New approach to the development of impact-type electrostatic microgenerators

A new class of electrostatic power microgenerators, which transform the energy of mechanical microvibrations to the electric form, is described. The transformation principle is based on transmitting external microvibrations to the microgenerator frame where thin layers of electrets are located, and a moving electrode is suspended on a weak suspension between these layers; this moving electrode performs alternating impacts on the frame. Generator operation is numerically analyzed, and analytical estimates of the generated power are obtained. It is shown that the power produced by such a generator is appreciably greater than the power generated in the classical circuit based on excitation of forced vibrations of a moving plate.