An electric power-generating system for a rotor blade includes at least one electromechanical power-converting device and at least one power-guide line, which is connected mechanically to the electromechanical power-converting device. The electromechanical power-converting device is configured in such a way that, during a movement of the power-guide line, the device converts into electric power the forces introduced by the movement of the power-guide line into the electromechanical power-converting device.

This module comprises: a circuit for interfacing with the piezoelectric beam of an oscillating pendular unit, outputting a rectified signal comprising a sequence of pulses at a frequency equal to a multiple of the oscillation frequency of the pendular unit; a buffer capacitor charged by the successive pulses outputted by the interface circuit; and a converter regulator adapted to convert a capacitor discharge current into a stabilized power supply voltage, and controlled by a feedback control stage of the Maximum Power-Point Tracking (MPPT) type. A comparator detects the conduction of a blocking diode interposed between the interface circuit and the capacitor, in order to produce a signal representative of the current value of the duty cycle of the detected conduction and non-conduction periods. This signal is compared with a predetermined optimum duty cycle value in order to enable or disable the coupling of the capacitor to the converter regulator so as to control either the capacitor discharge towards an input of the converter regulator, or the continuation of its charging.

A vibrational multi-morph piezoelectric energy harvester includes a composite shim having a parallelepiped form with a thickness dimension made smaller than width and length dimensions, and having a stiffness shifting from one extremity to the other extremity to minimize mechanical constraints developed at a clamping area; a seismic mass mounted at an end opposite to the clamping area to mechanically match the system to the surrounding vibration resonance; one or more piezoelectric layers laminated on said composite shim; and electrodes plated onto the one or more piezoelectric layers for connection to an electronic harvesting circuit, a battery, or a super capacitor.

The present invention provides an energy harvesting system that removes the need for batteries for sensing and actuating purposes through the use of energy harvesting materials such as piezoelectric transducers. The present invention particularly provides clamping and actuation mechanisms for energy harvesting applications including energy harvesting switches, more particularly energy harvesting wireless switches. The present invention is designed to produce sufficient instantaneous energy to power low-power circuits such as radio transmitters, allowing for seamless integration with existing smart devices. In addition, the system benefits from battery less operation, eliminating the need for regular battery maintenance and replacement as well as end of life recycling. An energy harvesting system is provided comprising: a) an energy harvesting material which generates energy when deformed or moved from a first position to a second position; and b) an energy generator support which has first and second mounting supports between which the energy harvesting material is mounted in the first position wherein the first and second mounting supports each have an internal surface and the internal surfaces are each provided with a layer of a resilient material and a layer of a non-resilient material wherein the layer of the non-resilient material engages the energy harvesting material.

A metamaterial-based substrate (meta-substrate) for piezoelectric energy harvesters. The design of the meta-substrate combines kirigami and auxetic topologies to create a high-performance platform including preferable mechanical properties of both metamaterial morphable structures. The creative design of the meta-substrate can improve strain-induced vibration applications in structural health monitoring, internet-of-things systems, micro-electromechanical systems, wireless sensor networks, vibration energy harvesters, and other applications whose efficiency is dependent on their deformation performance. The meta-substrate energy harvesting device includes a meta-material substrate comprising an auxetic frame having two kirigami cuts and a piezoelectric element adhered to the auxetic frame by means of a thin layer of elastic glue.

A self-powered sensor node includes a printed wiring board connected to a patch. The printed wiring board includes a microcontroller, a transceiver, an antenna, and a power management module connected to supply electric power to the microcontroller. The patch comprises a metamaterial substrate and a piezoelectric element adhered to the metamaterial substrate. The piezoelectric element is connected to the power management module and to the microcontroller. The power management module is configured to store electric power received from the piezoelectric element. The microcontroller is configured to selectively convert electrical signals received from the piezoelectric element into sensor data and then command the transceiver to transmit the sensor data via the antenna. The metamaterial substrate has an auxetic kirigami honeycomb structure.

A power generating element according to the present invention includes: a support frame formed in a frame shape in plan view; a vibrating body provided inside the support frame; a first bridge portion and a second bridge portion that supports the vibrating body on the support frame; and a charge generating element to generate a charge at the time of displacement of the vibrating body. The support frame includes a first frame portion arranged on a first side with respect to the vibrating body and includes a second frame portion arranged on a second side opposite to the first side with respect to the vibrating body. The first bridge portion couples the vibrating body with the first frame portion. The second bridge portion couples the vibrating body with the second frame portion.

An angular velocity sensor includes: a substrate; a drive beam supported via a support member with a fixing part; a drive weight supported with the drive beam; a detection weight supported via a beam part including a detection beam with the drive weight; and a detection part in the detection beam generating an electric output corresponding to a displacement of the detection beam when an angular velocity is applied. When the angular velocity is applied while the drive weight and the detection weight vibrate and are driven by the drive beam, the detection beam is displaced in a direction intersecting the vibration direction. The angular velocity is detected based on a change of an output voltage of a detection piezoelectric film in accordance with a displacement of the detection beam.

A system and related method can self-adaptively absorb a flexural wave acting on a beam. The method includes the steps of receiving an input signal representing a frequency response of a flexural wave acting on the beam, determining a spring constant for absorbing the flexural wave based on the input signal, a damping value of a damper acting on the beam, and a mass value of a mass acting on the beam, and applying a spring constant voltage based on the spring constant to a piezoelectric device connected to the beam. The piezoelectric device has a variable spring value that varies based on the voltage applied to the piezoelectric device. The piezoelectric device's variable spring value is approximately equal to the spring constant value when the spring constant voltage is applied to the piezoelectric device.

A dielectric elastomer power generation system of the invention includes: a power generation unit including a dielectric elastomer power generation element having a dielectric elastomer layer flanked by two electrode layers; a step-down unit including capacitors; a power storage unit for input of an output power from the step-down unit; and a control unit that controls the connection between the step-down unit and the power generation unit or power storage unit. The step-down unit includes first diodes and second diodes, where the first diodes form a circuit that connects the capacitors in series when the power generation unit is connected to the step-down unit, and the second diodes form a circuit that connects the capacitors in parallel when the step-down unit is connected to the power storage unit. This configuration serves to store the generated power more efficiently in the power storage unit, e.g., a secondary battery.