Piezoelectric transducer properties and its application to the micro power generator

This paper reports a newly proposal on the estimation method for piezoelectric transducer properties i.e. power generator and energy conversion ones in application for power MEMS devices. Electrical and mechanical properties of piezoelectrics could be estimated for the mobile electric devices with measuring apparatus built as a trial. The output peak power of PZT transducer is obtained to be 3 muW, which consists of 1.8 V in voltage and 1.7muA in current, in case of 40 N input applied load. Since output voltage and current have linear relationships with applied load, the output electrical power is equal to the square of the applied load. On the other hand, the electro-mechanical coupling constant is estimated to be 0.53 in case of PZT in use of the same apparatus in short and open circuit conditions. It is possible to extract mW power in the equipment of piezoelectric transducers attached to the sole of the shoe, where human total weight is applied most efficiently. This mW output power is enough for actuation of the mobile electric devices.