Patent ID: 7579757

Claim:
A method for generating electrical power from low frequency, vibrational energy, the method comprising: receiving vibrational energy having a low frequency wherein the step of receiving includes the step of providing a micromechanical first resonator device, the first resonator device resonating in response to the received vibrational energy and including an element which is supported to vibrate inertially at a low frequency by inertial forces; converting the low frequency, vibrational energy to vibrational energy having a high frequency greater than the low frequency wherein the step of converting includes the step of providing a micromechanical second resonator device, the second resonator device resonating at the high frequency greater than the low frequency in response to the resonating first resonator device wherein the second resonator device has a mechanical spring force; generating a magnetic force between the devices wherein the magnetic force between the devices is larger than the spring force at a catch point at which the second resonator device is magnetically pulled towards the vibrating element; and converting the high frequency, vibrational energy to electrical power wherein the step of converting the high frequency, vibrational energy is performed electromagnetically.