Piezoelectric Energy Harvester Feedback Loop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy harvesting systems using piezoelectric materials are limited in their ability to sustainably power electronic devices over time due to the transient nature of vibrational energy conversion, as they do not effectively recycle energy back into the system to maintain continuous operation.
Innovation Solution
A piezoelectric component system with a feedback loop that converts vibrational energy into electrical energy and uses a portion of this energy to cause the component to vibrate continuously, incorporating an AC-DC converter and an oscillator to generate alternating voltage at the resonant frequency of the piezoelectric material, ensuring continuous power delivery to electronic devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If piezoelectric materials are used to convert vibrational energy into electrical energy, then electrical energy can be generated for powering electronic devices, but the energy supply is transient and cannot sustain continuous operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback loop where a portion of the generated electrical energy is fed back to the piezoelectric component to maintain its vibration. This feedback mechanism ensures continuous energy generation by sustaining the vibrational motion that produces electrical energy, thereby resolving the transient nature of the energy supply and enabling continuous operation of electronic devices.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If a feedback loop is introduced to recycle energy and sustain vibration, then continuous power supply is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the piezoelectric component itself. The same piezoelectric material that converts mechanical vibration to electrical energy also responds to the applied electrical feedback to generate the vibration. This merging of energy generation and vibration actuation functions into a single component reduces the need for separate actuators and simplifies the overall system structure despite the addition of the feedback loop.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a portion of its own generated electrical energy to sustain its own vibration through the feedback loop. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external power sources or additional energy input systems, allowing the device to maintain continuous operation using only its own harvested energy, thereby reducing external system complexity.
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
The system enables sustainable, long-term power supply to electronic devices by recycling energy through the feedback loop, enhancing the amplitude and steadiness of current generation, thus overcoming the limitations of transient energy conversion.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric component comprising a first part configured to convert vibrational energy into electrical energy
Implementation Method 2
a second part of the piezoelectric component... configured to convert electrical energy into vibrational energy
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for energy conversion, comprising a piezoelectric component comprising a first part configured to convert vibrational energy into electrical energy; and an output for sending a first portion of the generated electrical energy to an electronic device, and a feedback loop for feeding a second portion of the generated electrical energy to a second part of the piezoelectric component, wherein the second part of the piezoelectric component is coupled to the first part of the piezoelectric component and is configured to convert electrical energy into vibrational energy thereby causing the first part of the piezoelectric component to vibrate.