magnetic structure through the coils 102, 104,
106, 108, with all of the coils 102, 104, 106, 108 contributing a voltage
component of the same polarity in response to the movement. In addition,
when an equivalent diameter of the second and fourth coils 104, 108 is greater
33
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
than the respective equivalent diameter of the first and third coils 102, 106,
and
a load (see load 332 in Figure 3) is coupled across the outputs 140, 142, the
second and fourth coils 104, 108 will provide the largest component of a
current
i, with all of the coils 102, 104, 106, 108 contributing to the current flow
in the
same direction in response to the movement. The system 100 may also be
configured to operate as a motor.
Figures 14 and 15 illustrate an embodiment of a system 200
comprising a number N of pairs of coils 202. Figure 14 illustrates the
relative
position of the pairs of coils 202 about an axis 204. Each pair of coils 202
has a
first coil A and a second coil B. Each coil has a first lead designated "+"
and a
second lead designated "-". Figure 15 is a functional block diagram
illustrating
coupling the pairs of coils 202 together in a series-parallel configuration.
The
first coils A of each pair 202 are coupled together in series in a descending
order to form a first arm 206 and the second coils B of each pair of coils 202
are
coupled together in series in a descending order to form a second arm 208.
The first arm 206 and the second arm 208 are coupled together in parallel. A
first lead 210 is coupled to a first end 212 of the coupled arms 206, 208. A
second lead 214 is coupled to a second end 216 of the coupled arms 206, 208.
Coils are frequently employed in devices and applications
together with magnets. Figures 16A and 16B are graphic illustrations of the
magnetic flux generated by a conventional magnetic structure 500. Figure 16B
is a gray-shaded version of Figure 16A. The magnetic structure 500 comprises
a magnet 502 having a first pole 504 of a first polarity and a second pole 506
of
a second polarity opposite of the first polarity. Figure 16 shows
representative
magnetic flux equipotential lines 508 to illustrate the magnetic field that is
generated by the permanent magnet 502 of the magnetic structure 500 when
the magnet 502 has a strength of approximately 11,000 Gauss. The closer the
equipotential lines in a region, the greater the magnetic flux density in the
region.
Improvements, however, can be made to conventional magnetic
structures. In many devices and applications, increasing the magnetic flux
34
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
density in a region can greatly improve efficiency and performance. For
example, increasing the magnetic flux density in a region can lead to a higher
gradient, which can lead to increased efficiency in, for example, a generator
or
a motor employing the magnetic structure. Co-pending U.S. Application No.
11/475,858 filed June 26, 2006 and entitled Magnetic Structure, describes
several magnetic structures that generate regions of high magnetic flux
densities by holding magnets spaced apart with like poles facing each other,
and that may provide significant improvements in efficiency, for example, in
power generation.
Figures 17A and 17B illustrate a magnetic structure 600 that is
configured to generate a compressed magnetic field that is balanced with
respect to the magnetic structure 600. Figure 17B is a gray-shaded version of
Figure 17A. The magnetic structure 600 comprises a first magnet 602 having a
first pole 604 of a first polarity and a second pole 606 of a second polarity
opposite of the first polarity. The magnetic structure 600 also comprises a
second magnet 608 having a first pole 610 of the first polarity and a second
pole 612 of the second polarity. The magnetic structure 600 may comprise, for
example, one or more rare earth magnets, such as neodymium-iron-boron
permanent magnets, one or more ceramic magnets, one or more plastic
magnets, one or more powdered magnets, or one or more other magnets.
Figures 17A and 17B show representative magnetic flux
equipotential lines 614 to illustrate the magnetic field that is generated by
an
embodiment of the magnetic structure 600 employing two essentially identical
magnets 602, 608. Specifically, Figures 17A and 17B show representative
magnetic flux equipotential lines 614 when the first magnet 602 has a strength
of approximately 11,000 Gauss, the second magnet 608 has a strength of
approximately 11,000 Gauss and the magnets 602, 608 are held spaced apart
a distance of 6 mm with like poles facing each other. A compressed magnetic
field is generated in a region 616 adjacent to the space 618 between the
magnets 602, 608. The magnetic field is balanced with respect to the magnets
602, 608 in the magnetic structure 600.
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
In one experimental embodiment, a magnetic structure was
configured using two substantially identical cylindrical magnets having a
strength of approximately 13,600 Gauss, a diameter of approximately half an
inch and a length of approximately three-quarters of an inch positioned
approximately 6 mm apart with like poles facing each other. The gradient of
the
magnetic field in a region adjacent to the magnetic structure was
approximately
equivalent to that generated by a single cylindrical magnet having a strength
of
approximately 68,000 Gauss. This represents an improvement of
approximately 500% over a single cylindrical magnet having a strength of
approximately 13,600 Gauss.
Further increases in the magnetic flux density in a desired region
can be obtained by employing an unbalanced magnetic structure configured to
generate an unbalanced magnetic field. A magnetic structure can be
unbalanced, for example, by arranging magnetic elements (such as magnets or
equivalents thereof, such as electromagnets) in the magnetic structure that
have different physical characteristics or properties, such as, for example,
different strengths, physical sizes, shapes, volumes, magnetic densities,
equivalent diameters, or various combinations of different physical
characteristics or properties. For example, a first magnet having a selected
physical property of a first magnitude may be employed with a second magnet
in which either the selected property is missing or is of a different
magnitude.
For example, a first magnet having a first dimension, such as a length, width,
depth or radius, of a first magnitude may be arranged together with a second
magnet having the first dimension of a second magnitude different from the
first
magnitude. In another example, a first cylindrical magnet having a cone-
shaped portion may be arranged together with a second cylindrical magnet
without a cone-shaped portion. In another example, a configuration with a
first
magnet having a first equivalent diameter may be employed with a second
magnet having a second equivalent diameter.
Figures 18A and 18B are cross-sectional views of an embodiment
of a magnetic structure 700 configured to generate an unbalanced magnetic
36
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
field. Figure 188 is a gray-shaded version of Figure 18A. The magnetic
structure 700 comprises a first cylindrical magnet 702 and a second
cylindrical
magnet 704. In some embodiments, the magnets 702 and 704 may have
different shapes and sizes and various combinations of shapes and sizes may
be employed. The first magnet 702 has a length 706, a radius 708, a first pole
710 having a first polarity, a second pole 712 having a second polarity, and a
strength G, in Gauss. The second magnet 704 has a length 714, a radius 716,
a first pole 718 having the first polarity, a second pole 720 having the
second
polarity, and a strength G2 in Gauss. The first and second magnets 702, 704
are positioned with like poles (for example, the North poles) facing each
other
and separated by a distance 722. A support structure such as a housing (see
housing 852 in Figure 23) may be employed to hold the magnets 702, 704 a
desired distance apart with like poles facing each other. As illustrated, the
selected physical property is the length of the respective magnets (which also
results in the respective magnets having different equivalent diameters).
Specifically, the length 706 of the first magnet 702 is greater than the
length
714 of the second magnet 704. In some embodiments, the magnetic structure
700 may employ magnets with different radii instead of or in addition to
magnets with different lengths. Similarly, magnets with different strengths
GI,
G2 may be employed, instead of or in additional to magnets of different
lengths
and/or radii. As discussed above, various embodiments of a magnetic structure
configured to generate an unbalanced magnetic field may employ magnets
having various combinations of one or more different physical properties. The
magnetic structure 700 may comprise, for example, one or more rare earth
magnets, such as neodymium-iron-boron permanent magnets, one or more
ceramic magnets, one or more plastic magnets, one or more electromagnets,
one or more powdered magnets, or one or more other magnets.
Figures 18A and 18B show representative magnetic flux
equipotential lines 724 to illustrate an unbalanced magnetic field 726 that is
generated by an embodiment of the magnetic structure 700 when the strength
G, of the first magnet 702 is approximately 11,600 Gauss, the strength G2 of
37
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
the second magnet 704 is approximately 11,600 Gauss and the magnets are
held spaced apart at a distance of 16 mm with like poles facing each other.
The magnetic field 726 has a greater density in a region 728 associated with
the first magnet 702 and a lesser density in a region 730 associated with the
second magnet 704. The magnetic field 726 also has two high-gradient field
regions 729, 731 adjacent to the magnetic structure 726. The two high-gradient
field regions 729, 731 are unbalanced with respect to each other. For example,
the first region 729 is smaller than the second region 731.
Figures 19A and 19B show representative magnetic flux
equipotential lines 732 to illustrate an unbalanced magnetic field 734 that is
generated by an embodiment of the magnetic structure 700 when the strength
G, of the first magnet 702 is approximately 11,000 Gauss, the strength G2 of
the second magnet 704 is approximately 11,000 Gauss and the magnets are
held spaced apart at a distance of approximately 11 mm with like poles facing
each other. Figure 19B is a gray-shaded version of Figure 19A. The magnetic
field 734 has a greater density in a region 736 associated with the first
magnet
702 and a lesser density in a region 738 associated with the second magnet
704. The density of the magnetic field 734 in the region 736 is greater than
the
density of the magnetic field 726 in the region 728 of the embodiment of
Figure
18A and the density of the magnetic field 734 in the region 738 is less than
the
density of the magnetic field 726 in the region 730 of the embodiment of
Figure
18A. The magnetic field 734 is compressed in two regions 739, 740 adjacent to
the magnets 702, 704 and unbalanced with respect to each other and to the
magnetic structure 700.
Figures 20A and 20B show representative magnetic flux
equipotential lines 742 to illustrate an unbalanced magnetic field 744 that is
generated by an embodiment of the magnetic structure 700 when the strength
G, of the first magnet 702 is approximately 11,600 Gauss, the strength G2 of
the second magnet 704 is approximately 11,600 Gauss and the magnets are
held spaced apart at a distance of 2 mm with like poles facing each other.
Figure 20B is a gray-shaded version of Figure 20A. The magnetic field 744 has
38
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
a greater density in a region 746 associated with the first magnet 702 and a
lesser density in a region 748 associated with the second magnet 704. The
density of the magnetic field 744 in the region 746 is greater than the
density of
the magnetic field 734 in the region 736 of the embodiment of Figure 19 and
the
density of the magnetic field 744 in the regiori 748 is less than the density
of the
magnetic field 734 in the region 738 of the embodiment of Figure 19. The
magnetic field 744 is compressed in a region 750 adjacent to the space
between the magnets 702, 704 and extending past an end 752 of the second
magnet 702, and in a region 754 adjacent to the first magnet 702. The region
750 has a sub-region 756 with a very-high gradient magnetic field and the
region 754 has a sub-region 758 with a very-high gradient magnetic field. The
magnetic field 744 is unbalanced with respect to the magnetic structure 700
and the high-gradient regions 750, 754 are unbalanced with respect to each
other.
In one experimental embodiment, a magnetic structure was
configured using two cylindrical magnets having different physical
characteristics. Specifically, a first cylindrical magnet having a strength of
approximately 13,600 Gauss, a diameter of approximately one half-inch, and a
length of approximately three-quarters of an inch was held in position
approximately 2 mm apart from a second cylindrical magnet having a strength
of approximately 13,300 Gauss, a diameter of approximately one half-inch and
a length of approximately three-eights of an inch, with like poles facing each
other. The gradient of the magnetic field in a region adjacent to the magnetic
structure was approximately equivalent to that generated by a single
cylindrical
magnet having a strength of approximately 95,200 Gauss. This represents an
improvement of approximately 700% over a single cylindrical magnet having a
strength of approximately 13,600 Gauss.
A gauss meter (not shown) may be employed to determine an
optimum configuration of a magnetic structure configured to generate an
unbalanced magnetic field, such as the optimum shapes, strengths and
39
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
positions of the magnets for use in a particular application, such as the
optimum
configuration for use with a particular coil configuration.
Figure 21.illustrates another embodiment of an unbalanced
magnetic structure 100_ Figure 21 is not necessary drawn to scale. The
magnetic structure 100 comprises a first cylindrical magnet 102, a second
cylindrical magnet 104 and a third cylindrical magnet 106. The first magnet
102
has a length 108 and a radius 110. The second magnet 104 has a length 112
and a radius 114. The third magnet 106 has a length 116 and a radius 118.
The first magnet 102 is held spaced-apart from the second magnet 104 by a
first distance 120 and the second magnet 104 is held spaced-apart from the
third magnet 106 by a distance 122, with like poles of adjacent magnets facing
each other. The magnetic structure 100 as illustrated is unbalanced in that
the
length 112 of the second magnet 104 is different from the length 108 of the
first
magnet 102. In one example embodiment, the first magnet 102 has a length
108 of one inch and a radius 110 of a half-inch, the second magnet 104 has a
length 112 of a half-inch and a radius 114 of a half-inch, and the third
magnet
106 has a length 116 of an inch and a radius 118 of a half-inch.
Figure 22 illustrates another embodiment of an unbalanced
magnetic structure 200. The magnetic structure 200 is not necessarily drawn to
scale. The magnetic structure 200 comprises a spherical magnet 202 having a
radius 204, and a cylindrical magnet 206 having a length 208 and a radius 210.
The magnetic structure 200 is unbalanced in that the magnets 202, 206 have
different shapes.
Figure 23 is a diametric cross-sectional view of an embodiment of
a battery 800 comprising a case 802, a generator 804, a first energy storage
device 806, a control module 808, a second energy storage device 810, and
contact terminals 812, 814. The case 802 as illustrated is cut-away so as to
facilitate illustration of other components of the battery 800. The case 802
contains the generator 804, the first energy storage device 806, the control
module 808, and the second energy storage device 810. The contact terminals
812, 814 are mounted to the case 802 at a top 816 and bottom 818,
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
respectively, of the battery 800. The case 802 may comprise an outer case
shielding 820, which may be a magnetic and/or electrical shield. The case
shielding 820 may comprise, for example, a layer of tin foil, a layer of a
magnetic shielding material, such as, for example, nickel, nickel/iron alloys,
nickel/tin alloys, nickel/silver alloys, nickel/iron/copper/molybdenum alloys,
which may also take the form of a foil. Such foil layers may, for example,
have
a thickness in the range of 0.002-0.004 inches. Magnetic shielding materials
are commercially available under several trademarks, including MuMetal ,
Hipernom , HyMu 800, and PermalloyOD.
In some embodiments, the case 802 and contact terminals 812,
814 may take the external configuration of those of a conventional battery,
such
as, for example, a AA-cell, a AAA-cell, a C-cell, a D-cell, a 9-volt battery,
a
watch battery, a pacemaker battery, a cell-phone battery, a computer battery,
and other standard and non-standard battery configurations. Embodiments of
the battery 800 may be configured to provide desired voltage levels,
including,
for example, 1.5 volts, 3.7, 7.1, 9-volts, and other standard and non-standard
voltages. Embodiments may be configured to provide direct and/or alternating
current.
The generator 804 is configured to convert kinetic energy into
electrical energy. As illustrated the generator 804 is a linear generator
comprising a plurality of coils 822, 824, a magnetic structure 826 configured
to
generate an unbalanced magnetic field, and a suspension system 828.
As illustrated, the plurality of coils comprises two coils 822, 824
wound on a coil form 830. Coils such as those illustrated in Figures 1 through
12, for example, may be employed. Some embodiments may employ a single
coil instead of a plurality of coils. Some embodiments may employ more than
two coils. As illustrated, the first coil 822 comprises a first wire 832 wound
in a
first direction on the coil form 830. The first direction is illustrated by
the arrow
834. The first coil 822 has a first number of turns n. As illustrated, the
number
of turns n comprises 72 turns. Other embodiments might employ any number
of turns n. For example, a typical embodiment might employ several hundred
41
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
turns n. The wire 832 has a first radius 836. The second coil 824 comprises a
second wire 838 wound in a second direction on the coil form 830. The second
direction is illustrated by the arrow 840, and is opposite of the first
direction.
The second coil 824 has a number of turns m. As illustrated, the number of
turns m comprises 21 turns. Other embodiments might employ any number of
turns m. For example, a typical embodiment might employ several hundred
turns m. The second wire 838 has a second radius 842. As illustrated, the
second radius 842 is larger than the first radius 836.
The first coil 822. has a first lead 844 and a second lead 846. The
second coil 824 has a first lead 848 and a second lead 850. As illustrated,
the
first lead 844 of the first coil 822 is coupled to the second lead 850 of the
second coil 824, and the second lead 846 of the first coil 822 and the first
lead
848 of the second coil 824 are coupled to the control module 808. Other
embodiments may employ additional coils or pairs of coils and different
configurations of coils. For example, the coils illustrated in Figures 1
through
15 may be employed in some embodiments.
The magnetic structure 826 may comprise, for example, one or
more rare earth magnets, such as neodymium-iron-boron permanent magnets,
one or more ceramic magnets, one or more plastic magnets, one or more
electromagnets, one or more powdered magnets, or one or more other
magnets. As illustrated, the magnetic structure 826 comprises a housing 852
configured to hold a first magnet 854 spaced apart a distance 856 from a
second magnet 858. As illustrated, the magnetic structure 826 is configured to
generate a compressed magnetic field that is unbalanced with respect to the
magnetic structure 826. The magnetic structures described above with respect
to Figures 18A through 22 may be employed, for example. As illustrated, the
first magnet 854 has a different length than the second magnet 858. The
suspension system 828 facilitates movement of the magnetic structure 826
through the coils 822, 824. Examples of suspension systems that may be
employed are discussed in more detail in co-pending United States Patent
42
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
Application No. 11/475,564, filed June 26, 2006 and entitled "System and
Method for Storing Energy."
The first energy storage device 806 is configured to store
electrical energy generated by the generator 804. In one embodiment, the first
energy storage device 806 is capable of storing electrical energy generated by
the generator 804 with little or no conditioning. ln other embodiments,
electrical
energy may be conditioned before it is stored in the first energy storage
device
806, as discussed in co-pending United States Patent Application No.
11/475,564, filed June 26, 2006 and entitled "System and Method for Storing
Energy." The first energy storage device 806 may comprise, for example, one
or more ultracapacitors. For ease of illustration, the first energy storage
device
806 is illustrated as a functional block.
The control module 808 controls the transfer of energy within the
battery 800. The control module 808 typically comprises a rectifier, which as
illustrated is a full bridge rectifier 809. For example, the control module
808
may be configured to control the transfer of energy between various
components of the battery 800, such as the generator 804, the first energy
storage device 806, the second energy storage device 810, and the contact
terminals 812, 814. Several example transfers of energy under the control of a
control system are discussed in co-pending United States Patent Application
No. 11/475,564, filed June 26, 2006 and entitled "System and Method for
Storing Energy." The control module 808 may be implemented in a variety of
ways, including as a combined control system or as separate subsystems. The
control module 808 may be implemented as discrete circuitry, one or more
microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSP), application-specific
integrated
circuits (ASIC), or the like, or as a series of instructions stored in a
memory and
executed by a controller, or various combinations of the above. In some
embodiments, the first energy storage device 806 may be integrated into the
control module 808.
The second energy storage device 810 is configured to store
electrical energy transferred from the first energy storage device 806 under
the
43
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
control of the control module 808. The second energy storage device 810 may
comprise, for example, one or more conventional batteries, such as a lead-acid
battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, a nickel-metal hydride battery, a lithium
polymer battery or lithium ion battery, a sodium/sulfur battery, or any
suitable
rechargeable energy storage device.
The contact terminals 812, 814 provide access for transferring
electrical energy to and/or from the battery 800. The contact terminals 812,
814
may be made of any electrically conductive material, such as, for example,
metallic materials, such as copper, copper coated with silver or tin,
aluminum,
gold, etc. The contact terminals 812, 814 are coupled to the control module
808. In some embodiments, the contact terminals 812, 814 may be coupled to
the second energy storage device 810, instead of being directly coupled to the
control module 808. As illustrated, the contact terminals 812, 814 have a
physical configuration similar to the contact terminals of a conventional C-
cell
battery. As discussed above, other configurations may be employed. The
contact terminals 812, 814 are configured to permit the battery 800 to be
easily
installed into and removed from external devices, such as, for example, a
radio,
a cell phone, or a positioning system. The contact terminals 812, 814 may
employ magnetic shielding.
Energy may be stored in the battery 800 as a result of movement
of the battery 800. For example, if the magnetic structure 826 is neutral with
respect to the coils 822, 824 and the battery 800 is subject to a downward
movement, the magnetic structure 826 may move up with respect to the coils
822, 824 in response to the downward movement of the battery 800. The
relative upward movement of the magnetic structure 826 will result in the
generation of a current in the coils 822, 824 when the magnetic structure 826
passes above the top of the first coil 822.
In some embodiments the suspension system 828 may be tuned
to increase the electrical energy generated from anticipated sources of
energy.
For example, if the battery 800 will frequently be in an environment where
energy is supplied by an individual walking or running at a known speed or
rate,
44
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
the suspension system 828 may be tuned to that speed or rate. Thus, a battery
may be configured to substantially maximize the conversion of energy expected
to be generated by a jogger into electrical energy. In another example, if the
battery 800 will frequently be subject to stop and go traffic in an automobile
or
irregular motion from a flight or ground vehicle, the suspension system 828
may
be tuned to maximize the conversion of the energy of that environment into
electrical energy. In another example, if the battery will be employed in an
environment frequently subjected to fluid waves, such as water or sea waves,
or wind, the suspension system may be tuned to maximize the conversion of
the energy of that environment into electrical energy. In another example, if
the =
battery will be frequently subjected to vibrations, for example, in a moving
vehicle, the suspension system may be tuned to maximize the conversion of
the energy received from the vibrations into electrical energy. In another
example, if the system is expected to experience stimulus at a first
frequency,
the suspension system may be configured to produce relative movement of the
magnetic structure with respect to the coil system of a different frequency.
The
suspension system may be tuned, for example, by modifying a characteristic of
a repelling magnet, for example by modifying the shape and/or strength of any
repelling magnets, adjusting the tension in any repelling devices, such as
springs, employing multiple mechanical repelling devices, employing
transmission systems, modifying the length or shape of the path of travel of
the
magnetic structure (or the coil system), or combinations of modifications.
Other
suspension systems may be employed, such as, for example, suspension
systems that orient the generator in different directions within the battery.
The
suspension system 828 may be gimbaled and/or may employ gyroscopic
principles to orient the generator to facilitate optimal conversion of energy
into
electrical energy. Multiple generators within a battery with different
orientations
may be employed and multiple battery configurations may be employed.
In some embodiments, other generator configurations may be
employed, such as, for example, radial, rotational, Seebeck, acoustic,
thermal,
or radio-frequency generators. In some embodiments, other suspension
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
systems may be employed, such as suspension systems in which the generator
804 may move with respect to the case 802 so as to take maximum advantage
of the available forms of energy. For example, the generator 804 may be
configured to rotate in the battery case 802, so as to align itself with or
against
an axis of movement. In another example, the suspension system 828 may be
configured to allow the coils 822, 824 to move with respect to the magnetic
structure 826. In some embodiments, toroidal coil systems may be employed.
Figure 24 is a side sectional view of another embodiment of a
battery 900 comprising a case 902, a generator 904, a first energy storage
device 906, a control module 908, a second energy storage device 910, and
contact terminals 912, 914. The generator 904 comprises a coil system 916, a
magnetic structure 918, and a suspension system 920. The coil system 916
comprises one or more coils. The coil system 916 may comprise, for example,
one or more coils similar to the coils described above or those described in
co-
pending United States Patent Application No. 11/475,389, filed June 26, 2006
and entitled "Bi-Metal Coil," or combinations thereof. For example, the coil
system 916 may comprise a single coil or a multi-coil system. In another
example, the coil system may comprise one or more bi-metal coils. In another
example, the coil system may comprise a first coil wound in a first direction
and
a second coil would in a second direction, opposite of the first direction
with
respect to a common reference point. The magnetic structure may comprise,
for example, a magnetic structure configured to generate a compressed
magnetic field, a magnetic field that is unbalanced with respect to the
magnetic
structure, or combinations thereof. The battery 900 has a different
configuration than the battery 800 illustrated in Figure 23, but the operation
of
the battery 900 is typically similar to the operation of the battery 800
illustrated
in Figure 23. The contact terminals 912, 914 may be made of any electrically
conductive material, such as, for example, metallic materials, such as copper,
copper coated with silver or tin, aluminum, gold, etc. In some embodiments,
the contact terminals 912, 914, may be contained within a connector, such as a
plastic connector.
46
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
Figure 25 is a diametric cross-sectional view of an electro-
mechanical system 400 suitable for use, for example, in the embodiments
illustrated in Figures 23 and 24, as well as other embodiments. Figure 25 is
not
drawn to scale to facilitate illustration. The system 400 comprises a multi-
coil
system 402, a magnetic structure 404 configured to generate a compressed
and unbalanced magnetic field and a suspension system 406. The suspension
system 406 is configured to allow the magnetic structure 404 to completely
pass through the multi-coil system 402 in either direction. As illustrated,
the
system 400 is readily configurable to operate as a linear generator.
The multi-coil system 402 comprises a first coil 408 and a second
coil 410 wound on a cylindrical coil form 412. As illustrated, the coil form
412 is
integrated with a carrier guide 411 of the suspension system 406. The coil
form
412 has a diameter 414. The first coil 408 comprises a first number of turns n
of a wire 416 having a diameter 418, where n equals the number of turns in a
layer of the wire 416 multiplied by the number of layers in the coil 408. The
second coil 410 comprises a second number of turns m of a wire 420 having a
diameter 422, where m equals the number of turns in a layer of the wire 420
multiplied by the number of layers in the coil 410. The first coil 408 is
wound in
a first direction Y and the second coil is wound in a second direction Z,
opposite
of the first direction Y with respect to a common reference point, such as the
axis of movement 464 when viewed from above.
The magnetic structure 404 comprises a plurality of permanent
magnets 424, 426 contained within a cylindrical magnet housing 428. While the
illustrated embodiment employs two permanent magnets 424, 426 in the
magnetic structure 404, other embodiments of the system 400 may employ
different numbers of permanent magnets, such as three permanent magnets,
four permanent magnets or hundreds of permanent magnets. The permanent
magnets 424, 426 are disk-shaped cylindrical magnets as illustrated, but other
shapes may be employed. For example, rectangular- (e.g., square), spherical-,
or elliptical-shaped magnets may be employed. Similarly, the faces of the
magnets need not be flat. For example, convex-, concave-, radial-, cone-, or
47
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
diamond-shaped faces may be employed. Various combinations of shapes and
faces may be employed. In some embodiments, electromagnets may be
employed. A magnet housing 428 is configured to hold the permanent magnets
424, 426 fixed in position with respect to each other with like poles facing
together and separated by a distance 430. As illustrated, the North poles face
together, but in some embodiments the South poles may face together. The
first magnet 424 has a strength G1, a diameter 431 and a length 432, and the
second magnet 426 has a strength G2, a diameter 433 and a length 434. The
system has an overall diameter 436 and an overall length 438.
As noted above, the shape, position and strength of the
permanent magnets in a magnetic structure, such as the magnetic structure
404, can increase the efficiency of the generator 400 by generating a
.c,ompressed and unbalanced magnetic field. The ratios of the lengths and
diameters of the components of the system 400 also may impact the efficiency
of the system 400. For example, the ratio of the length 440 from the top of
the
first magnet 424 to the bottom of the second magnet 426 to the diameter 414 of
the coil form 412 may impact the magnitude of an electric current generated in
the coil system 402 in response to a movement of the magnetic structure 404
through the coil system 402.
The inside 442 of the carrier guide 411 and the outside 444 of the
magnet housing 428 may be made of, or coated with, dissimilar materials to
reduce potential for binding between the winding form 412 and the magnet
housing 428. For example, the carrier guide 411 may be coated with a non-
stick coating while.the,magnet ho,using,428 may be made of an.ABS p{astic.
Example dissimilar materials are available under the respective trademarks
Teflon and Lexan .
The suspension system 406 comprises a first repelling permanent
magnet 460 and a second repelling permanent magnet 462 that are fixed with
respect to the coil 402 in the axis of movement 464 of the magnetic structure
404. The first repelling magnet 460 is positioned such that a like pole of the
first repelling magnet 460 faces the like pole of the nearest permanent magnet
48
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
424 in the magnetic structure 404. As illustrated, the S pole of the first
repelling
magnet 460 faces the S pole of the first permanent magnet 424 of the magnetic
structure 404. Similarly, the second repelling magnet 462 is positioned such
that a like pole of the second repelling magnet 462 faces the like pole of the
nearest permanent magnet 426 in.the magnetic structure 404. As illustrated,
the S pole of the second repelling magnet 462 faces the S pole of the second
permanent magnet 426 of the magnetic structure 404. This arrangement
increases the efficiency of the generator in converting kinetic energy into
electrical energy and reduces the likelihood that the magnetic structure 404
will
stall in the suspension system 406.
The suspension system 406 also comprises a first spring 474, a
second spring 476, a third spring 478 and a fourth spring 480. The first
spring
474. is coupled to the first repelling magnet 460 and to a first end 456 of
the
rriagnetic structure 404. The first spring 474 is typically in a loaded
condition.
The second spring 476 is coupled to the second.repelfing magnet 462 and to
the second end 458 of the magnetic structure 404. The second spring 476 is
typically in a loaded condition. The first and second springs 474, 476 help to
hold the magnetic structure 404 centered in the desired =movement path along
the axis 464, and impart forces to the magnetic structure 404 as they are
compressed and stretched by movement of the magnetic structure 404 along
the axis of movement 464. The third spring 478 is coupled to the first
repelling
magnet 460 and imparts a repelling force on the magnetic structure 404 in
response to compression forces applied by the magnetic structure 404 as it
nears the first repelling magnet 460. The fourth spring 480 is coupled to the
second repelling magnet 462 and imparts a repelling force on the magnetic
structure 404 in response to compression forces applied by the magnetic
structure 404 as it nears the second repelling magnet 462. The springs 474,
476, 478, 480 may be tuned to increase the efficiency of the generator in
particular applications and likely environments. The tuning may be done
experimentally. Some embodiments may employ no springs, fewer springs, or
more springs. For example, in some embodiments springs 478 and 480 may
49
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
be omitted. A gauss meter (not shown) may be employed to determine the
optimum strength, sizes, shapes and positioning of the permanent magnets
424, 426, the size of the coil form and the number of turns n, m of the wires
416, 420, as well as other physical characteristics of the system, such as the
diameter 414 of the coil form 412.
As illustrated, a first lead 482 of the first coil 408 is coupled to a
second lead 484 of the second coil 410. A load or energy source load/source
486 is coupled across a second lead 488 of the first coil 408 and a first lead
490
of the second coil 410.
Table 1, below, sets forth the parameters employed in an
experimental embodiment of the system 400 illustrated in Figure 25. In the
experimental embodiment, the first magnet 424 of the magnetic structure is a
commercialiy available rare earth magnet sold under a model designation DCC,
the second magnet 426 is a commercially available rare earth magnet sold
under a model designation DC8, the first repelling magnet 460 is a
commercially available rare earth magnet sold under a model designation
D61 G, and the second repelling magnet 462 is a commercially available rare
earth magnet sold under a model designation D603. The first wire 416 is a
standard size 27 copper wire and the second wire 420 is a standard size 21
copper wire. The experimental embodiment of the system 400 was small
enough to fit into a standard D-ce!l battery. A standard D-cell battery has a
length of approximately 2.33 inches and a diameter of approximately 1.32
inches for a total volume of approximately 3.19 cubic inches. Other
embodiments of the system 400 illustrated in Figure 25 are possible.
PARAMETER VALUE/COMMENTS
Strength G1 of First Ma net 424 18,000 Gauss
Length 432 of First Ma net 424 % of an inch
Diameter 431 of First Magnet 424 3/4 of an inch
Strength G2 of Second Magnet 426 16,000 Gauss
Length 434 of Second Magnet 426 '/z of an=inch
Diameter 433 of Second Magnet 426 3/ of an inch
Distance 430 between First Magnet 424 .125 inches
and Second Magnet 426
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
Radius 418 of First Wire 416 .00705 inches
Number of Turns n of First Wire 416 450
Radius 422 of Second Wire 420 .0141 inches
Number of Turns m of Second Wire 420 250
Overall Diameter 436 of the System 400 Less than 1.32 inches
Overall Length 438 of the System 400 Less than 2.33 inches
Total Volume of System Less than 3.19 cubic inches
TABLE ONE - PARAMETERS OF AN EXPERIMENTAL EMBODIMENT
Table 2, below, sets forth experimental results for an embodiment
of the system 400 of Figure 25 configured.in accordance with Table 1 when
5'employed in an ernbodiment of a battery (see battery 800 illustrated in
Figu're
23) having the dimensions of a standard D-cell battery. The system 400 was
subjected to movement at a frequency of 10 Hz, to produce approximately 3000
passes of the magnetic structure 404 through the coil system 402 during a 5
minute testing period_ The number of passes may correspond, for example, to
an average generated when the system is attached to the foot of an individual
walking at an average pace of 3.5 miles per hour. The Stimulus column
indicates the type of waveform used to stimulate the movement.
Supercapacitors were coupled to the output of the coil system 402 (see first
energy storage device 806 in Figure 23). The Load column in Table 2 refers to
a resistance coupled across the supercapacitors. The Voltage column refers to
a voltage obtained across the supercapacitors after a five-minute stimulus
period and the Energy column refers to the energy stored in the
supercapacitors as aresult of the five-minute stimulus period.
Stimulus Load Voltage Energy
Sine No Load 3.02 Volts 18.24 Joules
Square No Load 2.83 Volts 16.02 Joules
Sine 180 Ohms 2.70 Volts 14.58 Joules
Sine 90 Ohms 2.41 Volts 11.62 Joules
Table Two - Results of Experimental Embodiment
51
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
Figure 26 is a side sectionat view of an embodiment of an electro-
mechanical system 100 employing magnetic structures configured to generate
an unbalanced magnetic field. The system 100 comprises a rotor 102
comprising one or more magnetic structures 104 each configured to generate
an unbalanced and compressed magnetic field (see Figure 20), and a stator
106 comprising one or more coils 108. As illustrated, the system 100
comprises two magnetic structures 104 and two coils 108. The magnetic
structures 104 comprise a first magnet 110 having a first length 112 and a
second magnet 114 having a second length 116, the first magnet 110 and the
second magnet 114 are held spaced apart with like poles facing each other and
configured to generate an unbalanced and compressed magnetic field. The
stator 106 may comprise, for example, coils similar to those discussed above.
In some embodiments, the rotor 102 may comprise one or more coils and the
stator 106 may comprise one or more magnetic structures.
Figure 27 illustrates another embodiment of a magnetic structure
100. Figure 27 is not necessarily drawn to scale. The magnetic structure 100
comprises a first substantially cylindrical magnet 102 and a second
substantially cylindrical magnet 104. Other magnet shapes may be employed
and additional magnets may be employed. For example, the shapes of the
magnets may be modified to facilitate movement through a toroidal coil form
(see Figure 28). The first magnet 102 has a length 112 and a diameter 120.
The second magnet 104 has a length 114 and a diameter 122. The first
magnet 102 is held spaced-apart from the second magnet 104 by a first
distance 124, with like poles of the magnets 102, 104 facing each other. The
magnetic structure 100 as illustrated is unbalanced in that the length 112 of
the
first magnet 102 is different from the length 114 of the second magnet 104. In
some embodiments, the length 112 of the first magnet 102 and the length 114
of the second magnet 104 may be the same. Similarly, as illustrated the
diameter 120 of the first magnet 102 is the same as the diameter 122 of the
second magnet 104. In some embodiments the first and second magnets 102,
104 may have different diameters.
52
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
The first magnet 102 has a substantially semi-toroidal depression
or recess 108 generally facing a substantially semi-toroidal depression or
recess 110 of the second magnet 104, to form a substantially toroidal cavity
106 between the first magnet 102 and the second magnet 104. A substantially
semi-toroidal-shaped depression may comprise, for example, a true semi-
toroidal-shaped depression, a semi-toroidal-shaped depression reflecting
manufacturing tolerances, or a modified semi-toroidal-shaped depression, such
as an semi-elliptical-shaped depression. A substantially toroidal-shaped
cavity
may comprise, for example, a true toroidal-shaped cavity, a toroidal-shaped
cavity reflecting manufacturing tolerances, or a modified toroidal-shaped
cavity,
such as an elliptical-shaped cavity.
As illustrated, the substantially toroidal depressions 108, 110 have
an optional substantially linear segment 118. Some embodiments may not
employ the substantially linear segments 118. The first magnet 102 and the
second magnet 104 also have an optional lip 116 adjacent to their respective
substantially toroidal depressions 108, 110. The size of the lip 116 may be
selected when considered together with the distance 124, for example, so that
the substantially toroidal cavity 106 has an outer diameter approximately the
same as the diameter 120 of the first magnet 102.
Figure 28 illustrates another embodiment of a coil system 100.
The coil system has a toroidal coil form 102 and a plurality of windings 104
of
wire wrapped around the coil form 102. As illustrated, the coil system 100 has
a single coil 106. Some embodiments may employ multiple coils coupled
together in various manners. Some embodiments may employ one or more bi-
metal coils. Some embodiments may employ one or more coils comprising
traces on insulating sheets. The coil system 100 has an optional magnet
structure 108 configured to facilitate relative movement with respect to the
coil
form 102 along a substantially circular path. Other magnetic structures may be
employed. For example, the magnetic structures described above may be
employed. The magnetic structure and the coil may be configured to facilitate
relative movement along other paths. For example, the magnetic structure may
53
CA 02655831 2008-12-19
WO 2008/002414 PCT/US2007/014227
be configured to move relative to the coil along a substantially linear path,
for
example along an axis perpendicular to a plane of the coil (See Figure 25).
The
coil system 100 may employ suspension systems and mechanisms (such as
repelling magnets) to facilitate relative movement of the magnetic structure
with
respect to the coil system 100. The shape of the magnetic structure 108 and
housing (see housing 852 in Figure 23) and the materials selected for the coil
form 102 and the magnetic structure housing (see housing 852 in Figure 23)
may be selected so as to reduce friction and contact points between the coil
form 102 and the magnetic structure housing.
Although specific embodiments of and examples for the coils,
magnetic structures, devices, generators/motors, batteries, control modules,
energy storage devices and methods of generating and storing energy are
described herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications
can
be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure, as
will
be recognized by those skilled in the relevant art.
The various embodiments described above can be combined to
provide further embodiments. All of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent application
publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent
applications and non-patent publications referred to in this specification
and/or
listed in the Application Data Sheet, including but not limited to commonly
assigned U.S. Patent Application Nos. 11/475,858, 111475,389, 11/475,564 and
11/475,842 are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of
the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ systems, circuits and
concepts of the various patents, applications and publications to provide yet
further embodiments of the invention.
These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of
the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms
used should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific
embodiments
disclosed in the specification and the claims. Accordingly, the invention is
not
limited by the disclosure, but instead its scope is to be determined entirely
by
the following claims.
54
