Energy converters and associated methods
First Claim
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1. A device for converting mechanical vibration energy to electrical energy, comprising:
- a first structural member;
a second structural member spaced apart from the first structural member;
a first piezoelectric element and a second piezoelectric element individually coupled to the first structural member and the second structural member; and
a deflection member tensionally suspended between the first and second piezoelectric elements, the deflection member being substantially rigid, wherein the deflection member is adjustable at least in length along a direction of deflection with respect to the first and second piezoelectric elements.
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Abstract
Energy converters and associated methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an energy converter includes a first structural member spaced apart from a second structure member, a first piezoelectric element and a second piezoelectric element individually coupled to the first structural member and the second structural member, and a deflection member tensionally suspended between the first and second piezoelectric elements. The deflection member is substantially rigid.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device for converting mechanical vibration energy to electrical energy, comprising:
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a first structural member; a second structural member spaced apart from the first structural member; a first piezoelectric element and a second piezoelectric element individually coupled to the first structural member and the second structural member; and a deflection member tensionally suspended between the first and second piezoelectric elements, the deflection member being substantially rigid, wherein the deflection member is adjustable at least in length along a direction of deflection with respect to the first and second piezoelectric elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A device for converting mechanical vibration energy to electrical energy, comprising:
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a first structural member; a second structural member spaced apart from the first structural member; a first piezoelectric element and a second piezoelectric element individually coupled to the first structural member and the second structural member; and a deflection member tensionally suspended between the first and second piezoelectric elements, the deflection member being substantially rigid, wherein the deflection member is adjustable with respect to the first and second piezoelectric elements, and wherein the device further includes an adjustment member operatively coupled to the deflection member, the adjustment member being configured to adjust a degree of deflection with respect to the first and second piezoelectric elements.
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8. An energy converter, comprising:
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a first end member and a second end member spaced apart from the first end member; a first conversion element coupled to the first end member; a second conversion element coupled to the second end member, at least one of the first and second conversion elements is at least partially deformable and is configured to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy; and a mass between the first and second conversion elements, at least one of the first end member, the second end member, and the mass applying a static tension to at least one of the first and second conversion elements, wherein the mass is adjustable at least in length along a direction of deflection with respect to the first and second conversion elements. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for energy conversion, comprising:
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receiving a vibration from an environment with a energy converter, the energy converter including a substantially rigid mass that pretensions a piezoelectric element; adjusting a natural frequency of the energy converter by modulating a degree of pretension on the piezoelectric element; converting the received vibration from the environment into at least one of electric energy, optic energy, sound energy, and electromagnetic energy; detecting a power output from the energy converter; and wherein adjusting a natural frequency of the energy converter includes modulating a degree of pretension on the piezoelectric element based on the power output from the energy converter. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method for energy conversion, comprising:
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receiving a vibration from an environment with a energy converter, the energy converter including a substantially rigid mass that pretensions a piezoelectric element; adjusting a natural frequency of the energy converter by modulating a degree of pretension on the piezoelectric element; converting the received vibration from the environment into at least one of electric energy, optic energy, sound energy, and electromagnetic energy; detecting a power output from the energy converter; and wherein adjusting a natural frequency of the energy converter includes adjusting a natural frequency of the energy converter by modulating a degree of pretension on the piezoelectric element to at least increase the power output from the energy converter.
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20. An energy converter, comprising:
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a first structural member and a second structure member spaced apart from the first structural member; at least one piezoelectric element coupled to the first and second structural members, the piezoelectric element and the first and second structural members at least partially define a natural frequency of the energy converter; and means for at least partially linearizing a relationship between the natural frequency of the energy converter and a vibration amplitude of the piezoelectric element, wherein means for at least partially linearizing include means for pretensioning the piezoelectric element during a non-energized state, and wherein the energy converter further includes means for adjusting pretension of the piezoelectric element.
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Specification