Dual-mode piezoelectric/magnetic vibrational energy harvester
US8354778B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 18, 2008 |
| Grant date | Jan 15, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 8, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02K35/02
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Embodiments of a vibrational energy harvester are provided. A vibrational energy harvester can include a translator layer sandwiched between two stator layers. The translator layer can include a plate having an array of magnets and two or more piezoelectric patches coupled to a tether beam attached to the plate. The stator layers can have a printed circuit board with multilayer electrical windings situated in a housing. In operation, vibration of the housing can result in bending of the piezoelectric patches coupled to the tether beam. This bending simultaneously results in a relative displacement of the translator, which causes a voltage potential in the piezoelectric patches, and a relative velocity between the translator and the stators, which induces a voltage potential in the stator coils. These voltage potentials generate an AC power, which can be converted to DC power through a rectification circuit incorporating passive and active conversion.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.