Vibration Energy Harvester With Half-Wave Rectifier and Electret
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vibration-driven energy harvesters have low efficiency in converting environmental vibration into electric energy due to weak vibration energy and inefficient power conversion processes.
Innovation Solution
A vibration-driven energy harvester design incorporating a half-wave rectifier with diodes and a voltage conversion circuit, where one electrode has a positively charged electret and the other a negatively charged electret, allowing current flow in one direction while blocking it in the other, to enhance power extraction efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a general two-phase full-wave rectifying circuit is used to convert alternating current to direct current, then the circuit can provide continuous current flow, but the power generation efficiency is reduced due to electrical damping and weak vibration energy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the unnecessary rectification process for one phase of the alternating current generated by the vibration-driven energy harvesting element. By removing the need for full-wave rectification and using a half-wave rectifier configuration, the circuit reduces electrical damping and improves power generation efficiency while still providing usable direct current output.
2Loss of energy
If environmental vibration energy is directly converted using a vibration-driven energy harvesting element, then the system can generate alternating current power, but the conversion efficiency is low due to weak vibration energy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the electrical circuit configuration parameters by using a half-wave rectifier instead of a full-wave rectifier, and by connecting the electret directly to the output terminals. This parameter change optimizes the energy conversion process for weak vibration energy, reducing losses and improving overall conversion efficiency.
3Power
If a half-wave rectifier configuration with electret is used, then the electric field strength increases and power generation efficiency improves, but the circuit only allows current flow in one direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes unnecessary circuit components by using a half-wave rectifier configuration that eliminates the need for complex full-wave rectification circuits. By extracting only the essential rectification function needed for the dominant current direction, the system achieves higher electric field strength and power generation efficiency with simpler circuit configuration.
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 increases the electric field strength between electrodes, improving power generation efficiency by reducing electrical damping and enhancing the conversion of environmental vibration into electric energy compared to conventional full-wave rectifying systems.
Implementation Method 1
the first electrode has a positively charged electret in a surface on a side facing the second electrode, or the second electrode has a negatively charged electret in a surface on a side facing the first electrode
Data Source
AI summary
The vibration-driven energy harvester includes: a first electrode; a second electrode facing the first electrode; a holder holding the first electrode and the second electrode so as to be movable relative to each other; a half-wave rectifier electrically connected to the first and the second electrodes that causes current flowing from the first electrode to the second electrode to flow to an output unit, and cuts off current flowing from the second electrode toward the first electrode; and a second rectifying element electrically connected to the first and the second electrodes that allows the current flowing from the second electrode to the first electrode and blocks the current flowing from the first electrode to the second electrode, wherein: the first electrode has a positively charged electret in a surface facing the second electrode, or the second electrode has a negatively charged electret in a surface facing the first electrode.