Piezoelectric generators and methods of operating same
US7239066B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 17, 2004 |
| Grant date | Jul 3, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 17, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02N2/181
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A piezoelectric power generator (20, 120) comprises plural piezoelectric devices (22, 122); an actuator (24) positioned to impart an excitation to the plural piezoelectric devices (22, 122) in a predefined sequence; and, an electrical conduction system (30) connected to the plural piezoelectric devices for conducting an electrical charge created by the excitation. Preferably the plural piezoelectric devices (22, 122) are arranged in a predetermined relationship relative to the actuator (24) whereby only one of the plural piezoelectric devices (22, 122) is actuated at a time. For example, the plural piezoelectric devices (22, 122) can be arranged in an angular pattern (such as a circular pattern) relative to the actuator (24). Preferably, a rotational speed of the actuator (24) permits an excitation response for a given plural piezoelectric device (22, 122) to essentially fully decay before the given plural piezoelectric device (22, 122) is again excited.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.