ELECTRIC GENERATING ELEMENT AND ELECTRIC GENERATOR

• US 20160276957A1
• Filed: 02/24/2016
• Published: 09/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Tomoaki Sugawara
• Inventors: SUGAWARA, Tomoaki, Natori, Junichiro, Kondoh, Tsuneaki, Arizumi, Yuko, Otagiri, Mizuki, Imai, Takahiro
• Granted Patent: US 10,270,369 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 1/04 Friction generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/186 Vibration harvesters
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/30 with mechanical input and electrical output, e.g. functioning as generators or sensors

Abstract

To provide an electric generating element including a first electrode; an intermediate layer; and a second electrode, the first electrode, the intermediate layer, and the second electrode being disposed in this order, the intermediate layer being in contact with at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the intermediate layer microscopically moves in a horizontal direction relative to a surface of the first electrode and a surface of the second electrode, when the intermediate layer is pressed in a vertical direction relative to the surface of the first electrode and the surface of the second electrode in a state that the intermediate layer is not secured with at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode.

Claims

1. An electric generating element comprising:

a first electrode;

an intermediate layer; and

a second electrode,

the first electrode, the intermediate layer, and the second electrode being disposed in this order,

the intermediate layer being in contact with at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode,

wherein the intermediate layer microscopically moves in a horizontal direction relative to a surface of the first electrode and a surface of the second electrode, when the intermediate layer is pressed in a vertical direction relative to the surface of the first electrode and the surface of the second electrode in a state that the intermediate layer is not secured with at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode.

2. The electric generating element according to claim 1, wherein hardness of the intermediate layer measured by a type A durometer is less than 60°

.

3. The electric generating element according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer contains a silicone rubber composition including silicone rubber.

4. The electric generating element according to claim 1, wherein a space is disposed between the intermediate layer and at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode.

5. The electric generating element according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer of a stationary state has no surface charge.

6. The electric generating element according to claim 1, wherein a convex structure is formed at a surface of at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode, the surface being in contact with the intermediate layer.

7. The electric generating element according to claim 1, wherein a pressing member is disposed at a surface of the first electrode opposite to a surface of the first electrode facing the intermediate layer.

8. The electric generating element according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer has been subjected to a surface modification treatment.

9. The electric generating element according to claim 8, wherein the surface modification treatment is a plasma treatment, a corona discharge treatment, or an electron-beam irradiation treatment.

10. An electric generator comprising:

an electric generating element comprising;

a first electrode;

an intermediate layer; and

a second electrode,

the first electrode, the intermediate layer, and the second electrode being disposed in this order,

the intermediate layer being in contact with at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode,

wherein the intermediate layer microscopically moves in a horizontal direction relative to a surface of the first electrode and a surface of the second electrode, when the intermediate layer is pressed in a vertical direction relative to the surface of the first electrode and the surface of the second electrode in a state that the intermediate layer is not secured with at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode.