Task of the present invention is to provide a power-generating magnetostrictive element and a magnetostrictive power generation device equipped with the same, which are capable of achieving the same or a greater magnetostrictive power generation amount compared to conventional technology while employing materials lower in cost compared to conventional magnetostrictive materials. The task is achieved by providing a magnetostrictive element comprising a magnetostrictive part formed of an electromagnetic metal sheet. The present invention also provides a power-generating magnetostrictive element and a power-generating magnetostrictive element having high voltage with little variation. The task is achieved by providing a magnetostrictive element comprising a magnetostrictive part formed from a magnetostrictive material and a stress control part formed from an elastic material, the materials each having a Young's modulus and a sheet thickness simultaneously satisfying specific relationships.

A power generating element includes a magnetostrictive plate fixed at one end in a longitudinal direction and containing a magnetostrictive material, a coil housing at least part of the magnetostrictive plate, a magnetic-field generating portion disposed on the magnetostrictive plate and generating a magnetic field, a yoke containing a ferromagnetic material, and a magnetic-field adjusting portion containing a ferromagnetic material. The yoke is disposed outside the coil, and at least part of the yoke is fixed to the magnetostrictive plate. The magnetic-field adjusting portion is housed in part of the coil and is disposed in a vicinity of a surface of the magnetostrictive plate opposite to a surface to which the magnetic-field generating portion is fixed.

A RF antenna or sensor has a substrate, a resonator operable at UHF disposed on the substrate, the resonator preferably having a quartz bar or body with electrodes disposed on opposing major surfaces thereof and with a magnetostrictive material disposed on or covering at least one of the electrodes. A pair of trapezoidal, triangular or wing shaped high permeability pole pieces preferably supported by that substrate are disposed confronting the resonator, one of the pair being disposed one side of the resonator and the other one of the pair being disposed on an opposing side of said resonator, the pair of high permeability pole pieces being spaced apart by a gap G, the resonator being disposed within that gap G. The size of gap G is preferably less than 100 μm.

A frame for an energy transducer device for generating electrical current, the frame being a single monolithic structure including a pressure receiver unit, a first arm and a second arm joined to respective lateral sides of the pressure receiver unit, a first attachment unit joined to the second end of the first arm, and a second attachment unit joined to the second end of the second arm. The frame is configured to be joined to a current generating unit, such that the first attachment unit is joined to a first edge of the current generating unit while the second attachment unit is joined to second edge of the current generating element. An external force applied at the pressure receiver unit of the frame causes the frame to deform and thereby change the mechanical strain of the current generating element.

A magnetic sensor includes a piezomagnetic component which includes a first piezomagnetic element and a second piezomagnetic element that are arranged opposite to each other, a magnetostrictive component which includes a first magnetostrictive element and a second magnetostrictive element arranged opposite to each other on the same side of the first piezomagnetic element and the second piezomagnetic element, respectively, and a piezoelectric component which includes a first piezoelectric element deposited underneath the first piezomagnetic element, a second piezoelectric element deposited underneath the second piezomagnetic element, a third piezoelectric element deposited underneath the first magnetostrictive element, and a fourth piezoelectric element deposited underneath the second magnetostrictive element. The first piezoelectric element and the second piezoelectric element are electrically connected to a power supply circuit, and produce first deformation, which is applied to the first piezomagnetic element and the second piezomagnetic element to produce an alternating magnetic field.

A torque load member has a detected surface which is configured to face a magnetostrictive torque sensor. The detected surface is a shot peened surface whose magnetic anisotropy directed in a specific direction has been reduced by performing shot peening thereto at an arc height value of 0.31 mmA or more.

A semiconductor device comprising a passive magnetoelectric transducer structure adapted for generating a charge via mechanical stress caused by a magnetic field. The first transducer structure has a first terminal electrically connectable to the control terminal of an electrical switch, and having a second terminal electrically connectable to the first terminal of the electrical switch for providing a control signal for opening/closing the switch. The switch may be a FET. A passive magnetic switch using a magnetoelectric transducer structure. Use of a passive magnetoelectric transducer structure for opening or closing a switch without the need for an external power supply.

A magnetostrictive-type sensor temperature-detecting circuit configured to be used in a magnetostrictive-type sensor including an applied stress-detecting coil, and a driving section to output an alternating voltage, excite the coil with a resulting alternating electric current, and switch flow directions of the electric current flowing in the coil in response to switching voltage polarities of the output alternating voltage, to detect a temperature of the coil in the sensor. This temperature-detecting circuit includes an alternating electric current direction switching time-detecting section to detect an amount of time from when the voltage polarities of the output alternating voltage are switched until when the flow directions of the electric current flowing in the coil are switched, and a temperature-computing section to compute the temperature of the coil on the basis of the amount of time detected by the alternating electric current direction switching time-detecting section.

A vibration power generation device that further improves power generation efficiency includes a vibration exciting body in which vibration is caused by a flowing fluid, a vibrated body that is oscillatable and connected to the vibration exciting body, and a power generator to generate electricity by oscillation of the vibrated body. The vibration exciting body is in proximity to a wall surface, and vibration is caused in the vibration exciting body by a fluid flowing along the wall surface.

A sensor for sensing stress in a ferromagnetic material includes a non-magnetic substrate. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. A first coil is attached to or formed on the first surface of the substrate. The first coil is configured to induce a magnetic flux in the ferromagnetic material being driven by an alternating current (AC) signal. At least one second coil is attached to or formed on the first surface of the substrate. The at least one second coil is spaced from the first coil. In addition, the second coil is configured to detect changes in the magnetic flux induced in the ferromagnetic material.