Simultaneous energy harvesting and acceleration measuring based on time-space sharing operation of a single piezoelectric transducer

Abstract

Piezoelectric transducers (PZTs) can be used not only for vibration energy harvesting (VEH), but also for vibration signal sensing. However, it is difficult to realize both functions on a single PZT. In this paper, we propose a simultaneous energy harvesting and acceleration measuring (SEHAM) solution based on a single PZT. It is implemented by time-space sharing strategy rather than time-division multiplexing strategy. In addition, a signal extraction model based on first harmonic approximation (FHA) method is established to recover acceleration signals from SEHAM operations. Finally, a rapid prototype is built to evaluate the performance of SEHAM under different vibration frequencies. Experimental results show that the EH and AM operations can be carried out simultaneously. At the resonance point, the average relative error of AM is 7.14%, and the EH power is 189.10 µW with a PZT open-circuit voltage of 5 V. This solution is significant to the development of self-powered sensors and can be used as redundant backup of traditional sensors.