Contact-charge motor and generator

Abstract

An electro-mechanical device for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy and vice versa, which advantageously utilizes the phenomenon known as contact charging. A metallic first member is urged into intimate abutting contact along a surface thereof with a surface of a second member formed from semiconductor material. The abutting surfaces of the members are each divided into a plurality of segments such that relative movement between the members, while the members are retained in abutting contact, results in the capacitance of the device varying within predetermined limits. Four preferred embodiments of the device are contemplated. In the first embodiment the area of contact between the abutting surfaces is caused to synchronously vary between predetermined limits. In the second, third, and fourth embodiments the contact area remains constant and, instead, the surface characteristics of the second member are controllably varied to thereby cause the variance in capacitance.