Vibration Energy Harvester Rectification Without Electric Field Weakening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vibration-driven energy harvesters face inefficiencies in converting weak environmental vibration energy into electric energy due to the weakening of electric fields during rectification processes.
Innovation Solution
A power supply circuit incorporating a negative half-wave rectifying circuit and an inverting chopper circuit, along with capacitors and a control circuit, is used to efficiently convert alternating current from a vibration-driven energy harvesting element into stable direct current, maintaining optimal voltage levels for high power generation efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a general two-phase full-wave rectifying circuit is used to convert alternating current to direct current, then the rectification function is achieved, but the electric field is weakened leading to reduced power generation efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional rectification approach by using a negative half-wave rectifying circuit followed by an inverting chopper circuit. Instead of directly full-wave rectifying the AC power, the circuit first rectifies only the negative half-wave and then inverts it to positive, thereby avoiding the electric field weakening effect of conventional full-wave rectification while achieving the same DC output function.
2Ease of operation
If conventional rectification circuits are used, then alternating current can be converted to direct current, but the conversion efficiency is low due to weak environmental vibration energy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the rectification process by using a negative half-wave rectifying circuit that selectively processes only the negative half-cycle of the AC waveform, followed by an inverting chopper circuit that converts the negative voltage to positive. This parameter change in the rectification strategy maintains ease of operation while significantly improving energy conversion efficiency from weak environmental vibration.
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 enhances the power generation efficiency by preventing electric field weakening and stabilizing power transmission, allowing for effective conversion of environmental vibration energy into electric energy.
Implementation Method 1
a negative half-wave rectifying circuit that half-wave rectifies an alternating current power that is input from the vibration-driven energy harvesting element, into a negative voltage output
Implementation Method 2
an inverting chopper circuit that inverts and outputs the negative voltage output which is output from the negative half-wave rectifying circuit, into a positive voltage output
Implementation Method 3
there is known an approach of generating an electric power from environmental vibration using a vibration-driven energy harvesting element which is a MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) vibration element. The vibration-driven energy harvesting element itself includes a piezoelectric element or a capacitance-type element
Implementation Method 4
The vibration-driven energy harvesting element itself includes a piezoelectric element or a capacitance-type element
Implementation Method 5
a first capacitor having one end connected to an output terminal of the negative half-wave rectifying circuit and another end connected to a ground, the first capacitor accumulating the negative voltage output which is output from the negative half-wave rectifying circuit and outputting the negative voltage output to the inverting chopper circuit
Implementation Method 6
a second capacitor having one end connected to an output terminal of the inverting chopper circuit and another end connected to the ground, the second capacitor accumulating the positive voltage output which is output from the inverting shopper circuit
Data Source
AI summary
A power supply circuit that outputs an electric power that is input from a vibration-driven energy harvesting element to an external load, includes: a negative half-wave rectifying circuit that half-wave rectifies an alternating current power that is input from the vibration-driven energy harvesting element, into a negative voltage output; an inverting chopper circuit that inverts and outputs the negative voltage output which is output from the negative half-wave rectifying circuit, into a positive voltage output.