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US 7,116,036 B2Granted
Energy harvesting system, apparatus and method
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsMahadevan Balasubramaniam, Jeffrey Bernard Fortin, Walter John Smith, Huageng Luo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An energy harvesting device, system and method are described. The energy harvester collects acoustic energy and transforms it into electrical energy for use by a sensor. The energy harvester utilizes a piezoelectric device, which may be encased, either wholly or partially, within an acoustic chamber. Alternatively, the piezoelectric device may be entirely exterior to the acoustic chamber, which acts to amplify the collected acoustic energy.
Claims63
An energy harvester, comprising:
- an acoustic chamber configured to collect acoustic energy;
- a back plate in connection with said acoustic chamber and configured to convert the collected acoustic energy into mechanical energy;
- and
- a piezoelectric device mounted to said back plate and configured to convert the mechanical energy into electrical energy, wherein said back plate is supported on said piezoelectric device by a support beam.
1 more element
An energy harvester, comprising:
- an acoustic chamber configured to collect acoustic energy;
- at least one channel extending through at least one surface of said acoustic chamber;
- a back plate in connection with said acoustic chamber and configured to convert the collected acoustic energy into mechanical energy;
- and
- a piezoelectric device mounted to said back plate and configured to convert the mechanical energy into electrical energy, wherein said at least one channel extends in a spiral configuration or a labyrinthine configuration or said at least one channel exhibits a bend within said acoustic chamber.
2 more elements
An energy harvester, comprising:
- an acoustic chamber configured to collect acoustic energy, wherein said acoustic chamber amplifies the collected acoustic energy;
- a back plate configured to convert the collected acoustic energy into mechanical energy;
- a low modulus material connecting said back plate with said acoustic chamber;
- and
- a piezoelectric device mounted to said back plate and configured to convert the mechanical energy into electrical energy, wherein said back plate is supported on said piezoelectric device by a support beam.
2 more elements
An energy harvester, comprising:
- an acoustic chamber configured to collect acoustic energy;
- at least one channel extending through at least one surface of said acoustic chamber, wherein said at least one channel extends in a spiral configuration or a labyrinthine configuration or said at least one channel exhibits a bend within said acoustic chamber;
- and
- a piezoelectric device in connection with said acoustic chamber and configured to convert the collected acoustic energy into mechanical energy and to convert the mechanical energy into electrical energy.
1 more element
An energy harvesting system, comprising:
- a sensing assembly including a sensor for sensing a physical condition;
- an energy harvester including a chamber and configured to collect acoustic, vibration or strain energy and transform the collected acoustic, vibration or strain energy into electrical energy;
- and
- at least one channel extending through at least one surface of said chamber, wherein said at least one channel extends in a spiral configuration or labyrinthine configuration or said at least one channel exhibits a bend within said chamber.
1 more element
An air pressure sensing system for sensing the air pressure in an individual tire mounted in proximity to a wheel rim of a motorized vehicle, comprising:
- a sensor mounted in proximity to the wheel rim;
- an energy harvester mounted in proximity to the wheel rim and including an acoustic chamber, wherein said energy harvester is configured to collect acoustic energy and transform the collected acoustic energy into electrical energy;
- and
- at least one channel extending through at least one surface of said acoustic chamber, wherein said at least one channel extends in a spiral configuration or labyrinthine configuration or said at least one channel exhibits a bend within said acoustic chamber.
1 more element
A motorized vehicle, comprising:
- at least one wheel rim upon which is mounted a tire;
- a sensor mounted on said at least one wheel rim;
- an acoustic chamber configured to collect acoustic energy;
- an energy harvester mounted on said at least one wheel rim and adapted to harvest the collected acoustic energy and convert the acoustic energy to electrical energy;
- and
- at least one channel extending through at least one surface of said acoustic chamber, wherein said at least one channel extends in a spiral configuration or a labyrinthine configuration or said at least one channel exhibits a bend within said acoustic chamber.
3 more elements
A method for powering a sensor, comprising:
- transforming acoustic, vibrational, or strain energy into mechanical energy with an energy harvester, comprising:
- a back plate in connection with a chamber and configured to convert the collected acoustic, vibrational, or strain energy into mechanical energy;
- and
- a piezoelectric device mounted to said back plate and configured to convert the mechanical energy into electrical energy, wherein said back plate is supported on said piezoelectric device by a support beam;
- converting the mechanical energy into electrical energy;
- and
- supplying the electrical energy to a sensor.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.