Patent · US Active

Power generation unit, electronic apparatus, transportation unit, battery, method of controlling power generation unit

US8653718B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
8References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 4, 2012
Grant dateFeb 18, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 4, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH10N30/306
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A power generation unit includes: a deformation member which is deformed by switching a deformation direction; a piezoelectric element which is installed to the deformation member; a pair of electrodes which are installed to the piezoelectric element; an inductor which is installed between the pair of the electrodes and which together with a capacitive component of the piezoelectric element constitutes a resonance circuit; a switch which is connected in series to the inductor; a full bridge rectifier which is installed between the pair of the electrodes to rectify an AC current generated by the piezoelectric element; a voltage detection circuit which detects potentials of an anode and cathode of a diode included in the full bridge rectifier; and a controller which allows the switch to be in an ON state for a predetermined time interval based on an output signal of the voltage detection circuit.

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