Method and apparatus for energy extraction

Patent 6477028 Issued on November 5, 2002. Estimated Expiration Date:

May 25, 2020. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

Energy conversion using high charge density
Patent #: 5123039
Issued on: 06/16/1992
Inventor: Shoulders

System for converting electromagnetic radiation energy to electrical energy Patent #: 5590031
Issued on: 12/31/1996
Inventor: Mead, Jr., et al.

Inventor

Pinto, Fabrizio

Application

No. 578638 filed on 05/25/2000

US Classes:

361/233, Use of forces of electric charge or field307/151, Conversion systems318/16, SUPPLIED OR CONTROLLED BY SPACE-TRANSMITTED ELECTROMAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC ENERGY (E.G., BY RADIO)318/555, Electromagnetic actuated318/558, MISCELLANEOUS327/603, MISCELLANEOUS363/178MISCELLANEOUS

Examiners

Primary: Anderson, Bruce C.
Assistant: Wells, Nikita

Attorney, Agent or Firm

DeMont & Breyer, LLC

Foreign Patent References

3541084 DE. 08/12/1987
2283611 GB. 05/12/1995
2325778 GB. 12/12/1998

International Classes

H02M 001/00
H02N 011/00

Abstract

In some embodiments, the illustrative method defines an engine cycle comprising several state changes that allow for a net gain of energy from an underlying source force field. The potential for a net energy gain via the method results from the discovery that a Casimir force system can be rendered non-conservative. This is done by appropriately altering one or more of a variety of physical factors that affect the Casimir force, or by altering any of a variety of environmental factors that affect such physical factors. In various embodiments, the extracted energy is stored, used to power energy-consuming devices or used to actuate a micromechanical device. In one embodiment, the method is implemented using an energy extraction apparatus that comprises two spaced Casimir force-generating boundaries that are operatively coupled to an energy transformation system. The energy transformation system includes a first device that is operable to alter at least one physical factor of the system. The energy transformation system also includes a second device that is operable to change the distance between the two Casimir force-generating boundaries, and further operable to maintain the distance between the boundaries while the first device alters the physical factor.

Other References

Sprenzel--WPI Abstract Accession No. 87-222024/32 for DE 3,541,084 A
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