Power generating element

• US 9,960,714 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2017
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Kondoh, Tsuneaki, Sugawara, Tomoaki, Araumi, Mayuka, Arizumi, Yuko, Otagiri, Mizuki, Natori, Junichiro, Kitamura, Megumi, Imai, Takahiro, Miyazawa, Hideyuki, Nakashima, Makito
• Primary Examiner(s): San Martin, J.
• Application Number:
  US15/397,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20170207729A1
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 310339
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/005 with embedded cable or connector
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/00 Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches helmets A42B3/00; clothing affording protection against chemical agents or for use at high altitudes A62B17/00; life-saving garments for use at sea, diving suits B63C; bulletproof or armoured clothing F41H; clothing affording protection against radiation G21F3/02
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/04 characterised by special function or use protective clothing affording protection against heat or harmful chemical agents or for use at high altitudes A62B17/00; composition of materials for coverings or clothing affording protection against harmful chemical agents A62D5/00
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 5/00 Devices for producing mechanical power from muscle energy driving cycles B62M
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/18 producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators for measurement devices G01
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/30 with mechanical input and electrical output, e.g. functioning as generators or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/857 Macromolecular compositions

Abstract

A power generating element is provided. The power generating element includes a piezoelectric body and a pair of electrodes. The piezoelectric body is expandable and contractible in response to a movement of a moving body. The piezoelectric body undergoes a deformation when expanding or contracting and generates power when undergoing the deformation. The pair of electrodes extracts the power generated as the piezoelectric body undergoes the deformation.

Claims

1. A power generating element comprising:

a piezoelectric body being expandable and contractible in response to a movement of a moving body, that undergoes a deformation when expanding or contracting and generates power when undergoing the deformation;

a pair of electrodes that extracts the power generated as the piezoelectric body undergoes the deformation,

wherein the piezoelectric body reversibly transitions between a first shape and a second shape different from the first shape, as the piezoelectric body expands or contracts,

wherein the piezoelectric body is in one of the first shape and the second shape when the moving body does not act on the power generating element,

wherein one of the first shape and the second shape is a bent shape, and a flexible cover member having the bent shape,

wherein the piezoelectric body and the pair of electrodes have flexibility and are supported by the flexible cover member.

2. The power generating element of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric body is disposed between the electrodes in a thickness direction of the piezoelectric body.

3. The power generating element of claim 2, further comprising a cover member covering outer surfaces of the electrodes, the cover member being deformable along with the deformation of the piezoelectric body.

4. The power generating element of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric body and the pair of electrodes each include a material being expandable and contractible.

5. The power generating element of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric body has elasticity which causes the piezoelectric body to transition between the first shape and the second shape.

6. A power generating element comprising:

a piezoelectric body being expandable and contractible in response to a movement of a moving body, that undergoes a deformation when expanding or contracting and generates power when undergoing the deformation;

a pair of electrodes that extracts the power generated as the piezoelectric body undergoes the deformation,

wherein the piezoelectric body reversibly transitions between a first shape and a second shape different from the first shape, as the piezoelectric body expands or contracts,

wherein the piezoelectric body is in one of the first shape and the second shape when the moving body does not act on the power generating element,

wherein one of the first shape and the second shape is a bent shape, an elastic support being expandable and contractible; and

a flexible intermediate support intermittently secured to the elastic support in the direction of expansion or contraction, to have the bent shape,

wherein the piezoelectric body and the pair of electrodes have flexibility and are supported by the flexible intermediate support.