Embedded generators for self-powered smart watches and wristbands
Overview
The limited battery life of smart watches and wristbands remains a pain point. We designed an embedded and compact generator to efficiently harnesses the kinetic energy of arm swinging such that these wearable gadgets can be self-powered. The invention uses a novel topology to achieve highly compact structure and ultilizes a frequency-up converter to improve output power.
Commercialisation opportunities
Technology licensing agreement
Problem addressed
To extend the battery life of smart watches and wristbands, we developed an embedded generator to provide sustainable power for these wearables. This device generates electricity by capturing kinetic energy of arm swinging. To meet the size and power requirements of smart watches and wristbands, our patented generator has highly compact structure and amazingly high output power.
Innovation
- Different from the battery, the electricity is generated by harvesting the kinetic energy of human motion to address the “battery anxiety” issue of smart watches and wristbands since the energy in human body is almost sustainable.
- As the size of the wrist watches and bands is critically limited, we designed a coaxial topology to achieve highly compact structure and used a compatible frequency-up converter to improve output power.
Key impact
- > 4x output power and 10x power density compared with existing technologies
- Compact and easily embedded in wearable electronics
- Simple structure and low fabrication cost
Award
- Gold Medal at the “2021 Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions”
- ASME 2021 Energy Harvesting Best Paper Award
Application
- Various smart watches and wristbands
Patent
- US Patent 11,316,405, April 26, 2022
- China Patent Application: 201910104425
- China Patent Application: 202111120926.0
The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)
Founded in 1963, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is a forward-looking comprehensive research university with a global vision and a mission to combine tradition with modernity, and to bring together China and the West. CUHK teachers and students hail from all around the world. Four Nobel laureates are associated with the university, and it is the only tertiary institution in Hong Kong with recipients of the Nobel Prize, Turing Award, Fields Medal and Veblen Prize sitting as faculty in residence. CUHK graduates are connected worldwide through an extensive alumni network. CUHK undertakes a wide range of research programmes in many subject areas, and strives to provide scope for all academic staff to undertake consultancy and collaborative projects with industry.
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