University of Limerick

Alcatel Lucent

Jeff Punch

Suresh Goyal

Francesco Cottone

Eric Dalton

Edmond Walsh

Ronan Grimes

Valeria Nico

A vibrational energy harvester () comprises a first mass () comprising a first internal cavity () and a second mass () disposed within and configured to move within the first internal cavity. Movement of the second mass relative to the first mass induces an electrical current in one of the first mass and the second mass. The vibrational energy harvester also comprises a housing () comprising a second internal cavity (). The first mass is disposed within and configured to move within the second internal cavity. An adjustment mechanism () is also provided, configured to adjust a size of the second internal cavity.

Vibrational energy harvester

An electromagnetic pump (). The electromagnetic pump () comprises a conduit () comprising an inlet () and an outlet (). A first magnetic field generating unit () is provided for generating a first magnetic field having a first component with a first direction in the conduit. A second magnetic field generating unit () is provided for generating a second magnetic field having a second component with a second direction in the conduit (), the second direction being substantially opposite to the first direction. A piston member () is disposed within the conduit, the piston member () being moveable within the conduit () under the influence of the first and/or second magnetic fields to pump fluid received from the inlet () of the conduit () to the outlet () of the conduit ().

Electromagnetic pump

A cooling device () comprises a top plate (), a bottom plate (), an axial flow inlet () in the top plate (), a rotor support () on the top plate (), and a pump rotor fan (). The outer dimensions are 40 mm in diameter and 4 mm in height. The internal separation of the platesandis 4 mm. The cooling device () has a low profile in scale. Depending on the configuration and on operating parameters steady or unsteady fluid flow vortices can be created in the heat sink. The resulting flow field enhances heat transfer rates locally through impingement cooling and thermal transport by the vortices, whether generated to be steady or unsteady in nature. Also, the vortices drive a secondary flow within the heat sink, effectively creating a pumping mechanism, which further enhances heat transfer. The heat sink is simple, economical to construct and integrate within portable electronics such as mobile phones, and provides the possibility of utilizing existing components and architectures within electronic devices as the heat sink body. For example one or more heat sink surfaces may be surfaces of existing components such as a circuit board or a housing.

Cooling device

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.

Growing community of inventors

Limerick, Ireland

Jeff Punch