Patent ID: 7870916
Filing Date: 2011-01-18
Classification: B60L,F03G,H01M,H02J,H02K,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A system for managing electrical power generated by an electric generator disposed on a human-propelled wheeled cart, the electric generator configured to generate electrical power from rotational motion of a wheel of the human-propelled wheeled cart, the system comprising: an energy storage unit configured to be electrically coupled to the electric generator disposed in or on the human-powered wheeled cart, the energy storage unit comprising a capacitive storage unit and a rechargeable battery storage unit; and electronic circuitry configured to be electrically coupled to the energy storage unit and the electric generator, the electronic circuitry configured to provide electrical power to electrical loads disposed in or on the cart from electric power generated by the electric generator, electric power stored by the energy storage unit, or electric power from both the electric generator and the energy storage unit, the electronic circuitry further configured to provide buffered power to the electrical loads on a first timescale and on a second timescale, the second timescale different from the first timescale, wherein the first timescale corresponds to a discharge rate of the capacitive storage unit due to internal resistance and the second timescale corresponds to a recharge rate at which the battery storage unit can recharge the capacitive storage unit.