Electret Vibration Generator Gap Control via Substrate Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vibration power generators using electrets face challenges in maintaining an optimal gap between the electret and electrode for efficient power generation, as the gap is easily influenced by substrate thickness errors and ambient temperature, leading to instability and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A vibration power generator design featuring a housing with a fixed member and a movable member, where the electret and electrode groups are supported by slidable support members directly between the fixed and movable members, with slide surfaces formed on a common substrate surface to maintain a stable power generation gap, and using materials like glass for improved flatness and thermal stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If an adjustment member is disposed between support members to adjust the gap between electret and electrode, then the gap can be adjusted to a predetermined distance, but the adjustment process becomes complex and difficult to achieve proper gap size
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the adjustment member from the structure, eliminating it entirely. Instead of using an adjustment member between support members, the gap is determined directly by the thickness of the substrate, which is controlled during manufacturing. This simplifies the structure while maintaining precise gap control.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention performs the gap determination action in advance during substrate manufacturing. By controlling the substrate thickness to a predetermined value before assembly, the correct gap is established automatically when components are assembled, eliminating the need for post-assembly adjustment mechanisms.
2Manufacturing precision
If two reference surfaces are disposed in the housing for gap formation, then the gap can be maintained, but the housing distortion and dimensional accuracy influence the reference surfaces, making it difficult to form the gap suitably
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the gap determination function from the housing structure. Instead of using housing surfaces as reference surfaces, the gap is determined by the substrate thickness, which is controlled during substrate manufacturing. This eliminates the influence of housing distortion and dimensional accuracy on gap formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces the substrate as an intermediary element that determines the gap. The substrate thickness acts as the critical dimension that establishes the gap between electret and electrode, isolating the gap formation from housing dimensional variations and distortion.
3Ease of manufacture
If resin material is used for the housing, then manufacturing is easier, but the resin is easily deformed by machining and ambient temperature, influencing the reference surface
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the critical dimensional function from the housing. By using substrate thickness rather than housing dimensions to determine the gap, the housing material's thermal and machining stability becomes less critical, allowing easier manufacturing materials like resin to be used without compromising precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration allows for precise adjustment and maintenance of the power generation gap, enhancing the efficiency and stability of vibration power generation by minimizing variations in the gap size, thus improving the overall performance and manufacturing yield of the device.
Implementation Method 1
a vibration power generator that generates power by an external vibration
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of support members that are disposed so as to be slidable on the fixed member, are interposed directly between the fixed member and the movable member so as to define a gap between the fixed member-side power generation element and the movable member-side power generation element
Data Source
AI summary
A vibration power generator in which an electret group including a plurality of electrets and an electrode group including a plurality of electrodes are displaced in a relative movement direction by an external vibration, and vibration power generation is thereby performed, has a housing portion that accommodates the electret group and the electrode group, a fixed member that is fixed to a bottom surface side of the housing portion and has one of the electret group and the electrode group as a fixed member-side power generation element, a movable member that is accommodated in the housing portion so as to be capable of relative movement by the external vibration while opposing the fixed member, and has the other of the electret group and the electrode group as a movable member-side power generation element, and a plurality of support members.