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US 2009/0211353 A1Published application
Piezoelectric module for energy harvesting, such as in a tire pressure monitoring system
AssigneeHong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited (ASTRI)
InventorsZiyang Gao, Man-Lung Sham, Chang Hwa Chung
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Abstract
Subject matter disclosed herein may relate to energy harvesting piezoelectric modules as may be used, for example, in power supplies for tire pressure monitoring systems.
Claims30
An apparatus, comprising:
- a body;
- a beam comprising a first end and a second end, the first end fixed to the body, the beam further comprising a first side facing the body, the beam to flex in response to accelerations imparted to the body;
- and
- a first piezoelectric element fixed to the first side of the beam, the piezoelectric element to generate a first voltage in response to flexion of the beam and further to generate a second voltage in response to compression of the first piezoelectric element against the body.
1 more element
A system, comprising:
- a sensor;
- a radio transmitter coupled to the sensor, the radio transmitter to transmit information generated by the sensor;
- an energy storage circuit coupled to the sensor and to the radio transmitter;
- and
- a piezoelectric module coupled to the energy storage circuit, the piezoelectric module comprising
- a body,
- a beam comprising a first end and a second end, the first end fixed to the body, the beam further comprising a first side facing the body, the beam to flex in response to accelerations imparted to the body, and
- a first piezoelectric element fixed to the first side of the beam, the first piezoelectric element to generate a first voltage in response to flexion of the beam and further to generate a second voltage in response to compression of the first piezoelectric element against the body.
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A method, comprising:
- flexing a piezoelectric element to generate a first voltage;
- compressing the piezoelectric element to generate a second voltage;
- and
- applying the first and second voltages to an energy storage circuit.
1 more element
An apparatus, comprising:
- means for flexing a piezoelectric element to generate a first voltage;
- means for compressing the piezoelectric element to generate a second voltage;
- and
- means for applying the first and second voltages to an energy storage circuit.
1 more element
A wheel assembly, comprising:
- a wheel;
- and
- a tire pressure monitoring sensor fixed to the wheel and positioned such that if a tire is mounted on the wheel, the tire pressure monitoring sensor is exposed to an air pressure of the tire, wherein the tire pressure monitoring sensor comprises
- a piezoelectric module comprising a piezoelectric element to generate a voltage if the piezoelectric element is flexed in response to an acceleration imparted by the wheel to the piezoelectric module and to generate an additional voltage if the piezoelectric element is compressed in response to the acceleration imparted by the wheel to the piezoelectric module.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.