Patent ID: 8948870
Filing Date: 2015-02-03
Classification: A61N,H01L,H02N,Y02E

Abstract:
1. An energy harvesting mechanism comprising: a central conductive element; a plurality of transductive elements, each transductive element being positioned to be in contact with a corresponding peripheral length segment of the central conductive element; wherein each transductive element is deformable in a characteristic radial direction to convert its deformation into a corresponding electrical signal; wherein at least a portion of the plurality of transductive elements comprise PZT fibers; and wherein each PZT fiber includes a plurality of peripheral conductive elements provided on a periphery of the fiber, and wherein the central conductive element includes an insulative layer that is layered on a periphery of the central conductive element to partially expose regions of the central conductive element, wherein each PZT fiber is positioned relative to the central conductive element so that individual peripheral conductive elements of the PZT fiber align with a corresponding exposed region of the central conductive element.