University of Southampton

Brunel University

Stephen Paul Beeby

Neil Maurice White

Michael John Tudor

Nicholas Robert Harris

Peter Glynne-Jones

Edward Barry Jones

John M Tudor

Menglong Li

The invention is that of an encapsulated electronic component assembly that may be incorporated into a textile or yarn. Electronic components is encapsulated in two flexible substrates forming a pod for housing the electronic components. A flexible substrate may be a flexible polymer film capable of compression in response to a bending force, protecting the internal electronic components. The components in the substrate may then be incorporated into a yarn or woven into a textile. The electronic components may comprise an antenna, data processor, light emitter, accelerometer, or other components.

Electronic textile assembly having electronic componentry which is provided on a substrate and encapsulated by a film

An electromagnetic generator comprising two magnets and a coil disposed therebetween, the two magnets being configured to define therebetween a region of magnetic flux in which the coil is disposed whereby relative movement between the coil and the magnets generates an electrical current in the coil, and a vibratable first mount for each of the magnets and a vibratable second mount for the coil whereby each of the at least two magnets and the coil are respectively vibratable about a respective central position.

Electromagnetic device for converting mechanical vibrational energy into electrical energy

An electromagnetic generator comprising a multilayer assembly of a first layer carrying at least one magnet, a second layer carrying at least one coil, and a third layer carrying at least one magnet, the at least one magnet of the first and third layers being configured to define therebetween a region of magnetic flux in which the at least one coil is disposed, at least one of the layers being shaped to define a respective displaceable portion thereof which is displaceable by vibration of the electromagnetic generator thereby to cause relative movement between the coil and the magnets and generate an electrical current in the coil.

Electromagnetic device for converting mechanical vibrational energy into electrical energy, and manufacture thereof

A triple beam resonator () is provided with three beams or tines () aligned in parallel alongside each other and joined at a decoupling zone () at each end, which is in turn connected to the surrounding material. The central beam () is twice the width of the two outer beams (). The resonating element has a length of 15.5 mm, a thickness of 0.25 mm and beam widths of 2 mm and 1 mm. The distance between the beams is 0.5 mm. Finite element analysis predicts the modal behavior with stress distribution and eigenfrequencies of the resonator (). Thick-film PZT elements () were printed on separate regions at each end of the central beam (), where maximum stresses exist as the resonator () operates in its favored mode of vibration. The PZT element () at one end drives the vibrations, while the PZT element () at the other end detects them. Positioning the PZT driving and sensing elements () on the regions of maximum stresses maximizes the degree of mechanical coupling between the active piezoelectric layer and the resonator for generation of both driving forces and sensing signals. Very high quality factors of 3100 and higher have been experienced. Furthermore, the resonator can be manufactures by batch production techniques while maintaining high reliability and reproducibility.

Growing community of inventors

Southampton, United Kingdom

Stephen Paul Beeby