PIEZOELECTRIC ENERGY HARVESTER AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME

• US 20110057458A1
• Filed: 01/05/2010
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: Yang, Yil Suk, LEE, Sang Kyun, Moon, Seung Eon, Park, Kang Ho, Kim, Jong Dae
• Granted Patent: US 8,330,334 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/1.R
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/00 Piezoelectric or electrostrictive devices integrated devices or assemblies of multiple devices H10N39/00
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/306 Cantilevers
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 35/101 with mechanical input and electrical output, e.g. generators, sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/42 Piezoelectric device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49009 Dynamoelectric machine

Abstract

Provided are a piezoelectric energy harvester and a method of manufacturing the same. The piezoelectric energy harvester is configured to obtain primary voltage from a piezoelectric layer vibrated to generate voltage and secondary voltage from a magnetostrictive layer vibrated to induce a change in magnetic field and a coil surrounding the magnetostrictive layer. Thus, it is possible to obtain sufficient voltage to drive a power conditioning circuit (PCC).

Claims

1. A piezoelectric energy harvester, comprising:

a piezoelectric layer vibrated to generate a first voltage, and formed on at least one of upper and lower surfaces of a shim;

a magnetostrictive layer vibrated to induce a change in magnetic field, and formed on the piezoelectric layer; and

a coil configured to surround the piezoelectric layer and the magnetostrictive layer,

wherein when the magnetostrictive layer is vibrated and induces a change in magnetic field, current flows through the coil, and a second voltage is generated.

2. The piezoelectric energy harvester of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric layer is formed of one of a piezoelectric ceramic material, a piezoelectric single crystal material, and a piezoelectric polymer.

3. The piezoelectric energy harvester of claim 1, wherein the magnetostrictive layer is formed of Terfenol-D or Metglas 2605SC that is a magnetostrictive material vibrated to induce a change in magnetic field.

4. The piezoelectric energy harvester of claim 1, wherein the first and second voltages are used to drive a switch of a power conditioning circuit (PCC).

5. A method of manufacturing a piezoelectric energy harvester, comprising:

forming a piezoelectric layer vibrated to generate a first voltage on at least one of upper and lower surfaces of a shim;

forming a magnetostrictive layer vibrated to induce a change in magnetic field on the piezoelectric layer; and

surrounding the piezoelectric layer and the magnetostrictive layer with a coil.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein forming the piezoelectric layer comprises forming the piezoelectric layer using one of a piezoelectric ceramic material, a piezoelectric single crystal material, and a piezoelectric polymer.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein forming the magnetostrictive layer comprises forming the magnetostrictive layer using Terfenol-D or Metglas 2605SC that is a magnetostrictive material vibrated to induce a change in magnetic field.