Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Ruize Xu

Sang-Gook Kim

Haluk Akay

Kelsey Seto

Described embodiments provide a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) vibration energy harvester. The energy harvester includes a buckled multi-layer beam that includes a plurality of stacked layers. The plurality of stacked layers includes at least one piezoelectric layer. Each one of the plurality of stacked layers has a determined stress level and a determined thickness. The determined stress level includes at least a compressive stress. The plurality of stacked layers achieves a desired total stress level of the beam to achieve substantial deformation of the beam in at least one direction when a proof mass is added to the beam. In response to applied external vibrations having a vibration frequency and an acceleration amplitude, the beam deflects and deforms to provide strain to the at least one piezoelectric layer, thereby generating an electrical charge to provide a continuous power output in response to the external vibrations.

Micro electromechanical system (MEMS) energy harvester with residual stress induced instability

The present disclosure is related to energy-harvesting articles of footwear, and associated components and methods. In some embodiments, an energy-harvesting article of footwear comprises a compressible bladder, a pneumatic motor fluidically connected to the compressible bladder, and an electric generator operatively coupled to the pneumatic motor. In some embodiments, energy is harvested by compressing a compressible bladder and flowing fluid from the compressible bladder through a pneumatic motor to generate power. Certain embodiments relate to pneumatic motor designs, and/or to methods of flowing fluid input through pneumatic motors.

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, MA, United States of America

Ruize Xu