Abstract:
A ski or snowboard having an interface power source is provided. The power source uses reverse electrowetting technology to generate a charge to power devices connected to the interface. The power source includes a flexible, non-conductive substrate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side with a channel between the first and second sides. Electrodes are arranged about the channel in a predefined pattern. A liquid is contained in the channel. The liquid includes a dielectric liquid and a conductive liquid that do not mix. The electric change is generated by moving the liquid back and forth across the electrodes. The force to pump or move the liquid is provided by motion of the ski or snowboard.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. §119 
     The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/702,859, filed Sep. 19, 2012. 
    
    
     CLAIM OF PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. §120 
     None. 
     REFERENCE TO CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS FOR PATENT 
     None. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The technology of the present application relates generally to generating electrical energy, and more specifically, to using the movement and bending of a ski or snowboard as a pump in a microfluidic device to generate electrical energy. 
     2. Background 
     Skiing and snowboarding are common outdoor activities during the winter. Both activities are typically undertaken during chilly and cold weather resulting in uncomfortable conditions, especially in the extremities. Heaters in boots, gloves, head gear, and clothing have been attempted to combat the temperature, which would generally result in a more pleasurable experience. 
     Portable electronics are essentially ubiquitous in today&#39;s world. Many people that ski and snowboard use mobile computing devices, such as, smartphones, MPG players, cellular phones, handheld computers, and the like while in the outdoors. These devices use electrical power and may use a significant portion of the available battery charge during extensive use in the outdoors. 
     Historically, devices have been added to skis and snowboards to generate electrical energy. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,860, which issued to Manseth on Sep. 12, 1989, and is titled Electrical Apparatus for a Ski. Another exemplary system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,494, which issued to Maier on Jun. 6, 1989, and is titled Generator and Rechargeable Battery System for Ski. Both patents, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein as if set out in full, provide a generator assembly mounted on the ski. The generator assembly includes a rotor that extends from the ski and is rotated by frictional contact with the ground. The mounted generator assemblies, however, have numerous drawbacks. One exemplary drawback includes the fact that the additional parts are prone to breakage and the like. 
     Thus, against the above background improved systems and methods to generate electricity in a ski or snowboard is needed. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments disclosed herein address the above stated needs by providing an implantable device with an implantable power supply. The implantable power supply converting mechanical energy of the body, such as the expansion and contraction of muscles into electrical energy using microfluidics or mechanical strain. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a ski and a snowboard consistent with the technology of the present application; 
         FIG. 2  is a cut away view of the exemplary ski of  FIG. 1  showing an exemplary construction; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view from the side of the core of the exemplary ski of  FIG. 1  consistent with the technology of the present application; and 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view from the top of the core of the exemplary ski of  FIG. 1  consistent with the technology of the present application. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The technology of the present patent application will now be explained with reference to various figures, tables, and the like. While the technology of the present application is described with respect to certain snow skis and snowboards, one of ordinary skill in the art would now recognize that the technology is applicable to other devices that would provide a similar type of action, such as, for example, skateboards, snow skates, snowmobiles, waterskis, surf boards, and the like. Moreover, the technology of the present patent application will be described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments herein. The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments absent a specific indication that such an embodiment is preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Additionally, in certain instances, only a single “exemplary” embodiment is provided. A single example is not necessarily to be construed as the only embodiment. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the technology of the present patent application. However, on reading the disclosure, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the technology of the present patent application may be practiced with or without these specific details. In some descriptions herein, generally understood structures and devices may be shown in block diagrams to aid in understanding the technology of the present patent application without obscuring the technology herein. In certain instances and examples herein, the term “coupled” or “in communication with” means connected using either a direct link or indirect data link as is generally understood in the art. Moreover, the connections may be wired or wireless, private or public networks, or the like. 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , a ski  100  and a snowboard  200  are shown. Conventionally, the ski  100  and snowboard  200  may be formed from a number of different materials. Some exemplary materials include, for example, woods, wood laminates, metal laminates, fiberglass laminates, and the like. With reference to  FIG. 2 , a cut away view of the ski  100  is provided that shows an exemplary construction of the ski  100  formed using a laminated process, although other processes, layers, and the like are possible. The construction shown in  FIG. 2  is provided for completeness. As shown, the ski  100  is formed with a core  202 . The core  202  is sandwiched by composites  204  on the top  206  (or binding side) and the bottom  208  (or snow side). The composites  204  may include, for example, fiberglass, plastics, or the like. Typically, metal edges  209  are provided about the perimeter of the ski  100  between the composite  204  on the bottom  208  and the base  210 . The base  210  is composite material such as, for example, polyethylene that may be sintered. The edges may be steel or the like. The top side of the ski may include a metal edge  212  and a composite top layer  214 , such as, for example, fiberglass. Once the layers are assembled, the ski is cured and bonded in a mold. Snowboard  200  is formed in a similar construction. 
     As can be appreciated, with reference back to  FIG. 1 , the length L 1 , L 2  of the ski  100  and the snowboard  200  is larger than the width W 1 , W 2 . The construction along with the dimensions of the ski  100  and the snowboard  200  provides good flexibility for the ski and the snowboard. Both the ski and snowboard as they travel over terrain vibrate, sometime generically referred to as chatter, and flex. The up and down motion caused by the vibrations (or flex) may be used as a pumping action for a microfluidic device provided in the body of the ski  100  or the snowboard  200 , for example, in the core  202 . Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , cross-sectional views of the core  202  are provided with  FIG. 3  being a side view and  FIG. 4  being a top view. The structure used as the means to generate electrical charge or energy may include a microfluidic device. One possible microfluidic device  300 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,898,096, which issued Mar. 1, 2011, and which is incorporated herein by reference as if set out in full. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , core  202  is formed with a channel  306  or space. The core  202  should be formed of a dielectric or non-conductive material. A plurality of electrodes  308  are arranged about the channel  306 . Leads  310  complete the electrical circuit to an interface  312 , such as, for example, a plug, or the like. The microfluidic device may directly power heaters in a boot for example, or supply power view leads to portable electronic devices (not specifically shown). The interface  312  may provide for directly powering a device or may provide a continuous charge to prolong the life of batteries associated with the device. For example, electric boot heaters may be provided with a battery to heat resistors or the like in the boot. The interface  312  would allow for plugging the battery to the microfluidic device such that a charge was supplied to the battery to prolong the life thereof. 
     With further reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the microfluidic device includes a movable fluidic body  303  disposed in channel  306  and configured to slide along channel  306  past electrodes  308 . Fluidic body  303  consists of two immiscible liquids, one being a dielectric liquid and the other one being an electrically conductive liquid. Examples of suitable electrically conductive liquids include aqueous salt solutions and molten salts. Exemplary aqueous salt solutions include 0.01 molar solutions of salts such as CuSO.sub.4, LiCl, KNO.sub.3, or NaCl. Exemplary molten salts include 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate, which are both commercially available. In other cases, the conductive liquid can comprise liquid metals such as gallium, indium or mercury. Examples of suitable dielectric liquids include silicone oils and alkanes. Exemplary silicone oils include polydimethylsiloxane and polydiphenylsiloxane, and exemplary alkanes include nonane and heaxadecane. 
     Conductive and dielectric liquids are spatially separated in a plurality of distinct regions. Dielectric liquid regions  302  and conductive liquid regions  304  are arranged in a periodic alternating pattern, such that conductive and dielectric regions regularly alternate. The boundaries between immiscible liquid regions are preserved by the surface tension forces, giving fluidic body  303  an ability to move as a whole, e.g. slide along channel  306  without disturbing the arrangement and volume of the above-mentioned distinct liquid regions. 
     The pumping action to move the fluidic body  303  may be provided by vibration of the ski or snowboard as explained above. As the fluidic body  303  moves past the electrodes  308 , the mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy to power or charge the electronic device. 
     Those of skill would further appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present invention. 
     The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.