Patent ID: 7710227

Claim:
An electromagnetic energy transducer configured to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy, comprising: a permanent magnetic element; a soft-magnetic element; and an electrical coil; wherein said permanent magnetic element and said soft-magnetic element are arranged to form a magnetic circuit with a first flux direction in the soft-magnetic element, and one of the permanent magnetic element and the soft magnetic element being arranged for movement in relation to the other of the permanent magnetic element and the soft-magnetic element; wherein said electrical coil is arranged about the soft-magnetic element; wherein the movable magnetic element comprises a region configured to receive an external mechanical force; and wherein the movable magnetic element is held in a first position by a magnetic holding force and, by applying an external mechanical force exceeding the magnetic holding force to the movable magnetic element at the region configured to receive the external mechanical force, the movable magnetic element is moved to a second position at which the magnetic flux direction in the soft magnetic element is changed.