Devices and methods for harvesting kinetic energy

A kinetic energy harvesting device, the device comprising:

• a plurality of dielectric elastomer membrane layers arranged in a stack having a first end and a second end, each membrane layer being funnel-shaped with a narrow opening portion and a wide perimeter portion, each membrane layer being adjacent to another membrane layer having an opposite orientation defined by the narrow opening portion and the wide perimeter portion, each membrane layer being configured to accumulate electrical charge when cyclically stretched and relaxed, and each membrane layer having at least one conical membrane element, each conical membrane element having a pair of outer insulating elements, a pair of electrodes between the pair of outer insulating elements, and a dielectric element between the pair of electrodes;
• a rigid connector rod having a longitudinal axis and extending from a first end portion to a second end portion, the narrow opening portions of the membrane layers being coupled to the first end portion of the connector rod, the second end portion of the connector rod extending out from the first end of the stack;
• and
• a mountable support base facing the second end of the stack, the wide perimeter portions of the membrane layers being fixed in relation to the support base;
• so that application of linear force at the second end portion of the connector rod in a first direction along the longitudinal axis causes at least a first membrane layer to stretch and application of the force in a second direction opposite to the first direction causes at least a second membrane layer adjacent to the first membrane layer to stretch.