Energy harvesting device, method for manufacturing the same, and wireless device including the same

• US 9,647,579 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2015
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: Lee, Sang Kyun
• Primary Examiner(s): San Martin, J.
• Application Number:
  US14/683,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20160079885A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 310339
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/186 Vibration harvesters
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/22 Methods relating to manufacturing, e.g. assembling, calibration
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/306 Cantilevers

Abstract

Provided are an energy harvesting device, a method for manufacturing the same, and a wireless device including the same. The energy harvesting device may include a support body, a first cantilever connected to the support body, and an electricity generation layer on the first cantilever. The first cantilever may have a thickness that gradually increases in a direction that is away from the support body.

Claims

1. A energy harvesting device, comprising:

a support body;

a first cantilever connected to the support body; and

an electricity generation layer on the first cantilever,

wherein the first cantilever has a thickness that gradually increases in a direction that is away from the support body.

2. The energy harvesting device of claim 1, wherein the first cantilever comprises a first bottom surface that is concave upward.

3. The energy harvesting device of claim 2, wherein the support body comprises:

a support connected to the first cantilever; and

a first base disposed under the support,

wherein the first base comprises a first top surface that is rounded to correspond to the first bottom surface, and the first top surface is convex upward.

4. The energy harvesting device of claim 3, further comprising a second cantilever extending from the support onto the first cantilever,

wherein the second cantilever has a thickness that gradually increases in a direction that is away from the support body.

5. The energy harvesting device of claim 4, wherein the second cantilever comprises a rounded second top surface that is concave downward.

6. The energy harvesting device of claim 5, wherein the support body further comprises a second base disposed on the support to face the first base and having a second bottom surface rounded to correspond to the second top surface,

wherein the second base is convex downward.

7. The energy harvesting device of claim 4, wherein the electricity generation layer comprises a piezoelectric layer disposed between the first cantilever and the second cantilever.

8. The energy harvesting device of claim 7, wherein the electricity generation layer further comprises:

a first electrode layer between the first cantilever and the piezoelectric layer; and

a second electrode layer between the piezoelectric layer and the second cantilever.

9. The energy harvesting device of claim 1, wherein the first cantilever has a mass that gradually increases in a direction that is away from the support body.

10. The energy harvesting device of claim 1, further comprising a mass connected to an end of the first cantilever facing the support.

11. The energy harvesting device of claim 1, wherein the first cantilever comprises an inclined first bottom surface.

12. The energy harvesting device of claim 11, wherein the support body comprises:

a support connected to the first cantilever; and

a first base for allowing the support to stand up in a direction perpendicular to the first cantilever,

wherein the first base comprises a first top surface that is inclined to correspond to the inclined first bottom surface.

13. A wireless device, comprising:

a housing;

a printed circuit board disposed in the housing;

a plurality of semiconductor chips mounted on the printed circuit board; and

an energy harvesting device supplying a power voltage to the semiconductor chips,

wherein the energy harvesting device comprises;

a support body;

a first cantilever connected to the support body; and

an electricity generation layer on the first cantilever,

wherein the first cantilever has a thickness that gradually increases in a direction that is away from the support body.

14. The wireless device of claim 13, wherein the support body is fixed to the housing, and

the support body further comprises a first push button pushing the first cantilever.

15. The wireless device of claim 13, further comprising:

a second push button generating a turn-on signal; and

an antenna transmitting a wireless control signal according to the turn-on signal,

wherein the first push button and the second push button are disposed on both facing sides of the housing, respectively.

16. A method for manufacturing an energy harvesting device, the method comprising:

providing a first cantilever to a support body; and

forming an electricity generation layer on the first cantilever,

wherein the support body comprises;

a first base below the first cantilever; and

a support formed on one side of the first base, the support being connected to the first cantilever,

wherein the first cantilever has a thickness that gradually increases in a direction that is away from the support.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first cantilever comprises a rounded first bottom surface, and the first base comprises a rounded first top surface facing the rounded first bottom surface,

wherein the forming of the electricity generation layer comprises:

coupling the first bottom surface to the first top surface; and

forming the electricity generation layer on the first cantilever.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the electricity generation layer is taped on the first cantilever layer.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

providing the first cantilever;

coupling the first cantilever to the support; and

connecting the support to the first base.