ENERGY HARVESTERS extract power from light, vibrations: HARVESTING AMBIENT ENERGY FROM LIGHT OR VIBRATIONAL SOUROFS CAN FREE POWER-MISERLY DESIGNS FROM TRADITIONAL POWER LINES AND BATTERIES

摘要

Many systems, such as tiny wireless-networked sensor nodes and low-cost calculators for the consumer market, have severely constrained power sources resulting from remote location, cost considerations, portability requirements, or other factors. In addition, the move toward wireless communications, which obsoletes many system cables, makes designers want to further untether systems from power cords and recharge units using energy harvesters. These small devices convert the freely available energy inherent in most operating environments into conditioned electrical power. The most common energy harvesters are based on small solar cells or electromagnetic devices that convert mechanical vibrations.