• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.1059-1066
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• 2003

A power generation system are proposed to convert ambient mechanical vibration into electrical energy using cantilever-type piezoelectric materials. The vibration-based power device can be used for self-powered systems without batteries. This paper presents the theoretical analysis for the coupled equations of piezoelectric and structural motions and investigates the dynamic characteristics of the self-power system using transfer function method. The theoretical model is verified by the finite element analysis of the resonance frequency, the dynamic response of the structure and the sensor sensibility. Experimental results measured using a prototype system agrees with the theoretical predictions. The system is shown to produce 2.53㎼ in average. Finally, we perform the optimal design for system variables to maximize output power.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.319-325
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• 2015

This paper presents an efficient vibration energy harvester with a piezoelectric (PE) cantilever. The proposed PE energy harvester increases the efficiency through minimization of hardware complexity and hence reduction of power dissipation of the circuit. Two key features of the proposed energy harvester are (i) incorporation synchronized switches with a simple control circuit, and (ii) a feed-forward buck converter with a simple control circuit. The chip was fabricated in $0.18{\mu}m$ CMOS processing technology, and the measured results indicate that the proposed rectifier achieves the efficiency of 77%. The core area of the chip is 0.2 mm2.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.81-89
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• 2008

This paper is concerned with the development of the piezoelectric energy harvesting(PEH) device for ubiquitous sensor node(USN). The USN needs auxiliary power to lengthen its operational life. In this study, the piezoelectric energy harvesting system consisting of a cantilever with a tip mass and piezoelectric wafer was investigated in detail both theoretically and experimentally. The dynamic model for the addressed system was derived using the assumed mode method. The resulting equations of motion were expressed in matrix form, which had never been developed before. The power output characteristics of the PEH was then calculated and discussed. Various experiments were carried out to investigate the charging characteristics of electrical components. Theoretical and experimental results showed that the PEH was able to charge a battery with ambient vibrations but still needed an effective mechanism which can convert mechanical energy to electrical energy and an optimal electric circuit which dissipates small energy.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.632-641
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• 2008

This paper is concerned with the development of the piezoelectric energy harvesting(PEH) device for ubiquitous sensor node(USN). The USN needs auxiliary power to lengthen its operational life. In this study, the piezoelectric energy harvesting system consisting of a cantilever with a tip mass and piezoelectric wafer was investigated in detail both theoretically and experimentally. The dynamic model for the addressed system was derived using the assumed mode method. The resulting equations of motion were expressed in matrix form, which had never been developed before. The power output characteristics of the PEH was then calculated and discussed. Various experiments were carried out to investigate the charging characteristics of electrical components. Theoretical and experimental results showed that the PEH was able to charge a battery with ambient vibrations but still needed an effective mechanism which can convert mechanical energy to electrical energy and an optimal electric circuit which dissipates small energy.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1347-1355
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• 2009

This paper demonstrates the validity of spectral element analysis for modeling the high-frequency dynamic behaviors of a beam with a surface-bonded piezoelectric wafer through a laboratory test. In the spectral element analysis, the high-frequency electro-mechanical interaction can be considered properly with relatively low computational cost compared to the finite element analysis. In the verification test, a cantilever beam with a surface-bonded piezoelectric wafer is forced to be in steady-state motion by exerting the harmonic driving voltage signal on the piezoelectric wafer. A laser scanning vibrometer is used to obtain the overall dynamic responses of the structure such as resonance frequencies, the associated mode shapes, and frequency response functions up to 20 kHz. Then, these dynamic responses from the test are compared to those computed by the spectral element analysis. A two-dimensional finite analysis is conducted to obtain the asymptotic solutions for the comparison purpose as well.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.6 no.8
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• pp.921-938
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• 2010

Most of studies on control of beams containing piezoelectric sensors and actuators have been based on linear quadratic regulator (LQR) with state feedback or output feedback law. The aim of this study is to develop velocity-acceleration feedback law in the optimal control of smart piezoelectric beams. A new controller which is an optimal control system with velocity-acceleration feedback is presented. In finite element modeling of the beam, the variation of mechanical displacement through the thickness is modeled by a sinus model that ensures inter-laminar continuity of shear stress at the layer interfaces as well as the boundary conditions on the upper and lower surfaces of the beam. In addition to mechanical degrees of freedom, one electric potential degree of freedom is considered for each piezoelectric element layer. The efficiency of this control strategy is evaluated by applying to an aluminum cantilever beam under different loading conditions. Numerical simulations show that this new control scheme is almost as efficient as an optimal control system with state feedback. However, inclusion of the acceleration in the control algorithm increases practical value of a system due to easier and more accurate measurement of accelerations.

• Transactions of the Society of Information Storage Systems
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2007

In this paper, a thermo-piezoelectric mechanism with integrated heaters and piezoelectric sensors has been studied for low power probe-based data storage. Silicon nitride cantilever integrated with silicon heater and piezoelectric sensor has been developed to improve the uniformity of cantilevers. Data bits of 40 nm in diameter were recorded on PMMA film. The sensitivity of the piezoelectric sensor was 0.615 fC/nm after poling the PZT layer. And, the $34\times34$ probe array integrated with CMOS circuits has been successfully developed by simple one-step bonding process. The process can simplify the process step and reduce tip wear using silicon nitride tip.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.776-780
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• 2016

Recently, energy harvesting technology is increasing due to the fossil fuel shortages. To compensate problem of low generating power than other energy harvesters, many researchers have studied about piezoelectric harvester for obtaining high output. In this paper, four kinds of unimorph based piezoelectric harvesters were proposed and its generating characteristics were studied. Each of the piezoelectric harvesters has three, four, and six unimorph arms, respectively, and the arms are symmetrically arranged from one central point. The centrosymmetric structure of the harvesters guarantees more stable and multiplied generation than a cantilever-type harvester since the arms of the harvester resonate at same frequency. Resonance frequency, output voltage, displacement, and stress characteristics of the generator were analyzed by using a FEM (finite element method) program. Harvesters were fabricated on the basis of analysis results. Experimental results were compared with simulated results.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.36-40
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• 2019

Energy harvesting is an advantageous technology for wireless sensor networks (WSNs) that dispenses with the need for periodic replacement of batteries. WSNs are composed of numerous sensors for the collection of data and communication; hence, they are important in the Internet of Things (IoT). However, due to low power generation and energy conversion efficiency, harvesting technologies have so far been utilized in limited applications. In this study, a piezoelectric energy harvester was modeled in a vibration environment. This harvester has an oval-shaped configuration as compared to the conventional cantilever-type piezoelectric energy harvester. An analytical model based on an equivalent circuit was developed to appraise the advantages of the oval-shaped piezoelectric energy harvester in which several structural parameters were optimized for higher output performance in given vibration environments. As a result, an oval-shaped energy harvester with an average output power of 2.58 mW at 0.5 g and 60 Hz vibration conditions was developed. These technical approaches provided an opportunity to appreciate the significance of autonomous sensor networks.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.943-948
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• 2012

A new water energy harvester module, which is composed of piezoelectric bimorph cantilevers, harvesting circuit and a shaft with 16 impellers at a center axis, was fabricated for energy harvesting application. High energy density $Pb(Zr_{0.54}Ti_{0.46})O_3$ + 0.2 wt% $Cr_2O_3$ + 1.0 wt% $Nb_2O_5$ (PZT-CN) thick film obtained by tape casting method was used for the bimorph cantilever. The PZT-CN bimorph cantilever with a proof mass of 49 g exhibited extremely high output power of 22.5 mW (24 $mW//cm^3$) at resonance frequency of 11 Hz. In addition, the fabricated water energy harvester has a cylindrical structure with 48 bimorph cantilevers clamped at inner surface. A significantly high output power of 433 mW was obtained at a rotation speed of 120 rpm with a resistive load of $500{\Omega}$ for the water energy harvester.