Tiny generator
Good vibes power tiny generator
Tiny generator
Here the generator, in the centre of the chip, powers an accelerometer
A tiny generator powered by natural vibrations could soon be helping keep heart
pacemakers working.
Created by scientists at the University of Southampton, the generator has been
developed to power devices where replacing batteries is very difficult.
The device is expected initially to be used to power wireless sensors on
equipment in manufacturing plants.
The generator's creators say the generator is up to 10 times more efficient than
similar devices.
Power packed
The tiny device, which is less than one cubic centimetre in size, uses
vibrations in the world around it to make magnets on a cantilever at the heart
of the device wobble to generate power.
Although the generator produces only microwatts this was more than enough to
power sensors attached to machines in manufacturing plants, said Dr Steve Beeby,
from the University of Southampton, who led development of the device.
"The big advantage of wireless sensor systems is that by removing wires and
batteries, there is the potential for embedding sensors in previously
inaccessible locations," he said.
Using the tiny generator also made it possible to use larger numbers of sensors
because there was no longer the need to visit them to replace or recharge
batteries, said Dr Beeby.
The generator was developed to sit inside air compressors but, said Dr Beeby, it
could find a future role in self-powered medical implants such as pacemakers.
In a pacemaker the beating of the human heart would be strong enough to keep the
magnets inside the device wobbling.
It could also be used to power sensors attached to road and rail bridges to
monitor the health of such structures.
Work on the project was funded by the EU as part of the 14.3m euros (£9.67m)
Vibration Energy Scavenging (Vibes) project that is looking at how to use
environmental vibrations to generate power.
