US 12,483,162 B2
Piezo-elements for wearable devices, including fitness trackers, smart watches and the like
Robert G. Andosca, Boston, MA (US); Todd Richard Christenson, Albuquerque, NM (US); and Marcus Taylor, Uppsala (SE)
Assigned to Inviza Corporation, Cambridge, MA (US)
Filed by Inviza LLC, Austin, TX (US)
Filed on Jul. 12, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/373,690.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/060,455, filed on Aug. 3, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/050,334, filed on Jul. 10, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0014120 A1, Jan. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. H02N 2/18 (2006.01); A43B 13/28 (2006.01); H01L 41/04 (2006.01); H01L 41/08 (2006.01); H01L 41/187 (2006.01); H01L 41/193 (2006.01); H01L 41/39 (2013.01); H01L 41/45 (2013.01); H10N 30/00 (2023.01); H10N 30/093 (2023.01); H10N 30/098 (2023.01); H10N 30/80 (2023.01); H10N 30/853 (2023.01); H10N 30/857 (2023.01)
CPC H02N 2/188 (2013.01) [A43B 13/28 (2013.01); H02N 2/181 (2013.01); H10N 30/093 (2023.02); H10N 30/098 (2023.02); H10N 30/101 (2024.05); H10N 30/802 (2023.02); H10N 30/853 (2023.02); H10N 30/8554 (2023.02); H10N 30/857 (2023.02)] 31 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A wearable apparatus comprising:
(a) a transducer having a longitudinal axis that defines a first direction, wherein the transducer is a bending-strain-based transducer that includes:
(i) a first transducer element disposed on a first surface of a substrate, the first transducer element being a non-resonant energy harvester;
(ii) a second transducer element disposed on a second surface of the substrate, the first and second surfaces being on opposite sides of the substrate, wherein the second transducer element is selected from the group consisting of a resonant energy harvester, a non-resonant energy harvester, a force sensor, a load sensor, a pressure sensor, and a haptic device;
wherein the transducer is configured to bend in response to a first force that is at least partially directed along a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction;
wherein the first transducer element is configured to provide a first output signal; and
wherein the second transducer element is configured to provide a second output signal or generate a first mechanical signal based on a first input signal;
(iii) a mechanically rigid structural support aligned with a second direction, the first transducer element having a third surface that is distal to the substrate and defines a first plane, and wherein the mechanically rigid structural support extends along the second direction to define a second plane, and further wherein the first plane is between the substrate and the second plane; wherein the mechanically rigid structural support functions as a fulcrum about which the transducer bends;
(b) a power handling circuit; and
(c) an energy storage module operatively coupled with the transducer and configured to store energy generated by the non-resonant energy harvesters, and provide power to the transducer and the other electronics included in the wearable apparatus.