Prospective for thermal energy harvesting in mobile computing systems

Micro and Nano Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS/NEMS) are disruptive interdisciplinary technologies that can manifest in multiple components in portable systems. Such technologies will play an important role in enabling smaller, more efficient, and faster mobile computing systems. Integrated Radio Frequency MEMS components are front-runners as alternative technologies to replace bulky off chip RF time keeping and frequency control components. MEMS switches co-fabricated with MEMS resonators and filters would reduce the complexity of current mobile platform antennas and extend the reconfigurability of these antennas to operate on a wider range of frequency bands. Energy harvesting is an emerging area where MEMS is expected to play a disruptive role in extending the operational time for small Form-Factor (FF) hand held devices. This paper presents the current mobile platform usage and suggested areas for MEMS/NEMS energy harvesting with focus on thermal energy harvesting environment in mobile devices.