Strain-relieved compliant structures for flextensional transduction

An energy transducer device for generating electrical current, the device comprising:

• a first pressure receiver unit;
• a first arm and a second arm, each arm having a respective first end and a respective second end, the first end of the first arm being joined to a first lateral side of the first pressure receiver unit and the first end of the second arm being joined to a second lateral side of the first pressure receiver unit;
• a first attachment unit joined to the second end of the first arm;
• a second attachment unit joined to the second end of the second arm;
• a current generating element having a first edge and a second edge, the first edge being joined to the first attachment unit and the second edge being joined to the second attachment unit, the current generating element comprising one of:
• a piezoelectric element, configured to change an electric polarization thereof when a mechanical strain thereof is changed, a change in the corresponding electric field being transformed into electrical current in a closed circuit;
• and
• a piezomagnetic element, configured to change a magnetic polarization thereof when a mechanical strain thereof is changed, a change in the corresponding magnetic field being transformable into electrical current via an inductance coil;
• a second pressure receiver unit;
• a third arm and a fourth arm, each having a respective third end and a respective fourth end, the third end of the third arm being joined to a first lateral side of the second pressure receiver unit and the third end of the fourth arm being joined to a second lateral side of the second pressure receiver unit, the fourth end of the third arm being joined to the first attachment unit, and the fourth end of the fourth arm being joined to the second attachment unit;
• wherein:
• a first external force applied at the first pressure receiver unit causes the first pressure receiver unit to move toward or away from the current generating element, thereby causing the first arm and the second arm to rotate in opposite directions with respect to the first pressure receiver unit and in opposite directions with respect to the first attachment unit and second attachment unit, respectively, thus applying first forces in different directions to the respective attachment units, causing the respective attachment units to apply second forces in different directions to the respective edges of the current generating element, thereby changing the mechanical strain of the current generating element;
• a second external force applied at the second pressure receiver unit causes the second pressure receiver unit to move toward or away from the current generating element, thereby causing the third arm and the fourth arm to rotate in opposite directions with respect to the second pressure receiver unit and in opposite directions with respect to the first attachment unit and second attachment unit, respectively, the third and fourth arms thus applying third forces in different directions to the respective attachment units, causing the respective attachment units to apply fourth forces in different directions to the respective edges of the current generating element, thereby changing the mechanical strain of the current generating element;
• the first pressure receiver unit, the first arm, the second arm, the second pressure receiver unit, the third arm, the fourth arm, the first attachment unit, and the second attachment unit form a single monolithic frame.