Powering low-power implants using PZT transducer discs operated in the radial mode

This paper reports experimental results that are used to compare operation characteristics of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) piezoelectric ceramic discs operated in the radial mode. The devices are driven to radially vibrate at their lowest fundamental resonant frequency and thus transmit and receive power when immersed in a liquid phantom. A number of 1 mm × 10 mm (thickness × diameter) PZT discs are characterized experimentally within a propagation tank and results discussed. On the basis of these measured characteristics, a novel application is developed and reported for the first time. This consists of a tuned LC resonator circuit which is used at the receiving disc to maximize sensitivity as well as a Seiko start-up IC S-882Z which is employed to charge a capacitor that drives a PIC microcontroller (μC) once the voltage exceeds 2 V DC. We show that a mean input power of 486 mW RMS results in 976 μW RMS received over a range of 80 mm and that this is sufficient to periodically (every 60 s) power the μC to directly drive a red LED for 5 ms with a current of 4.8 mA/flash. This approach is suitable for low-power, periodically activated analogue bio-implant applications.

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