BROADBAND ENERGY HARVESTER APPARATUS AND METHOD

摘要

An energy harvesting apparatus and method for harvesting vibration energy over a wide frequency band and at low amplitudes. The apparatus includes a reaction component that is supported by a plurality of independent piezoelectric flexures from a base. The flexures are secured to the base and to portions of the reaction component so that they create equal but opposite constant moments applied to the reaction component that cancel one another out. As the base experiences lateral vibration energy, this causes a swinging or rolling motion of the reaction component, that causes changes in stress and/or strain experienced by the flexures. This causes the flexures to generate electrical signals that can be used powering external devices.