| CPC B60C 23/0411 (2013.01) [B60C 19/00 (2013.01); H02J 50/05 (2016.02); H02N 2/181 (2013.01); H02J 50/10 (2016.02); H02K 7/1846 (2013.01)] | 19 Claims |

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1. A device, comprising:
a charge portion with at least one piezoelectric element embedded in a tire configured for a vehicle;
a capacitor mechanically coupled to the tire and electrically coupled to the charge portion;
a transmitter coil with a first winding axis, mechanically coupled to the tire and electrically coupled to the capacitor through a discharge portion; and
a receiver coil being supported by the vehicle having a second winding axis, the receiver coil is supported on the vehicle by a receiver coil support that is configured to align the second winding axis colinear with the first winding axis, and the receiver coil support is further configured to position the receiver coil relative to the transmitter coil such that, in response to a time varying magnetic field around the transmitter coil a time varying receiver coil current is induced through the receiver coil, wherein:
in response to an external radial pressure on the tire resulting from movement of the vehicle which causes a pressure on the at least one piezoelectric element of the charge portion, the at least one piezoelectric element produces an electrical charge on the capacitor, and
the discharge portion electrically connects the electrical charge on the capacitor to the transmitter coil to send electromagnetic power from the tire to the vehicle.
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10. A method comprising:
electrically charging a capacitive storage layer in a tire with at least one piezoelectric element in a charge portion embedded in the tire when the charge portion is under compression as the tire rotates causing a pressure on the at least one piezoelectric element;
discharging the capacitive storage layer to a transmitter coil with a first winding axis to transmit power from the tire to a receiver coil with a second winding axis on a vehicle;
embedding the transmitter coil in a sidewall structure of the tire such that upon the tire being mounted to a wheel to form a wheel-tire combination, and the wheel-tire combination being mounted to the vehicle, the second winding axis becomes colinear with an axis of rotation of the wheel-tire combination;
aligning the second winding axis colinear with the first winding axis to position the receiver coil relative to the transmitter coil such that, in response to a time varying magnetic field around the transmitter coil a time varying receiver coil current is induced through the receiver coil;
providing the power transmitted from the tire to the vehicle to power vehicle systems; and
connecting the receiver coil to a conditioning circuit on the vehicle to supply power to the vehicle using the time varying receiver coil current.
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18. A device, comprising:
a charge portion with at least one piezoelectric element embedded in a tire configured for a vehicle;
a capacitor mechanically coupled to the tire and electrically coupled to the charge portion;
a transmitter coil, mechanically coupled to the tire and electrically coupled to the capacitor through a discharge portion, wherein:
in response to an external radial pressure on the tire resulting from movement of the vehicle which causes a pressure on the at least one piezoelectric element of the charge portion, the at least one piezoelectric element produces an electrical charge on the capacitor, and
the discharge portion electrically connects the electrical charge on the capacitor to the transmitter coil to send electromagnetic power from the tire to the vehicle;
the charge portion further comprises:
an element module housing to mechanically support the at least one piezoelectric element;
a bottom conductive pressure pad on a bottom surface of the element module housing; and
a top conductive pressure pad on a top surface of the element module housing, and
the element module housing is of a lower durometer material than the at least one piezoelectric element such that compression force applied to the tire causes the at least one piezoelectric element to produce the electrical charge on the capacitor.
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