Vibration-based automatic power-generation system

Two types of electric power generator systems that automatically extract power from oscillating motion of a human body or vibration of machines and structures are proposed and studied. The first system utilizes self-excited rotation of an eccentric rotor that rotates in one direction in synchronization with the applied oscillating motion. Connecting an electrical load to the generator increases the damping about the rotor axis, and numerical analysis shows that there exists an upper limit to this damping to maintain the self-excited rotation mode. Excessive damping reduces the rotor to a swinging motion, resulting in decreased power output. The second type utilizes resonant vibration of a permanent magnet unit suspended by a set of springs. In order to maximize the output power, a micro controller changes the connection of the generator coils, which in effect changes the electro-mechanical damping, to keep the vibration amplitude within the allowable stroke. Theoretical analysis and experimental results are presented for both systems.