KR-20260065180-A - Traffic light system with energy harvesting function

Abstract

The present invention relates to a traffic light system equipped with an energy harvesting function, which may include: a plurality of piezoelectric elements distributed on the surface of a road and generating electrical energy corresponding to pressure applied by a vehicle passing over the road; an energy storage device located outside the road and receiving and storing voltage generated by the piezoelectric elements; a power supply device that generates and supplies driving power for the traffic light through the charging power of the energy storage device; and a traffic light driving device that operates based on the driving power for the traffic light and periodically varies the light emission pattern of the traffic light based on a preset schedule.

Inventors

• 김승수
• 주재원
• 김승환
• 김남혁
• 손성규

Assignees

• 전주비전대학교산학협력단

Dates

Publication Date

20260508

Application Date

20241101

Claims (3)

1. A plurality of piezoelectric elements distributed on the surface of a road, generating electrical energy corresponding to the pressure applied by a vehicle passing over the road; An energy storage device located outside the above road, which receives and stores voltage generated by the above piezoelectric element; A power supply that generates and supplies signal light driving power through the charging power of the above energy storage device; and A traffic light system equipped with an energy harvesting function, comprising a traffic light driving device that operates based on the above-mentioned traffic light driving power and periodically varies the traffic light light emission pattern based on a preset schedule.
2. In paragraph 1, the power supply device A traffic light system equipped with an energy harvesting function, characterized by further including a function to generate and supply driving power for the traffic light through commercial power supplied through a power grid when the charging power of the energy storage device is below a preset value.
3. In claim 1, the plurality of piezoelectric elements A traffic light system equipped with an energy harvesting function characterized by being connected in series, parallel, or series-parallel manner.

Description

Traffic light system with energy harvesting function The present invention relates to a traffic light system equipped with an energy harvesting function that enables the harvesting of mechanical energy of a vehicle through a piezoelectric element. Recently, facing the reality of global energy depletion, various methods and devices for the development of new alternative energy sources and effective energy conservation during energy circulation are being actively developed. For example, a voltage generator utilizing solar power has been developed as a representative alternative energy source. This device consists of a solar cell that directly receives sunlight and charges a battery using a constant voltage circuit that maintains a uniform voltage generated from the solar cell, allowing the battery to be used as an auxiliary power source when needed. However, power generation using the aforementioned solar cells has disadvantages such as low efficiency, significant variations in output depending on light intensity, and the inability to generate power at night; therefore, it cannot serve as a primary energy source for a nation and can only function as a supplementary or experimental energy source. Furthermore, energy generation devices utilizing tidal, wind, and hydroelectric power are energy sources that can only be used as auxiliary power in regions where natural conditions are suitable; moreover, the resulting generated voltage often falls short of expectations or is subject to significant limitations due to the surrounding environment, and the initial facility investment costs are enormous, making them unsuitable for general use. Accordingly, interest in energy recycling as an alternative energy source is increasing. Furthermore, as global industrialization progresses and automotive culture becomes established, the number of vehicles in operation is growing exponentially, creating a demand for energy recycling systems utilizing these vehicles. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a traffic light system equipped with an energy harvesting function according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the structure of a piezoelectric element according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating an example of installation of a piezoelectric element according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a method of driving a traffic light system equipped with an energy harvesting function according to an embodiment of the present invention. Before specifically describing the present disclosure, the method of description in the specification and drawings is described. First, the terms used in this specification and claims have been selected based on general terms considering their functions in the various embodiments of this disclosure. However, these terms may vary depending on the intent of those skilled in the art, legal or technical interpretations, and the emergence of new technologies. Additionally, some terms have been arbitrarily selected by the applicant. Such terms may be interpreted according to the meanings defined in this specification; in the absence of specific definitions, they may be interpreted based on the overall content of this specification and common technical knowledge in the relevant field. In addition, the same reference numbers or symbols described in each drawing attached to this specification represent parts or components that perform substantially the same function. For convenience of explanation and understanding, the same reference numbers or symbols are used to describe different embodiments. That is, even if components having the same reference number are all depicted in multiple drawings, the multiple drawings do not imply a single embodiment. Additionally, in this specification and claims, terms including ordinal numbers, such as "first," "second," etc., may be used to distinguish between components. These ordinal numbers are used to distinguish identical or similar components from one another, and the meaning of the terms should not be limited by the use of such ordinal numbers. For example, the order of use or arrangement of components combined with such ordinal numbers should not be restricted by the number. If necessary, each ordinal number may be used interchangeably. In this specification, singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this application, terms such as "comprising" or "consisting of" are intended to specify the existence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and should be understood as not precluding the existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, terms such as "module," "unit," "part," etc. are used to refer to a