公开(公告)号：US20190393406A1

公开(公告)日：2019-12-26

申请号：US16481023

申请日：2018-01-26

Applicant: THE TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE

Inventor： Zi CHEN ,  John X.J. ZHANG ,  Lin DONG ,  Zhe XU

IPC: H01L41/113 ,  H01L41/193 ,  H02N2/18 ,  A61N1/378

Abstract: A piezoelectric energy harvester has a layered structure comprising a first electrode, a polymeric piezoelectric material, and a second electrode, the layered structure coupled to receive mechanical stress from the environment, and the first and second electrode electrically coupled to a power converter. The power converter is adapted to charge an energy storage device selected from a capacitor and a battery. The method of harvesting energy from the environment includes providing a piezoelectric device comprising a layer of a polymeric piezoelectric material disposed between a first and a second electrode; coupling mechanical stress derived from an environment to the piezoelectric device; and coupling electrical energy from the piezoelectric device.

公开(公告)号：US20220069737A1

公开(公告)日：2022-03-03

申请号：US17298943

申请日：2019-11-27

Applicant: THE TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE

Inventor： Congran JIN ,  Zi CHEN ,  Jinhua ZHANG ,  John X.J. ZHANG

IPC: H02N1/00 ,  G05B19/042 ,  B62D57/02

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator has a first polymeric layer formed with an arch, a first electrode of metal deposited upon the first polymeric layer; a second polymeric layer formed flat; a second electrode of metal deposited upon the second polymeric layer; and a dielectric disposed on the second electrode. The second polymeric layer is mechanically coupled to the first polymeric layer at a first and second end of the arch. In an embodiment, the actuator has a pair of legs attached to the arch of the first polymeric layer to form a crawler unit. In another embodiment a steerable robot has a first crawling unit with its second polymeric layer mechanically coupled to the second polymeric layer of a second crawling unit.