Journal #5 Compact vibration harvester power supply with highest efficiency

Journal #5 Compact vibration harvester power supply with highest efficiency
  The cooperation of OMRON and Holst Centre/imec gave a birth to a compact vibration harvester. It converts vibration into the electricity and is kind of a sensor. This harvester has some remarkable features; converting efficiency, size, output etc. 

 First, it converts and store energy in the microwatt range. Second, it has small size as 5 x 6 cm and could be reduced to 2 x 2 cm. Also it weighs only 15.4 gram. This compact size and weight make it possoble for the harvestor to be installed in various products and regions. Third, its output can be adapted to from 1.5 V to 5 V, which is the range enough to be used in small or low power wireless sensors.

 Currently the prototypes are installed through various fields to make a test result which appeal to potential customers. After gathering enough customers, the harvester will be made into large volumes.

 According to the article, there has long been a question regarding 'how can the sensor is autonomously powered?'. And it seems the answer is high efficient energy harvester. However, there are many problems to realize this answer. For example the vibration in the environment is not consistent and it makes hard to produce enough energy.

 I'd like to know further how this harvestor overcome this problem. I think if some problems are solved there will be numerous ways to use this kind of sensor. And it can be used to make human life more safer and better. For example in the nuclear power plant or overhead power line which should be checked for the safety.

 It seems we are almost near to realize this comfortable and safer sensor system in daily life.  
  

Read more at:http://www.energyharvestingjournal.com/articles/compact-vibration-harvester-power-supply-with-highest-efficiency-00006741.asp