AA size micro power conversion cell for wireless applications

This paper presents the preliminary design and experimental results of a standard AA size vibration-induced micro energy transducer which is integrated with a power-management circuit. The transducer is a spring mass system which uses SU-8 molding and MEMS electroplating technologies fabricated copper springs to convert mechanical energy into electrical power by Faraday's law of induction. We have shown that when the MPG is packaged into an AA battery size container along with a power-management circuit that consists of rectifiers and a capacitor, it is capable of producing /spl sim/1.6 V DC when charged for less than 1 min. Potential applications for this micro power generator to serve as a power supply for a wireless temperature sensing system was proved to be possible with input frequencies at about 100 Hz and amplitudes be approximately 250 microns.