Piezo based energy harvesting for e-latch systems

摘要

A vehicle door includes an electrically-powered latch and a user input feature that can be actuated by a user to cause the electrically-powered latch to unlatch. An electrical energy storage device is operably connected to the electrically-powered latch, and a piezoelectric device is mounted to the door. The piezoelectric device can be manually actuated by a user to charge the electrical energy storage device, and electrical energy from the electrical energy storage device can be utilized to actuate the electrically-powered latch to thereby unlatch the latch. The user input feature may comprise a switch or sensor located adjacent a door handle/latch release on an inside and/or an outside of the vehicle door. The electrical energy storage device may comprise an emergency battery, capacitor, or other electrical device.

主权项

1. A vehicle door, comprising:
an electrically-powered latch defining latched and unlatched states; a user input feature comprising a switch having a movable switch member actuated by a user and causing the electrically-powered latch assembly to change from the latched state to the unlatched state in order to unlatch the door; an electrical energy storage device that is operably connected to the electrically-powered latch; a piezoelectric device having a bendable piezoelectric element operably connected to the electrical energy storage device such that the piezoelectric device is manually actuated by a user to charge the electrical energy storage device; and wherein the bendable elements is positioned directly adjacent the movable switch member: electrical energy from the electrical energy storage device is utilized to actuate the electrically-powered latch to thereby unlatch the electronically-powered latch.