US 11,988,992 B2
Electrical pulse generator harvesting body movement energy
Xudong Wang, Middleton, WI (US); and Jun Li, Madison, WI (US)
Assigned to Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Madison, WI (US)
Filed by Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Madison, WI (US)
Filed on Oct. 11, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/600,046.
Prior Publication US 2021/0109480 A1, Apr. 15, 2021
Int. Cl. G04B 1/02 (2006.01); G04C 1/08 (2006.01); G04C 10/00 (2006.01)
CPC G04B 1/02 (2013.01) [G04C 1/082 (2013.01); G04C 10/00 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A mechanical energy harvesting pulse generator comprising:
a housing adapted for support against a movable portion of a user's body;
a weight movably attached to the housing to move with respect to the housing with motion by the portion of the user's body;
an energy storage spring;
a winder mechanism communicating between the weight and the energy storage spring to wind the energy storage spring with movement of the weight with respect to the housing;
a mechanical oscillator communicating with the energy storage spring to provide reciprocating motion using energy of the energy storage spring; and
an electrical generator moved by the mechanical oscillator to generate a regular train of electrical pulses;
wherein the mechanical oscillator is a balance wheel and escapement and wherein the electrical generator comprises at least one pallet of the escapement to flex with operation of the escapement.