Thermoelectric and Hybrid Generators in Wearable Devices and Clothes

Author

Leonov, Vladimir ; Van Hoof, Chris ; Vullers, Ruud J M

Author_Institution

Heterogeneous Integrated Microsyst., Interuniversity Microelectron. Center (IMEC), Leuven, Belgium

fYear

2009

fDate

3-5 June 2009

Firstpage

195

Lastpage

200

Abstract

This paper discusses the necessity and ways of replacing batteries in BSNs and other wearable devices with energy scavengers. The stresses are made on thermoelectric energy converters of human body heat into electrical power and on rules of their designing. The reasons for and possible ways of hybridizing wearable thermoelectric converters with photovoltaic cells are discussed, too. The examples of energy scavengers, both wearable and in clothing, for self-powered wireless sensors are described.

Keywords

body area networks; energy harvesting; patient monitoring; photovoltaic cells; thermoelectric conversion; batteries; clothes; energy scavengers; hybrid generators; photovoltaic cells; thermoelectric generators; wearable devices; wireless sensors; Batteries; Body sensor networks; Clothing; Humans; Hybrid power systems; Photovoltaic cells; Thermal stresses; Thermoelectric devices; Thermoelectricity; Wireless sensor networks; autonomous device; energy scavenging; photovoltaic; self-powered device; thermoelectric; wearable electronics;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Wearable and Implantable Body Sensor Networks, 2009. BSN 2009. Sixth International Workshop on

Conference_Location

Berkeley, CA

Print_ISBN

978-0-7695-3644-6

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/BSN.2009.10

Filename

5226892