DEVELOPMENT OF ENERGY HARVESTING MODULES BASED ON PIEZOCERAMICS

Energy harvesting devices capture the ambient energy surrounding a system and convert it into usable electrical energy. With increasing demand for wearable electronics and an increased interest in the implementation of arrays of wireless sensors in a number of rising sectors such as health monitoring in civil infrastructure, MEMS sensor arrays for automotive and aerospace applications, and sensor arrays for environmental control, there is a surge in research in the area of power harvesting. One of the most effective methods of implementing a power harvesting system is to use ambient vibration in conjunction with a piezoelectric device to generate electric energy based on the direct piezoelectric effect. This paper presents an assessment of recent developments in piezoelectric based energy harvesting and presents the various modules needed for successful implementation. The paper also presents a summary of the patent activity and applications on piezoceramic energy harvesting.

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