Mechanical vibration to electrical energy converter
| DWPI Title: Voltage generating apparatus i.e. electrical energy converter, for sensor e.g. wireless portable sensor, has restrainment i.e. restrainer, for limiting extent of motion of magnet, where motion of magnet through gap induces voltage in coil |
| Abstract: Electromechanical devices that generate an electrical signal in response to an external source of mechanical vibrations can operate as a sensor of vibrations and as an energy harvester for converting mechanical vibration to electrical energy. The devices incorporate a magnet that is movable through a gap in a ferromagnetic circuit, wherein a coil is wound around a portion of the ferromagnetic circuit. A flexible coupling is used to attach the magnet to a frame for providing alignment of the magnet as it moves or oscillates through the gap in the ferromagnetic circuit. The motion of the magnet can be constrained to occur within a substantially linear range of magnetostatic force that develops due to the motion of the magnet. The devices can have ferromagnetic circuits with multiple arms, an array of magnets having alternating polarity and, encompass micro-electromechanical (MEM) devices. |
| Use: Apparatus i.e. electrical energy converter, for generating voltage in response to an external source of vibration for sensor such as wireless portable sensor or microprocessor, vibration-based energy harvester and velocity damped resonant generator. |
| Advantage: The apparatus allows velocity-damped resonant generators that utilize magnetic induction to convert mechanical vibrations into an electrical signal for sensing and power generation and to operate as sensors and converters of mechanical to electrical energy in a very compact form factor. The apparatus provides an electromagnetic approach to accommodate linear-motion and provides adequate power densities in a compact configuration. |
| Novelty: The apparatus (200) has a conductive coil wound around a portion (210) of a ferromagnetic circuit (220) e.g. yoke. A magnet (202) is coupled to a frame (204) by a coupling (206), where the coupling is arranged to allow a motion of the magnet through a gap (208). The frame includes a material with a thermal expansion coefficient that approximately matches the thermal expansion coefficient of the coupling. A restrainment i.e. restrainer (214) such as limiter, limits an extent of the motion of the magnet, where the motion of the magnet through the gap induces voltage in the coil. |
| Filed: 3/21/2007 |
| Application Number: US2007688981A |
| Tech ID: SD 10156.0 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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