Showing papers by "Nima Tolou published in 2021"
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors report the fabrication and characterization of bi-stable and statically balanced thin-film piezoelectric transducers based on Aluminum Nitride (AlN).
20 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the stiffness of building blocks for statically balanced compliant ortho-planar mechanisms is tuned using a finite element simulation, and the results were validated experimentally by capturing the force-deflection relations.
9 citations
20 Jun 2021
TL;DR: In this paper, a relative comparison is made between tapered piezoelectric cantilevers and conventional rectangular canteens in terms of reliability and power output, and it is shown that tapered cantiles have a higher power output per unit area.
Abstract: Cantilever piezoelectric energy harvesting from ambient vibrations is a viable solution for powering wireless sensors and low-power electronics. However, the greatest issue preventing these systems from being widely used is their poor reliability. With the aim to maximise their power output, the devices are often operated close the fracture strength, which results in cracks in the brittle piezoceramic layer. Tapered cantilevers are suggested to improve the mechanical reliability. A relative comparison is made between tapered piezoelectric cantilevers and conventional rectangular cantilevers in terms of reliability and power output. Tensional strains causing fractures show a serious reduction of power output and eigenfrequency. Experiments show that tapered cantilevers have a higher power output per unit area.