Patent · US Active

Piezoelectric generators, motor and transformers

US7696673B1 · kind B1 · utility

16Cited by
75References
8Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 8, 2007
Grant dateApr 13, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 3, 2027

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH10N30/40
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Disclosed are various embodiments of systems, devices and methods for generating electricity, transforming voltages and generating motion using one or more piezoelectric elements operably coupled to one or more non-piezoelectric resonating elements. In one embodiment, a non-piezoelectric resonating element is configured to oscillate and dissipate mechanical energy into a piezoelectric element, which converts a portion of such mechanical energy into electricity and therefore acts as a generator. In another embodiment, a piezoelectric element is configured to drive one or more mechanical elements operably coupled to the one or more non-piezoelectric resonating elements, and therefore acts as a motor. In still another embodiment, a piezoelectric element is operably coupled to a non-piezoelectric resonating element to form an electrical transformer. The mechanical properties of the non-piezoelectric resonating elements are typically selected to permit relatively high permissible stress and strain in comparison to the corresponding piezoelectric elements to which they are operably coupled or attached.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.