High efficiency vibration energy harvester
First Claim
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1. A vibrational energy harvester that converts mechanical vibrations into electrical energy, comprising:
- a magnetic field source that generates a magnetic field;
a magnetic field sensing element including a layer of magnetostrictive material having a magnetization vector that responds to variations in the magnetic field by generating a stress, a layer of electroactive material, mechanically bonded to the layer of magnetostrictive material, that responds to the stress by generating a voltage; and
means for mounting the magnetic field source and the magnetic field sensing element so that the vibrations cause the magnetic field source to move relative to the magnetic field sensing element.
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Abstract
In a vibrational energy harvester, an external vibration causes relative motion between a permanent magnet and a magnetic field sensing element composed of a magnetostrictive material bonded to an electroactive material. The changing magnetic field causes a rotation of magnetization in the magnetostrictive material and the rotating magnetization generates a stress in the magnetostrictive material. The stress is transmitted to the electroactive material, which responds by generating electrical power.
141 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A vibrational energy harvester that converts mechanical vibrations into electrical energy, comprising:
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a magnetic field source that generates a magnetic field; a magnetic field sensing element including a layer of magnetostrictive material having a magnetization vector that responds to variations in the magnetic field by generating a stress, a layer of electroactive material, mechanically bonded to the layer of magnetostrictive material, that responds to the stress by generating a voltage; and means for mounting the magnetic field source and the magnetic field sensing element so that the vibrations cause the magnetic field source to move relative to the magnetic field sensing element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A vibrational energy harvester that converts mechanical vibrations into electrical energy, comprising:
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a magnetic field source that generates a magnetic field; a magnetic field sensing element including a first disk-shaped layer of magnetostrictive material having a magnetization vector that responds to variations in the magnetic field by generating a stress, a layer of electroactive material, mechanically bonded to the first layer of magnetostrictive material, and a second disk-shaped layer of magnetostrictive material bonded to the electroactive material layer and having a magnetization vector that responds to variations in the magnetic field by generating a stress so that the electroactive layer that responds to the stresses generated by the first and second magnetostrictive layers by generating a voltage; and means for mounting the magnetic field source and the magnetic field sensing element so that the vibrations cause the magnetic field source to rotate relative to the magnetic field sensing element. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification