Abstract:
A device for converting thermal energy into electric energy intended to be used in combination with a hot source including: a capacitor of variable capacitance, including two electrodes separated by an electrically-insulating material, one of these electrodes being deformable and being associated with an element forming a bimetallic strip, said bimetallic strip including at least two layers of materials having different thermal expansion coefficients, said bimetallic strip being free to deform when it is submitted to the heat of said hot source; a second capacitor having a first electrode connected to a first electrode of said capacitor of variable capacitance; a harvesting circuit electrically connected between the second electrode of the capacitor of variable capacitance and the second electrode of the second capacitor, said harvesting circuit being capable of conducting the current flowing between said second electrodes.
Abstract:
A device for converting thermal energy into electric energy intended to be used in combination with a hot source including: a capacitor of variable capacitance, including two electrodes separated by an electrically-insulating material, one of these electrodes being deformable and being associated with an element forming a bimetallic strip, said bimetallic strip including at least two layers of materials having different thermal expansion coefficients, said bimetallic strip being free to deform when it is submitted to the heat of said hot source; a second capacitor having a first electrode connected to a first electrode of said capacitor of variable capacitance; a harvesting circuit electrically connected between the second electrode of the capacitor of variable capacitance and the second electrode of the second capacitor, said harvesting circuit being capable of conducting the current flowing between said second electrodes.
Abstract:
A device for converting thermal power into electric power includes many conversion cells arranged inside and on top of a substrate. Each conversion cell includes a curved bimetal strip and first and second diodes coupled to the bimetal strip. The diodes are arranged in a semiconductor region of the substrate.
Abstract:
A method of forming at least one curved plate having first and second layers, the first layer being formed of a first material and the second layer being formed of a second material, the method including forming one or more blocks of a fusible material on a surface of a substrate; baking the one or more blocks to deform their shape; and depositing the first and second materials over the one or more deformed blocks to form the first and second layers.
Abstract:
An electrical generator is composed of a bi-layer membrane enabling the conversion of a thermal energy into electrical energy. The bi-layer membrane is deformable and includes at least two layers having different thermal expansion coefficients. The membrane moves between positions in a reversible fashion in response to heat dissipation and as a function of two flexing temperatures. A magnetic structure associated with the membrane functions to set the flexing temperatures as a function of ambient temperature.
Abstract:
A device for converting thermal power into electric power includes many conversion cells arranged inside and on top of a substrate. Each conversion cell includes a curved bimetal strip and first and second diodes coupled to the bimetal strip. The diodes are arranged in a semiconductor region of the substrate.
Abstract:
An energy harvester including first and second sheets; and a plurality of walls, each wall being sandwiched between the first and second sheets and surrounding a cavity, wherein each cavity houses at least one curved plate adapted to change from a first shape to a second shape when its temperature reaches a first threshold and to return to the first shape when its temperature falls to a second threshold lower than said first threshold.
Abstract:
A method of forming at least one curved plate having first and second layers, the first layer being formed of a first material and the second layer being formed of a second material, the method including forming one or more blocks of a fusible material on a surface of a substrate; baking the one or more blocks to deform their shape; and depositing the first and second materials over the one or more deformed blocks to form the first and second layers.
Abstract:
An energy harvester including first and second sheets; and a plurality of walls, each wall being sandwiched between the first and second sheets and surrounding a cavity, wherein each cavity houses at least one curved plate adapted to change from a first shape to a second shape when its temperature reaches a first threshold and to return to the first shape when its temperature falls to a second threshold lower than said first threshold.