INTERNAL VIBRATION IMPULSED BROADBAND EXCITATION ENERGY HARVESTER SYSTEMS AND METHODS

摘要

The present invention relates to an energy harvester system. The energy harvester system includes an energy harvester device, a housing comprising internal walls surrounding at least a portion of the energy harvester device, and a flexible supporting structure supporting the energy harvester device within the housing. Movement of the housing causes the internal walls of the housing, or structures connected to the internal walls, to contact the energy harvester device, whereby the flexible supporting structure and the energy harvester device move such that the energy harvester device contacts the internal walls or structures connected to the internal walls at least one additional time (or multiple times), thereby producing energy. Also disclosed is a system comprising an electrically powered apparatus and the energy harvester system of the present invention electrically coupled to the apparatus. The present invention further relates to a method of powering an electrically powered apparatus with the energy harvester system of the present invention.

主权项

1. An energy harvester system comprising:
an energy harvester device comprising an elongate resonator beam comprising a piezoelectric material, said resonator beam extending between first and second ends; a housing comprising internal walls surrounding at least a portion of the energy harvester device; and a flexible supporting structure supporting the energy harvester device within said housing, wherein movement of the housing causes its internal walls or structures connected to its internal walls to contact the energy harvester device, whereby the flexible supporting structure and the energy harvester device move such that the energy harvester device contacts the internal walls or structures connected to the internal walls at least one additional time, thereby producing energy.