Diode cells for harvesting energy from distributed motions
OwnerRenyun ZHANGinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An energy harvesting system converts energy from mechanical motion into electrical energy using one or more diode cells each comprising at least one diode having a junction. Each diode cell is placed on or in a carrier. The diode cell(s) then produce an induced current in response to a potential difference across the junction when in proximity to a charged object that has a dynamically changing electrostatic field. The induced current may then be led to a load and/or energy storage component. The diode cell(s) produce the induced current independent of alignment of motion vectors of the charged object with the diode junctions and may be distributed even at non-planar positions within a volume.
Claims16
An energy harvesting system for converting energy from mechanical motion into electrical energy, comprising:
- at least one diode cell comprising at least one diode having a junction;
- each said diode cell being placed on a respective carrier;
- each said diode cell producing an induced current in response to a potential difference across said junction when in proximity to a charged object that has a dynamically changing electrostatic field;
- and
- electrical connections configured to conduct the induced current from each said diode cells to a load;
- each said diode cell producing the induced current independent of alignment of motion vectors of the charged object with the respective diode junction.
A method for harvesting energy by converting energy from mechanical motion into electrical energy, comprising:
- arranging at least one diode having a junction as at least one diode cell;
- mounting the at least one diode cell on a carrier;
- said diode cell(s) producing an induced current in response to a potential difference across said junction when in proximity to a charged object that has a dynamically changing electrostatic field;
- and
- conducting the induced current from said diode cell(s) to a load;
- said diode cell(s) producing the induced current independent of alignment of motion vectors of the charged object with the diode junctions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.