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Piezoelectric energy harvester (PEH) arrays are practical solutions to the low and unreliable power output of a single PEH. However, most PEH circuits are developed for addressing the one-channel ac input from a single PEH. In this article, an extensible rectifier-less synchronized switch harvesting on inductor (ReL-SSHI) array interface with the maximal power point tracking (MPPT) function to manage the multiple ac inputs from the PEH arrays is designed. The ac–dc conversion is performed by the ReL-SSHI topology with passive peak switches featured with self-powered characteristic and fast cold-start. Only one shared inductor is employed, greatly reducing the circuit volume and cost. The MPPT module for each channel is implemented by a simple envelope detector and an ultra-low power hysteresis controller and achieves continuous energy extraction by adapting the fractional normal-operation voltage method. A developed discrete array interface able to handle three PEHs effectively executes the MPPT for each channel with the uphill and downhill response speeds of 2.0 and 7.1 V/s, and a maximal MPPT efficiency of 97.1%. This circuit boosts the power output by 485% compared with that by the traditional full-bridge rectifier, around 33% higher than that from existing synchronous electric charge extraction array interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piezoelectric energy harvester (PEH) arrays are promising in many application scenarios. However, few interface circuits have been developed to manage the multiple ac inputs from PEHs. This article proposes an extensible parallel synchronized switch harvesting on inductor array interface scheme to realize a multiinput conversion from PEH arrays. We develop a split-inductor-capacitor topology that can extract electrical energy from multiple PEHs. The proposed circuit topology effectively handles the inductor access conflict in the cases of PEHs with close, identical, and opposite vibration phases, insensitive to ac input phase changes. For demonstrating the capability of dealing with multiple ac inputs from PEHs and the enhancement effect on power output, we construct and test a self-powered three-channel array circuit with the passive peak detection function. Excited by sinusoidal vibrations, our circuit effectively avoids the energy return and efficiently achieves the power combination of the three PEHs. Compared with the classic full-bridge circuit, the proposed circuit helps increase the power output by 4.8 times. Also, to show the universality of the circuit, the circuit's operation under various excitations istested and analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Softening of piezoelectric materials facilitates the development of flexible wearables and energy harvesting devices. However, as one of the most competitive candidates, piezoelectric ceramic-polymer composites inevitably exhibit reduced power-generation capability and weak mechanical strength due to the mismatch of strength and permittivity between the two phases inside. Herein a flexible, air-permeable, and high-performance piezoceramic textile composite with a mechanically reinforced hierarchical porous structure is introduced. Based on a template-assisted sol-gel method, a three-order hierarchical ceramic textile is constructed by intertwining submillimeter-scale multi-ply ceramic fibers that are further formed by twisting micrometer-scale one-ply ceramic fibrils. Theoretical analysis indicates that large mechanical stress can be easily induced in the multi-order hierarchical structure, which greatly benefits the electrical output. Fabricated samples generate an opencircuit voltage of 128 V, a short-circuit current of 120 μA, and an instantaneous power density of 0.75 mW cm-2, much higher than the previously reported works. The developed multi-order and 3D-interconnected piezoceramic textile shows satisfactory piezoelectricity (d33 of 190 pm V-1), air permeability (45.1 mm s-1), flexibility (Young's modulus of 0.35 GPa), and toughness (0.125 MJ m-3), collectively. The design strategy of obtaining balanced properties promotes the practicality of smart/functional materials in wearables and flexible electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To merge the gap between the low-power output of piezoelectric energy harvesters (PEHs) and the high-power demand of sensors of Internet of Things, researchers recently start to explore PEHs arrays. However, few circuits have been developed to manage the multiple ac inputs from PEHs arrays. This article presents a self-powered PEH array interface circuit based on the synchronized switching and discharging to a storage capacitor through an inductor (SSDCI) technique. The array interface can output a maximum total power greater than the sum of each individual peak power, and achieve a high efficiency when multiple PEHs connect to the SSDCI array circuit. Simulation and experiment are performed to demonstrate the advantages of the SSDCI array interface. The tested results show that the designed SSDCI array circuit achieves an efficiency of 82.3% with three input sources, and allows a gain up to 300% in terms of maximal output power compared to the full-bridge rectifier. In addition, only the peak detection is utilized for the switching control; therefore, the SSDCI array circuit is realized more easily and with fewer components compared to the existing synchronous electric charge extraction array interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humans have evolved to walk highly efficiently to conserve energy, making it challenging to develop assistive and energy-harvesting devices for walking. Herein, we report a heel pad-based assistance device for walking that not only optimizes the energetic economy of walking and prevents plantar fasciitis but also harvests energy from heel impact. Our footwear-embedded device improves the walking economy by offering shock absorption and walking assistance, while simultaneously providing energy-harvesting functions. We demonstrate that the use of our device reduces the activation of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles during the foot strike by 5.8 ± 1.0 % and 4.1 ± 0.6 %, respectively. The collisional energy conserved from the impact at the touchdown is transformed into 3.8 ± 0.3 watts of electrical power (mean ± SEM). Compared with walking in normal shoes, the energy savings with the device imply that walking endurance could be increased by as much as 10 % without extra effort from the wearer. Our findings demonstrate the potential of the heel pad-based device that enhances the energy economy of walking and human bipedal locomotion. [Display omitted] • Highly integrated footwear for shock absorbing, gait assisting, and energy harvesting. • A power density of 27.5 mW/cm3 (peak power: 3.8 Watts) is achieved for a single step. • Walking with the device does not significantly interfere with the normal gait pattern. • The footwear device shows stable durability and robustness in daily locomotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wrist-worn smart devices such as smartwatches and wristbands are rapidly penetrating our daily life for health, security and fashion purposes. However, the battery-powered wearables have a limited lifetime and need to be frequently recharged, which degrades user experience and further poses environmental problems. Inspired by the structure of the woodpecker's head, this paper reports a bionic two-layer band piezoelectric energy harvester for self-powered smartwatches and wristbands. An inner band and an outer band of the harvester mimic two branches of the hyoid bone of the woodpecker. The energy harvesting unit employs a piezoelectric array structure. A finite element analysis is conducted to identify the optimal positions of piezoelectric patches in the array and an improved rectifier circuit is developed to manage the multiple AC inputs. We design two operation modes, i.e., movement mode and impact mode, to accommodate energy harvesters in different human activities. A maximum power output of 15.41 mW is achieved in experiments when tapping the prototype, corresponding to an equivalent power density of 1049.01 μW/cm3, around five times higher than previous wrist-worn harvesters. The design demonstrates its capability of continuously powering a watch and a screen during a normal walking process. The concept of shifting from the watch body to watch bands provides the design of energy harvesters a larger space and higher user-friendliness, which, fused with the piezoelectric array method, shows the potential to merge the gap of the power generation of energy harvesters and the power consumption of wrist wearables. [Display omitted] • Woodpecker-inspired two-layer band design for wrist-worn wearables. • A piezoelectric array structure as an energy harvesting unit. • Two working modes including movement mode and impact mode. • The maximum power output of 12.25 mW in the movement motion and 15.41 mW in the impact mode. • Able to continuously power a watch or a screen during normal walking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]