Potenco, Inc.

Makani Power, Inc.

Colin Bulthaup

Saul Thomas Griffith

Dan Goldwater

Eric Jamesson Wilhelm

John Lewis

Corwin Hardham

George Homsy

Michael Lin

Brian Warshawsky

Mitch Heinrich

Michael O'Hara

Benji Rappoport

An electric power generation system is disclosed. The electric power generation system comprises a string configured to be pulled. The electric power generation system further comprises a bobbin configured to rotate when the string is unwound from the bobbin. The electric power generation system further comprises an electric power generator having a rotor. The rotor is configured to rotate such that the ratio of number of rotations of the rotor and the bobbin is 1:1 when the string is being pulled.

Gearless human power generation

An electric power generation system is disclosed. The electric power generation system includes: a first string and a second string configured to be pulled; a first portion of a bobbin configured to rotate in a direction when the first string is unwound from the bobbin as the first string is pulled; a second portion of a bobbin configured to rotate in the direction when the second string is unwound from the bobbin as the second string is pulled; and an electric power generator having a rotor wherein the rotor is mechanically coupled to the bobbin. The pulling of the second string causes the first string to retract and the pulling of the first string causes the second string to retract.

Human power generation using dual pulls

Synchronous control for an output of a generator is disclosed. A desired output level at the output of the generator is received. An off time to achieve the desired output level is determined. A timing for the off time is determined. One or more coil outputs are caused to switch off for the off time at the determined timing for the off time. The one or more coil outputs contribute to the output of the generator in the event that the one or more coil outputs are switched on.

Synchronous control for generator output

A fibrous tension member includes a plurality of structural threads and two or more indicator threads. The two or more indicator threads are located with respect to the plurality of structural threads such that a differential elongation between the two or more indicator threads indicates a curvature. The differential elongation between the two or more indicator threads is measured using a change in one or more electrical properties of each of the two or more indicator threads as each of the two or more indicator threads changes in length. A fibrous tension member includes a plurality of structural threads and one or more indicator threads. Each of the one or more indicator threads is more sensitive to elongation in a region of length of the fibrous tension member. The elongation of the region associated with one of the one or more indicator threads is measured using a change in one or more electrical properties of one of the one or more indicator threads as one of the one or more indicator threads changes in length.

Electronic elongation-sensing rope

A method of coupling a mechanical power source through an electrical power generator to an electrical load is disclosed. A characteristic of an electrical output is measured from the electrical power generator produced during a power generation cycle during which there is a coupling of the mechanical power source through the electrical power generator to the electrical load. The coupling of the mechanical power source is adjusted through the electrical power generator to the electrical load during a subsequent power generation cycle based at least in part on the measured characteristic of the electrical output.

Electrical power generator with adaptive coupling

A fibrous tension member comprises a plurality of structural threads and an indicator thread. The indicator thread modulates one or more electrical properties of the indicator thread based at least in part on the elongation of the indicator thread. A system for sensing elongation of a fibrous tension member comprises a plurality of structural threads, at least one indicator thread, and a sensing-processing device. The sensing-processing device is electrically connected to the at least one indicator thread to determine the elongation of the fibrous tension member.

Growing community of inventors

San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Colin Bulthaup