US 12,255,556 B2
Piezoelectric-transducer energy harvester, in particular for powering an autonomous cardiac capsule, with a bending stiffness gradient oscillating structure
Willy Regnier, Longjumeau (FR); and An Nguyen-Dinh, La Riche (FR)
Assigned to CAIRDAC, Antony (FR)
Filed by CAIRDAC, Antony (FR)
Filed on Nov. 14, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/508,399.
Claims priority of application No. 23315053 (EP), filed on Mar. 17, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0313671 A1, Sep. 19, 2024
Int. Cl. H02N 2/18 (2006.01); A61N 1/372 (2006.01); H02N 2/00 (2006.01)
CPC H02N 2/186 (2013.01) [A61N 1/37205 (2013.01); H02N 2/006 (2013.01); H02N 2/0085 (2013.01); H02N 2/181 (2013.01); H02N 2/22 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A piezoelectric-transducer energy harvester, PEH, comprising a pendular unit subjected to external stresses applied to the harvester, the pendular unit comprising:
a beam that is elastically deformable in bending;
a beam mount clamping a proximal end of the beam; and
an inertial mass, mounted at a free, distal end of the beam,
wherein the beam is a piezoelectric beam adapted to convert into an oscillating electric signal a mechanical energy produced by oscillations of the pendular unit,
wherein the piezoelectric beam comprises a flexible structure including: a central core; a piezoelectric layer on at least one face of the central core; and at least one surface electrode on an external face of the piezoelectric layer,
wherein the central core of the flexible structure is a semiconductor material adapted to form an integrated circuit substrate,
wherein the substrate made of a semiconductor material of the flexible structure central core includes monolithic integrated structures,
and wherein the arrangement, over the extend of the central core substrate, of said monolithic integrated structures forms in the longitudinal direction a plurality of successive areas having different piezoelectric beam bending stiffness coefficients from an area to another.