SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS FOR ELECTRIC POWER GENERATION FROM VOCAL FOLDS VIBRATIONS

摘要

Apparatus and methods are provided for the generation of electrical power from acousto-mechanical vibrations originating from the vocal folds of the human body. The apparatus and methods can include one or more beams comprising a piezoelectric material, such as lead zirconate titanate (PZT), coupled to a power circuitry. Each of the one or more beams can also have a predetermined resonance frequency that is within the dominant frequency range of the human voice. The power circuitry can be adapted to receive the electrical charge received by the one or more piezoelectric beams and to convert the electrical charge into an electric current. The power circuitry can also be coupled to a battery for the storage of the converted energy, which in turn can provide power to implantable medical electronic devices (e.g., neurostimulators or cochlear implants) and/or wearable electronics. Numerous piezoelectric beam shapes, device packaging structures and array configurations are also disclosed that can provide improved power generation and reduced damping effects.

主权项

1. An apparatus for generating electrical power from acousto-mechanical vibrations, the apparatus comprising:
one or more beams comprising a piezoelectric material, wherein the one or more beams each have a predetermined resonance frequency, and are adapted to receive acousto-mechanical vibrations originating from the vocal folds of a human body, and wherein the one or more beams are further adapted to generate an electrical charge in response to the received acousto-mechanical vibrations; and a power circuitry coupled to the one or more beams, wherein the power circuitry is adapted to receive the electrical charge generated by the one or more beams, and wherein the power circuitry is further adapted to convert the electrical charge into an electrical current.