POWER GENERATING DEVICE

• US 20170148973A1
• Filed: 10/28/2016
• Published: 05/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Junichiro Natori, Megumi Kitamura, Mizuki Otagiri, Takahiro Imai, Tomoaki Sugawara, Tsuneaki Kondoh, Yuko Arizumi
• Inventors: ARIZUMI, Yuko, SUGAWARA, Tomoaki, NATORI, Junichiro, KONDOH, Tsuneaki, IMAI, Takahiro, ARAUMl, Mayuka, OTAGIRI, Mizuki, KITAMURA, Megumi
• Granted Patent: US 10,651,363 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 1/08 with conductive charge carrier, i.e. capacitor machines
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/304 Beam type
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/88 Mounts; Supports; Enclosures; Casings

Abstract

A power generating device is provided. The power generating device includes an element having flexibility and a support to support at least one portion of the element. The element is capable of undergoing a deformation when receiving a vibration and capable of generating power when undergoing the deformation. The deformation includes at least one of a bending deformation, a torsional deformation, and a bending-torsional complex deformation.

Claims

1. A power generating device comprising:

an element having flexibility, the element capable of undergoing a deformation when receiving a vibration and capable of generating power when undergoing the deformation, the deformation including at least one of a bending deformation, a torsional deformation, and a bending-torsional complex deformation; and

a support to support at least one portion of the element.

2. The power generating device of claim 1, wherein the support suspends the element in the air.

3. The power generating device of claim 1, wherein the element includes:

an element body; and

a cover to cover the element body, the cover supported by the support.

4. The power generating device of claim 1, wherein the support is deformable along with the deformation of the element.

5. The power generating device of claim 4, wherein the support is in the form of a string or loop.

6. The power generating device of claim 1, wherein the element is in the form of a flat plate.

7. The power generating device of claim 6, wherein the support supports at least two portions of the element to suspend the element in the air such that a plane of the flat plate intersects a direction of the vibration.

8. The power generating device of claim 1, wherein the element exhibits a piezoelectric property or a property similar to the piezoelectric property.

9. The power generating device of claim 8, wherein the element includes:

a first electrode;

an intermediate layer having flexibility, overlying the first electrode; and

a second electrode overlying the intermediate layer,

wherein the intermediate layer includes a first surface facing the first electrode and a second surface facing the second electrode, and

wherein, when a deformation imparting force is applied to the element, the first surface and the second surface deform at different degrees of deformation.

10. The power generating device of claim 1, wherein the element includes:

an electret electrode; and

a metal electrode facing the electret electrode.