Energy harvesting eel
AssigneeOcean Power Technologies, Inc.
InventorCharles B. Carroll
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A piezoelectric power generator, particularly for use in a flowing fluid stream, comprises an elongated, flexible central layer of a dielectric material having, spaced axially along opposite sides thereof, a plurality of separate piezoelectric elements each formed from a portion of a continuous layer of a piezoelectric layer extending along each opposite side of the central layer sandwiched between a pair of electrodes unique to each piezoelectric element.
Claims7
A piezoelectric power generator comprising an axially elongated, flexible first layer of a dielectric material and a plurality of piezoelectric elements disposed in axially spaced apart relationship on opposite sides of said layer,
- each of said elements comprising a layer of flexible piezoelectric material having oppositely disposed electrodes on opposite sides thereof,
- said piezoelectric material layer of all the elements on one side of said first layer being integral portions of a continuous layer of said piezoelectric material,
- the electrodes of adjacent piezoelectric elements on said one side of said first layer being spaced apart and exposing portions of said piezoelectric material layer, and
- terminal electrodes extending axially along said one side of said first layer and overlying successive ones of said spaced apart electrodes and being electrically insulated from all said electrodes except respective ones of said electrodes.
A piezoelectric power generator comprising an axially elongated, flexible first layer of a dielectric material and a plurality of piezoelectric elements disposed in axially spaced apart relationship on one side of said layer,
- each of said elements comprising a layer of a flexible piezoelectric material having oppositely disposed electrodes on opposite sides thereof,
- said piezoelectric material layer of all the elements on said one side of said first layer being integral portions of a continuous layer of said piezoelectric material,
- the electrodes of adjacent piezoelectric elements on said one side of said first layer being spaced apart and exposing portions of said piezoelectric material layer, and
- terminal electrodes extending axially along said one side of said first layer and overlying successive ones of said spaced apart electrodes and being electrically insulated from all said electrodes except respective ones of said electrodes.
A piezoelectric power generator comprising a flexible first layer of a dielectric material and a plurality of piezoelectric elements disposed in spaced apart relationship on one side of said layer,
- each of said elements comprising a layer of a flexible piezoelectric material having oppositely disposed electrodes on opposite sides thereof,
- one of said electrodes of each of said piezoelectric elements facing towards said first layer, and
- said one side of said first layer comprises continuous, non-broken surfaces to which the entire facing surfaces of respective said piezoelectric elements are adhered for flexure of said elements in correspondence with flexure of said first layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.