Electrical generator or motor structure – Non-dynamoelectric – Piezoelectric elements and devices
Reexamination Certificate
2007-06-26
2007-06-26
Dougherty, Thomas M. (Department: 2834)
Electrical generator or motor structure
Non-dynamoelectric
Piezoelectric elements and devices
C310S324000, C310S339000, C310S343000, C310S344000, C310S346000
Reexamination Certificate
active
10033353
ABSTRACT:
Various micro-transducers incorporating piezoelectric materials for converting energy in one form to useful energy in another form are disclosed. In one embodiment, a piezoelectric micro-transducer can be operated either as a micro-heat engine, converting thermal energy into electrical energy, or as a micro-heat pump, consuming electrical energy to transfer thermal energy from a low-temperature heat source to a high-temperature heat sink. In another embodiment, a piezoelectric micro-transducer is used to convert the kinetic energy of an oscillating or vibrating body on which the micro-transducer is placed into useful electrical energy. A piezoelectric micro-transducer also is used to extract work from a pressurized stream of fluid. Also disclosed are a micro-internal combustion engine and a micro-heat engine based on the Rankine cycle in which a single fluid serves as a working fluid and a fuel.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2522389 (1950-09-01), Mason
patent: 3456134 (1969-07-01), Ko
patent: 3519067 (1970-07-01), Schmidt
patent: 3643734 (1972-02-01), Deschamps
patent: 4092697 (1978-05-01), Spaight
patent: 4129881 (1978-12-01), Reichel et al.
patent: 4140936 (1979-02-01), Bullock
patent: 4186323 (1980-01-01), Cragg et al.
patent: 4212346 (1980-07-01), Boyd
patent: 4254431 (1981-03-01), Babuka et al.
patent: 4467236 (1984-08-01), Kolm et al.
patent: 4565096 (1986-01-01), Knecht
patent: 4651042 (1987-03-01), Nakamura et al.
patent: 4742867 (1988-05-01), Walsh
patent: 4858678 (1989-08-01), Ladd
patent: 4938742 (1990-07-01), Smits
patent: 5079472 (1992-01-01), Uhl et al.
patent: 5170930 (1992-12-01), Dolbear et al.
patent: 5192197 (1993-03-01), Culp
patent: 5209119 (1993-05-01), Polla et al.
patent: 5379601 (1995-01-01), Gillett
patent: 5394379 (1995-02-01), Weichart et al.
patent: 5459352 (1995-10-01), Layton et al.
patent: 5466932 (1995-11-01), Young et al.
patent: 5481152 (1996-01-01), Buschulte
patent: 5536963 (1996-07-01), Polla
patent: 5561984 (1996-10-01), Godshalk et al.
patent: 5594292 (1997-01-01), Takeuchi et al.
patent: 5749226 (1998-05-01), Bowman et al.
patent: 5808874 (1998-09-01), Smith
patent: 5814920 (1998-09-01), Takeuchi et al.
patent: 5889353 (1999-03-01), Takeuchi et al.
patent: 5914507 (1999-06-01), Polla et al.
patent: 6124145 (2000-09-01), Stemme et al.
patent: 6191944 (2001-02-01), Hammel et al.
patent: 6281573 (2001-08-01), Atwood et al.
patent: 6351952 (2002-03-01), Baker, III
patent: 6392890 (2002-05-01), Katchmar
patent: 6406605 (2002-06-01), Moles
patent: 6413783 (2002-07-01), Wohlstadter et al.
patent: 6437240 (2002-08-01), Smith
patent: 6665186 (2003-12-01), Calmidi et al.
patent: 2003/0230403 (2003-12-01), Webb
patent: 0 725 452 (1996-08-01), None
patent: 0 673 102 (1996-09-01), None
patent: 2 137 429 (1984-10-01), None
patent: 2 326 275 (1998-12-01), None
patent: WO 94/18433 (1994-08-01), None
patent: WO 01/63738 (2001-08-01), None
IEEE Spectrum, Sep. 2001, “Micro Supplies to Power MEMs Devices.”
Polla, D.L. and Francis, L.F., “Ferroelectric Thin Films in Microelectromechanical Systems Applications,” MRS Bulletin, Jul. 1996, pp. 59-65.
Lee, Chengkuo, Itoh, Toshihiro, Maeda, Ryutaro, Suga, Tadatomo, “Characterization of Micromachined Piezoelectric PZT Force Sensors for Dynamic Scanning Force Microscopy,” Rev. Sci. Instrum., vol. 68, No. 5, May 1997, pp. 2091-2100.
O'Connor, Leo, “Steam Engines on a Microscopic Scale,” Mechanical Engineering, Jan. 1994, pp. 76-78.
Kuehnel, Wolfgang and Sherman, Steven, “A Surface Micromachined Silicon Accelerometer With On-Chip Detection Circuitry,” Sensors and Actuators A; vol. 45, 1994, pp. 7-16, 5/94.
Wakabayashi, S., Sakata, M., Goto, H., Takeuchi, M., Yada, T., “Static Characteristics of Piezoelectric Thin Film Buckling Actuator,” Jpn. J. Appl., Phys., vol. 35, 12/96, pp. 5012-5014.
Umeda, M., Nakamura, K., Ueha, S., “Energy Storage Characteristics of a Piezo-Generator Using Impact Induced Vibration,” Jpn. J. Appl. Phys, vol. 36, 5/97, pp. 3146-3151.
Umeda, M., Nakamura, K., Ueha, S., “Analysis of the Transformation of Mechanical Impact Energy to Electric Energy Using Piezoelectric Vibrator,” Jpn. J. Appl. Phys., vol. 35, 12/96, pp. 566-571.
Goldfarb, M. and Jones, L.D., “On the Efficiency of Electric Power Generation with Piezoelectric Ceramic,” J. of Dynamic Systems, Measurement, and Control, vol. 121, Sep. 1999, pp. 566-571.
Funasaka, T., et al., “Piezoelectric Generator Using a LiNbO3Plate with an Inverted Domain,” 7/98 IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium, pp. 959-962.
Polla, D.L., et al., “Processing and Characterization of Piezoelectric Materials and Integration into Microelectromechanical Systems,” Annu. Rev. Mater. Sci. 1998, pp. 563-597.
Xu, C. et al., “Design of a Micro Heat Engine,” Presented at the International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, Nov., 2000.
Richards, R. et al., “Design for Micromanufacture: A Micro Heat Engine,” Presented at the National Science Foundation Grantees Research Meeting, Jan., 2001.
Richards, C.D. et al., “MEMS Power: The P3System,” Presented at the Intersociety Energy Conversion Conference, Jul., 2001.
Xu, C. “Design of a Micro Heat Engine,” MEMS-vol. 2, Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS), 2000, pp. 261-267.
Bahr David
Richards Cecilia
Richards Robert F.
Davis , Wright, Tremaine, LLP
Donohue Michael J.
Dougherty Thomas M.
Washington State University Research Foundation
LandOfFree
Piezoelectric micro-transducers, methods of use and... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Piezoelectric micro-transducers, methods of use and..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Piezoelectric micro-transducers, methods of use and... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3848121