Electrical connection of energy harvesting devices

• US 20080264144A1
• Filed: 04/26/2007
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Mao, Xinhui, Fang, Huabin
• Granted Patent: US 7,698,926 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/1.82
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/106 one or more transducer arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/022 Fluid sensors based on microsensors, e.g. quartz crystal-microbalance [QCM], surface acoustic wave [SAW] devices, tuning forks, cantilevers, flexural plate wave [FPW] devices microdevices per se B81B
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/2481 Wireless probes, e.g. with transponders or radio links

Abstract

An energy harvesting system and method. An array of cantilevers with PZT films is electrically connected to an energy harvesting device that converts vibration energy to electrical energy. An AC output signal provided by the cantilevers can be rectified to a DC output, thereby avoiding impairment in total electrical output. The DC output terminals can be connected in parallel and/or in series in order to achieve a higher voltage and/or a higher current that prevents the output from different cantilevers from counteracting one another. The connection circuitry includes one or more rectifying components integrated with one or more micro-cantilevers into a single integrated circuit chip. An oscillograph can be utilized to monitor the DC output voltage signal from an associated testing circuit.

Claims

1. An electrical energy harvesting system, comprising:

a waveform generator for generating a signal;

a vibrator for providing mechanical vibrations, wherein said vibrator is program-controlled by said waveform generator; and

an accelerator attached to said vibrator, wherein said accelerator measures a vibration strength of said mechanical vibrations and an amplitude or velocity of said signal, thereby permitting a clamped component subject to said accelerator and said vibrator to provide converted vibration energy in the form of an AC signal that is rectified to a DC voltage output in order to achieve an electrical energy in the form of a higher voltage or a current output that is harvested and utilized to characterize the electrical functioning of an associated electrical system or device.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising

a power amplifier integrated with said waveform generator to drive said vibrator and regulate a vibration strength of said mechanical vibrations;

and

an accelerator monitor associated with said accelerator, wherein said accelerator monitor delivers a signal strength associated with said signal

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said clamped component comprises a cantilever array and a nickel mass.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a testing circuit comprising a bridge rectifier and a capacitor, wherein said testing circuit detects said electrical energy harvested and utilized to support the electrical functioning of an associated electrical system or device.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising an oscillograph connected to said testing circuit, wherein said oscillograph monitors a DC output voltage signal generated by said testing circuit.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein said bridge rectifier comprises at least four diodes connected electrically in series with one another.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a laser displacement sensor for tip displacement testing, wherein said laser displacement sensor is connected to said clamped component

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said laser displacement sensor further comprises:

a laser source;

a signal controller in associate with said laser source;

an optical tuner setup module associated with said laser source and said signal controller; and

a data-processing apparatus for data storage and processing, wherein said data-processing apparatus is associated with said laser source, said signal controller and said optical tuner setup module.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising an AC/DC converter for rectification of said AC signal to said DC voltage output.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said clamped component comprises an array of cantilevers with PZT films.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said PZT films are bound to a PCB.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said DC output voltage is accumulated across a capacitor.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said clamped component comprises a plurality of DC output voltage terminals that are connected in parallel in order to achieve said electrical energy the form of said higher current output from said clamped component.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein said clamped component comprises a plurality of DC output voltage terminals that are connected in series in order to achieve said electrical energy in the form of said higher voltage output from said clamped component.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein said clamped component comprises a plurality of DC output voltage terminals that are connected in series-parallel in order to achieve said electrical energy in the form of said higher voltage and a higher current output from said clamped component.

16. An electrical energy harvesting system, comprising:

a waveform generator for generating a signal;

a vibrator for providing mechanical vibrations, wherein said vibrator is program-controlled by said waveform generator; and

an accelerator attached to said vibrator, wherein said accelerator measures a vibration strength of said mechanical vibrations and an amplitude or velocity of said signal, thereby permitting a clamped component subject to said accelerator and said vibrator to provide converted vibration energy in the form of an AC signal that is rectified to a DC voltage output in order to achieve an electrical energy in the form of a higher voltage or a current output that is harvested and utilized to characterize the electrical functioning of an associated electrical system or device;

a power amplifier integrated with said waveform generator to drive said vibrator and regulate a vibration strength of said mechanical vibrations; and

an accelerator monitor associated with said accelerator, wherein said accelerator monitor delivers a signal strength associated with said signal, wherein said clamped component.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising

integrating a power amplifier with said waveform generator to drive said vibrator and regulate a vibration strength of said mechanical vibrations;

and

associating an accelerator monitor with said accelerator, wherein said accelerator monitor delivers a signal strength associated with said signal.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising providing a testing circuit comprising a bridge rectifier and a capacitor, wherein said testing circuit detects said electrical energy harvested and utilized to support the electrical functioning of an associated electrical system or device.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising connecting an oscillograph to said testing circuit, wherein said oscillograph monitors a DC output voltage signal generated by said testing circuit.

21. The method of claim 16 further comprising providing a laser displacement sensor for tip displacement testing, wherein said laser displacement sensor is connected to said clamped component.

17. A method for electrical energy harvesting, comprising:

providing a waveform generator for generating a signal;

associating a vibrator with said waveform generator, wherein said vibrator provides mechanical vibrations and wherein said vibrator is program-controlled by said waveform generator; and

attaching an accelerator to said vibrator, wherein said accelerator measures a vibration strength of said mechanical vibrations and an amplitude or velocity of said signal; and

permitting a clamped component subject to said accelerator and said vibrator to provide converted vibration energy in the form of an AC signal that is rectified to a DC voltage output in order to achieve an electrical energy in the form of a higher voltage or a current output that is harvested and utilized to characterize the electrical functioning of an associated electrical system or device.