Energy converters and associated methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device for converting between mechanical vibration energy having a vibration frequency and 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 extending between the first structural member and the second structural member; and
a deflection member between the first and second piezoelectric elements, wherein the deflection member extends, rather than bends, the first and second piezoelectric elements in a rest position such that the first and second piezoelectric elements are under a uniform pretension from the deflection member and the first and second structural members, the pretension having a value that sets a target resonance frequency of the device to at least approximately coincide with the vibration frequency of the mechanical vibration energy.
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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.
15 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A device for converting between mechanical vibration energy having a vibration frequency and 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 extending between the first structural member and the second structural member; and a deflection member between the first and second piezoelectric elements, wherein the deflection member extends, rather than bends, the first and second piezoelectric elements in a rest position such that the first and second piezoelectric elements are under a uniform pretension from the deflection member and the first and second structural members, the pretension having a value that sets a target resonance frequency of the device to at least approximately coincide with the vibration frequency of the mechanical vibration energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 19, 20)
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7. 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 uniform static pretension in a rest position to extend, rather than bend, at least one of the first and second conversion elements, and wherein the pretension has a value that sets a target resonance frequency of the energy converter to at least approximately coincide with a vibration frequency of a mechanical vibration energy. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 21, 22)
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13. A method for energy conversion, comprising:
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receiving a vibration from an environment with an energy converter, the energy converter including a substantially rigid mass that pretensions a piezoelectric element by extending rather than bending the piezoelectric element to a degree of pretension on the piezoelectric element that sets a target resonance frequency for the energy converter to at least approximately coincide with a frequency of the vibration from the environment; and converting the received vibration from the environment into electric energy with the energy converter having the target resonance frequency. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. An energy converter, comprising:
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a first structural member and a second structural member spaced apart from the first structural member; a piezoelectric element coupled to the first and second structural members with pretension, the piezoelectric element and the first and second structural members at least partially define a resonance frequency of the energy converter; and means for adjusting a degree of the pretension to set a target resonance frequency for the energy converter to at least approximately coincide with a frequency of a mechanical vibration from which energy is to be harvested, wherein the means for adjusting the degree of pretension extends rather than bends the piezoelectric element. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification