System and apparatus for axial field rotary energy device with alternative circuits

Abstract

An axial field rotary energy device can include a housing. A rotor can be mounted inside the housing. The rotor can include an axis of rotation and a magnet. A stator also can be mounted inside the housing coaxial with the rotor. The stator can include a printed circuit board (PCB) having a PCB layer with a coil. A sensor can be integrated within the housing. The sensor can be configured to monitor, detect or generate data regarding operation of the axial field rotary energy device.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An axial field rotary energy device, comprising:
 a housing;   a rotor mounted inside the housing, the rotor having an axis of rotation and a magnet;   a stator mounted inside the housing coaxial with the rotor, the stator comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) having a PCB layer with a coil; and   a sensor integrated within the housing, wherein the sensor is configured to monitor, detect or generate data regarding operation of the axial field rotary energy device.   
     
     
         2 . The axial field rotary energy device of  claim 1 , wherein the operational data comprises at least one of power, temperature, rate of rotation, rotor position, or vibration data. 
     
     
         3 . The axial field rotary energy device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a Hall effect sensor, encoder, optical sensor, thermocouple, accelerometer, gyroscope or vibration sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The axial field rotary energy device of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the axial field rotary energy device is a motor;   the sensor is configured to provide information regarding a position of the rotor in the motor; and   the sensor is mounted to the housing.   
     
     
         5 . The axial field rotary energy device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes a wireless communication circuit. 
     
     
         6 . The axial field rotary energy device of  claim 5 , wherein the sensor is configured to transmit operational data of the axial field rotary energy device to an external device. 
     
     
         7 . The axial field rotary energy device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is integrated with the PCB. 
     
     
         8 . The axial field rotary energy device of  claim 7 , wherein the sensor is embedded directly in the coil and is configured to be electrically powered directly by the coil. 
     
     
         9 . The axial field rotary energy device of  claim 7 , wherein the sensor is configured to be powered and connected to the coil through a separate electrical connection that is disposed on or within the PCB. 
     
     
         10 . The axial field rotary energy device of  claim 7 , further comprising a secondary coil integrated with the PCB that is coupled to the sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The axial field rotary energy device of  claim 10 , wherein the secondary coil is configured to utilize magnetic flux developed during operation to provide power for the sensor. 
     
     
         12 . An axial field rotary energy device, comprising:
 a housing;   a rotor mounted inside the housing, the rotor having an axis of rotation and a magnet;   a stator mounted inside the housing coaxial with the rotor, the stator comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) having a PCB layer with a coil; and   a control circuit mounted within the housing, wherein the control circuit is coupled to the coil and comprises at least one of an input coupled to receive a current flowing through the coil, or an output coupled to provide the current flowing through the coil.   
     
     
         13 . The axial field rotary energy device of  claim 12 , wherein the control circuit is integrated with the PCB. 
     
     
         14 . The axial field rotary energy device of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the axial field rotary energy device is a generator; and   the control circuit comprises an input coupled to receive the current flowing through the coil, and further comprises an output coupled to generate an external power source.   
     
     
         15 . The axial field rotary energy device of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the axial field rotary energy device is a motor; and   the control circuit comprises an input coupled to receive an external power source, and further comprises an output coupled to provide the current flowing through the coil.   
     
     
         16 . The axial field rotary energy device of  claim 15 , further comprising a sensor integrated within the housing, wherein:
 the sensor is configured to provide information regarding a position of the rotor in the motor; and   the sensor is mounted to the housing.   
     
     
         17 . An axial field rotary energy device, comprising:
 a housing;   a rotor mounted inside the housing, the rotor having an axis of rotation and a magnet;   a stator mounted inside the housing coaxial with the rotor, the stator comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) having a PCB layer with a coil;   a sensor integrated with the PCB; and   a secondary coil disposed on or within the PCB and coupled to the sensor.   
     
     
         18 . The axial field rotary energy device of  claim 17 , wherein the sensor is configured to be powered and connected to the coil through a separate electrical connection that is disposed on or within the PCB; and the sensor is configured to transmit operational data of the axial field rotary energy device to an external device using the secondary coil. 
     
     
         19 . The axial field rotary energy device of  claim 18 , wherein the secondary coil is configured to utilize magnetic flux developed during operation to provide power for the sensor, and wherein the sensor is not otherwise connected to the coil. 
     
     
         20 . The axial field rotary energy device of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the sensor comprises at least one of a Hall effect sensor, encoder, optical sensor, thermocouple, accelerometer, gyroscope or vibration sensor; and   the sensor includes a wireless communication circuit.