Broad frequency band energy scavenger

• US 7,057,330 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2003
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center, Inc. (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center, Inc. (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Buhler, Steven A., Fitch, John S., Shrader, Eric J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aguirrechea, J.
• Application Number:
  US10/739,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20050134148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 310/328, 310/339
• US Class Current: 310/339
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/306 Cantilevers

Abstract

In accordance with one aspect of the present exemplary embodiment, an energy generation device is provided. A base is fixedly secured to a source of mechanical energy of an oscillatory nature. At least one mass is movably suspended relative to the base. First and second members movably suspend the at least one mass relative to the base. The first and second flexible members convert mechanical energy from oscillations emitted by the source of mechanical energy into electrical signals.

Claims

1. An energy generation device comprising:

a base fixedly secured to a source of mechanical energy of an oscillatory nature;

at least one mass movably suspended relative to the base;

a first flexible member for movably suspending the at least one mass relative to the base;

a second flexible member for movably suspending the at least one mass relative to the base; and

the first and second flexible members, generating two modes of oscillation upon application of the mechanical energy from a single direction, and converting the mechanical energy from the oscillations emitted by the source of mechanical energy into electrical signals.

2. The energy generation device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first flexible member, together with the at least one mass, has at least one resonant frequency, and

the second flexible member, together with the at least one mass, has at least one resonant frequency different from that of the first flexible member, wherein the first flexible member has at least one of a spring constant, a dimension or a shape different from at least one of a spring constant, a dimension or a shape of the second flexible member.

3. The energy generation device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the flexible members include piezoelectric elements that convert mechanical energy into electrical energy.

4. The energy generation device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the flexible members are compressible dielectric material between electrodes that convert mechanical energy into electrical energy.

5. The energy generation device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the mass is asymmetrically supported by the flexible members, such asymmetrical disposition causing translation of the mass from vibrations of the source to in part be converted into rotation of the mass.

6. The energy generation device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the mass is asymmetrically supported by the flexible members, such asymmetrical disposition causing rotation of the mass from vibrations of the source to in part be converted into translation of the mass.

7. The energy generation device as set forth in claim 2, wherein input energy of the source moves the mass and flexes both the first and second flexible members.

8. The energy generation device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least two flexible members are sensitive to translation of the mass in a z-direction, and further including:

a flexible member that is sensitive to translation of the mass in a y-direction;

a flexible member that is sensitive to translation of the mass in an x-direction;

a flexible member that is sensitive to rotation of the mass in a z-axis;

a flexible member that is sensitive to rotation of the mass in a y-axis;

a flexible member that is sensitive to rotation of the mass in an x-axis; and

,

wherein any of the flexible members may be combined into a single member.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first resonant frequency and the second resonant frequency are substantially proximal to each other such that respective bands of possible excitation frequencies of the modes of oscillation overlap.

10. The energy generation device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one mass includes a plurality of masses at least some connected to each other and others are connected to the base and other masses of the plurality.

11. The energy generation device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one mass is located asymmetrically by physically displacing the equilibrium position of the at least one mass or using a mass of inconsistent density.

12. A method of energy conversion comprising:

receiving input mechanical energy along range of motion, causing a mass to oscillate in a first mode of oscillation;

converting a portion of kinetic energy of the oscillations of the mass in the first mode of oscillation into oscillations of the mass in a second, different mode of oscillation, causing the mass to simultaneously oscillate in two separate modes of oscillation; and

converting mechanical energy from the motions of the mass in the two modes of oscillation into electrical energy, wherein the motions of the mass are obtained by use of a flexible member.

13. The method as set forth in claim 12, further including:

converting a portion of the kinetic energy received from the source range of motion into oscillations of the mass in a third mode of oscillation, causing the mass to simultaneously oscillate in three separate modes of oscillations.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein:

the at least one mode of oscillation has a first resonant frequency;

the second mode of oscillation has a second resonant frequency, different from the first mode of oscillation resonant frequency; and

,

the third mode of oscillation has a third resonant frequency different from the first mode of oscillation resonant frequency and the second mode of oscillation resonant frequency.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein resonant frequencies of the at least first, second, and third modes of oscillation are substantially proximal to each other such that respective bands of possible excitation frequencies of each mode of oscillation overlap.

16. The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein the at least one mode of oscillation is translational and the second and third modes of oscillation are rotational.

17. The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein the at least one mode of oscillation is rotational and the second and third modes of oscillation are translational.

18. The method as set forth in claim 12, further including:

using piezoelectric material to convert the mechanical energy into electrical energy.

19. The method as set forth in claim 12, further including using compressible dielectric material between electrodes to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy.

20. The method as set forth in claim 12, wherein the input mechanical energy is incident on the base along any of six degrees of freedom, the ranges including:

x-translational;

y-translational;

z-translational;

x-rotational;

y-rotational;

z-rotational;

or a combination of any of the above six degrees of freedom.

21. A method of energy conversion comprising:

receiving kinetic energy along at least one degree of freedom at an incumbent frequency;

spreading the kinetic energy over multiple masses interconnected with flexible members, the masses and flexible members having multiple resonant frequencies, wherein at least some of the flexible members are providing interconnection between a base and some of the masses and others of the flexible members are providing interconnection between the masses; and

converting a portion of the kinetic energy into electrical energy.

22. A method of energy conversion comprising:

receiving mechanical energy in a single direction the mechanical energy having a bounded range of frequencies;

transforming the mechanical energy by distributing the mechanical energy over multiple masses interconnected with flexible members, the masses and flexible members having multiple resonant frequencies, wherein the directional input mechanical energy is distributed over multiple modes of oscillation, and wherein at least some of the flexible members are providing interconnection between a base and some of the masses and others of the flexible members provide interconnection between the masses; and

converting a part of the input energy into electrical energy in more than one of the multiple modes of oscillations.