MICROPOWER ELECTROSTATIC GENERATOR (MEG)

What is Micropower Electrostatic Generator (MEG) Basic principle of Operation Circuit Diagram Comparison with conventional electro static generator Application Research topics References

It is a micro machined, vibration-driven generators employing electrostatic phenomena to convert the kinetic energy of a mass into electrical energy at microwatt level. They have required mechanical vibrations to excite a resonant structure. Micropower electrostatic generators are capable of powering electronic circuits.

The generator considered here is of a capacitive type . The capacitor is formed by one electrode which is weighted and free to move Second electrode which is stationary relative to the chip.

Simple circuit representation for a MEG

To initiate a generation cycle, the capacitor is pre-charged to a low voltage V1. Accelerating the device causes the weighted electrode to move against the attractive force between the electrodes, thereby increasing the potential energy in the system.

If the charge q is held constant, the capacitor voltage increases, and the increase in potential energy is given by

where V2 is the finishing voltage. Substituting the standard relationships for parallel plate

The basis of electrostatic energy conversion is the variable capacitor. The variable capacitance structure, is driven by mechanical vibrations and oscillates between a maximum capacitance (Cmax) and a minimum capacitance (Cmin). If the charge on the capacitors constrained, the voltage will increase as the capacitance decreases.

If the voltage across the capacitor is constrained, charge will move from the capacitor to a storage device or to the load as the capacitance decreases. In either case, mechanical kinetic energy is converted to electrical energy. When Cv is at Cmax, switch 1 (SW1) closes, and charge is transferred from the input to the variable capacitor.

Putting the values according to diagram . Energy obtained by MEG is given by the :

Micro power electrostatic generator PRODUCES LOW POWER W) VERY SMALL IN SIZE

Conventional electrostatic generator ( PRODUCES HIGH POWER (W,kW) SIZE IS BULKY

As small source of voltage Low power VLSI design CMOS fabrication In pacemakers in medical field In power electronics

Self powered signal processing. Use of piezoelectric force instead of vibration. Development of an electrostatic generator that uses the motion of a living body.

Internet www.wikipedia.com www.google.com C. B. Williams and R. B. Yates Analysis of a micro-electric generator for microsystems S. Meninger, J.O. Mur-Miranda, R.Amirtharajah, A.P. Chandrakasan, J.H. Lang, Vibration-to-electric energy conversion, IEEE Trans.