Bending transducer for generating electrical energy from mechanical deformations

• US 8,418,544 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2008
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Hortig, Michael, Pannek, Thorsten, Klett, Gustav, Keck, Marian
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa
• Assistant Examiner(s): JENKINS, JERMAINE L
• Application Number:
  US12/735,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20110023592A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 73/146.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0411 Piezoelectric generators
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/304 Beam type
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/875 Further connection or lead arrangements, e.g. flexible wiring boards, terminal pins

Abstract

A bending transducer for generating electrical energy from deformations includes at least: one deformable support device, on which a first connecting electrode and a second connecting electrode are formed, one piezoelectric element attached to the support device having a least one first electrode and one second electrode, the first connecting electrode being contacted with the first electrode of the piezoelectric element, and the second connecting electrode being contacted with the second electrode of the piezoelectric element. The first connecting electrode and/or the second connecting electrode are applied as a structured conductive layer to the support device in at least some areas.

Claims

1. A bending transducer for generating electrical energy from mechanical deformations, comprising:

a deformable support device, wherein a first connecting electrode and a second connecting electrode are formed on the deformable support device; and

a piezoelectric element attached to the support device and having at least one first electrode and one second electrode;

wherein the following conditions are satisfied;

the first connecting electrode is contacted with the first electrode of the piezoelectric element, and the second connecting electrode is contacted with the second electrode of the piezoelectric element;

at least one of the first connecting electrode and the second connecting electrode is applied as areas of at least one structured conductive layer on the support device;

at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is integrally and mechanically attached on and contacted with at least one of the first connecting electrode and the second connecting electrode with the aid of one of a conductive adhesive or a conductive solder;

at least a portion of each one of the first and second connecting electrodes is formed beneath the piezoelectric element and extends laterally outward;

the first electrode is integrally and mechanically attached on and contacted with the first connecting electrode with the aid of a first conductive connecting middle area;

the second electrode is integrally and mechanically attached on and contacted with the second connecting electrode with the aid of a second conductive connecting middle area; and

the piezoelectric element has at least one first segment and one second segment having differently oriented polarizations, the first electrode being formed on the first segment, the second electrode being formed on the second segment, and the first segment and the second segment being electrically connected in series.

2. The bending transducer as recited in claim 1, wherein the first connecting electrode and the second connecting electrode are applied as areas of a shared structured conductive layer on the support device.

3. The bending transducer as recited in claim 1, wherein the support device has a conductive material, and insulation is formed between the support device and at least one of the first and second connecting electrodes.

4. The bending transducer as recited in claim 3, wherein the support device is entirely made of metal, and the insulation is applied on a receiving side of the support device.

5. The bending transducer as recited in claim 3, wherein one of the first and second connecting electrodes is formed on the insulation, and the support device acts as the other one of the first and second connecting electrodes and is contacted with one of the first and second electrodes.

6. The bending transducer as recited in claim 1, wherein the support device, the one of the conductive adhesive or conductive solder, the first and second electrodes, and the piezoelectric element are formed jointly as a layer system of multiple layers stacked on top of each other.

7. The bending transducer as recited in claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric element has a uniform polarization, the first electrode being formed on the connecting side of the piezoelectric element and being contacted with the first connecting electrode by the first conductive connecting middle area, and the second electrode being at least partially formed on a top side of the piezoelectric element opposite the connecting side.

8. The bending transducer as recited in claim 7, wherein the second electrode is entirely formed on the top side of the piezoelectric element and is contacted with the second connecting electrode formed on the support device by a flexurally rigid contact element.

9. The bending transducer as recited in claim 7, wherein the second electrode extends from the top side of the piezoelectric element over an edge electrode area up to a contacting area laterally spaced apart from the first electrode and formed on the connecting side.

10. The bending transducer as recited in claim 9, wherein the first and second electrodes are formed on the connecting side of the piezoelectric element, and a conductive layer, which electrically contacts the first and second segments to connect the first and second segments in series, is applied on the top side of the piezoelectric element opposite the connecting side.

11. A circuit module, comprising:

a housing;

a piezoelectric generator accommodated in the housing, the piezoelectric generator having a mass element configured to be movable inside the housing and a bending transducer, wherein the mass element and the bending transducer form a vibration-capable system, and wherein the piezoelectric element is elastically deformable with the vibration of the vibration-capable system; and

a power supply circuit for receiving a piezoelectric voltage output by the piezoelectric element during a mechanical deformation of the piezoelectric element and for supplying power to the circuit module;

wherein the bending transducer includes;

a deformable support device, wherein a first connecting electrode and a second connecting electrode are formed on the deformable support device; and

a piezoelectric element attached to the support device and having at least one first electrode and one second electrode;

and wherein the following conditions are satisfied;

the first connecting electrode is contacted with the first electrode of the piezoelectric element, and the second connecting electrode is contacted with the second electrode of the piezoelectric element;

at least one of the first connecting electrode and the second connecting electrode is applied as areas of at least one structured conductive layer on the support device;

at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is integrally and mechanically attached on and contacted with at least one of the first connecting electrode and the second connecting electrode with the aid of one of a conductive adhesive or a conductive solder;

at least a portion of each one of the first and second connecting electrodes is formed beneath the piezoelectric element and extends laterally outward;

the first electrode is integrally and mechanically attached on and contacted with the first connecting electrode with the aid of a first conductive connecting middle area;

the second electrode is integrally and mechanically attached on and contacted with the second connecting electrode with the aid of a second conductive connecting middle area; and

the piezoelectric element has at least one first segment and one second segment having differently oriented polarizations, the first electrode being formed on the first segment, the second electrode being formed on the second segment, and the first segment and the second segment being electrically connected in series.

12. The circuit module as recited in claim 11, wherein the circuit module is an energetically autarkic sensor module configured to measure at least one of an internal tire pressure, a temperature, and acceleration.