Abstract: The invention comprises a means for generating energy while walking or running for storage in a rechargeable battery. One embodiment uses lever arm movement in the heel of a shoe resulting from normal walking or running to generate energy from a built-in generator. The linear or rotational motion of the lever arm engages the circular gear assembly and turns the generator/motor/turbine, thus generating power. The second embodiment uses fluid reservoirs embedded in the shoes. Pressure changes resulting from normal walking or running moves the fluid through a narrow channel connecting two reservoirs, thus generating power by rotating a flywheel and an attached motor/generator/turbine in the middle of the channel. Secondary (rechargeable) batteries are incorporated into the invention either in an integrated form or as an add-on design.

Abstract: A battery charger includes a first portion of a charging circuit with first and second terminals, a detector for detecting a selected signal sequence in the charging circuit, and a regulator for switching from a first output level to a second output level in the charging circuit in response to the detector detecting the selected signal sequence. A communication unit has a port for a rechargeable battery and includes a second portion of the charging circuit through the battery port with third and fourth terminals connectable with the first and second terminals and fifth and sixth terminals connectable to terminals of a rechargeable battery when in the port. The communication unit also has a switch in the second portion of the charging circuit controlled by a processor, with the processor adapted to control the switch according to the selected signal sequence when a battery is in the port which requires the second output level.

Abstract: A system and method for charging rechargeable batteries using power from ambient acoustic waves. A first embodiment comprises a system with one or more audio speakers and a battery charger. Each speaker has a transducer that generates an electromotive force (EMF) in response to acoustic waves incident on the speaker. The battery charger receives the EMF from the speaker and charges one or more batteries using the received EMF. A second embodiment comprises a method for charging rechargeable batteries by the steps of generating a sound wave incident on an audio speaker, the speaker generating an EMF, providing the EMF to a battery charger, and the battery charger using the EMF to charge the batteries. A third embodiment comprises a battery charger that uses electrical power generated by one or more audio speakers to charge one or more rechargeable batteries. A rectifying unit in the battery charger receives and rectifies EMFs from the speakers and provides it to the batteries.

Abstract: A power regeneration system for a portable electronic device employs a mechanical energy converter for converting mechanical energy generated by activating keys in the keyboard and other manual operators employed in the portable computer into electrical energy. The mechanically generated electrical energy is used to power a transmitter or to recharge a rechargeable battery in the portable computer through a charging circuit. Time between charges of the rechargeable battery from external AC sources is extended due to the recapture of the mechanical energy generated through normal operation of the portable computer.

Abstract: A battery pack for providing electrical power to a commercial tractor/trailer vehicle has two 12-volt high-CCA batteries connected in parallel and two 6-volt deep-cycle batteries connected in series to power 12-volt electrical accessories such as devices for creature comforts. The two 12-volt high-CCA batteries provide sufficient cold cranking current for starting the engine of the vehicle. The two 6-volt deep-cycle batteries connected in series are used to power electrical accessories such as devices for creature comforts when the engine is not operating. A switch connects the serially connected 6-volt deep-cycle batteries in parallel with the 12-volt batteries for charging when the engine is running and isolates the 6-volt deep-cycle batteries from the 12-volt high-CCA batteries when the engine is off.