Non-contact mechanical energy harvesting device and method utilizing frequency rectification
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsGregory P. Carman, Dong Gun Lee
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Abstract
An energy harvesting apparatus includes an inverse frequency rectifier structured to receive mechanical energy at a first frequency, and a solid state electromechanical transducer coupled to the inverse frequency rectifier to receive a force provided by the inverse frequency rectifier. The force, when provided by the inverse frequency rectifier, causes the solid state transducer to be subjected to a second frequency that is higher than the first frequency to thereby generate electrical power. The coupling of the solid state electromechanical transducer to the inverse frequency rectifier is a non-contact coupling.
Claims20
An energy harvesting apparatus, comprising:
- an inverse frequency rectifier structured to receive mechanical energy at a first frequency;
- and
- a solid state electromechanical transducer coupled to said inverse frequency rectifier to receive a force provided by said inverse frequency rectifier,
- wherein said force when provided by said inverse frequency rectifier causes said solid state transducer to be subjected to a second frequency that is higher than said first frequency to thereby generate electrical power, and
- wherein said coupling of said solid state electromechanical transducer to said inverse frequency rectifier is a non-contact coupling.
An electrical system, comprising:
- an energy harvesting apparatus, comprising:
- an inverse frequency rectifier structured to receive mechanical energy at a first frequency;
- and
- a solid state electromechanical transducer coupled to said inverse frequency rectifier to receive a force provided by said inverse frequency rectifier,
- wherein said force when provided by said inverse frequency rectifier causes said solid state transducer to be subjected to a second frequency that is higher than said first frequency to thereby generate electrical power, and
- wherein said coupling of said solid state electromechanical transducer to said inverse frequency rectifier is a non-contact coupling;
- and
- an electrical device coupled to receive said electrical power generated by said energy harvesting apparatus.
A method of harvesting electrical energy from an environment, comprising:
- providing a mechanical structure adapted to be excited into a periodic motion at a first frequency upon being exposed to said environment;
- and
- non-contact coupling said mechanical structure to a solid state component to cause said solid state component to be excited into a periodic motion by a second frequency that is higher than said first frequency,
- wherein said solid state component is suitable to generate electrical power at said second frequency when excited through said non-contact coupling to said mechanical structure.
A method of producing an energy harvesting apparatus, comprising:
- forming a frame;
- forming a glider that is in vibrational attachment to said frame, said glider comprising an array of magnets;
- and
- forming a magnetic probe attached to said frame and arranged proximate said glider such that said glider and said magnetic probe have a space reserved therebetween,
- wherein said glider and said magnetic probe remain free of contact with each other while said energy harvesting apparatus is in operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.