Piezoelectric module for energy harvesting, such as in a tire pressure monitoring system

#Subject matter disclosed herein may relate to piezoelectric modules for energy harvesting as may be used, for example, in power supplies for tire pressure monitoring systems.

#Piezoelectric energy harvesting devices may be utilized in a wide range of applications. Such energy harvesting devices may take advantage of one or more of the properties of piezoelectric materials, such as, for example, the piezoelectric material's ability to produce a voltage in response to a deformation of the material. Piezoelectric energy harvesting devices may be used in the place of batteries in some situations, such as, for example, situations where it would be inconvenient, difficult, and/or expensive to replace a battery, and where one or more forces are available to impart to the piezoelectric material in order to deform the material to generate a voltage. Tire pressure monitoring systems are an example application for piezoelectric energy harvesting devices. However, the use of piezoelectric energy harvesting devices in challenging environments such as, for example, an automobile tire in the case of a tire pressure monitoring system, may pose difficulties with regard to reliability, size, weight, cost, ease of manufacturing, and/or adequacy of voltage generation.

#Claimed subject matter is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. However, both as to organization and/or method of operation, together with objects, features, and/or advantages thereof, it may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description if read with the accompanying drawings in which:

#FIG. 1a is an illustration depicting an example piezoelectric element generating a voltage in response to a compressive force;

#FIG. 1b is an illustration depicting an example piezoelectric element generating a voltage in response to a force that may cause the piezoelectric material to flex and/or stretch;

#Reference is made in the following detailed description to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, wherein like numerals may designate like parts throughout to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. It will be appreciated that for simplicity and/or clarity of illustration, elements illustrated in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and/or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of claimed subject matter. It should also be noted that directions and references, for example, up, down, top, bottom, and so on, may be used to facilitate the discussion of the drawings and are not intended to restrict the application of claimed subject matter. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense and the scope of claimed subject matter defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

#In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of claimed subject matter. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that claimed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components and/or circuits have not been described in detail.

#Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of claimed subject matter. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.