Athletic activity monitoring device with energy capture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9755131-B2
Application number	US-201615165499-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 26, 2016
Priority date	May 28, 2015
Publication date	Sep 5, 2017
Grant date	Sep 5, 2017

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, configured to be transitioned between an expanded configuration and a compressed configuration, comprising:
a deformable outer membrane comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface being in contact with an external environment;
a deformable inner membrane, spaced apart from the deformable outer membrane, comprising an outer surface and an inner surface;
an outer cavity spaced between the deformable outer membrane and the deformable inner membrane;
an inner cavity encapsulated by the deformable inner membrane;

an outer heat exchanger coupled to the deformable outer membrane, comprising an outer surface exposed to the external environment, and an inner surface exposed to the outer cavity;
a thermoelectric generator, positioned within the inner cavity, the thermoelectric generator comprising an outer surface exposed to the outer cavity through the deformable inner membrane, and an inner surface, thermally-coupled to an inner heat exchanger;
an activity monitoring circuit powered by the thermoelectric generator, an output of the thermoelectric generator connected to an interrupt input of the activity monitoring circuit;
a phase-change material membrane, at least a portion of the phase-change material membrane coupled to the inner heat exchanger, and encapsulating a mass of phase-change material,
wherein a primary axis of conduction through the inner heat exchanger, the thermoelectric generator, and the outer heat exchanger has a first thermal conductivity when the insulated container is in the expanded configuration,
wherein the primary axis of conduction has a second thermal conductivity, greater than the first thermal conductivity, when the insulated container is in the compressed configuration, and
wherein when transitioned from the expanded configuration to the compressed configuration, a voltage output generated by the thermoelectric generator at the interrupt input transitions the activity monitoring circuit from a first power configuration to a second power configuration.

2. The energy harvesting device of claim 1 , wherein the first power configuration is a low power configuration that provides a first amount of electrical energy to the activity monitoring circuit, and the second power configuration is a high power configuration that provides a second amount of electrical energy, higher than the first amount of electrical energy, to the activity monitoring circuit.

3. The energy harvesting device of claim 1 , wherein the first power configuration corresponds to the activity monitoring circuit being deactivated and the second power configuration corresponds to the activity monitoring circuit being activated.

4. The energy harvesting device of claim 1 , wherein the activity monitoring circuit comprises a sensor.

5. The energy harvesting device of claim 4 , wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer.

6. The energy harvesting device of claim 1 , wherein the phase-change material comprises a salt-hydrate.

7. The energy harvesting device of claim 1 , wherein the inner heat exchanger comprises at least one fin in contact with the phase-change material.

8. An energy harvesting device, comprising:
an insulated container, configured to be transitioned between an expanded configuration and a compressed configuration, comprising:
a deformable outer membrane comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface being in contact with an external environment;
a deformable inner membrane, spaced apart from the deformable outer membrane, comprising an outer surface and an inner surface;
an cavity spaced between the deformable outer membrane and the deformable inner membrane;

an outer heat exchanger coupled to the deformable outer membrane, comprising an outer surface exposed to the external environment, and an inner surface exposed to the cavity;
a thermoelectric generator, the thermoelectric generator comprising an outer surface exposed to the cavity through the deformable inner membrane, and an inner surface, thermally-coupled to an inner heat exchanger;
an activity monitoring circuit powered by the thermoelectric generator;
a phase-change material membrane, at least a portion of the phase-change material membrane coupled to the inner heat exchanger, and encapsulating a mass of phase-change material,
wherein a primary axis of conduction through the inner heat exchanger, the thermoelectric generator, and the outer heat exchanger has a first thermal conductivity when the insulated container is in the expanded configuration,
wherein the primary axis of conduction has a second thermal conductivity, greater than the first thermal conductivity, when the insulated container is in the compressed configuration, and
wherein the thermoelectric generator outputs a first voltage when the insulated container is in the expanded configuration and a second voltage, higher than the first voltage when in the compressed configuration.

9. The energy harvesting device of claim 8 , wherein the energy harvesting device is configured to be positioned in or on an item of athletic clothing.

10. The energy harvesting device of claim 9 , wherein the insulated container is deformed from the expanded configuration to the compressed configuration when the item of athletic clothing is positioned on a user.

11. The energy harvesting device of claim 8 , wherein the activity monitoring circuit comprises a location-determining sensor.

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

13. The energy harvesting device of claim 8 , wherein the deformable inner membrane and the deformable outer membrane are impermeable.

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

15. An energy harvesting device, comprising:
an insulated container, configured to be transitioned between an expanded configuration and a compressed configuration, comprising:
a deformable outer membrane comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface being in contact with an external environment;
an inner membrane, spaced apart from the deformable outer membrane, comprising an outer surface and an inner surface;
a cavity spaced between the deformable outer membrane and the inner membrane;

an outer heat exchanger coupled to the deformable outer membrane, comprising an outer surface exposed to the external environment, and an inner surface exposed to the cavity;
a thermoelectric generator, the thermoelectric generator comprising an outer surface exposed to the cavity through the inner membrane, and an inner surface, thermally-coupled to an inner heat exchanger;
a phase-change material membrane, at least a portion of the phase-change material membrane coupled to the inner heat exchanger, and encapsulating a mass of phase-change material,
wherein a primary axis of conduction through the inner heat exchanger, the thermoelectric generator, and the outer heat exchanger has a first thermal conductivity when the insulated container is in the expanded configuration,
wherein the primary axis of conduction has a second thermal conductivity, greater than the first thermal conductivity, when the insulated container is in the compressed configuration, and
wherein the thermoelectric generator outputs a first voltage when the insulated container is in the expanded configuration and a second voltage, higher than the first voltage

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• A63B21/005

  using electromagnetic or electric force-resisters · CPC title

• H01L35/32

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01L35/30 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• A63B21/00

  Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices (electric or electronic controls therefor A63B24/00) · CPC title

• H10N10/17 Primary

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