Patent ID: 7612541
Filing Date: 2009-11-03
Classification: H02N

Abstract:
1. A charge-pump voltage converter comprising: a stator comprising a rotor cavity, the rotor cavity having an insulating inner surface; a rotor rotatably mounted in the rotor cavity, the rotor having an insulating circumferential surface and having means for connecting to a rotatable shaft; at least one inductor electrode mounted on the insulating inner surface of the rotor cavity and having an inducing surface; at least one transfer electrode mounted on the insulating circumferential surface of the rotor and having a transferring surface, a separation of the at least one inductor electrode and the at least one transfer electrode being suitable for induction of charge by the inductor electrode on the transfer electrode when a portion of the inducing surface is radially aligned with a portion of the transferring surface; grounding means for connecting the at least one transfer electrode to a common for a portion of time while within an induction distance from the inductor electrode, wherein the transfer electrode has at least one contact-interruption means oriented out of a plane perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the rotor, the contact-interruption means serving to momentarily interrupt current flow between the transfer electrode and the grounding means as the transfer electrode rotates past the grounding means; and charge-transfer means for transferring charge from the transfer electrode to a charge-receiving means.