US 11,894,716 B2
Energy harvesting for a bicycle
Geoff Nichols, San Luis Obispo, CA (US); Sage Hahn, Chicago, IL (US); Hendrik Scott Devries, Portage, IN (US); Jeefrey Baltes, Colorado Springs, CO (US); and Todd Baltes, Colorado Springs, CO (US)
Assigned to SRAM, LLC, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed by SRAM, LLC, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Oct. 26, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/080,451.
Prior Publication US 2022/0131404 A1, Apr. 28, 2022
Int. Cl. H02J 7/35 (2006.01); B62J 43/30 (2020.01); H02S 40/38 (2014.01); H02S 10/40 (2014.01)
CPC H02J 7/35 (2013.01) [B62J 43/30 (2020.02); H02S 10/40 (2014.12); H02S 40/38 (2014.12)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A battery charging system for a bicycle comprising:
a platform comprising a mounting arrangement adapted to be mounted to the bicycle;
a solar cell array arranged on the platform;
a battery charging unit arranged on the platform, the battery charging unit comprising:
a capacitor operatively connected to the solar cell array, wherein the capacitor is operative to store energy transmitted from the solar cell array, and wherein the capacitor stores the energy at a first voltage;
a boost converter operatively connected to the capacitor, wherein the boost converter is operative to step up the first voltage to a second voltage;
a battery operatively connected to the boost converter, wherein the boost converter transmits power to the battery at the second voltage;
a microcontroller operatively connected to the capacitor and to the boost converter, wherein the microcontroller is operative to signal the boost converter to transmit the power to the battery, and wherein the microcontroller is operative to receive power from the capacitor; and
a power management integrated circuit (PMIC) operatively connected between the capacitor and microcontroller, wherein the PMIC is operative to allow power flow from the capacitor to the microcontroller when the first voltage exceeds a first predetermined value, and wherein the PMIC is operative to stop power flow from the microcontroller when the first voltage drops below a second predetermined value.