BROADBAND ENERGY HARVESTER APPARATUS AND METHOD
A broadband vibration energy harvesting apparatus and method. In one embodiment, a straight piezoelectric beam (12) and a straight biasing beam (14) are disposed parallel to one another and axially compressed by a support structure (15) such that both of the beams are slightly bowed. This buckles and reduces the axial stiffness of both of the beams. The piezoelectric beam is secured to an external vibrating structure and supported by the structure. The flexing motion of the piezoelectric beam generates electrical signals that can be used to power a wide variety of devices. The apparatus is especially sensitive to small amplitude vibration signals and is able to harvest vibration energy over a wide range of frequencies, and is not limited to vibrations at discrete resonant frequencies. The apparatus is especially well suited for use in powering remotely located electrical sensors and actuators employed in automotive, aircraft and aerospace applications.