Abstract: Inertial sensor having a body with first and second cavities on opposite sides thereof, a sensing element in the first cavity, electronic circuitry in the second cavity, electrical conductors interconnecting the sensing element and the circuitry, and leads connected electrically to the circuitry and extending from the body for mounting the sensor and making connections with the circuitry.

Abstract: A piezoelectric measuring element comprises at least one bar with transverse effect which can be used with two conductor technology. Poles comprising the metallizations, electrodes and lines in the measuring element are embodied with one or more piezoelectric bars with transverse effect such that the electric capacitances thereof with respect to the housing are identical. There can be a completely symmetrical design of the poles. A capacitor from one pole to the housing can correspond to the difference in capacitance of both poles to the environment.

Abstract: A vibration gyro made of a single crystal piezoelectric material includes: a base; a plurality of resonating arms extending from the base; an excitation electrode formed on a surface of at least one of the plurality of resonating arms so as to vibrate at least the one of the plurality of resonating arms; and a piezoelectric element detecting a vibration component due to a Coriolis force acting perpendicularly to a vibrating direction of the plurality of resonating arms being vibrated by the excitation electrode, the piezoelectric element being mounted on a surface of at least one of the plurality of resonating arms and the base.

Abstract: A piezoelectric generator that includes a piezoelectric element having first and second surfaces on which a first electrode and a second electrode are disposed. A vibrating plate is bonded to the piezoelectric element such that the first surface is adjacent thereto. The vibrating plate includes a first bend disposed at a first side of a vibrating-plate main section to which the piezoelectric element is bonded and a second bend disposed at a second side thereof. A support member supports the vibrating plate at a location outside the first and second bends. A vibration body including the vibrating-plate main section and the piezoelectric element is supported at both ends.

Abstract: A driving apparatus comprises: an electromechanical conversion element that expands and contracts in an extending direction of a given fiducial line; a driving shaft mounted on one end of the electromechanical conversion element in the extending direction; a driven member frictionally engaged with the driving shaft; a holder that supports the electromechanical conversion element from lateral sides with respect to extending direction; and an urging member that urges the electromechanical conversion element in the extending direction.

Abstract: A bending transducer device for generating electrical energy from deformations, and a circuit module which has such a bending transducer. The bending transducer includes at least one electrically deformable, vibration-capable, electrically conductive support structure, one piezoelectric element and a first contacting element, the conductive support structure having a first restraining area and a second restraining area for restraining the support structure, the piezoelectric element being designed and situated on the support structure in such a way that the piezoelectric element is deformable due to the deformation of the support structure caused by vibrations, and a first electrode for picking up the voltage generated by the deformation of the piezoelectric element is formed and contacted by the support structure, the first contacting element being connected electrically conductively to the support structure outside the first restraining area and the second restraining area.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided to produce energy from movement of a user. At least one pair of plates is utilized to secure an array of cymbal transducers therebetween. The array of cymbal transducers is electrically interconnected with signal conditioning circuitry and power storage member. Electrical interconnections may comprise parallel and/or series connections between ones or groups of the cymbal transducers.

Abstract: Oscillators (101a and 101b) are attached to a spring material (100) whose both ends (105a and 105b) are held, and piezoelectric elements (103a, 103b, and 106) are attached to the spring material or the oscillators. Assuming that an axis parallel to an axis connecting the both ends of the spring material is a Y-axis, an axis parallel to a plane including the Y-axis and the oscillators and orthogonal to the Y-axis is an X-axis, and an axis orthogonal to the Y-axis and the X-axis is a Z-axis, the oscillators are asymmetric with respect to a plane including the Y-axis and the Z-axis. Consequently, when acceleration is applied, torsional vibrations act on the spring material. When the torsional rigidity of the spring material is set to be low, the resonant frequency of the torsional vibrations can be reduced. Since the both ends of the spring material are held, the spring material is bent in a small amount.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fine positioning system using an inertial motor based on a mechanical amplifier that comprises a first amplified inertial sub-assembly including a mechanical amplifier, a piezoactive member and a countermass. A second relative drive sub-assembly includes a clamp and a clamped member attached to the first amplified inertial sub-assembly. Asymmetric excitation cycles of the first inertial sub-assembly generate impact forces and movements amplified in a driving direction (z), thus resulting in sliding and adhesion successions of the clamped member in the clamp in order to generate a relative translation movements of the points A and B relative to the point D. The mechanical amplifier increases the step size and reduces the supply inrush currents. Fine and dynamic positioning of the point B relative to the point D can be achieved with augmented strokes using the amplifier.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an energy harvesting device that converts small magnitude and low frequency vibrations into electrical energy. The device can include a base, a low frequency element, and a piezoelectric element. The low frequency element can be movably attached to the base and the piezoelectric element can also be attached to the base and be spaced apart from the low frequency element with a vacant space therebetween. Upon vibration of the low frequency element resulting from environmental vibrations, the low frequency element can impact the piezoelectric element and cause elastic deformation thereto.

Abstract: Provided is a MEMS device which is robust to the misalignment and does not require the double-side wafer processing in the manufacture of a MEMS device such as an angular velocity sensor, an acceleration sensor, a combined sensor or a micromirror. After preparing a substrate having a space therein, holes are formed in a device layer at positions where fixed components such as a fixing portion, a terminal portion and a base that are fixed to a supporting substrate are to be formed, and the holes are filled with a fixing material so that the fixing material reaches the supporting substrate, thereby fixing the device layer around the holes to the supporting substrate.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an acceleration sensing unit includes: providing an element support substrate in which a plurality of element supporting members is arranged so as to form a plane, each of the element supporting members being coupled to the other element supporting member through a supporting part and having a fixed part and a movable part that is supported by the fixed part through a beam, the beam having a flexibility with which the movable part is displaced along an acceleration detection axis direction when an acceleration is applied to the movable part; providing an stress sensing element substrate in which a plurality of stress sensing elements is arranged so as to form a plane, each of the stress sensing elements being coupled to the other stress sensing element through an element supporting part and having a stress sensing part and fixed ends that are formed so as to have a single body with the stress sensing part at both ends of the stress sensing part; disposing the stress sensing element

Abstract: There is provided a piezoelectric thin-film resonator including a substrate, a lower electrode disposed on the substrate, a piezoelectric film disposed on the lower electrode, an upper electrode disposed on the piezoelectric film in such a manner that a portion of the upper electrode is opposed to the lower electrode, and a mass element disposed on the upper electrode in a portion of an edge of the region of the upper electrode in which the upper electrode and the lower electrode are opposed to each other.

Abstract: Embodiments of energy harvesters have a plurality of piezoelectric planform-tapered, interdigitated cantilevered beams anchored to a common frame. The plurality of beams can be arranged as two or more sets of beams with each set sharing a common sense mass affixed to their free ends. Each set thus defined being capable of motion independent of any other set of beams. Each beam can comprise a unimorph or bimorph piezoelectric configuration bonded to a conductive or non-conductive supporting layer and provided with electrical contacts to the active piezoelectric elements for collecting strain induced charge (i.e. energy). The beams are planform tapered along the entirety or a portion of their length thereby increasing the effective stress level and power output of each piezoelectric element, and are interdigitated by sets to increase the power output per unit volume of a harvester thus produced.

Abstract: A material for high-temperature region piezoelectric device that can be used at a high temperature zone exceeding 400 DEG C, having a resistivity whose temperature dependence is slight. The material is characterized by having a composition selected from the group consisting of RE3Ga5?xAlxSiO14 (wherein RE represents a rare earth, and 0<X<5), RE3Ta0.5Ga5.5?xAlxO14 (wherein RE represents a rare earth, and 0<X<5.5) and RE3Nb0.5Ga5.5?xAlxO14 (wherein RE represents a rare earth, and 0<x<5.5) and by exhibiting a 100 to 600° C. resistivity change of ?104. The process for producing the same is characterized by growing a single crystal from a solution in an atmosphere of inert gas containing an oxidative gas and thereafter cooling the single crystal in an inert gas whose oxidative gas molar fraction (z) is lower than in the above growing step.

Abstract: Disclosed is an acceleration sensor having a small variation in detection sensitivity, in which one end portion of an oscillation detecting element is fixed so that the free length thereof does not vary. Supporting resins 4a, 4b are formed in one end portion of the oscillation detecting element 3. With the oscillation detecting element being inserted into a through hole 2h of a holding member 2 provided in a case 1, the supporting resins 4a, 4b are in close contact with the inner periphery of the through hole 2h. As a result, the oscillation detecting element 3 is fixed to and held by the holding member 2.

Abstract: Disclosed is an energy harvesting device which can produce electrical power from vibrational energy over a wide range of frequencies. The energy harvester includes a housing having opposing slots. A bendable substrate is at least partially positioned within the housing and at least partially extends through the opposing housing slots. A piezoelectric element is positioned on the bendable substrate and a weight cooperates with the bendable substrate. A stopper is positioned on each end of the bendable substrate that extends outside the housing; the stoppers are configured to maintain a portion of the bendable substrate within the housing such that the bendable substrate is freely movable within the housing. Vibrational energy causes collisions between the bendable substrate and the housing such that the forces on the piezoelectric element generate power.

Abstract: A piezoelectric drive device has a piezoelectric actuator that has a vibrator with a piezoelectric element, and a rotor that is rotated by the vibrator, an elastic device that can store the rotational energy of the rotor as elastic energy, and a driven body that is rotated by the elastic energy stored by the elastic device.

Abstract: A circuit module, e.g., for use in a vehicle tire, includes a housing, a piezoelectric generator, which has a mass element that is movable within the housing and a spring device, which has at least one piezoelectric element, the mass element and the spring device forming an oscillatory system, and the piezoelectric element being elastically deformable in response to the oscillation of the oscillatory system. A current supply circuit is provided for receiving a piezoelectric voltage output by the piezoelectric element in response to the mechanical deformation thereof and for supplying power to the circuit module.

Abstract: A microstructure according to embodiments of the present invention comprises a substrate, and a resonant structure having a resonance frequency and comprising a seismic mass and suspension elements for suspending the seismic mass at two opposite sides onto the substrate. The substrate is adapted for functioning as a tuning actuator adapted for applying stress onto the suspension elements, thus changing the stiffness of the suspension elements. This way, the resonance frequency of the microstructure may be adapted to input vibration frequencies which may vary over time or may initially be unknown. By adapting the resonance frequency of the resonant structure, a suitable power may be generated, even in circumstances of variable input frequencies.

Abstract: A vibrating gyroscope according to this invention includes a ring-shaped vibrating body 11 having a uniform plane, a leg portion 15 flexibly supporting the ring-shaped vibrating body and having a fixed end, a fixed potential electrode 16, and a plurality of electrodes 13a, 13b, . . . , 13h formed on the plane with a piezoelectric film sandwiched between an upper-layer metallic film and a lower-layer metallic film in a thickness direction thereof. In this case, in a representative example shown in FIG. 1, when one of driving electrodes 13a for exciting a primary vibration of the ring-shaped vibrating body 11 in a vibration mode of cos N? is set as a reference driving electrode, the plurality of remaining electrodes 13b, . . . , 13h are disposed at specific positions. Such disposition allows this vibrating gyroscope to detect a uniaxial to triaxial angular velocity by adopting a secondary vibration detector inclusive of an out-of-plane vibration mode.

Abstract: Energy converters and associated methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an energy converter includes a first structural member spaced apart from a second structure member, a first piezoelectric element and a second piezoelectric element individually coupled to the first structural member and the second structural member, and a deflection member tensionally suspended between the first and second piezoelectric elements. The deflection member is substantially rigid.

Abstract: An impact sensor comprises a silicon substrate; an insulating layer formed over the silicon substrate; a plurality of beams having flexibility that are formed of conductive silicon material; a fixing portion to fix a fixed end of each of the beams, the fixing portion being formed of conductive silicon material; a fixed end line at whose one end is formed the fixing portion, the fixed end line being formed of conductive silicon material on the insulating layer; and a free end line having a pressing portion that faces a free end of each of the beams via a space, the free end line being formed of conductive silicon material on the insulating layer. Respective beam widths, each measured in a direction orthogonal to a length direction joining the fixed end and the free end, of the plurality of beams are set different from each other, thus reducing the space occupied by the sensor.

Abstract: An end cap assembly for an in-tank fuel pump is configured to close an open end of a pump housing and includes an end cap body and a companion clip. On the bottom side of the end cap body facing the pump housing is a pair of motor brush wells for holding a pair of DC motor brushes. A pair of blind bores are provided to receive corresponding RFI suppression circuits. A pair of pockets are located in between the wells and the bores to allow flexible shunt wires to connect the RFI suppression circuits with the brushes. The clip is adapted for insertion into the bottom of the end cap body wherein a pair of axially-extending legs are guided into and seal the pockets. The captured shunt wires are electrically isolated in the closed pockets and contact with fuel is minimized.

Abstract: An energy conversion apparatus having a pair of flexible beams that are supported at first ends thereof from a base. The beams each include at least one piezoelectric material layer. Second ends of each of the beams are operatively coupled to rigid links. The rigid links are in turn operatively coupled to a working element that may form, in one application, a drive member for a motor, or in a second application form a valve element for an electronic fuel injection system, or in a third application form a piston for a fluid pump. The working element is free to move linearly in a path generally parallel to the longitudinal axes of the flexible beams. As electrical signals are applied to and removed from the piezoelectric material layer(s) of each flexible beam, the beams flex repeatedly and uniformly over their full lengths. This causes a linear movement of the working element that can be used to help form a rotational motor output or a linearly moving fluid control element.

Abstract: A driving apparatus includes a piezoelectric element which expands and contracts when a voltage is applied thereto, a driving shaft fixed to one end of the piezoelectric element in an expanding-and-contracting direction, a friction part frictionally engaged with the driving shaft, a lens holder moved along a direction of an optical axis of a lens, and a direction-changing unit which reciprocates the lens holder in the front-rear direction along the optical axis. The direction-changing unit includes a translation cam mechanism including a moving member and a moved member, and converts a linear movement along the expanding-and-contracting direction into a linear movement along the direction of the optical axis.

Abstract: To provide an oscillating current converter fabricated by utilizing the MEMS technology making it possible to further decrease the size yet improving the conversion efficiency. An oscillating current converter 1 fabricated by using the MEMS technology and comprising a cantilever 4 having an opening 5 formed on the distal end side thereof and is cantilevered on the proximal end side thereof, a coil 6 wound around the opening 5 of the cantilever 4, and a magnet 8 arranged so as to enter into the inside of the opening 5 of the cantilever 4, wherein the cantilever 4 oscillates to generate an induced electromotive force in the coil 6.

Abstract: A movement detector which is rotatably installed on a base member includes a rotating member which has a body portion, and a connecting portion which rotatably connects the body portion to the base member, a piezoelectric layer which is formed on the connecting portion, and a plurality of electrodes which are provided on the piezoelectric layer, to be arranged in a direction of a rotation axis of the body portion, and which detect a voltage generated in the piezoelectric layer corresponding to a deformation of the connecting portion when the body portion has displaced with respect to the base member. Since the piezoelectric layer and the plurality of electrodes are provided to the connecting portion which rotatably connects the body portion to the base member, it is possible to detect a plurality of types of movements of the body portion by the piezoelectric layer and the plurality of electrodes.

Abstract: There are provided methods for creating energy conversion devices based on the giant flexoelectric effect in non-calamitic liquid crystals. By preparing a substance comprising at least one type of non-calamitic liquid crystal molecules and stabilizing the substance to form a mechanically flexible material, flexible conductive electrodes may be applied to the material to create an electro-mechanical energy conversion device which relies on the giant flexoelectric effect to produce electrical and/or mechanical energy that is usable in such applications as, for example, power sources, energy dissipation, sensors/transducers, and actuators.

Abstract: An electromechanical rotation converter having at least one fastening element, an oscillating element, a connecting element and an electromechanical conversion device. The fastening element is designed to fasten the rotation converter to a rotating body. The connecting element forms a movable connection between the fastening element and the oscillating element, and the movement of the oscillating element drives the electromechanical converter. The connection between the fastening element and the oscillating element is such that the center of mass of the oscillating element follows a curved path in such a way that the path describes the perimeter of a surface, the normal to the surface being at an angle to the axis of rotation that is less than 90 degrees and greater than 0 degrees.

Abstract: An arrangement that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy employs a base member and a cantilever member coupled thereto. The cantilever member has two piezoelectric layers with an air space therebetween. A proof mass is coupled to the cantilever member distal from the base member. The first and second piezoelectric layers are formed of lead zirconate titanate (PZT), and the output voltage of the cantilever member is proportional to the height of the air gap. A piezoresistive accelerometer that is useful for measuring mechanical vibration has a suspension beam and a piezoresistive layer be separated from the suspension beam. A method of monitoring an acoustic vibration utilizes a piezoresistive element having an air-spaced cantilever formed of a piezoelectric material in the vicinity of the system to be monitored and obtains an alternating voltage form the air-spaced cantilever of the piezoresistive element.

Abstract: An oscillation driver circuit that drives a physical quantity transducer includes a one-input/two-output comparator. The one-input/two-output comparator includes a shared differential section that compares a voltage signal input from a drive current/voltage conversion amplifier circuit with a given voltage, a first output section that receives a signal output from the differential section, variably adjusts a voltage amplitude of the received signal, and outputs the resulting signal, and a second output section that receives the signal output from the differential section, and outputs a synchronous detection reference signal of which the voltage amplitude is fixed.

Abstract: A device for producing electric energy including a first element converting mechanical energy into electric energy. The level of the electric energy is variable according to the variations of the mechanical energy. A controller block is connected to the first element for providing measurement data on the basis of the electric energy produced by the first element. The controller block includes a detector block to examine the electric energy produced by the first element to form the measurement data. A first energy storage unit stores electric energy produced by the first element and provides the electric energy for the operation of the controller block. Also, a system, a tire and a method.

Abstract: A hard disk drive and its circuit board are disclosed using just two piezoelectric devices to estimate both shock events and rotational vibration instead of the three devices required by the prior art. Also disclosed, an integrated circuit coupling to these two piezoelectric devices generates the signals associated with shock events and rotational vibration and a processor that may use these signals to direct the operations of the hard disk drive and may configure the components of the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit may or may not include the processor.

Abstract: A device including: a housing; a powered element disposed on or in the housing; and an impact power producing element housed on or in the housing and operatively connected to the powered element, the impact power producing element producing power upon an impact of at least a portion of the housing with another surface.

Abstract: A driving apparatus comprises: an electro-mechanical conversion element; a driving member that reciprocates in response to an extension and contraction of the electro-mechanical conversion element; and a driven member, frictionally engaged with the driving member, that moves by reciprocating the driving member, wherein the driving member comprises a shaft portion which extends in a direction of extension and contraction of the electro-mechanical conversion element in a position which lies on a side of the electro-mechanical conversion element, and the driven member is frictionally engaged with the shaft portion.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor has a stator module (1), comprising two pairs of piezoelectric actuators (1a, 1b) and (2a, 2b) inside this stator module. The stator module is fixed by a central fixing point (A). The piezoelectric actuators (1a, 1b, 2a, 2b) are connected to the stator module via flexible or biasing elements (3), such as for instance hinges, for instance elastic hinges. The stator module (1) comprises a tuning mechanism (4), comprising at least one mass (4a, 4b) and at least one flexible or biasing element (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d), for instance leaf springs. The stator module (1) is contacted to a driven part (6), for instance a slider, at the contact point (A). The piezoelectric motor is designed such that contact point (B) is able to produce a closed trajectory, thereby inducing a relative motion of the driven part (6). The contact point (B) is moved by applying an electric field to actuators (1a and 1b) and/or by applying an electric field to actuators (2a and 2b).

Abstract: We disclose a precision positioner based on an inertial actuator, an optical instrument for accurate positional readout and control, and an electrostatically clamped assembly for holding any instrument or device. All aspects of the present invention present a significant improvement over the prior art: a positioner is robust and compact; an optical instrument for positional control is a profoundly simple and compact module; a clamping assembly is self-aligning and suitable for robotic hot-swapping of objects being positioned.

Abstract: A portable security alarm system including a movement detecting and signal transmitting member for mounting on or proximate to the object whose movement is to be detected, a signal receiving and alarm generating member for receiving a signal from the movement detecting and signal transmitting member and producing a security response, a remote control for actuating and deactuating the signal receiving and alarm generating member, an environmental monitoring member for sensing an environmental condition and providing a signal to the signal receiving and alarm generating member, a visual information gathering member for gathering visual information and providing a signal to the signal receiving and alarm generating member, an audio output member for receiving a signal from the signal receiving and alarm generating member and generating an audio output, and components for delivering a security notification to remote recipients. A security network that includes the alarm system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for generating power from acceleration of a device is provided. The method including: applying a force to a piezoelectric member due to the acceleration; and sustaining a strain in the piezoelectric member resulting from the applied force so as to increase a time of power output from the piezoelectric member. The device can be a munition.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of systems, devices and methods for generating electricity, transforming voltages and generating motion using one or more piezoelectric elements operably coupled to one or more non-piezoelectric resonating elements. In one embodiment, a non-piezoelectric resonating element is configured to oscillate and dissipate mechanical energy into a piezoelectric element, which converts a portion of such mechanical energy into electricity and therefore acts as a generator. In another embodiment, a piezoelectric element is configured to drive one or more mechanical elements operably coupled to the one or more non-piezoelectric resonating elements, and therefore acts as a motor. In still another embodiment, a piezoelectric element is operably coupled to a non-piezoelectric resonating element to form an electrical transformer.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical transducer, which provides dipole motion from its housing which is driven by a bender transducer attached to the housing at the outer edge and attached to an inertial mass at its center providing a lower resonance frequency, lower mechanical Q and enhanced motion and acoustical source level.

Abstract: An inertial sensor includes a first beam, a first proof mass section and a first upper surface stopper section. The first beam extends in a first direction in a plane parallel to a major surface of a substrate and is held with a spacing from the major surface of the substrate. The first beam has a first detecting section including a first upper side electrode, a first lower side electrode, and a first upper side piezoelectric film provided between the first upper side electrode and the first lower side electrode. The first beam has one end connected to the major surface of the substrate. The first proof mass section is connected to the other end of the first beam and held with a spacing from the major surface of the substrate. The first upper surface stopper section is provided on the opposite side of the first proof mass section from the substrate with a spacing from the first proof mass section.

Abstract: A driving apparatus comprises: an electro-mechanical conversion element; a driving member, provided on one end side of the electro-mechanical conversion element, that moves in response to extension and contraction of the electro-mechanical conversion element; and a driven member frictionally engaged with the driving member, so as to cause the driven member to travel along the driving member, wherein the electro-mechanical conversion element and the driving member are connected to each other by an adhesive; and wherein a treatment for intensifying adhesive force is applied to an adhesive surface, which is to be attached to the adhesive, on at least one of the electro-mechanical conversion element and the driving member.

Abstract: An actuator comprises: an electro-mechanical conversion element; a driving frictional member mounted onto one side in an extension/contraction direction of the electro-mechanical conversion element; a driven member frictionally engaged with the driving frictional member; and a weight member affixed to the other side in the extension/contraction direction of the electro-mechanical conversion element and extending along sides of the electro-mechanical conversion element.

Abstract: An electric generating unit as a substitute for a vehicle battery includes a housing including an air pressure control member to control air pressure in an inner space of the housing, at least a diaphragm unit configured to sufficiently fluidly-insulate the inner space of the housing from outside of the housing and flexibly deformable by an inertia applied by a mass unit according to an external force so as to generate electricity, wherein the mass unit is formed on the diaphragm unit.

Abstract: Tunable vibration energy scavengers and methods of operating the same are disclosed. The disclosed energy scavengers comprise a beam with a main body, wherein the beam comprises at least one flap and means for changing a shape of the at least one flap, wherein the at least one flap is physically attached to the main body along a longitudinal side of the main body. The disclosed methods comprise tuning the shape of the at least one flap, thereby tuning the stiffness of the structure.

Abstract: A motion amplifier (22) comprises piezoelectric diaphragm (30) and drive electronics (26) for applying a drive signal to the piezoelectric diaphragm. The motion amplifier preferably comprises (in addition to the piezoelectric diaphragm) a reaction mass (34) connected to the piezoelectric diaphragm; a reacted mass (40) connected to the piezoelectric diaphragm; and, a reacted mass spring (50, 270) for resiliently carrying the reacted mass. Motion or displacement of the piezoelectric diaphragm (30) is amplified to produce a greater displacement or motion of an actuator region or surface (46) of the reacted mass (40).

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing a piezoelectric electromagnetic hybrid vibrating energy harvester. The invention comprises a piezoelectric vibrating energy harvesting device that harvests electrical energy from vibrations using a piezoelectric effect. The invention also comprises an electromagnetic vibrating energy harvesting device that simultaneously harvests electrical energy from the same vibrations using electromagnetic induction. A permanent magnet mass mounted on a cantilever host beam of the piezoelectric vibrating energy harvesting device provides a variable magnetic flux to a fixed conductive winding of the electromagnetic vibrating energy harvesting device when the permanent magnet mass vibrates.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is directed to a hybrid geometry type acoustic transducer. A hybrid geometry type acoustic transducer as embodied herein leverages different type transducer physical configurations. More specifically, embodiments of the hybrid transducer combine specific features of traditional Tonpilz resonators and PZT-composite transducers to exploit the beneficial characteristics of both. The outward construction of an embodied hybrid transducer mimics a Tonpilz resonator incorporating a headmass and a tailmass sandwiching a piezoelectric active material. However, rather than using a conventional ceramic ring stack or plate form of active material, a layer of diced or “pillared” active material is provided between the headmass and the tailmass with no filler material other than a gas, such as air, for example, or others, or a vacuum environment.