Hybrid-Broadband Energy Harvester (HEH): Magnetic Plucking and Indirect Impacts

This chapter presents the design and the experimentalExperimental analysis characterization of a mono-axial low-frequency piezoelectric vibrationVibrations energy harvester based on the innovative combination of the magnetic pluckingMagnetic plucking and indirect impactsIndirect impacts of a moving mass on the package of the harvester. After some considerations about the working principle, the manufacturing data are presented. An experimental study is then carried out by fastening the device to the wrist of a person for different human motionHuman motion activities. Some considerations are presented about poles orientation of the magnets, circuitry and input condition. The result of this study shows that the combination of magnetic pluckingMagnetic plucking and indirect impactsIndirect impacts triggers the effective scavenging of electrical energy even from low-frequency non-periodical mechanical movements, such as human motion, while preserving the reliability of piezoelectric components.