Lattice structure with piezoelectric behavior characterized in that the lattice structure (1) comprises a periodic succession of unitary cells (10), wherein each unitary cell (10) is made of a dielectric material, is bending or torsion dominated and comprises nanometric structural connectors (11) connected to each other through nodes (12) defining a non-centrosymmetric shape having a topological constraint that induces torsion or bending of said structural connectors (11); and wherein the unitary cells (10) are connected to each other at least in series defining a continuous electric potential accumulation path with two opposed ends (2, 3), the unitary cells (10) being arranged within the lattice structure (1) in a non-centrosymmetric disposition accumulating and conducting without cancellation the electric gradient generated on each unitary cell (10) through the lattice structure (1) to said two opposed ends (2, 3).

A piezoelectric microelectromechanical systems microphone is provided comprising a substrate including at least one wall defining a cavity, the at least one wall defining an anchor region around a perimeter, a piezoelectric film layer forming a membrane, the piezoelectric film layer being supported at the anchor region by a spring region, and an electrode disposed over the piezoelectric film layer. A method of manufacturing such a MEMS microphone is also provided.

A contact sensor for the repeatable detection of small, high frequency mechanical vibrations in external systems is presented herein. The sensor includes a metal housing with an attachment device at one end and an output at the other end. Inside the metal housing is a core assembly that includes a piezo transducer assembly suspended or isolated between an actuator and a biasing device. The actuator may be in the form of a ceramic sphere that sits at least partially within a recess on the inside of the housing and is in physical contact with the piezo transducer assembly. The biasing device may be in the form of a spring that causes the piezo transducer assembly to be pressed against the actuator at a contestant and known amount of tension.

Piezoelectric devices mountable on a rigid mechanical structure are described. A piezoelectric device includes one or more piezoelectric elements and one or more supporting structures. A respective supporting structure of the one or more supporting structures has a flat or non-flat surface and is mechanically coupled with a piezoelectric element of the one or more piezoelectric elements so that a mechanical force on the one or more supporting structures is converted into an electrical signal by the one or more piezoelectric elements. A piezoelectric device system including two or more piezoelectric devices and a method for generating electrical signals are also described.

A structure displacement self-powered sensor based on the post-buckling piezoelectric effect comprising an upper unit, a lower unit, a traction system and an information transmission system. The upper unit is slidably connected with the lower unit; the upper unit includes an upper deformable plate and an upper piezoelectric film bonded to the upper deformable plate; the lower unit comprises a lower deformable plate and a lower piezoelectric film bonded to the lower deformable plate; when the upper deformable plate and the lower deformable plate are deformed, a voltage signal is generated and transmitted to the information transmission system through the data acquisition unit. The present disclosure can monitor the settlement of the pier or the expansion or contraction in the expansion gap of the structure by monitoring the output voltage of the equipment. The present disclosure is self-powered and can work for a long time, normally with minimal maintenance.

A polymer composite exhibiting piezoelectric properties can be formed for flexible and/or thin film applications, in which the polymer composite includes a polymer matrix and a piezoelectric ceramic filler embedded in the polymer matrix. The polymer matrix may include at least two polymers: a first polymer and a second polymer. The first polymer may be a fluorinated polymer, and the second polymer may be compatible with the first polymer and have a dielectric constant of less than approximately 20. The piezoelectric ceramic filler may be a lead-free ceramic filler, such as barium titanate, and be approximately 40-70% by volume of the polymer composite. The remaining 30-60% by volume may be the polymer matrix, which may itself be approximately 5-20% by weight second polymer and 80-95% fluorinated polymer.

Devices for ultrasonic transmission and/or reception having a piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer (pMUT). The device employs a material such as lithium niobate as a piezoelectric layer in a membrane suspended over a cavity. Two activation electrodes on an upper surface of the membrane can activate one or more flexural modes of mechanical vibration in the membrane, the flexural modes of vibration including a displacement in a cross-sectional plane of the membrane. The device can be used individually or in an array. The device can be configured for use in a liquid medium or in biological tissue. A method of operating an ultrasonic transducer is provided. A method of fabrication of an ultrasonic transducer is provided.

Aspects of the present disclosure describe systems, methods, and structures that scavenge mechanical energy to provide electrical energy to a wearable, where the mechanical energy is scavenged by a bending-strain-based transducer that includes a non-resonant energy harvester. By employing a non-resonant energy harvester that operates in bending mode, more electrical energy can be generated that possible with prior-art energy harvesters. In some embodiments, the output of a bending-strain-based transducer element is used for both energy scavenging and as a sensor signal indicative of a user parameter, such as a step, respiration rate, heart rate, weight and the like. In some embodiments, a transducer element includes a plurality of piezoelectric layers that are electrically connected in parallel to increase the energy and/or power provided by the transducer element.

Provided are a polymer composite piezoelectric body in which the conversion efficiency between electricity and sound is increased and thus the sound pressure level is improved, an electroacoustic transduction film, and an electroacoustic transducer. The polymer composite piezoelectric body includes a viscoelastic matrix formed of a polymer material having a cyanoethyl group, piezoelectric body particles which are dispersed in the viscoelastic matrix and have an average particle diameter of more than or equal to 2.5 μm, and dielectric particles dispersed in the viscoelastic matrix, in which the dielectric particles are formed of a material different from that of the piezoelectric body particles and have an average particle diameter of less than or equal to 0.5 μm and a relative permittivity of more than or equal to 80.

The present disclosure is directed to an engine component for a gas turbine engine, the engine component including a substrate that includes a composite fiber and defines a surface. An energy harvesting fiber is positioned within the substrate.