CHIP-SCALE ELECTROMAGNETIC VIBRATIONAL ENERGY HARVESTER
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a coil system;
a magnet system defining a magnetic flux; and
a micro-electromechanical spring system (MEMS spring) that, in response to vibrational energy, changes a relative position between the coil system and the magnet system such that, at a first position, the magnetic flux is oriented in a first direction through the coil system and, at a second position, the magnetic flux is oriented in a second direction through the coil system.
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Abstract
A chip-scale vibrational energy harvester circuit may include magnets and coils with magnetic cores provided in proximity thereto. Either the magnets or the coils may be mounted on a micro-electromechanical spring system (MEMS) that is coupled to a stationary frame. The counterpart component may be mounted on the stationary frame. When the stationary frame experiences vibrational activity, the magnets and the coils may move with respect to each other, causing variations in the flux passing through the coils. The variations in the flux may induce voltages across the coils. The induced voltages may be rectified and stored as energy for later use.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a coil system; a magnet system defining a magnetic flux; and a micro-electromechanical spring system (MEMS spring) that, in response to vibrational energy, changes a relative position between the coil system and the magnet system such that, at a first position, the magnetic flux is oriented in a first direction through the coil system and, at a second position, the magnetic flux is oriented in a second direction through the coil system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method, comprising:
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providing a magnetic flux via a magnet system; and changing, in response to vibrational energy, a relative position between a coil system and the magnet system using a micro-electromechanical spring system (MEMS spring), such that, at a first position, the magnetic flux is oriented in a first direction through the coil system and, at a second position, the magnetic flux is oriented in a second direction through the coil system. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system, comprising:
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an energy harvester; a storage circuit; and a rectifier circuit coupling the energy harvester to the storage circuit, wherein the energy harvester includes; a coil system, a magnet system defining a magnetic flux, a micro-electromechanical spring system (MEMS spring) that, in response to vibrational energy, changes a relative position between the coil system and the magnet system such that, at a first position, the magnetic flux is oriented in a first direction through the coil system and, at a second position, the magnetic flux is oriented in a second direction through the coil system, and wherein the rectifier circuit is configured to rectify an alternating current from the coil system and store energy from the coil system in the storage circuit.
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Specification