Patterned rotary parallel-plate capacitor for frequency up-conversion and RC circuit waveform conditioning

This paper details a patterned electrostatic rotary capacitive plate design with high energy densities and provides a novel strategy for up-converting low frequency mechanical excitation sources. The rotating plates allow for output waveform signal conditioning in both control of frequency and waveform shaping. Particular advantages of the rotary plate design with patterned elements include the following: 1) simplicity of design, 2) frequency up-conversion, 3) output waveform signal conditioning, and 4) voltages appropriate for microelectronics. Applications include harvesting energy from environments with complex excitations, especially energy sources with inherently low-frequencies.

Duke Scholars

Author Kip Coonley  

Author Brian Mann Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materia ...