US 11,791,748 B2
Smart wheel energy harvester
Ryan Griswold, Los Gatos, CA (US); John Sze, Saratoga, CA (US); and Vibhu Vivek, Santa Clara, CA (US)
Assigned to TDK CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by TDK CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Nov. 12, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/681,620.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/878,225, filed on Jul. 24, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0028725 A1, Jan. 28, 2021
Int. Cl. H02N 2/18 (2006.01); B60B 27/00 (2006.01); B60C 23/04 (2006.01); B60C 7/00 (2006.01); B60R 16/03 (2006.01)
CPC H02N 2/18 (2013.01) [B60B 27/0015 (2013.01); B60C 23/0411 (2013.01); B60C 23/0486 (2013.01); B60C 7/00 (2013.01); B60R 16/0307 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An energy harvester system, comprising:
a substrate comprising:
a first surface configured to contact and interface with a surface of a wheel, and
a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the second surface has a curved surface;
a piezoelectric component configured to produce energy in response to mechanical strain imparted on the piezoelectric component, wherein a portion of the piezoelectric component is attached to a first portion of the second surface, the second surface comprising a second portion that is configured to contact the piezoelectric component when mechanical strain is imparted on the piezoelectric component, wherein the second portion is further configured to not contact the piezoelectric component when no mechanical strain is imparted on the piezoelectric component, and wherein the piezoelectric component is configured to deform while experiencing the mechanical strain so as to contact the second portion of the second surface; and
an interconnect conductively coupled to the piezoelectric component, the interconnect being configured to conduct electrical energy from the piezoelectric component to a device coupled to the wheel.