A device for the transmission of electromagnetic signals, the device comprising: a conductive element at least one inducer, for inducing charge in said conductive element; a transmission circuit, for generation and transmission of electromagnetic signals; wherein said conductive element and said at least one inducer are movable, with respect to each other, between a plurality of relative positions; in a first position of said relative positions, said at least one inducer is arranged to induce a charge in said conductive element; in a second position of said relative positions, said conductive element is arranged to discharge; the conductive element is arranged to couple with the transmission circuit, in said first position and/or said second position, such that charging and/or discharging of said conductive element causes the transmission circuit to generate and transmit an electromagnetic signal; and the device is arranged such that movement of said device causes relative movement of said conductive element and said at least one inducer between said plurality of relative positions.

A device for the transmission of electromagnetic signals, the device comprising: a conductive element at least one inducer, for inducing charge in said conductive element; a transmission circuit, for generation and transmission of electromagnetic signals; wherein said conductive element and said at least one inducer are movable, with respect to each other, between a plurality of relative positions; in a first position of said relative positions, said at least one inducer is arranged to induce a charge in said conductive element; in a second position of said relative positions, said conductive element is arranged to discharge; the conductive element is arranged to couple with the transmission circuit, in said first position and/or said second position, such that charging and/or discharging of said conductive element causes the transmission circuit to generate and transmit an electromagnetic signal; and the device is arranged such that movement of said device causes relative movement of said conductive element and said at least one inducer between said plurality of relative positions.

Method for harvesting energy using an EAP based deformable body. The EAP based deformable body is an elastically deformable body including an arrangement of stretchable synthetic material and electrodes being arranged as a variable capacitor with a capacitance that varies as the deformable body stretches and relaxes. The method includes: looping through an energy harvesting cycle with a) stretching the deformable body from a minimal relaxed size L1 to a maximal stretched size L2; b) at the maximal stretched size electrically charging of the variable capacitor to create an electric field over the capacitor with an upper electric field level value; and subsequently c) a relaxation step from maximal stretched size to the minimal relaxed size; d) at the minimal relaxed size of the deformable body, electrically discharging the capacitor to a minimal charge level and a minimal electric field level value.

Method for harvesting energy using an EAP based deformable body. The EAP based deformable body is an elastically deformable body including an arrangement of stretchable synthetic material and electrodes being arranged as a variable capacitor with a capacitance that varies as the deformable body stretches and relaxes. The method includes: looping through an energy harvesting cycle with a) stretching the deformable body from a minimal relaxed size L1 to a maximal stretched size L2; b) at the maximal stretched size electrically charging of the variable capacitor to create an electric field over the capacitor with an upper electric field level value; and subsequently c) a relaxation step from maximal stretched size to the minimal relaxed size; d) at the minimal relaxed size of the deformable body, electrically discharging the capacitor to a minimal charge level and a minimal electric field level value.

Energy harvesting devices and methods for converting the mechanical energy of a flowing ionic solution, such as rainwater or seawater, into electric energy are provided. The energy harvesting devices include an electric current generating device that includes a metal layer and an amphoteric metal oxide film disposed over a surface of the metal layer. By moving an electric double layer across the surface of the amphoteric metal oxide film, an electric current is generated in the metal layer.

Energy harvesting devices and methods for converting the mechanical energy of a flowing ionic solution, such as rainwater or seawater, into electric energy are provided. The energy harvesting devices include an electric current generating device that includes a metal layer and an amphoteric metal oxide film disposed over a surface of the metal layer. By moving an electric double layer across the surface of the amphoteric metal oxide film, an electric current is generated in the metal layer.

A bi-stable micro-electrical mechanical system (MEMS) heat harvester is provided. A bi-stable MEMS cantilever located between a hot temperature surface and a cold temperature surface, and is made up of a first MEMS material layer, having a first coefficient of thermal expansion. A second MEMS material layer is in contact with the first MEMS material layer, and has a second coefficient of thermal expansion less than the first coefficient of thermal expansion. A tensioner, made from a material having a tensile stress greater than the stress of the first or second MEMS materials, is connected to the cantilever. The heat harvester also includes a mechanical-to-electrical power converter, which may be a piezoelectric device or an electret device. The bi-stable MEMS cantilever may include a thermal expander having a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than the second coefficient of thermal expansion. The thermal expander is connected to the tensioner.

A motion sensor device comprises: a reverse electrowetting-on-dielectric (REWOD) generator configured to generate alternating current (AC) based on motion; a motion sensor configured to measure motion data; and a wireless motion sensor read-out circuit coupled to the REWOD generator and the motion sensor, the wireless motion sensor read-out circuit configured to transmit the motion data and operate on the AC from the REWOD generator.

A motion sensor device comprises: a reverse electrowetting-on-dielectric (REWOD) generator configured to generate alternating current (AC) based on motion; a motion sensor configured to measure motion data; and a wireless motion sensor read-out circuit coupled to the REWOD generator and the motion sensor, the wireless motion sensor read-out circuit configured to transmit the motion data and operate on the AC from the REWOD generator.

The present invention provides an electrical generator comprising one or more graphene sheets, each graphene sheet comprising first and second electrical contacts and having a surface extending between the first and second electrical contacts arranged to contact a flow of an ion-containing fluid, wherein each surface is provided with a polymer coating having a thickness of less than 100 nm.