Harvesting the Vibration Energy

Ambient energy can in many situations not only augment battery life in autonomous devices, but enable the whole functionality of such devices. Harvesting of ambient energy in any available form is hence very desirable. From available sources of ambient energy, solar and vibration energy are now prevalent forms of harvested energy. Several transduction mechanisms exist for transformation of mechanical energy of ambient vibrations into electric energy. Electromagnetic Transduction seems to be proper mechanism for harsh conditions thanks to its simplicity and robustness. There are many issues though, that need to be worked out yet. This paper proposes basic overview of ambient energy sources, describtion of vibration energy harvesting mechanisms and identifies common limitations in designs of electromagnetic vibration energy generators.