High efficiency, inductive vibration energy harvester
AssigneeFerro Solutions, Inc.
InventorsDavid C. Bono, Alan Sliski, Jiankang Huang, Robert C. O'Handley
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Abstract
An inductive energy harvester comprises a permanent magnet magnetic field source attached by a pair of compact spiral disk springs to an induction coil. The springs position the magnet so that the induction coil surrounds one end of the magnet where the flux density is greatest. In addition, the magnetic flux emerging from that end of the magnet is enhanced by a disk of magnetic material having high permeability and high flux density. In another embodiment, the magnetic field source comprises two dipole magnets arranged in opposing flux relationship with a thin layer of high flux density, high magnetic permeability material located in a gap between the magnets.
Claims26
An inductive energy harvester that generates electrical energy from mechanical vibrations, the energy harvester comprising:
- a magnetic field source having a first pole and a second pole that generate a magnetic field;
- an induction coil;
- an induction coil support that positions the induction coil near the first magnetic field source pole;
- and
- a mechanical connector that mechanically couples the magnetic field source to the induction coil support in a manner that allows relative oscillatory movement between the magnetic field source and the induction coil in response to the vibrations while the coil support maintains the position of the coil near the first pole.
An inductive energy harvester that generates electrical energy from mechanical vibrations, the energy harvester comprising:
- a magnetic field source having a first pole and a second pole that generate a magnetic field;
- an induction coil;
- an induction coil support that positions the induction coil near the first magnetic field source pole;
- a mechanical connector that mechanically couples the magnetic field source to the induction coil support in a manner that allows relative movement between the magnetic field source and the induction coil in response to the vibrations;
- a flux yoke attached to the second pole of the magnetic field source to provide a low reluctance flux path between the first and second poles of the magnetic field source;
- and
- wherein the mechanical connector attaches to the flux yoke.
An inductive energy harvester that generates electrical energy from mechanical vibrations, the energy harvester comprising:
- a magnetic field source having a first pole and a second pole that generate a magnetic field;
- an induction coil;
- an induction coil support that positions the induction coil near the first magnetic field source pole;
- a mechanical connector that mechanically couples the magnetic field source to the induction coil support in a manner that allows relative movement between the magnetic field source and the induction coil in response to the vibrations;
- a flux yoke attached to the second pole of the magnetic field source to provide a low reluctance flux path between the first and second poles of the magnetic field source;
- and
- wherein the flux yoke is a magnet having a polarization that enhances magnetic flux in the vicinity of the induction coil.
An inductive energy harvester that generates electrical energy from mechanical vibrations, the energy harvester comprising:
- a magnetic field source having a first pole and a second pole that generate a magnetic field;
- an induction coil;
- an induction coil support that positions the induction coil near the first magnetic field source pole;
- a mechanical connector that mechanically couples the magnetic field source to the induction coil support in a manner that allows relative movement between the magnetic field source and the induction coil in response to the vibrations;
- a second magnetic field source arranged in magnetic flux opposition to the magnetic field source;
- and
- a magnetic flux concentrator positioned between the magnetic field source and the second magnetic field source and in the vicinity of the induction coil.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.