Power generation method and power generator using a piezoelectric element, and electronic device using the power

• US 5,835,996 A
• Filed: 12/18/1996
• Issued: 11/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Osamu, Hashimoto, Yasuharu, Furuhata, Makoto, Miyazaki, Hajime, Funasaka, Tsukasa
• Primary Examiner(s): BERHANE, ADOLF D
• Application Number:
  US08/768,501
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 323/364, 323/368, 310/311, 310/314, 310/319, 310/320
• US Class Current: 323/364
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 10/00 Arrangements of electric power supplies in time pieces circuits G04G19/00; mounting, assembling of components of electromechanical watches G04C3/008, of electronic watches G04G17/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/18 producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators for measurement devices G01
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/306 Cantilevers

Abstract

A power generator using a piezoelectric element is provided which generates electric power at a high efficiency. It has been determined that the efficiency of power generation varies as a function of the ratio of an initial unloaded value of the power generator to a prescribed voltage of the input of an electric power system. A high power generation efficiency can be obtained when the voltage ratio is in the range of approximately two to twenty. In particular, when the voltage ratio is in the range of approximately four to six, a maximum power generation efficiency can be obtained. The invention provides a small-sized, high performance power generator which can be used in practice in portable electronic devices or the like.

Claims

1. A method for generating electric power using a piezoelectric element which produces a voltage upon displacement for supplying generated electric power to an electric power system, said electric power generation method comprising the step of:

applying a displacement to a piezoelectric element to produce a voltage corresponding to an unloaded voltage output of the piezoelectric element, when an electrical load is not connected thereto, that is approximately twice as great as a prescribed voltage of said electric power system.

2. The electric power generation method of claim 1, wherein said displacement application step is repeated at a high frequency while electric power is being supplied from said piezoelectric element.

3. A method for generating electric power using a piezoelectric element for supplying electric power generated as a result of a displacement of an piezoelectric element to an electric power system, said electric power generation method comprising the steps of:

(a) applying a displacement to a piezoelectric element corresponding to an unloaded voltage output of the piezoelectric element when an electrical load is not connected thereto, which is at least approximately twice as great as a prescribed voltage of said electric power system, said displacement application causing an initial displacement and subsequent free vibrations in said piezoelectric element; and

(b) supplying electric power to an electric power system wherein electric power is generated in said piezoelectric element by said initial displacement and said subsequent free vibrations caused thereafter.

4. The electric power generation method of claim 3, wherein said unloaded voltage due to said initial displacement is in the range of approximately two to twenty times as great as said prescribed voltage.

5. The electric power generation method of claim 3, wherein said unloaded voltage due to said initial displacement is in the range of approximately two to fifteen times as great as said prescribed voltage.

6. The electric power generation method of claim 3, wherein said unloaded voltage due to said initial displacement is in the range of approximately four to six times as great as said prescribed voltage.

7. The electric power generation method of claim 3, further comprising repeating said displacement application step and said electric power supply step at a high frequency while electric power is being supplied from said piezoelectric element.

8. An electric power generator comprising:

a piezoelectric element;

a displacement applicator for applying a displacement to a piezoelectric element; and

an electric power supplier for supplying electric power generated in said piezoelectric element to an electric power system, wherein said displacement application means is adapted to apply a displacement to said piezoelectric element corresponding to an unloaded voltage output by said piezoelectric element having a voltage when an electrical load is not connected thereto which is approximately twice as great as a prescribed voltage of said electric power system.

9. The electric power generator of claim 8, wherein said displacement applicator applies said displacement at a high frequency such that said unloaded voltage is approximately twice as great as said prescribed voltage during each displacement application.

10. An electric power generator, comprising:

a piezoelectric element;

a displacement applicator for applying a displacement to said piezoelectric element; and

an electric power supplier for supplying electric power generated by said piezoelectric element to an electric power system, wherein said displacement applicator selectively applies a displacement to said piezoelectric element corresponding an unloaded voltage output by said piezoelectric element, which is the voltage when an electrical load is not connected thereto, which is approximately twice as great as a prescribed voltage of said electric power system, said initial displacement causing subsequent free vibrations in said piezoelectric element.

11. The electric power generator of claim 10, wherein said displacement applicator applies said initial displacement such that said unloaded voltage is approximately two to twenty times as great as said prescribed voltage.

12. The electric power generator of claim 10, wherein said displacement applicator applies said initial displacement such that said unloaded voltage is approximately two to fifteen times as great as said prescribed voltage.

13. The electric power generator of claim 10 wherein said displacement applicator applies said initial displacement such that said unloaded voltage is approximately four to six times as great as said prescribed voltage.

14. The electric power generator of claim 10, wherein said displacement applicator selectively repeatedly applies said initial displacement at a high frequency and said unloaded voltage is approximately two times as great as said prescribed voltage.

15. An electronic device, comprising:

an electric power generator including a piezoelectric element, a displacement applicator for applying a displacement to said piezoelectric element, an electric power supplier for supplying electric power generated in said piezoelectric element to an electric power system, wherein said displacement applicator displaces said piezoelectric element an amount corresponding to an unloaded voltage output by said piezoelectric element, which is the voltage when an electrical load is not connected thereto, which is approximately twice as great as a prescribed voltage of said electric power system;

means coupled to said electric power supplier, for rectifying electric power supplied from the electric power generator;

electric-charge storage means coupled to said rectifying means, for accumulating said rectified electric power; and

a processing unit, coupled to said rectifying means, and operate utilizing said rectified electric power.

16. An electronic device, comprising:

a piezoelectric element;

a displacement applicator for applying a displacement to said piezoelectric element;

an electric power supplier for supplying electric power generated by said piezoelectric element to an electric power system, wherein said displacement applicator selectively applies a displacement to said piezoelectric element corresponding to an unloaded voltage output by said piezoelectric element, which is the voltage when an electrical load is not connected thereto, which is approximately twice as great as a prescribed voltage of said electric power system, said initial displacement causing subsequent free vibrations in said piezoelectric element;

means coupled to said electric power supplier, for rectifying electric power supplied from said electric power generator;

electric-charge storage means, coupled to said rectifying means for accumulating said rectified electric power; and

a processing unit, coupled to said rectifying means, and operated by using said rectified electric power.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein said electric power generator further comprises at least one vibrator to which said piezoelectric elements are fixed.

18. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein said at least one vibrator includes a plurality of vibrators, said plurality of vibrators being positioned radially.

19. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein said vibrators are positioned radially about a rotation weight.

20. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein said piezoelectric element is formed as a coil.

21. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein said coil has a first end and said displacement applicator is a weight affixed to said first end.

22. The electronic device of claim 16 wherein said piezoelectric element is formed as a strip.

23. The electronic device of claim 22, wherein said piezoelectric element is formed with a weight at an unattached end thereof in a hammer like shape, said weight applying an alternating transverse displacement to said piezoelectric element.

24. The electronic device of claim 23, further comprising a cam for controlling and alternating the movement of said weight.

25. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein said piezoelectric element is formed with a weight at an unattached end thereof.

26. The electronic device of claim 25, further comprising a spring applying a consistent alternating displacement to said weight.