Piezoelectric power generating device

• US 8,174,168 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2010
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Original Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Inventors: Takeshima, Tetsuo, Nishikawa, Masanaga, Nakamura, Kimitoshi, Takahashi, Kenichi
• Primary Examiner(s): DOUGHERTY, THOMAS M
• Application Number:
  US12/891,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20110012479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 310/339
• US Class Current: 310/339
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0411 Piezoelectric generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/186 Vibration harvesters
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/306 Cantilevers

Abstract

A piezoelectric power generating device includes a power generating element and a package member. The power generating element includes a plate-like piezoelectric element and a metal plate. The piezoelectric element has a pair of principal surfaces opposite each other. The metal plate is bonded to one of the principal surfaces of the piezoelectric element. The package member has a supporting part and a restricting part. The supporting part supports an end of the power generating element in a cantilevered manner. The restricting part is disposed opposite the piezoelectric element with the metal plate interposed therebetween. The restricting part restricts displacement of the power generating element toward the outside of the metal plate.

Claims

1. A piezoelectric power generating device comprising:

a power generating element that includes a piezoelectric element having first and second principal surfaces opposite each other, and a metal plate adjacent to one of the first and second principal surfaces of the piezoelectric element; and

a package member that includes a supporting part supporting an end of the power generating element in a cantilevered manner, and a restricting part disposed opposite the piezoelectric element with the metal plate interposed therebetween and configured to restrict displacement of the power generating element in a direction toward the metal plate,

wherein the package member has a side wall configured as the supporting part, a bottom wall configured as the restricting part, and a ceiling disposed opposite the bottom wall with the power generating element interposed therebetween; and

a distance between the power generating element and the bottom wall is smaller than a distance between the power generating element and the ceiling.

2. The piezoelectric power generating device according to claim 1, wherein the restricting part has a contact portion that is in contact with a surface of the metal plate.

3. The piezoelectric power generating device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one shock-absorbing member disposed between the package member and the power generating element.

4. The piezoelectric power generating device according to claim 1, further comprising first and second shock-absorbing member disposed on opposite sides of the power generating element such that the first and second shock absorbing members are each between the package member and the power generating element.

5. The piezoelectric power generating device according to claim 1, further comprising a conductive layer adjacent to the other of the first and second principal surfaces of the piezoelectric element such that the piezoelectric element is positioned between the metal plate and the conductive layer.

6. The piezoelectric power generating device according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric body substantially made of piezoceramic.

7. The piezoelectric power generating device according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric power generating device is configured to be mounted to an inner surface of a tire.

8. The piezoelectric power generating device according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric element is plate-shaped.

9. The piezoelectric power generating device according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric element is polarized in a thickness direction thereof.

10. The piezoelectric power generating device according to claim 1, further comprising a weight mounted to a free end of the piezoelectric element.

11. The piezoelectric power generating device according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric element is circular.

12. A piezoelectric power generating device comprising:

a power generating element that includes a piezoelectric element having first and second principal surfaces opposite each other, and a metal plate adjacent to one of the first and second principal surfaces of the piezoelectric element; and

a package member that includes a supporting part supporting an end of the power generating element in a cantilevered manner, and a restricting part disposed opposite the piezoelectric element with the metal plate interposed therebetween and configured to restrict displacement of the power generating element in a direction toward the metal plate,

wherein the package member has a side wall configured as the supporting part, a ceiling configured as the restricting part, and a bottom wall disposed opposite the ceiling with the power generating element interposed therebetween; and

a distance between the power generating element and the ceiling is smaller than a distance between the power generating element and the bottom wall.

13. The piezoelectric power generating device according to claim 12, further comprising at least one shock-absorbing member disposed between the package member and the power generating element.

14. The piezoelectric power generating device according to claim 12, further comprising a first shock-absorbing member disposed between the ceiling and the power generating element and a second shock-absorbing member disposed between the bottom wall and the power generating element.

15. The piezoelectric power generating device according to claim 12, further comprising a conductive layer adjacent to the other of the first and second principal surfaces of the piezoelectric element such that the piezoelectric element is positioned between the metal plate and the conductive layer.

16. The piezoelectric power generating device according to claim 12, further comprising a weight mounted to a free end of the piezoelectric element.

17. A piezoelectric power generating device comprising:

a power generating element that includes a piezoelectric element having first and second principal surfaces opposite each other, and a metal plate adjacent to one of the first and second principal surfaces of the piezoelectric element; and

a package member that includes a supporting part supporting an end of the power generating element in a cantilevered manner, and a restricting part disposed opposite the piezoelectric element with the metal plate interposed therebetween and configured to restrict displacement of the power generating element in a direction toward the metal plate,

wherein the restricting part has a contact portion that is in contact with a surface of the metal plate, and

wherein the contact portion biases the power generating element in a direction toward the piezoelectric element.

18. The piezoelectric power generating device according to claim 17, wherein the contact portion is in contact with the metal plate at a free end of the power generating element.