Sandia Corporation

USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Rick Allen Kellogg

Arthur E Clark

Marilyn Wun-Fogle

James B Restorff

Thomas A Lograsso

Hartono Sumali

Jay Kristoffer Brotz

An alloy comprising: An alloy having a saturated magnetostriction of from about at least 150 ppm comprising:

Magnetostrictive materials, devices and methods using high magnetostriction, high strength FeGa and FeBe alloys

Embodiments of energy harvesters have a plurality of piezoelectric planform-tapered, interdigitated cantilevered beams anchored to a common frame. The plurality of beams can be arranged as two or more sets of beams with each set sharing a common sense mass affixed to their free ends. Each set thus defined being capable of motion independent of any other set of beams. Each beam can comprise a unimorph or bimorph piezoelectric configuration bonded to a conductive or non-conductive supporting layer and provided with electrical contacts to the active piezoelectric elements for collecting strain induced charge (i.e. energy). The beams are planform tapered along the entirety or a portion of their length thereby increasing the effective stress level and power output of each piezoelectric element, and are interdigitated by sets to increase the power output per unit volume of a harvester thus produced.

Piezoelectric energy harvester having planform-tapered interdigitated beams

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.

Mechanical vibration to electrical energy converter

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Tijeras, NM, United States of America

Rick Allen Kellogg