lookfar
06-07-2007, 12:08 AM
This work is being done at Southampton University & sounds interesting...
Good vibes power tiny generator
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 (£9.67
m) Vibration Energy Scavenging (Vibes) project that is looking at how to
use environmental vibrations to generate power.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6272752.stm
Good vibes power tiny generator
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 (£9.67
m) Vibration Energy Scavenging (Vibes) project that is looking at how to
use environmental vibrations to generate power.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6272752.stm