Abstract: A passive sound absorber includes a cavity opening to the outside via an input direction to form a Helmholtz resonator for a first frequency. The absorber further includes at least one moving element, or wafer, suspended or held by suspensions in a position obstructing the neck in a non-sealed manner. The relative stiffness of the suspensions and the wafer is determined so that the assembly resonates in a vibration in a “piston” movement at a second frequency different from the first frequency, achieving absorption for this second frequency or frequency range. A hybrid version includes a coil that is controlled to adjust the acoustic impedance of the absorber. An acoustic wall includes a plurality of such absorbers produced by a repetitive structure opening through perforations, each receiving such a wafer, and a method of designing and manufacturing such an absorber or wall is also provided.

Abstract: A passive sound absorber includes a cavity opening to the outside via an input direction to form a Helmholtz resonator for a first frequency. The absorber further includes at least one moving element, or wafer, suspended or held by suspensions in a position obstructing the neck in a non-sealed manner. The relative stiffness of the suspensions and the wafer is determined so that the assembly resonates in a vibration in a “piston” movement at a second frequency different from the first frequency, achieving absorption for this second frequency or frequency range. A hybrid version includes a coil that is controlled to adjust the acoustic impedance of the absorber. An acoustic wall includes a plurality of such absorbers produced by a repetitive structure opening through perforations, each receiving such a wafer, and a method of designing and manufacturing such an absorber or wall is also provided.

Abstract: An electronic device with a circuit for supplying electric power, with a variable capacitor, by alternating mechanical movement. The supply includes, in the form of passive components and without synchronizing structure: generating branch including in series the variable capacitor and a biasing capacitor, connected in parallel to a rectifier circuit and a storage branch, between: a base node, on the variable capacitor side; an output node, on the biasing capacitor side; unidirectional charge return branch: to the generating branch, via a biasing node between the variable capacitor and the biasing capacitor; from the rectifier, receiving a part of the electrical energy produced. A circuit includes a voltage multiplier connected to the biasing node for applying a voltage that is multiplied relative to that existing between the output node; and the base node or one of the ends of the storage branch.

Abstract: An autonomous intracorporeal capsule comprises a body containing electronic circuits and an energy harvesting module. The energy harvesting module comprises a moveable surface on the body of the capsule, subjected to pressure variations and to produce a mechanical stress under the effect of the pressure variations, and a transducer comprising a deformable piezoelectric component configured as a beam adapted to be forced to bend. The piezoelectric component has a recessed end integral with the capsule and a free end. A mechanical connection couples the free end of the piezoelectric component to the actuator. The mechanical connection may provide a degree of freedom in rotation between a main direction of the beam and the direction of application of the mechanical stress.

Abstract: An electronic device with a circuit for supplying electric power, with a variable capacitor, by alternating mechanical movement. The supply includes, in the form of passive components and without synchronizing structure: generating branch including in series the variable capacitor and a biasing capacitor, connected in parallel to a rectifier circuit and a storage branch, between: a base node, on the variable capacitor; an output node, on the biasing capacitor side; unidirectional charge return branch: to the generating branch, via a biasing node between the variable capacitor and the biasing capacitor; from the rectifier, receiving a part of the electrical energy produced. A circuit includes a voltage multiplier connected to the biasing node for applying a voltage that is multiplied relative to that existing between the output node, and the base node or one of the ends of the storage branch.

Abstract: The energy harvester module of the capsule comprises: a primary oscillating structure subjected to an external low-frequency stress; a secondary oscillating structure comprising an elastic element and able to vibrate in high-frequency resonance; and an electrostatic structure with a first electrode coupled to the primary structure and a second electrode coupled to the secondary structure. The electrodes exert a mutual attraction between them driving the secondary structure away from its stable equilibrium position with tensioning of the elastic element, up to a limit beyond which the secondary structure is released by relaxation effect to vibrate at a resonance frequency. A transducer coupled to the secondary structure converts these high frequency vibration movements into electrical energy.

Abstract: An intracorporeal capsule for placement in a heart and for energy harvesting using blood pressure variations is shown and described. The capsule includes a capsule body and a piezoelectric strip coupled to a rigid surface for receiving blood pressure force. The piezoelectric strip is normally perpendicular to the direction of the force on the rigid surface. The piezoelectric strip is disconnected from the capsule body along at least two edges of the piezoelectric strip such that the blood pressure force can move the rigid surface, and thereby deform the piezoelectric strip for energy harvesting.

Abstract: An energy harvester device for an autonomous intracorporeal leadless capsule comprises a surface formed on the outside of the body of the capsule that is deformable under the effect of pressure variations in the environment surrounding the capsule. A first capacitor electrode coupling to the deformable surface with the interposition of a damping element forming high-pass filter with respect to pressure variations in the surrounding medium, and a second capacitor electrode mounting on a support connected to the body. The movement of the deformable surface produces a modification of surfaces in vis-à-vis of the two electrodes and/or of the dielectric gap which separates them, with a variation of the capacity of said capacitor. The capacitor is preloaded when its capacity is maximum, and unloaded by transferring energy into storage circuit when this capacity decreases from a reduction in surfaces in vis-à-vis and/or of an increase of the dielectric gap.

Abstract: A method for powering an autonomous intracorporeal leadless capsule includes the step of receiving a slow pressure variation at an external surface of a deformable member on the capsule. The deformable member is displacing in response to the slow pressure variation. The method further includes using a high pass mechanical filter to prevent the displacement from being transferred to an energy harvesting circuit within the capsule. The method further includes receiving a fast pressure variation at the external surface of the deformable member on the capsule, the deformable member displacing in response to the fast pressure variation. The method further includes via the high pass mechanical filter, passing the displacement to the energy harvesting circuit and creating energy using the displacement provided to the energy harvesting circuit.

Abstract: An autonomous intracorporeal capsule comprises a body containing electronic circuits and an energy harvesting module. The energy harvesting module comprises a moveable surface on the body of the capsule, subjected to pressure variations and to produce a mechanical stress under the effect of the pressure variations, and a transducer comprising a deformable piezoelectric component configured as a beam adapted to be forced to bend. The piezoelectric component has a recessed end integral with the capsule and a free end. A mechanical connection couples the free end of the piezoelectric component to the actuator. The mechanical connection may provide a degree of freedom in rotation between a main direction of the beam and the direction of application of the mechanical stress.

Abstract: The energy harvester module of the capsule comprises: a primary oscillating structure subjected to an external low-frequency stress; a secondary oscillating structure comprising an elastic element and able to vibrate in high-frequency resonance; and an electrostatic structure with a first electrode coupled to the primary structure and a second electrode coupled to the secondary structure. The electrodes exert a mutual attraction between them driving the secondary structure away from its stable equilibrium position with tensioning of the elastic element, up to a limit beyond which the secondary structure is released by relaxation effect to vibrate at a resonance frequency. A transducer coupled to the secondary structure converts these high frequency vibration movements into electrical energy.

Abstract: An intracorporeal capsule for placement in a heart and for energy harvesting using blood pressure variations is shown and described. The capsule includes a capsule body and a piezoelectric strip coupled to a rigid surface for receiving blood pressure force. The piezoelectric strip is normally perpendicular to the direction of the force on the rigid surface. The piezoelectric strip is disconnected from the capsule body along at least two edges of the piezoelectric strip such that the blood pressure force can move the rigid surface, and thereby deform the piezoelectric strip for energy harvesting.

Abstract: An energy harvester device for an autonomous intracorporeal leadless capsule having an outside surface (42) on the body (40) of the capsule, that is deformable under the effect of pressure variations in the environment surrounding the capsule. A first capacitor electrode coupled to the deformable surface and a mechanical damping element (68) form a high-pass filter with respect to the pressure variations, and a second capacitor electrode (54) is mounted on a support (56) connected to the body. The deformable surface movement produces a correlative modification of the spacing between the two electrodes with a correlative variation of the capacity of said capacitor. The capacitor is preloaded when its capacity is maximum, it is unloaded by transferring its energy into a storage circuit when this capacity decreases under the effect of a reduction in the opposing surfaces and/or of an increase of the dielectric gap.

Abstract: Device for reversible conversion of electric power capable of being connected between at least an input alternating voltage source and at least a load forming an output alternating current source, each input alternating voltage source having a supply terminal and a neutral terminal. The device comprises at least a switching block and includes an input terminal for connecting the supply terminal, a single reference terminal and an output terminal. Each switching block consists of a switching matrix formed of capacitors and switching cells, individually controlled. Each reference terminal is connected to a reference point other than the neutral terminal, and each block comprises elements for permanently maintaining at a constant or null sign the difference of potential between the first input terminal and the reference terminal.

Abstract: A cutting device for reversibly converting electric power between an alternating voltage source and an alternative current source, comprises switching cells each comprising first and second switches unidirectional in voltage and bidirectional in current. A first group of switches consists of the first switches of the switching cells connected in series between a first terminal of the voltage source and a first terminal of the current source, and a second group of switches consists of the second switches of the switching cells connected in series beween a second terminal of the voltage source and the first terminal of the current source, the unidirectional characteristics in voltage of the first and second switches belonging to a first half of the cells being respectively opposed to those of the first and second switches belonging to a second half of the cells.

Abstract: The invention concerns a cutting device for reversibly converting electric power between an alternating voltage source (2) and an alternative current source (4), comprising switching cells (61, , 62n) each comprising first (81, , 82n) and second (101, , 102n) switches unidirectional in voltage and bidirectional in current. A first group of switches consists of the first switches (81, , 82n) of the switching cells connected in series between a first terminal (14) of the voltage source (2) and a first terminal (12) of the current source (4), and a second group of switches consists of the second switches (101, , 102n) of the switching cells connected in series between a second terminal (16) of the voltage source (2) and the first terminal (12) of the current source (4), the unidirectional characteristics in voltage of the first and second switches belonging to a first half of the cells being respectively opposed to those of the first and second switches belonging to a second half of the cells.