US 11,991,811 B2
Method and apparatus for harvesting a static electric charge
Madhusudan Raghavan, West Bloomfield, MI (US); and Brent Thomas Deep, Milford, MI (US)
Assigned to GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed by GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed on Jul. 13, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/863,535.
Prior Publication US 2024/0023222 A1, Jan. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. H05F 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC H05F 7/00 (2013.01) 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of harvesting a static electric charge from suspended particles in an atmosphere using an apparatus comprising a first rechargeable energy storage device, a second rechargeable energy storage device, and a first configuration state comprising a static discharge circuit comprising the charge conductor operatively coupled to a positive terminal of the first rechargeable energy storage device, a negative terminal of the first rechargeable energy storage device operatively coupled to a terrestrial ground, and the static discharge circuit operatively decoupled from the second rechargeable energy storage device, the method comprising:
exposing the charge conductor to the suspended particles in the atmosphere; and
selectively providing the conductive path between the charge conductor and the terrestrial ground by selecting the first configuration state, wherein the conductive path includes the rechargeable energy storage device coupled between the charge conductor and the terrestrial ground, whereby the rechargeable energy storage device is recharged by a charge flow through the conductive path.