Patent ID: 8680695

Claim:
A method of harvesting energy from the environment, the method comprising: providing an energy harvesting device comprising: a MEMS composite transducer comprising: a substrate, portions of the substrate defining an outer boundary of a cavity; a MEMS transducing member including a beam having a first end and a second end, the first end being anchored to the substrate and the second end being cantilevered over the cavity; and a compliant membrane positioned in contact with the MEMS transducing member, a first portion of the compliant membrane covering the MEMS transducing member, and a second portion of the compliant membrane being anchored to the substrate; configuring the energy harvesting device so that the compliant membrane is set into oscillation by excitations produced external to the energy harvesting device; moving the MEMS transducing member into and out of the cavity by the oscillating compliant membrane; and converting the motion of the MEMS transducing member into an electrical signal.