APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONVERTING ENERGY

• US 20100066208A1
• Filed: 02/17/2009
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: LEE, Sang Yoon, KIM, Jongmin, CHOI, Jaeyoung
• Granted Patent: US 7,936,112 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/339
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2201/038 Microengines and actuators not provided for in B81B2201/031 - B81B2201/037
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2203/0376 rounded profile
• CPC Class Codes: B81C 1/00103 Structures having a predefined profile, e.g. sloped or rounded grooves
• CPC Class Codes: B81C 2201/0115 Porous silicon
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/18 producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators for measurement devices G01
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments relate to an energy converting apparatus and a method for converting energy, which may convert energy of an applied signal into electrical energy. The energy converting apparatus may include at least one nanowire which resonates in response to the applied signal. The resonating nanowire may contact an electrode allowing a current to flow through the electrode and the nanowire by a Schottky contact between the electrode and the nanowire. The method for converting energy may include applying a signal to at least one nanowire to resonate the nanowire, and generating electrical energy through the contact between the resonating nanowire and an electrode.

Claims

1. An energy converting apparatus comprising:

first and second electrodes spaced apart from each other; and

a nanowire formed on the first electrode, which is composed of a piezoelectric material and resonates in response to an applied signal so as to contact the second electrode.

2. The energy converting apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the second electrode has irregularities, and

wherein the nanowire is positioned adjacent to concave portions of the irregularities.

3. The energy converting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the irregularities have a curved or inclined surface.

4. The energy converting apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

a storage unit connected between the first and second electrodes and stores electrical energy.

5. The energy converting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the storage unit comprises a chargeable battery or a capacitor.

6. The energy converting apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the nanowire comprises a plurality of nanowires having different resonance frequencies from one another.

7. The energy converting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of nanowires are formed of different materials from one another.

8. The energy converting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of nanowires have different lengths from one another.

9. The energy converting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of nanowires have different diameters from one another.

10. The energy converting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nanowire is formed from at least one of zinc oxide, lead zirconate titanate, and barium titanate.

11. The energy converting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal is an electromagnetic wave.

12. The energy converting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the signal is a radio frequency wave.

13. A method for converting energy comprising:

applying a signal to a nanowire formed of a piezoelectric material to resonate the nanowire; and

generating electric energy through the contact between the resonating nanowire and an electrode.

14. The method for converting energy according to claim 13,

wherein the nanowire comprises a plurality of nanowires having different resonance frequencies from one another, and

applying of the signal includes applying a plurality of signals having different frequencies from one another.

15. The method for converting energy according to claim 13, wherein the signal is an electromagnetic wave.

16. The method for converting energy according to claim 15, wherein the signal is a radio frequency wave.