US 12,250,887 B2
Energy harvesting module with dual-cantilever piezoelectric transducer, in particular for powering a leadless autonomous cardiac capsule
Alaa Makdissi, Paris (FR); Willy Regnier, Longjumeau (FR); An Nguyen-Dinh, La Riche (FR); Julien Dohin, Vanves (FR); Steeven Vassal, Tours (FR); and Thien Hoang, Tours (FR)
Assigned to CAIRDAC, Antony (FR)
Filed by CAIRDAC, Antony (FR)
Filed on Jun. 11, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/838,170.
Claims priority of application No. 21315142 (EP), filed on Aug. 25, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0064083 A1, Mar. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. H01L 41/113 (2006.01); A61N 1/362 (2006.01); A61N 1/378 (2006.01); H02N 2/18 (2006.01); H10N 30/20 (2023.01); H10N 30/30 (2023.01)
CPC H10N 30/306 (2023.02) [A61N 1/362 (2013.01); A61N 1/3785 (2013.01); H02N 2/186 (2013.01); H10N 30/2045 (2023.02)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An energy harvesting module, comprising a pendular unit subjected to external stresses applied to the module,
the pendular unit comprising a piezoelectric transducer extending, along a central axis corresponding to a direction of greater length of the piezoelectric transducer, from a distal end to an opposite proximal end,
the transducer being elastically deformable in bending between a clamped end and a free end coupled to an inertial mass,
the piezoelectric transducer being adapted to convert a mechanical energy produced by oscillations of the pendular unit into an oscillating electrical signal collected by surface electrodes of the piezoelectric transducer,
wherein the piezoelectric transducer comprises two coplanar piezoelectric beams arranged side-by-side on either side of said central axis, each of the piezoelectric beams comprising adjacent external and internal arms, arranged side-by-side and formed single-piece,
wherein the external arm of each piezoelectric beam has a clamped proximal end and a free distal end,
wherein the internal arm of each piezoelectric beam has a free proximal end supporting the inertial mass, and a free distal end connected to the distal end of the adjacent external arm by a common junction, and
wherein the inertial mass as well as the respective clamped proximal ends of the external arms of the two piezoelectric beams are arranged at the proximal end of the piezoelectric transducer, and the respective common junctions of the two piezoelectric beams are arranged at the distal end of the piezoelectric transducer,
whereby the oscillations of the pendular unit produce respective displacements of the two internal arms in a first direction and, simultaneously, of the two external arms in a second, opposite direction.