Piezoelectric energy harvester system with composite shim

• US 10,097,112 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2016
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cairdac, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vermon (BNP Paribas S.A.)
• Inventors: Nguyen-Dinh, An, Ferin, Guillaume, Bantignies, Claire, Le Khanh, Hung, Meynier, Cyril, Flesch, Etienne
• Primary Examiner(s): ROSENAU, DEREK JOHN
• Application Number:
  US15/057,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20170257040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 310339
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/181 Circuits; Control arrangements or methods
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/188 adapted for resonant operation
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/304 Beam type
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/306 Cantilevers
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/308 Membrane type
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/872 Interconnections, e.g. connection electrodes of multilayer piezoelectric or electrostrictive devices

Abstract

A vibrational multi-morph piezoelectric energy harvester includes a composite shim having a parallelepiped form with a thickness dimension made smaller than width and length dimensions, and having a stiffness shifting from one extremity to the other extremity to minimize mechanical constraints developed at a clamping area; a seismic mass mounted at an end opposite to the clamping area to mechanically match the system to the surrounding vibration resonance; one or more piezoelectric layers laminated on said composite shim; and electrodes plated onto the one or more piezoelectric layers for connection to an electronic harvesting circuit, a battery, or a super capacitor.

Claims

1. A piezoelectric energy harvester system comprising:

a composite shim having a parallelepiped form with a thickness dimension made smaller than a width dimension and a length dimension, and having a stiffness shifting from one extremity to another extremity to minimize mechanical constraints developed at a clamping area;

a seismic mass mounted at an end opposite to the clamping area to mechanically match the system to surrounding vibration resonance;

one or more piezoelectric layers laminated on the composite shim;

electrodes plated onto the one or more piezoelectric layers for connection to an electronic harvesting circuit, a battery, or a super capacitor; and

pillars embedded in the composite shim, each of the pillars having a diameter that varies in size based on its location in the composite shim.

2. The piezoelectric energy harvester system of claim 1, wherein the pillars are arranged in lines parallel to an axis in the width dimension of the composite shim.

3. The piezoelectric energy harvester system of claim 1, wherein the composite shim comprises a first material and the pillars comprise a material that is different than the first material.

4. A piezoelectric energy harvester comprising:

a composite shim having a parallelepiped form with a thickness dimension made smaller than a width dimension and a length dimension, and having a stiffness shifting from one extremity to another extremity to minimize mechanical constraints developed at a clamping area;

a seismic mass mounted at an end opposite to the clamping area to mechanically match the system to surrounding vibration resonance;

one or more piezoelectric layers laminated on the composite shim;

electrodes plated onto the one or more piezoelectric layers for connection to an electronic harvesting circuit, a battery, or a super capacitor; and

pillars embedded in the composite shim, each of the pillars having a triangular cross-section that varies in size depending on its location in the composite shim.

5. The piezoelectric energy harvester system of claim 4, wherein the composite shim comprises a first material and the pillars comprise a material that is different than the first material.

6. A piezoelectric energy harvester system comprising:

a composite shim having a parallelepiped form with a thickness dimension made smaller than a width dimension and a length dimension, and having a stiffness shifting from one extremity to another extremity to minimize mechanical constraints developed at a clamping area;

a seismic mass mounted at an end opposite to the clamping area to mechanically match the system to surrounding vibration resonance;

one or more piezoelectric layers laminated on the composite shim;

electrodes plated onto the one or more piezoelectric layers for connection to an electronic harvesting circuit, a battery, or a super capacitor; and

walls embedded in the composite shim, each of the walls arranged parallel to an axis in the thickness dimension and forming an angle with an axis in the width dimension and an axis in the length dimension, each of the walls having a width that varies in size based on its location in the composite shim.

7. The piezoelectric energy harvester system of claim 6, wherein the composite shim comprises a first material and the walls comprise a material that is different than the first material.

8. A piezoelectric energy harvester system comprising:

a composite shim having a circular or ovoid form with a thickness dimension made smaller than major and minor dimensions, and having a stiffness shifting from one extremity to another extremity to minimize mechanical constraints developed at a clamping area;

a seismic mass mounted at a center of gravity of the composite shim to mechanically match the system to surrounding vibration resonance;

one or more piezoelectric layers laminated on the composite shim;

electrodes plated onto the one or more piezoelectric layers for connection to an electronic harvesting circuit, a battery, or a super capacitor; and

pillars embedded in the composite shim, each of the pillars having a shape that varies in size based on its location in the composite shim.

9. A piezoelectric energy harvester system comprising:

a composite shim having a parallelepiped form with a thickness dimension made several orders of magnitude smaller than width and length dimensions, including two ends and clamping areas at each of the two ends, and having a stiffness shifting from each of the clamping areas to a maximum amplitude displacement area to minimize mechanical constraints developed at the clamping areas;

a seismic mass mounted at a center of the composite shim to mechanically match the system to surrounding vibration resonance;

one or more piezoelectric layers laminated on the composite shim;

electrodes plated onto the one or more piezoelectric layers for connection to an electronic harvesting circuit, a battery, or a super capacitor; and

pillars embedded in the composite shim, each of the pillars having a shape that varies in size based on its location in the composite shim.