California Institute of Technology

Hyun Jun Cho

Hyuck Choo

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.

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Pasadena, CA, United States of America

Hyun Jun Cho