Athletic Activity Monitoring Device with Energy Capture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016351775-A1
Application number	US-201615165847-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 26, 2016
Priority date	May 28, 2015
Publication date	Dec 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Aspects relate to an energy harvesting device adapted for use by an athlete while exercising. The device may utilize a mass of phase-change material to store heat energy, the stored heat energy subsequently converted into electrical energy by one or more thermoelectric generator modules. The energy harvesting device may be integrated into an item of clothing, and such that the mass of phase change material may store heat energy as the item of clothing is laundered.

First claim

We claim:

1 . An energy harvesting device configured to be integrated into an item of clothing, comprising:
an insulated container, comprising:
an outer membrane having a first side in contact with an external environment and a second side that defines at least a portion of an internal cavity;
an outer heat exchanger extending though the outer membrane, the outer heat exchanger comprising at least one surface in contact with the external environment;
a thermoelectric generator module positioned within the internal cavity, the thermoelectric generator sandwiched between the outer heat exchanger and an inner heat exchanger; and
an expandable membrane encapsulating a mass of phase-change material, at least a portion of the expandable membrane coupled to the inner heat exchanger,
wherein the outer heat exchanger, the thermoelectric generator, and the inner heat exchanger are configured to allow bi-directional conduction of between the phase-change material and the external environment, and wherein the phase-change material is configured to store a portion of heat energy absorbed during a dryer cycle as the item of clothing is laundered.

2 . The energy harvesting device of claim 1 , further comprising an activity monitoring circuit coupled within the internal cavity, and configured to be provided with electrical energy from the thermoelectric generator.

3 . The energy harvesting device of claim 2 , wherein the activity monitoring circuit comprises a radio transmitter, and at least a portion of the insulated container is radio-wave transparent.

4 . The energy harvesting device of claim 1 , wherein the insulated container comprises a rigid outer geometry.

5 . The energy harvesting device of claim 1 , wherein the insulated container comprises a closed-cell foam.

6 . The energy harvesting device of claim 1 , wherein the insulated container is impermeable to water at 1 atm.

7 . The energy harvesting device of claim 1 , wherein the expandable membrane is deformable such that the phase-change material can thermally-expand within the membrane without rendering the membrane inoperable.

8 . An energy harvesting device, comprising:
a rigid container structure having an outer membrane with an outer side in contact with an external environment and an inner side that defines at least a portion of an internal cavity; a thermoelectric generator module thermally-coupled to an outer heat exchanger at a first side and to an inner heat exchanger at a second side, the outer heat exchanger having at least one surface exposed to the external environment; and a membrane encapsulating a mass of phase-change material, the membrane coupled to the inner heat exchanger such that at least a one surface of the inner heat exchanger is configured to be exposed to the phase-change material during use of the device, wherein the outer heat exchanger, the thermoelectric generator, and the inner heat exchanger are configured to allow bi-directional conduction of heat between the phase-change material and the external environment, and wherein the phase-change material is configured to store a portion of heat energy absorbed from air in the external environment having a mean temperature in a range of approximately 45-85 degrees Celsius.

9 . The energy harvesting device of claim 8 , wherein the inner and outer heat exchangers comprise an aluminum alloy.

10 . The energy harvesting device of claim 8 , wherein the phase-change material comprises a salt-hydrate material.

11 . The energy harvesting device of claim 8 , wherein the rigid container structure is configured to be positioned within an item of athletic apparel.

12 . The energy harvesting device of claim 8 , wherein the inner heat exchanger comprises at least one fin in contact with the phase-change material.

13 . The energy harvesting device of claim 8 , wherein the thermoelectric generator further comprises a rectifier circuit configured to output a voltage with a same polarity as heat energy is transferred into and out from the container structure.

14 . The energy harvesting device of claim 8 , wherein the rigid container structure is impermeable to water at 1 atm.

15 . The energy harvesting device of claim 8 , wherein the phase-change material is configured to reach an approximate thermal equilibrium with the external environment at approximately 20 degrees Celsius within at least 4 hours.

16 . An energy harvesting device, comprising:
a container structure, further comprising:
an internal cavity;
an outer membrane; and
a thermoelectric generator module positioned within the internal cavity, the thermoelectric generator thermally-coupled to an expandable membrane that encapsulates a mass of phase-change material,
wherein the thermoelectric generator allows bi-directional conduction of heat to and from the phase-change material, and wherein the phase-change material is configured to store a portion of heat energy captured while the energy harvesting device is exposed to an environment at a first temperature higher than a second temperature of the mass of phase-change material.

17 . The energy harvesting device of claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of an outer surface of the container structure comprises a thermally-conductive material configured to allow heat to be conducted from and to the thermoelectric generator.

18 . The energy harvesting device of claim 16 , wherein the high temperature environment has a mean temperature of approximately 45-85 degrees Celsius.

19 . The energy harvesting device of claim 16 , further comprising an activity monitoring circuit coupled within the cavity, and provided with electrical energy by the thermoelectric generator.

20 . The energy harvesting device of claim 16 , wherein the phase-change material comprises a salt-hydrate material.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Schneider Summer
• Malhotra Vikram
• Ward Marcus
• Wiant Jerry

Classifications

• H01L35/32

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01L35/30 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H10N10/17 Primary

  characterised by the structure or configuration of the cell or thermocouple forming the device · CPC title

• H10N10/13 Primary

  characterised by the heat-exchanging means at the junction · CPC title