US 11,081,285 B2 · Electrically conductive electret and associated electret-based power source and self-powered structure

Abstract

This invention provides electrically conductive electret, electret-based direct-current power source and structural electret, with applications including the self-sensing of damage, stress and strain (including structural self-sensing) and electric powering (including structural self-powering). The electret is an electrically conductive material comprising mobile charge carriers (electrons, holes or ions), which exhibit a gradient in the carrier concertation along a line connecting the positive charge center and negative charge center in the electret. The carriers create an electric dipole. The material is electrically continuous along this line, which is along the path of least electrical resistance. The material exhibits microstructure comprising microscopic features that are positioned along said line and that interact with said carriers, with the interaction enhancing said dipole. The materials are preferably metals, carbons and their composites. The electret's electric field preferably ranges from 10′ V/m to 1 V/m. The electrical conductivity preferably ranges from 103Ω−1·m−1 to 108Ω−1·m−1.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An electret material,

said material exhibiting substantial electrical conductivity,
said material comprising mobile charge carriers,
said carriers exhibiting concentration,
said concentration exhibiting gradient,
said gradient being along a line in said material,
said material also comprising electric dipole,
said dipole being created by said carriers,
said dipole consisting of positive charge center and negative charge center,
said line consisting of a trace from said positive charge center to said negative charge center,
said trace being along the path of least electrical resistance,
said material being electrically continuous along said trace,
said material also comprising microstructure,
said microstructure comprising a plurality of microscopic features,
said plurality of microscopic features being positioned along said trace,
said plurality of microscopic features interacting with said carriers,
said interaction enhancing said dipole.

13 more elements

An electric power source,

said power source exhibiting the ability to allow current to pass through,
said power source also exhibiting the ability to provide DC power,
said source comprising electret,
said electret comprising electret material,
said electret material exhibiting substantial electrical conductivity,
said electret material comprising mobile charge carriers,
said carriers exhibiting concentration,
said concentration exhibiting gradient,
said gradient being along a line,
said electret material also comprising electric dipole,
said dipole being created by said carriers,
said dipole consisting of positive charge center and negative charge center,
said line being a trace from said positive charge center to said negative charge center,
said trace being along the path of least electrical resistance,
said electret material being electrically continuous along said trace,
said electret material also comprising microstructure,
said microstructure comprising a plurality of microscopic features,
said plurality of microscopic features being positioned along said trace,
said plurality of microscopic features interacting with said carriers,
said interaction enhancing said dipole.

17 more elements

A structure exhibiting an electret,

said electret comprising electret material,
said electret material exhibiting substantial electrical conductivity,
said electret material comprising mobile charge carriers,
said carriers exhibiting concentration,
said concentration exhibiting gradient,
said gradient being along a line in said electret material,
said electret material also comprising electric dipole,
said dipole being created by said carriers,
said dipole consisting of positive charge center and negative charge center,
said line consisting of a trace from said positive charge center to said negative charge center,
said trace being along the path of least electrical resistance,
said electret material being electrically continuous along said trace,
said electret material also comprising microstructure,
said microstructure comprising a plurality of microscopic features,
said plurality of microscopic features being positioned along said trace,
said plurality of microscopic features interacting with said carriers,
said interaction enhancing said dipole.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electrically conductive electret and associated electret-based power source and self-powered structure

Life of this patent

Electrically conductive electret and associated electret-based power source and self-powered structure

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20