Piezoelectric generator and method

• US 8,030,825 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2008
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Government of the United States of America
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Howarth, Thomas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenau; Derek
• Application Number:
  US12/284,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20110127881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: 310/329, 310/339
• US Class Current: 310/339
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/18 producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators for measurement devices G01
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/30 with mechanical input and electrical output, e.g. functioning as generators or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

An apparatus and method is provided to produce energy from movement of a user. At least one pair of plates is utilized to secure an array of cymbal transducers therebetween. The array of cymbal transducers is electrically interconnected with signal conditioning circuitry and power storage member. Electrical interconnections may comprise parallel and/or series connections between ones or groups of the cymbal transducers.

Claims

1. A method of producing energy from movement of a user, comprising:

providing at least one pair of plates;

securing an array of cymbal transducers between said at least one pair of plates;

integrating power storage and signal conditioning circuitry into said at least one pair of plates;

mounting stops between said at least one pair of plates to prevent over compression of said array of cymbal transducers;

electrically interconnecting said array of cymbal transducers with said power storage and signal conditioning circuitry; and

adapting said at least one pair of plates and said array of cymbal transducers therein to be positionable with respect to said user to produce said energy.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing that said array of cymbal transducers comprises a plurality of stacks of cymbal transducers; and

electrically interconnecting said array of cymbal transducers such that respective outputs of said plurality of stacks are in a parallel-connected electrical circuit.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising electrically interconnecting said array of cymbal transducers such that at least a portion of respective electrical outputs from individual cymbal transducers are in a series connected electrical circuit.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising providing that said array is a three-dimensional array of cymbal transducers.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising providing a flexible portion of at least one of said pair of plates.

6. The method of claim 5, integrating said signal conditioning circuitry in said flexible portion of said at least one of said pair of plates.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising arranging said plurality of cymbal transducers in a staggered orientation between said at least one pair of plates.

8. An apparatus for producing and storing energy from periodic forces, comprising:

at least one pair of plates defined as a first plate and a second plate;

a series of stops mounted between said at least one pair of plates, the series of stops including a first stop mounted to the first plate and a second stop mounted to the second plate and having a gap therebetween, the first stop and the second stop being positioned to interfere with each other and resist further movement of the first plate with respect to the second plate after a predetermined amount of compression has been applied to said at least one pair of plates; and

an array of cymbal transducers secured between said at least one pair of plates, said array of cymbal transducers between said at least one pair of plates being adapted for harvesting energy from periodic forces whereby said at least one pair of plates and said array of cymbal transducers are mountable with respect to said forces to compress and expand and thereby produce said energy.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

said array of cymbal transducers comprises a plurality of stacks of cymbal transducers; and

electrical interconnections between said array of cymbal transducers such that respective outputs of said plurality of stacks are in a parallel-connected electrical circuit.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a portion of at least one of said plates is flexible.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, comprising at least one of a power storage and signal conditioning circuitry integrated into said flexible portion.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising signal conditioning circuitry integrated into at least one of said plates.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a power storage integrated into at least one of said plates.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, comprising said array being organized as a three-dimensional array of cymbal transducers.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising electrical connections between said array of cymbal transducers such that respective outputs of at least a portion of individual cymbal transducers are in a parallel-connected electrical circuit.

16. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising signal conditioning circuitry electrically joined to said array of cymbal transducers.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a power storage electrically joined to said signal conditioning circuitry.