Energy harvester

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This invention describes an energy harvester that efficiently converts low-frequency ambient mechanical vibrations (such as those from machines, vehicles, or people) into electric power. It uses a transducer (e.g., piezoelectric element) mounted on a spring mechanism. An impact member periodically collides with the transducer when mechanical vibrations exceed a certain amplitude, causing the transducer to vibrate at a much higher frequency. This high-frequency vibration enables more effective conversion of mechanical energy into electricity, even when the environmental vibrations themselves are slow or irregular.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Powering wireless sensor nodes or IoT devices in industrial environments where machines produce vibrations.
• Self-powered wearable devices that generate electricity from body motion (walking, running, etc.).
• Harvesting energy from traffic-induced vibrations in bridges, railways, or roads for structural health monitoring sensors.
• Providing autonomous power to remote monitoring equipment where battery replacement is difficult or costly.
• Energy harvesting in appliances and handheld tools to reduce or eliminate the need for batteries.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Enables efficient electrical energy generation from low-frequency, low-amplitude, and irregular mechanical vibrations.
• Increases power output compared to traditional directly-coupled vibration harvesters, especially in non-resonant conditions.
• Reduces mechanical wear and extends device life due to the carefully designed impact and spring mechanisms.
• Compact and adaptable design for various orientations, dimensions, and environments.
• Reduces maintenance and improves sustainability by allowing self-powered operation of electronic devices.

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

Provided is an energy harvester (10) comprising a support member (12) to be exposed to ambient mechanical impulses, a transducer (36), wherein the transducer is arranged such as to permit vibrations of the transducer at a first frequency upon excitation by mechanical impact to thereby convert mechanical energy to electric power, and an impact member (20) for actively or passively providing a mechanical impact to the transducer, wherein one or both of the impact member and the transducer is/are coupled with the support member via a spring mechanism, allowing the impact member and/or the transducer to oscillate with regard to the support member upon exposure of the support member to ambient mechanical impulses, wherein a natural frequency of said oscillation(s) of the impact member and/or the transducer is lower than the first frequency, and wherein the transducer and the impact member are arranged relative to each other such that the impact member and the transducer collide if the amplitude of said oscillation(s) of the impact member and/or the transducer exceeds a threshold value to thereby exert said mechanical impact on the transducer.