Alcatel Lucent

University of Limerick

Chambre De Commerce Et D'industrie De Region Paris Ile De France

Université Gustave Eiffel

Francesco Cottone

Suresh Goyal

Jeff Punch

Philippe Basset

The invention relates to a miniature kinetic energy harvester for generating electrical energy, comprising a support, a first element having walls surrounding at least one cavity, at least one spring mounted between the first element and the support, the spring being arranged so that the first element may be brought into oscillation relative to the support according to at least one direction of oscillation, a transducer arranged between the first element and the support for converting oscillation of the first element relative to the support into an electrical signal, at least one second element housed within the cavity and mounted to freely move within the cavity relative to the first element so as to impact the walls of the cavity when the harvester is subjected to vibrations.

Miniature kinetic energy harvester for generating electrical energy from mechanical vibrations

An improved vibrational energy harvester includes a housing and at least one energy transducer. In an embodiment, a second mass element is arranged to receive collisionally transferred kinetic energy from a first mass element when the housing is in an effective state of mechanical agitation, resulting in relative motion between the housing and at least one of the second and further mass elements. The energy transducer is arranged to be activated by the resulting relative motion between the housing and at least one of the second and further mass elements. In a further embodiment, kinetic energy is collisionally transferred in a velocity-multiplying arrangement from the first to a second or further mass element that has a range of linear ballistic motion. The energy transducer is arranged to be activated, at least in part, by the ballistic motion of the second or further mass element. The energy transducer, or a portion of it, may be attached to the housing, or it may be attached to another of the mass elements.

Energy harvester apparatus having improved efficiency

Growing community of inventors

Tolentino, Italy

Francesco Cottone