Piezoelectric Generator With Integral Ceramic Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Piezoelectric generators with a piezoelectric element supported at both ends experience variations in resonance frequency and power generation efficiency due to installation conditions, which are not adequately addressed in traditional designs.

Innovation Solution

A piezoelectric generator with a piezoelectric ceramic element supported at both ends by symmetric bends on a ceramic vibrating plate, where the vibrating plate and support member are formed integrally through firing, enhancing manufacturing efficiency and reducing resonance frequency variations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a piezoelectric element is supported at both ends to reduce resonance frequency variation, then power generation stability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to precise bend positioning requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower generation stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support member and vibrating plate are merged into a single integral ceramic component formed by co-firing. This integration eliminates the need for separate support structures and precise assembly, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining the both-end support configuration that stabilizes resonance frequency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite structure where the support member and vibrating plate are both made of ceramic material with coordinated thermal expansion and mechanical properties. This composite ceramic design allows integral formation with precise geometric features (bends) that enable both-end support without complex manufacturing processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If symmetric bends are added to support the piezoelectric element at both ends, then resonance frequency stability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresonance frequency stabilityVSAvoidbend positioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The symmetric bends are integrated directly into the vibrating plate structure through co-firing with the support member. This integral formation ensures precise symmetry and positioning without requiring separate manufacturing and assembly steps, thereby achieving high manufacturing precision while maintaining resonance frequency stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If the vibrating plate and support member are formed integrally, then production cost is reduced, but structural design complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction costVSAvoidstructural design complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support member and vibrating plate are combined into a single integral ceramic component formed by co-firing multiple green bodies simultaneously. This merging reduces the number of manufacturing steps, eliminates assembly operations, and lowers production costs, while the modular design with distinct functional regions (support portions, bends, vibrating plate) keeps structural design manageable

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes controlled thermal parameters during the co-firing process to achieve differential sintering densities and mechanical properties in different regions of the integral structure. By adjusting firing temperature, time, and atmosphere parameters, the support member and vibrating plate exhibit optimized characteristics for their respective functions while being formed as one piece

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 design stabilizes resonance frequency and power generation efficiency by symmetrically supporting the piezoelectric element at both ends, reducing variations caused by installation conditions and lowering production costs.

Implementation Method 1

piezoelectric generators that are vibrated by undergoing acceleration or distortion and generate electric power by the piezoelectric effect

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP2312740B1Piezoelectric power generation device
Publication Date: 2014.06.04 MURATA MFG CO LTD
  • EP2312740B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(b)
  • EP2312740B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2312740B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

To obtain a piezoelectric generator in which variations in the resonance frequency caused by the effects of conditions of installation do not tend to occur and variations in the power generation efficiency do not tend to occur. A piezoelectric generator 1 includes a piezoelectric element 4 having first and second surfaces on which a first electrode 4b and a second electrode 4c are disposed, respectively, a vibrating plate 3 to which the piezoelectric element 4 is bonded such that the first surface is adjacent thereto, the vibrating plate 3 including a first bend 3a disposed at a first side of a vibrating-plate main section 3g to which the piezoelectric element 4 is bonded and a second bend 3b disposed at a second side thereof, and a support member 2 supporting the vibrating plate 3 at a location outside the first and second bends 3a and 3b. A vibration body including the vibrating-plate main section 3g and the piezoelectric element 4 is supported at both ends.