The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 06, 2016
Filed:
Aug. 06, 2013
Board of Trustees of Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (US);
Rigoberto Burgueno, East Lansing, MI (US);
Nizar Lajnef, Lansing, MI (US);
Board of Trustees of Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (US);
Abstract
An energy harvesting device has been developed for low frequency applications. The energy harvesting device is comprised of a buckling member having a longitudinal axis and configured to exhibit multiple snap-through events in response to a deformation applied axially thereto, where the buckling member is constrained laterally in relation to the longitudinal axis; and at least one cantilever extends outwardly from the buckling member. The cantilever(s) is coated with a piezoelectric material and supports a mass disposed at an opposing end from which it is attached to the buckling member. In this arrangement, the buckling member is able to respond to axial deformations occurring at a frequency less than one Hertz.