Piezo magnetostrictive device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A power generating device comprising:
- (a) a sheet of piezo material having the capability of generating an electric field when subjected to mechanical strain, said sheet having a thickness in the range of 0.005 to 200 mm and having (i) a first surface and a second surface spaced therefrom and substantially parallel thereto and (ii) a plurality of recesses or holes extending from the first surface toward the second surface, wherein said recesses or holes are square, said recesses or holes being positioned (A) in a plurality of rows, each extending in a straight line path in a first direction and being parallel to each adjacent row extending in said first direction, said first direction rows being spaced from each adjacent row to define a plurality of parallel aligned spaces, and (B) a plurality of rows, each extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction; and
(b) magnetostrictive material positioned in at least some of said recesses or holes.
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Abstract
A piezo magnetostrictive device has a sheet of piezo material with an array of holes formed therein. At least some of the holes are filled with a magnetostrictive material which converts magnetic energy to mechanical energy by exhibiting a change in length or breadth upon being subjected to a change in magnetic energy. The sheet of piezo material generates an electrical potential in response to applied mechanical strain caused by such change in length or width of the magnetostrictive material in the holes.
16 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A power generating device comprising:
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(a) a sheet of piezo material having the capability of generating an electric field when subjected to mechanical strain, said sheet having a thickness in the range of 0.005 to 200 mm and having (i) a first surface and a second surface spaced therefrom and substantially parallel thereto and (ii) a plurality of recesses or holes extending from the first surface toward the second surface, wherein said recesses or holes are square, said recesses or holes being positioned (A) in a plurality of rows, each extending in a straight line path in a first direction and being parallel to each adjacent row extending in said first direction, said first direction rows being spaced from each adjacent row to define a plurality of parallel aligned spaces, and (B) a plurality of rows, each extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction; and (b) magnetostrictive material positioned in at least some of said recesses or holes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A power generating device comprising:
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(a) a sheet of piezo material having the capability of generating an electric field when subjected to mechanical strain, said sheet having a thickness in the range of 0.005 to 1.0 mm and having (i) a first surface and a second surface spaced therefrom and substantially parallel thereto and (ii) a plurality of recesses or holes extending from the first surface toward the second surface, wherein said recesses or holes are square, (iii) first and second longitudinal edges and (iv) first and second end edges, both sets of said edges extending from said first surface to said second surface, said recesses or holes being positioned (A) in a plurality of longitudinal rows, each extending in a straight line path substantially parallel to said longitudinal edges, said longitudinal rows being spaced from each adjacent longitudinal row to define a plurality of parallel aligned spaces, said parallel aligned spaces being parallel to said longitudinal edges and (B) a plurality of widthwise rows, each extending in a straight line path parallel to each other; and (b) magnetostrictive material positoned in at least some of said recesses or holes. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A power generating device comprising:
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(a) a sheet of piezo material having the capability of generating an electric field when subjected to mechanical strain, said sheet having (i) a first surface and a second surface spaced therefrom and substantially parallel thereto and (ii) a plurality of recesses or holes extending from the first surface toward the second surface, wherein said recesses or holes are square, said recesses or holes being positioned (A) in a plurality of rows, each extending in a straight line path in a first direction and being parallel to each adjacent row extending in said first direction, and (B) a plurality of rows, each extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction; and (b) magnetostrictive material positioned in at least some of said recesses or holes. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for generating electric power comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a sheet of piezo material having the capability of generating an electric field when subjected to mechanical strain, said sheet having a first surface and a second surface spaced therefrom and substantially parallel thereto, (b) forming a plurality of recesses or holes in said sheet extending from the first surface toward the second surface, said recesses or holes being positioned (i) in a plurality of rows, each extending in a straight line path in a first direction and being parallel to each adjacent row extending in said first direction, and (ii) a plurality of rows, each extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction, and (c) positioning magnetostrictive material in at least some of said recesses or holes; (d) subjecting said piezo sheet and said magnetostrictive material to a magnetic field different from the magnetic field, if any, at the time of positioning as set forth in step (c); wherein steps (a), (b), (c), and (d) form a power generating device and further including the step of tuning the resonant frequency of said device, said tuning including the step of varying the size or shape of said recesses or holes. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for generating electric power comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a sheet of piezo material having the capability of generating an electric field when subjected to mechanical strain, said sheet having a first surface and a second surface spaced therefrom and substantially parallel thereto, (b) forming a plurality of recesses or holes in said sheet extending from the first surface toward the second surface, said recesses or holes being positioned (i) in a plurality of rows, each extending in a straight line path in a first direction and being parallel to each adjacent row extending in said first direction, and (ii) a plurality of rows, each extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction, and (c) positioning magnetostrictive material in at least some of said recesses or holes; (d) subjecting said piezo sheet and said magnetostrictive material to a magnetic field different from the magnetic field, if any, at the time of positioning as set forth in step (c) wherein steps (a), (b), (c), and (d) form a power generating device and further including the step of tuning the resonant frequency of said device, said tuning including the step of varying the density of said recesses or holes.
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21. A method for generating electric power comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a sheet of piezo material having the capability of generating an electric field when subjected to mechanical strain, said sheet having a first surface and a second surface spaced therefrom and substantially parallel thereto, (b) forming a plurality of recesses or holes in said sheet extending from the first surface toward the second surface, said recesses or holes being positioned (i) in a plurality of rows, each extending in a straight line path in a first direction and being parallel to each adjacent row extending in said first direction, and (ii) a plurality of rows, each extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction, and (c) positioning magnetostrictive material in at least some of said recesses or holes; (d) subjecting said piezo sheet and said magnetostrictive material to a magnetic field different from the magnetic field, if any, at the time of positioning as set forth in step (c) wherein steps (a), (b), (c), and (d) form a power generating device and further including the step of tuning the resonant frequency of said device, said tuning including the step of varying the number of said recesses or holes in which said magnetostrictive material is positioned.
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22. A method for generating electric power comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a sheet of piezo material having the capability of generating an electric field when subjected to mechanical strain, said sheet having a first surface and a second surface spaced therefrom and substantially parallel thereto, (b) forming a plurality of recesses or holes in said sheet extending from the first surface toward the second surface, said recesses or holes being positioned (i) in a plurality of rows, each extending in a straight line path in a first direction and being parallel to each adjacent row extending in said first direction, and (ii) a plurality of rows, each extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction, and (c) positioning magnetostrictive material in at least some of said recesses or holes; (d) subjecting said piezo sheet and said magnetostrictive material to a magnetic field different from the magnetic field, if any, at the time of positioning as set forth in step (c) wherein steps (a), (b), (c), and (d) form a power generating device and further including the step of tuning the resonant frequency of said device, said tuning including the step of varying the materials from which the piezo sheet is manufactured.
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23. A method for generating electric power comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a sheet of piezo material having the capability of generating an electric field when subjected to mechanical strain, said sheet having a first surface and a second surface spaced therefrom and substantially parallel thereto, (b) forming a plurality of recesses or holes in said sheet extending from the first surface toward the second surface, said recesses or holes being positioned (i) in a plurality of rows, each extending in a straight line path in a first direction and being parallel to each adjacent row extending in said first direction, and (ii) a plurality of rows, each extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction, and (c) positioning magnetostrictive material in at least some of said recesses or holes; (d) subjecting said piezo sheet and said magnetostrictive material to a magnetic field different from the magnetic field, if any, at the time of positioning as set forth in step (c) wherein steps (a), (b), (c), and (d) form a power generating device and further including the step of tuning the resonant frequency of said device, said tuning including the step of varying the materials for the magnetostrictive material in said recesses or holes.
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Specification