Patent ID: 6252336
Filing Date: 2001-06-26
Classification: G08B,H01L,H02J,H02N,H04M

Abstract:
A piezoelectric current generating device responsive to movement and vibration comprising:an elongated support beam extending along a first axis between first and second ends, said elongated support beam being flexible and resilient along a second axis, said second axis being substantially perpendicular to said first axis of said elongated support beam;a weight member attached to said elongated support beam to cause flexure of said elongated support beam in response to vibration or movement of said support beam and said weight member;first and second piezoelectric devices each having a positive side and a negative side, each of said negative sides in electrical contact with each other mounted to said elongated support beam;a first conductor in electrical contact with said positive side of said first piezoelectric device and a second conductor in electrical contact with said positive side of said second piezoelectric device;a rectifying device having an input and an output, said first and second conductors electrically connected to said input of said rectifying device and a selected load connected to said output of said rectifying device such that flexure of said elongated support beam causes distortion of said first and second piezoelectric devices thereby creating a current flow through said first and second conductors and then through said rectifying device and to said selected load; andan AC power source and a switch connected between at least one of said first and second conductors and said rectifying device and being further connected to said AC power source, said switch operating to selectively connect only one of said rectifying device and said AC power source at a time to said first and second conductors such that when the rectifier is connected a DC charging current is generated and when the AC power source is connected the elongated beam and weight member are forced to vibrate.