METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONVERTING MECHANICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy by at least one piezoelectric element and at least one variable capacitor. The method: a) mechanically deforms the piezoelectric element; b) recovers charges produced by the deformation of the piezoelectric element; c) transfers the charges from the piezoelectric element to the capacitor; d) modifies the capacitance of the capacitor; and e) recovers at least some of the electrical energy. A device for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy includes a piezoelectric element and a variable capacitor. The piezoelectric element is capable of transferring charges to the capacitor.
-
Citations
56 Claims
-
1-38. -38. (canceled)
-
39. A method for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy, by at least one piezoelectric element and at least one first capacitor of variable capacity, the method comprising:
-
a) mechanical deformation of the piezoelectric element; b) recovery of charges produced by the deformation of the piezoelectric element; c) a transfer of charge from the piezoelectric element to the first capacitor; d) modification of the capacity of the first capacitor by mechanical deformation of the first capacitor; e) recovery of at least part of the electrical energy; and f) transferring the electrical energy produced by the capacitor to a second capacitor and vice versa until a predetermined level of amplification of the electrical energy is reached. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
-
-
48. A device for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy, comprising:
-
at least one piezoelectric element; at least a first capacitor of variable capacity and a second capacitor of variable capacity, the first and second capacitors having capacities varying inversely; means for controlling transfer of charges between the piezoelectric element and the first capacitor and the second capacitor, such that charge produced during a deformation of the piezoelectric element is transmitted to the first capacitor or to the second capacitor to generate electrical energy that is amplified by variation of its capacity, wherein the capacity of the first capacitor or the second capacitor is modified by moving armatures of the first capacitor or armatures of the second capacitor; and means for transferring electrical energy produced by the first capacitor or the second capacitor to the second capacitor or the first capacitor respectively and vice versa until a predetermined level of amplification of the electrical energy is reached. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
-
Specification