LAUSR

Piezoelectric power generation is commonly used to power wireless sensor nodes in vibration environments. A common piezoelectric power generation device is the piezoelectric ceramic plate (PCP), which is often fixed in the form of a cantilever beam. However, PCP in the cantilever beam fixation mode (PCPCBFM) has the disadvantages of low maximum allowable vibration acceleration, low maximum open circuit voltage, low maximum average power, and a small electromechanical coupling coefficient. This paper proposes a new type of fixation mode, the symmetric fixation mode, in which the fixation mode is changed without altering the structure of the PCP. Simulations and experiments are conducted to study the properties of the PCP in the symmetric fixation mode (PCPSFM). Compared with the traditional PCPCBFM, the maximum allowable vibration acceleration of the PCPSFM is increased by more than a factor of five, the maximum open circuit voltage of the PCPSFM is increased by more than 4.5 V, the maximum average power of the PCPSFM is increased by more than a factor of four, and the electromechanical coupling coefficient is increased by more than 15%.