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Strain energy shuttle apparatus and method for vibration energy harvesting

  • US 20060175937A1
  • Filed: 02/01/2006
  • Published: 08/10/2006
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2003
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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17. An energy harvesting apparatus comprising:

  • a support substrate;

    a piezoelectric wafer secured to a surface of said support substrate;

    a base for supporting said support substrate in a manner to enable oscillating motion of said support substrate and said piezoelectric wafer; and

    a biasing element operatively associated with opposite longitudinal ends of said support substrate for supplying a mechanical compressive pre-load force to said piezoelectric wafer, sufficient to deflect said wafer into one of two flexed orientations in the absence of vibration energy, to thus soften said piezoelectric wafer to facilitate oscillating motion of said wafer in response to vibration experienced by said base.

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