Piezoelectric module for energy harvesting, such as in a tire pressure monitoring system
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a body comprising a first inner end surface and an upper inner surface;
a beam comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the beam fixed to the first inner end surface of the body, the beam further comprising a first side facing the upper inner surface of the body, the beam to flex in response to accelerations imparted to the body; and
a first piezoelectric element fixed to the first side of the beam, the piezoelectric element to generate a first voltage in response to flexion of the beam and further to generate a second voltage in response to compression of the first piezoelectric element against the upper inner surface of the body.
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Abstract
Subject matter disclosed herein may relate to energy harvesting piezoelectric modules as may be used, for example, in power supplies for tire pressure monitoring systems.
40 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a body comprising a first inner end surface and an upper inner surface; a beam comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the beam fixed to the first inner end surface of the body, the beam further comprising a first side facing the upper inner surface of the body, the beam to flex in response to accelerations imparted to the body; and a first piezoelectric element fixed to the first side of the beam, the piezoelectric element to generate a first voltage in response to flexion of the beam and further to generate a second voltage in response to compression of the first piezoelectric element against the upper inner surface of the body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system, comprising:
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a sensor; a radio transmitter coupled to the sensor, the radio transmitter to transmit information generated by the sensor; an energy storage circuit coupled to the sensor and to the radio transmitter; and a piezoelectric module coupled to the energy storage circuit, the piezoelectric module comprising a body comprising a first inner end surface and an upper inner surface, a beam comprising a first end and a second end, the first end fixed to the first inner surface of the body, the beam further comprising a first side facing the upper inner surface of the body, the beam to flex in response to accelerations imparted to the body, and a first piezoelectric element fixed to the first side of the beam, the first piezoelectric element to generate a first voltage in response to flexion of the beam and further to generate a second voltage in response to compression of the first piezoelectric element against the upper inner surface of the body. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method, comprising:
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flexing a beam and a piezoelectric element fixed to a first surface of the beam to generate a first voltage; compressing the piezoelectric element against a constraint member of an inner surface of a body to generate a second voltage, a first end of the beam fixed to an inner end surface of the body; and applying the first and second voltages to an energy storage circuit. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. An apparatus, comprising:
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means for flexing a beam and a piezoelectric element fixed to a first surface of the beam to generate a first voltage; means for compressing the piezoelectric element against a constraint member of an inner surface of a body to generate a second voltage, a first end of the beam fixed to an inner end surface of the body; and means for applying the first and second voltages to an energy storage circuit. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. A wheel assembly, comprising:
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a wheel; and a tire pressure monitoring sensor fixed to the wheel and positioned such that if a tire is mounted on the wheel, the tire pressure monitoring sensor is exposed to an air pressure of the tire, wherein the tire pressure monitoring sensor comprises a piezoelectric module comprising a piezoelectric element fixed to a first side of a beam having a first end fixed to a body of the piezoelectric module, the piezoelectric module to generate a voltage if the beam and the piezoelectric element are flexed in response to an acceleration imparted by the wheel to the piezoelectric module and to generate an additional voltage if the piezoelectric element is compressed against a constraint member of an inner surface of the body in response to the acceleration imparted by the wheel to the piezoelectric module.
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Specification