8power Limited

Yu Jia

Antony Rix

Ashwin Arunkuman Seshia

James Home

James Horne

The proposed vibrational energy harvester comprises a frame (), a mass () coupled to first and second primary flexures () which are configured to flex and allow the mass to move in a first direction (), a plurality of secondary flexures () which are configured to flex and allow the mass to move in a different second direction (), and a transduction assembly configured to convert movement of the mass and flexures into electrical energy, preferably of electrodynamic or piezoelectric type. Each of the primary flexures is coupled to a secondary flexure at a position spaced from the mass. The resonant frequency of torsional vibration modes can thereby be raised to a frequency higher than the frequency band of ambient vibrations, which effectively prevents the energy harvester from vibrating in undesirable torsional modes that would result in wear between components.

Vibrational energy harvesters with reduced wear

There is provided a vibrational energy harvester comprising: a frame, a flexure assembly coupled to the frame, the flexure assembly comprising a flexure configured to flex in a first direction relative to the frame and a mass fixed to the flexure, wherein when the mass is displaced in the first direction from a rest position, the flexure provides a restoring force on the mass to bring the mass back to the rest position, and a transduction assembly configured to convert movement of the mass and flexure into electrical energy, wherein the frame comprises a cavity positioned so that, if the mass is displaced in the first direction beyond a threshold distance, a portion of the flexure assembly extends into the cavity so that compression or restriction of fluid in the cavity applies an additional force on the flexure assembly.

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Chester, United Kingdom

Yu Jia