A multifunctional device as both strain sensor and energy harvester for structural health monitoring
In the context of wireless sensors (WSs) autonomous in energy, this paper presents a single macro fiber composite (MFC) piezoelectric transducer which is used for the first time as a multifunctional device as both sensor and energy harvester in a time multiplexing manner. The MFC is used as an energy harvester to charge up a storage capacitor. When there is sufficient energy, the WS is powered up and the MFC is used as a sensor. A circuit was implemented to harvest energy from the MFC and use the MFC as a sensor. Experiment validation shows that the MFC has an accuracy of up to 97 as sensor and the circuit harvests energy from the MFC at its maximum power point (MPP) with up to 98 efficiency.
2016 IEEE SENSORS