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AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation
InventorsAtsuya Hirabayashi, Kunio Tabata, Atsushi Oshima, Hiroyuki Yoshino, Noritaka Ide, Yasuhiro Ono
Estimating the term…
A power generation unit includes: a deforming member adapted to deform while switching a deformation direction; a piezoelectric device provided to the deforming member, and having a pair of electrodes; a displacement sensor adapted to detect a deformation amount of the deforming member, and then output deformation amount information as information related to the deformation amount; an inductor electrically connected to the piezoelectric device; a switch disposed between the piezoelectric device and the inductor; and a switch control section adapted to control the switch so as to set the pair of electrodes to a shorted state for a predetermined period of time when the deformation amount exceeds a predetermined level.
A power generation unit comprising:
A method of controlling a power generation unit including
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Beam type: cantilevers
Producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators: circuits; Control arrangements or methods
Vibration harvesters: adapted for resonant operation
Electric solid-state devices not otherwise provided for
About 6 years 11 months of term left · ends 18 Sep 2033 (estimated)
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a power generation unit for taking out the charge, which is generated when a piezoelectric material such as a piezoelectric element is deformed due to an external force, as electrical energy, a method of controlling the power generation unit, an electronic apparatus and a transportation device including the power generation unit.
2. Related Art
The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.
FIGS. 1A and 1B are explanatory diagrams showing a structure of a power generation unit according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 2A through 2D are explanatory diagrams showing an operation of the power generation unit according to the embodiment.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be explained along the following order to thereby clarify the content of the invention described above.
A-1. Structure of Power Generation Unit A-2. Operation of Power Generation Unit A-3. Operation Principle of Power Generation Unit A-4. Switching Timing of Switch A-5. Displacement Sensor
B. First Modified Example