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US 9,543,861 B2Granted
Piezoelectric generator
AssigneeBlackBerry Limited
InventorPeter Mankowski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure provides an ionic ring comprising a number of piezoelectric elements, a piezoelectric device including the ionic ring, and a piezoelectric generator including the ionic ring and host devices incorporating the piezoelectric generator. The piezoelectric generator can be used to generate energy on a portable electronic device in response to mechanical deformation. The generated energy can be used instead of a battery of the portable electronic device or can be used to charge the battery.
Claims27
A piezoelectric device, comprising:
- a piezoelectric polycrystal having a centre including a plurality of ionic components of a first polarity and an annular ring including a plurality of ionic components of a second polarity opposite to the first polarity arranged annularly around the centre including ionic components of the first polarity, the piezoelectric polycrystal having a number of dipoles each formed between the ionic components of the first polarity and ionic components of the second polarity, wherein the dipoles are each oriented in a different direction,
- wherein the piezoelectric polycrystal has a dipole moment representing the separation of positive and negative electrical charges in the piezoelectric polycrystal,
- wherein the dipoles are arranged such that, in an unactuated state of the piezoelectric polycrystal, a zero dipole moment is formed by the dipoles of the piezoelectric polycrystal and, in an actuated state of the piezoelectric polycrystal caused by a force, a net dipole moment is formed by the dipoles of the piezoelectric polycrystal;
- and
- a pair of electrodes located about the polycrystal to conduct a current created by the net dipole moment formed by the dipoles of the piezoelectric polycrystal.
2 more elements
A piezoelectric generator, comprising:
- a piezoelectric device, comprising:
- a piezoelectric polycrystal having a centre including a plurality of ionic components of a first polarity and an annular ring including a plurality of ionic components of a second polarity opposite to the first polarity arranged annularly around the centre including ionic components of the first polarity, the piezoelectric polycrystal having a number of dipoles each formed between the ionic components of the first polarity and ionic components of the second polarity, wherein the dipoles are each oriented in a different direction,
- wherein the piezoelectric polycrystal has a dipole moment representing the separation of positive and negative electrical charges in the piezoelectric polycrystal,
- wherein the dipoles are arranged such that, in an unactuated state of the piezoelectric polycrystal, a zero dipole moment is formed by the dipoles of the piezoelectric polycrystal and, in an actuated state of the piezoelectric polycrystal caused by a force, a net dipole moment is formed by the dipoles of the piezoelectric polycrystal;
- and
- a pair of electrodes located about the polycrystal to conduct a current created by the net dipole moment formed by the dipoles of the piezoelectric polycrystal;
- and
- an energy harvesting circuit connected to the piezoelectric device to capture and store electrical energy provided by the current.
5 more elements
A piezoelectric element, comprising:
- a plurality of piezoelectric polycrystals received within a dielectric substrate, each piezoelectric polycrystal having a centre including a plurality of ionic components of a first polarity and an annular ring including a plurality of ionic components of a second polarity opposite to the first polarity arranged annularly around the centre including ionic components of the first polarity, each piezoelectric polycrystal having a number of dipoles each formed between the ionic components of the first polarity and ionic components of the second polarity, wherein the dipoles are each oriented in a different direction,
- wherein the piezoelectric polycrystals are arranged in a number of layers, wherein each layer comprises a number of piezoelectric polycrystals arranged in an annular formation around a central conductor,
- wherein the piezoelectric polycrystal has a dipole moment representing the separation of positive and negative electrical charges in the piezoelectric polycrystal,
- wherein the dipoles are arranged such that, in an unactuated state of the piezoelectric polycrystal, a zero dipole moment is formed by the dipoles of the piezoelectric polycrystal and, in an actuated state of the piezoelectric polycrystal caused by a force, a net dipole moment is formed by the dipoles of the piezoelectric polycrystal.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.