KR20080007707A - Keyboard self power-generating apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A self power-generating apparatus using a keyboard is provided to operate an electronic apparatus without using a battery by converting a mechanical force from the keyboard to an electrical energy. At least one key is included in a keyboard. A user inputs a user command by using the keyboard. The self power-generating apparatus includes a piezoelectric device(30) and an electrical circuit(40). The piezoelectric device is arranged under the keys and pressed by an external force which presses on the keys downward. The piezoelectric device includes a piezoelectric element, which generates a potential difference based on the external force applied to the keys. The electrical circuit is connected to the piezoelectric device and receives the potential difference. Then, the electrical circuit supplies charged voltages to the electronic apparatus.

Description

Keyboard Self-Powering Device {KEYBOARD SELF POWER-GENERATING APPARATUS}

1 is a schematic structural diagram of a keyboard self-powering device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a schematic circuit diagram of an electric circuit unit included in the self-generating device.

3 is a graph showing the characteristics of the power generation voltage in the keyboard self-powering device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a graph showing the characteristics of the charging voltage in the keyboard self-powering device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

10: key or external body 20: internal body

201: plexer 202: spring member

203: electric terminal 204: internal connection link

30: piezoelectric element portion 301: piezoelectric element

302: upper electrode 303: lower electrode

304: upper crimp terminal 305: lower crimp terminal

40: electric circuit unit 401: charge amount collection circuit

402: charging unit 403: control unit

The present invention relates to a self-powered device, and more particularly to a keyboard self-powered device for converting the kinetic energy provided by the user to press the keyboard into electrical energy.

In general, 3.7V lithium ion batteries are used as portable power sources for notebook computers, which are widely used as portable devices.

However, in the case of charging using such a lithium ion battery, its structure is complicated and environmental problems occur, and when the power is exhausted, there is a problem of recharging or replacing the battery.

In particular, when the portable battery is exhausted when the portable computer is exhausted, there is a problem in that it is necessary to replace the battery with an auxiliary battery or use an external device charger while the battery is coupled to the laptop computer.

However, the auxiliary battery as described above is inconvenient to carry, and most of them use only the lithium ion battery built in the notebook computer, and such a battery needs to be recharged when it is exhausted due to frequent use of the notebook computer. There was also a problem that the notebook computer can not be used until the charge is completed. In addition, since the charging method of a conventional notebook computer uses an AC power source of 110V or 220V, it is difficult to charge in a place where such AC power is not supplied, and there is a problem that there is a significant limitation in the use of the notebook computer.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, and provides a keyboard self-powering device that does not require a separate power source such as a battery by converting and charging the kinetic energy provided by the user to press the keyboard into electrical energy. There is.

According to an aspect of the present invention to achieve the above object, in the electronic device provided with a keyboard composed of at least one key (key) thereby receiving the user's input, it is disposed at the lower end of the key is the user A piezoelectric element portion including a piezoelectric element that is hit by an external force pressed downward by pressing the key to generate a potential difference, and an electrical circuit portion connected to the piezoelectric element portion to receive the potential difference and charge a voltage; Power is supplied to the electronic device at the charged voltage.

In addition, the piezoelectric element portion is vertically attached to the bottom surface of the key so as to have a predetermined distance from the piezoelectric element, the hammer (plexer) for pressing the piezoelectric element portion as the key is pressed downward. And an elastic member positioned around the lower end of the keyboard and the flexor to elastically support the key so that the key can be returned to its original position after being pressed, and a crimp elastically supporting the piezoelectric element. It may include a terminal.

The electric circuit unit may receive a rectifying circuit unit for rectifying the potential difference into a DC current and a DC voltage applied to the DC current and the charging device, and modulate it in a pulse width modulation (PWM) scheme to preset the magnitude of the DC voltage. It may include a PWM modulator for adjusting to a set voltage level, and a charging device for receiving the adjusted voltage to charge it.

In addition, the piezoelectric element may be at least one of a crystal, a piezoelectric ceramic, and a piezoelectric composite material.

The piezoelectric element may include Pb (Zr, Ti) O ₃ + Pb (Zn, Nb) O ₃ , Pb (Zr, Ti) O ₃ + Pb (Ni, Nb) O ₃ , Pb (Zr, Ti) O ₃ + PDFDF polymer At least one of Pb (Zr, Ti) O ₃ + silicon polymer and Pb (Zr, Ti) O ₃ + epoxy polymer.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention will be described in detail.

Keyboard self-powered device according to the present invention is typically converted by the kinetic energy converter to the kinetic energy provided to the keyboard for the user to input text, commands, etc. to electronic devices such as computers. In addition, the converted electrical energy is stored in the provided charging circuit.

In this case, in the present invention, the electronic device includes all electronic devices including a keyboard, and the keyboard includes all the keyboard devices including at least one or more keys operated by a user providing and pressing kinetic energy. do.

In addition, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the kinetic energy converter may include a piezoelectric device and an electric circuit for rectifying and charging the AC output potential generated by the piezoelectric device. In particular, in the electric circuit, it is preferable to adjust the charging voltage so as to correspond to a predetermined output voltage level between the rectification and charging.

Preferably, the piezoelectric device is disposed with a predetermined distance from the lower end of the computer keyboard so as to strike the piezoelectric device by the compressive load when the user presses the computer keyboard downward to apply an external force. In this case, the separation distance may be adjusted to apply a striking force exceeding a predetermined threshold value to the piezoelectric device.

In addition, the piezoelectric device may be preferably made of at least one of a crystal, piezoelectric ceramics material or piezoelectric composite material. For example, Pb (Zr, Ti) O ₃ + Pb (Zn, Nb) O ₃ , Pb (Zr, Ti) O ₃ + Pb (Ni, Nb) O _3, or the like may be used as the piezoelectric ceramic material. As the composite material, Pb (Zr, Ti) O ₃ + PVDF polymer, Pb (Zr, Ti) O ₃ + silicon polymer, Pb (Zr, Ti) O ₃ + epoxy polymer and the like can be used.

Accordingly, an electric potential is generated in the pressurized piezoelectric device, and the generated AC potential is input to the electric circuit connected thereto to rectify and charge the charging device. The charging device preferably includes a secondary rechargeable battery or a super capacitor according to the magnitude of the potential difference, which can be used as a power source for supplying power to electronic devices such as notebook computers connected thereto.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail. However, the embodiments described below are provided to help the overall understanding of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

Example

FIG. 1 shows a schematic structural diagram of a keyboard self-powering device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a schematic circuit diagram of the electric circuit unit 40 included in the self-powering device.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the keyboard self-powering device is largely comprised of a key or an outer body 10, the inner body 20, the piezoelectric element portion 30 and the electric circuit portion 40.

The outer body 10 may be manufactured in various shapes of a keyboard which is commonly used, and has a rectangular outer case therein to facilitate the excretion of parts therein. Inside the outer body 10, components related to the driving of the keyboard are disposed.

The inner main body 20 is connected to the outer main body 10 through an inner connecting link 204, the flexure (plexer) 201, the spring member 202, the piezoelectric element 301 and the crimp terminals 304, 305 ) And so on.

At this time, the flexure 201 is attached to the bottom of the outer body 10 in the longitudinal direction to strike the piezoelectric element 301 is disposed. In addition, a spring member 202 is positioned around the flexure 201 to allow the outer body 10 that has been pressed by the user to be elastically supported and returned to its place.

In addition, the piezoelectric element 301 is disposed parallel to the bottom surface of the flexure 201 at a lower distance from the lower end of the flexure 201, which is the inner body by the crimp terminals 304 and 305 serving as support members. It is elastically supported inside the 20. As described above, the piezoelectric element 301 is made of at least one of a crystal, a piezoelectric ceramic material, or a piezoelectric composite material, and upper and lower electrodes 302 and 303 made of a material such as silver (Ag) at both ends thereof. ) Is attached. In this case, the separation distance is preferably adjusted to provide a force to the piezoelectric element 301 in excess of the threshold value according to the material of the piezoelectric element 301 in consideration of the holding force of the crimp terminals (304, 305). In addition, the crimping terminals 304 and 305 may be replaced, or a separate spring (not shown) may be further provided at the lower end of the piezoelectric element 301 to further provide the elastic energy relative to the piezoelectric element 301, thereby providing the impact force. You can also adjust.

In the above structure, when the user presses the external body 10, which is one of the keyboards for input, the flexure 201 compresses the piezoelectric element 301 and the piezoelectric element 301 is a crimp terminal 304, 305 is supported while contacting the electrical terminal 203 spaced apart from the lower end. Accordingly, the input signal is applied to the contacted electrical terminal 203 by an electronic device having a keyboard of the present embodiment, and at the same time, a potential difference occurs in the compressed piezoelectric element 301, which is upper and lower parts. It is applied to the charge collection circuit 401 of the electric circuit unit 40 via the electrodes 302 and 303. Since the potential difference generated in the piezoelectric element 301 is an alternating current, the charge collection circuit 401 receiving the input is composed of common bridge diode circuits D1 to D4 to rectify the applied alternating current to a direct current. In addition, the controller 403 is applied to the control unit 403 by adjusting the pulse width by the pulse width modulation (PWM: Pulse Width Modulation) method to adjust the magnitude of the DC voltage to a predetermined voltage level of the capacitor (C1, C2), and the voltages charged in the capacitors C1 and C2 can be used as a power source for the electronic device.

3 shows the characteristics of the power generation voltage in the keyboard self-powered device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4 shows the characteristics of power supplied by the keyboard self-powered device according to an embodiment of the present invention. That is, in this embodiment, the power generation voltage was approximately ± 15 mV and the supply power was approximately 10 mW.

As described above, according to the present invention, the kinetic energy provided by the user to the keyboard is converted into electrical energy by the piezoelectric element to be charged in a charging element such as a capacitor, and by repeating this, it can be used as its own power source.

As described above, the keyboard self-generating device according to the present invention converts a mechanical external force applied by a user during operation of the keyboard into electrical energy and charges it with a charging device, thereby carrying the portable electronic device having the keyboard. The electronic device can be operated without a separate power source such as a battery.

In addition, as well as replacement of the battery, a separate charging operation and charger is not required at all, so that the user's convenience is enhanced and semi-permanent use is possible without the need for additional maintenance.

In addition, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed for the purpose of illustration, anyone of ordinary skill in the art will be possible to various modifications, changes, additions, etc. within the spirit and scope of the present invention, such modifications, changes And additions should be regarded as within the scope of the claims.

Claims (5)

In an electronic device having a keyboard composed of at least one key, thereby receiving a user's input, A piezoelectric element unit disposed at a lower end of the key and having a piezoelectric element that is hit by an external force pressed by the user by pressing the key downward to generate a potential difference; And an electric circuit unit connected to the piezoelectric element and receiving the potential difference to charge a voltage, and supplying electric power to the electronic device at the charged voltage. The method of claim 1, The piezoelectric element portion A flexure that is attached to the bottom surface of the key so as to have a predetermined distance from the piezoelectric element so as to strike the piezoelectric element portion as the key is pressed downward; An elastic member positioned around a lower end of the keyboard and around the flexor to elastically support the key so that the key can be returned to its original position after being pressed; Keyboard self-powered apparatus further comprises a crimp terminal for elastically supporting the piezoelectric element. The method of claim 1, The electric circuit unit A rectifier circuit unit for rectifying the potential difference into a direct current; A PWM modulator for receiving a DC voltage applied to the DC current and a charging device to modulate the DC voltage to a predetermined voltage level by modulating in a pulse width modulation (PWM) method; Keyboard self-powered device characterized in that it comprises a charging element for receiving the regulated voltage to charge it. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The piezoelectric element is a keyboard, self-powered device characterized in that at least one of a crystal, piezoelectric ceramics, piezoelectric composite material. The method of claim 4, wherein The piezoelectric element includes Pb (Zr, Ti) O ₃ + Pb (Zn, Nb) O ₃ , Pb (Zr, Ti) O ₃ + Pb (Ni, Nb) O ₃ , Pb (Zr, Ti) O ₃ + PDFDF polymer, Pb At least one of (Zr, Ti) O ₃ + silicon polymer and Pb (Zr, Ti) O ₃ + epoxy polymer is used.

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