Patent ID: 8742649

Claim:
An apparatus for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy comprising a plurality of electrically conductive liquid droplets disposed in a planar arrangement; a planar electrode disposed in a parallel, spaced-apart relationship with the plurality of electrically conductive liquid droplets; a dielectric layer positioned between the plurality of electrically conductive liquid droplets and the planar electrode so as to form a capacitive structure therewith; an elastic spacer element disposed between the plurality of electrically conductive liquid droplets and the planar electrode so as to surround said plurality of electrically conductive liquid droplets, such that the application of mechanical energy to the apparatus compresses the elastic spacer element and the plurality of electrically conductive liquid droplets, increasing a contact area between said plurality of electrically conductive liquid droplets and the dielectric layer and also an overlap area with the planar electrode; and an electrical circuit means, electrically coupled between the plurality of electrically conductive liquid droplets and the planar electrode so as to apply a bias voltage therebetween and transfer electrical current generated in response to the change in capacitance associated with the change in overlap area to a power consuming element.