Modular solar battery

• US 10,587,221 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2018
• Issued: 03/10/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Epic Battery, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Epic Battery, Inc.
• Inventors: Bullen, Melvin James
• Primary Examiner(s): Diao, M Baye
• Application Number:
  US15/944,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20180294771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 320101
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/02008 for solar cells or solar cell modules
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0203 Containers; Encapsulations , e.g. encapsulation of photodiodesfor photovoltaic devices H01L31/048; for organic photosensitive devices H10K30/80
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/022425 for solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/035281 Shape of the body
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/05 Electrical interconnection means between PV cells inside the PV module, e.g. series connection of PV cells electrodes H01L31/0224; electrical interconnection of thin film solar cells formed on a common substrate H01L31/046; particular structures for electrical interconnecting of adjacent thin film solar cells in the module H01L31/0465; electrical interconnection means specially adapted for electrically connecting two or more PV modules H02S40/36
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/465 with solar battery as charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/107 having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/103, H01M50/109, H01M50/11 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/18 The network being internal to a power source or plant
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/38 Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 30/00 Organic devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation integrated devices or assemblies of multiple devices H10K39/00, H10K65/00; electrolytic light-sensitive devices H01G9/20
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 30/50 Photovoltaic [PV] devices
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 30/81 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 30/88 Passivation; Containers; Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/20 Carbon compounds, e.g. carbon nanotubes or fullerenes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/549 Organic PV cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

Described herein are apparatuses, systems, and methods for a modular solar battery (MSB). The MSB may include a solar shell that includes a solar cell, a rechargeable battery that is charged by the solar cell, and control circuitry coupled to the solar cell and/or the rechargeable battery. The MSB may be in the form of a commercial battery. The control circuitry may include circuitry for solar power optimization, information sharing, battery charging, and/or battery health monitoring. The control circuitry may include a communication circuit to communicate information about the MSB to an external device. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Claims

1. A modular solar battery, comprising:

a solar shell including a solar cell, wherein the solar shell has a three-dimensional shape with an open interior region;

a rechargeable battery to be disposed in the open interior region, the rechargeable battery to be charged by the solar cell;

a modular solar battery (MSB) anode and a MSB cathode coupled to the rechargeable battery to provide electrical energy from the rechargeable battery to an electronic device;

a battery cap coupled to the solar shell, wherein the battery cap is at least partially removable from the solar shell to enable removal of the rechargeable battery from the open interior region; and

control circuitry in the open interior region and conductively coupled to a solar cell anode of the solar cell and a battery anode of the rechargeable battery, wherein the control circuitry is to control one or more operations of the solar cell or the rechargeable battery.

2. The modular solar battery of claim 1, wherein the one or more operations include maintaining the solar cell on a maximum power point and controlling charging of the rechargeable battery.

3. The modular solar battery of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry includes a communication circuit to transmit information associated with the modular solar battery to an external device.

4. The modular solar battery of claim 1, further comprising an alignment strip to conductively couple the control circuitry with the MSB cathode, wherein the alignment strip is to engage with a notch in the battery to align the battery within the open interior region.

5. The modular solar battery of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional shape of the solar shell is a cylindrical shape or a rectangular shape.

6. The modular solar battery of claim 1, wherein the modular solar battery implements a commercial battery and the three-dimensional shape of the solar shell corresponds to a shape of the commercial battery.

7. The modular solar battery of claim 6, wherein the commercial battery is a 6-volt battery, a Type D battery, a Type C battery, a 9-volt battery, a AA battery, a AAA battery, a AAAA battery, or an LR44 battery.

8. The modular solar battery of claim 1, wherein the solar cell includes a solar cell anode, a photovoltaic material coupled to the solar cell anode, and a solar cell cathode coupled to the photovoltaic material, wherein the solar cell anode faces the open interior region of the solar cell.

9. The modular solar battery of claim 8, wherein the solar cell anode includes:

a first layer of graphene; and

a second layer on the first layer, wherein the second layer includes tin, praseodymium cerium copper oxide (PrCeCuO), or Pr_2-xCe_xCuO₄, wherein x is a non-zero value.

10. The modular solar battery of claim 8, wherein the solar cell anode includes:

a first layer; and

a second layer coupled with the first layer;

wherein the first layer includes germanene and the second layer includes molybdenum disulfide, or the first layer includes silicene and the second layer includes silver.

11. The modular solar battery of claim 8, wherein the solar shell includes a first encapsulant layer that surrounds the solar cell and a second encapsulant layer that surrounds the first encapsulant layer and the solar cell, wherein the first encapsulant layer has a permeability to moisture of less than 0.1 grams per square meter per day.

12. The modular solar battery of claim 11, wherein the photovoltaic material includes perovskite.

13. The modular solar battery of claim 1, wherein the battery has a battery anode that includes:

a first layer; and

a second layer coupled with the first layer, wherein;

the first layer includes graphene and the second layer includes tin, praseodymium cerium copper oxide (PrCeCuO), or Pr_2-xCe_xCuO₄, wherein x is a non-zero value;

the first layer includes germanene and the second layer includes molybdenum disulfide;

or

the first layer includes silicene and the second layer includes silver.

14. The modular solar battery of claim 1, wherein the MSB cathode is included in the battery cap.

15. The modular solar battery of claim 1, further comprising a display coupled to the solar shell to display information associated with the modular solar battery.

16. A solar shell for a modular solar battery, the solar shell comprising:

a solar cell including;

a solar cell anode;

a photovoltaic material coupled to the solar cell anode; and

a solar cell cathode coupled to the photovoltaic material;

an encapsulant layer that at least partially encapsulates the solar cell and that forms an outside surface of the solar shell, wherein the solar shell has a three-dimensional shape with an open interior region that is to house a rechargeable battery; and

an anode contact coupled to the solar cell anode to conductively couple the solar cell anode to the rechargeable battery to charge the rechargeable battery, wherein the anode contact is to conductively couple the solar cell anode to the rechargeable battery via an electronics assembly that includes a control circuit to control one or more operations of the solar cell.

17. The solar shell of claim 16, wherein the solar cell has a three-dimensional shape that corresponds to the three-dimensional shape of the solar shell.

18. The solar shell of claim 16, wherein the solar cell anode includes:

a first layer; and

a second layer coupled with the first layer;

wherein;

the first layer includes graphene and the second layer includes tin, praseodymium cerium copper oxide (PrCeCuO), or Pr_2-xCe_xCuO₄, wherein x is a non-zero value;

the first layer includes germanene and the second layer includes molybdenum disulfide;

or

the first layer includes silicene, phosphorene, or borophene, and the second layer includes silver.

19. The solar shell of claim 16, wherein the encapsulant layer is an outer encapsulant layer, and wherein the solar shell further includes an inner encapsulant layer that is between the outer encapsulant layer and the solar cell and that at least partially encapsulates the solar cell, wherein the inner encapsulant layer has a permeability to moisture of less than 0.1 grams per square meter per day.

20. The solar shell of claim 16, wherein the photovoltaic material includes perovskite.

21. The solar shell of claim 16, further comprising a mating feature to engage with a battery cap of the modular solar battery to enable the rechargeable battery to be removed from the open interior region.

22. The solar shell of claim 16, wherein the three-dimensional shape of the solar shell is a cylindrical shape, and wherein the solar shell includes a top opening for a modular solar battery (MSB) anode and a bottom opening for a MSB cathode.

23. A photovoltaic cell comprising:

an anode including;

a base layer of graphene;

a monolayer on the base layer, wherein the monolayer includes a single atomic layer of tin, or a single molecular layer of praseodymium cerium copper oxide (PrCeCuO), or a single molecular layer of Pr_2-xCe_xCuO₄, wherein x is a non-zero value;

a photovoltaic material on the monolayer of the anode; and

a cathode on the photovoltaic material.

24. The photovoltaic cell of claim 23, wherein the anode has a three-dimensional shape.

25. The photovoltaic cell of claim 24, wherein the three-dimensional shape is an open cylindrical shape, an open rectangular shape, or a curved planar shape.

26. The photovoltaic cell of claim 23, wherein the photovoltaic material is perovskite.

27. The photovoltaic cell of claim 23, further comprising:

a first encapsulant layer that surrounds the solar cell, wherein the first encapsulant layer has a permeability to moisture of less than 0.1 grams per square meter per day; and

a second encapsulant layer that surrounds the first encapsulant layer and the solar cell.

28. The photovoltaic cell of claim 23, wherein the photovoltaic cell is included in a solar shell of a modular solar battery.

29. A modular solar battery, comprising:

a solar shell including a solar cell, wherein the solar shell has a three-dimensional shape with an open interior region;

a rechargeable battery to be disposed in the open interior region, the rechargeable battery to be charged by the solar cell;

a modular solar battery (MSB) anode and an MSB cathode coupled to the rechargeable battery to provide electrical energy from the rechargeable battery to an electronic device; and

a battery cap coupled to the solar shell, wherein the battery cap is at least partially removable from the solar shell to enable removal of the rechargeable battery from the open interior region;

wherein the solar cell includes a solar cell anode, a photovoltaic material coupled to the solar cell anode, and a solar cell cathode coupled to the photovoltaic material, wherein the solar cell anode faces the open interior region of the solar cell; and

wherein the solar cell anode includes;

a first layer of graphene; and

a second layer on the first layer, wherein the second layer includes tin, praseodymium cerium copper oxide (PrCeCuO), or Pr_2-xCe_xCuO₄, wherein x is a non-zero value.

30. A modular solar battery, comprising:

a solar shell including a solar cell, wherein the solar shell has a three-dimensional shape with an open interior region;

a rechargeable battery to be disposed in the open interior region, the rechargeable battery to be charged by the solar cell;

a modular solar battery (MSB) anode and an MSB cathode coupled to the rechargeable battery to provide electrical energy from the rechargeable battery to an electronic device; and

a battery cap coupled to the solar shell, wherein the battery cap is at least partially removable from the solar shell to enable removal of the rechargeable battery from the open interior region;

wherein the solar cell includes a solar cell anode, a photovoltaic material coupled to the solar cell anode, and a solar cell cathode coupled to the photovoltaic material, wherein the solar cell anode faces the open interior region of the solar cell; and

wherein the solar cell anode includes;

a first layer; and

a second layer coupled with the first layer;

wherein the first layer includes germanene and the second layer includes molybdenum disulfide, or the first layer includes silicene and the second layer includes silver.

31. A modular solar battery, comprising:

a solar shell including a solar cell, wherein the solar shell has a three-dimensional shape with an open interior region;

a rechargeable battery to be disposed in the open interior region, the rechargeable battery to be charged by the solar cell;

a modular solar battery (MSB) anode and an MSB cathode coupled to the rechargeable battery to provide electrical energy from the rechargeable battery to an electronic device; and

a battery cap coupled to the solar shell, wherein the battery cap is at least partially removable from the solar shell to enable removal of the rechargeable battery from the open interior region;

wherein the solar cell includes a solar cell anode, a photovoltaic material coupled to the solar cell anode, and a solar cell cathode coupled to the photovoltaic material, wherein the solar cell anode faces the open interior region of the solar cell; and

wherein the solar shell includes a first encapsulant layer that surrounds the solar cell and a second encapsulant layer that surrounds the first encapsulant layer and the solar cell, wherein the first encapsulant layer has a permeability to moisture of less than 0.1 grams per square meter per day.

32. A modular solar battery, comprising:

a solar shell including a solar cell, wherein the solar shell has a three-dimensional shape with an open interior region;

a rechargeable battery to be disposed in the open interior region, the rechargeable battery to be charged by the solar cell;

a modular solar battery (MSB) anode and an MSB cathode coupled to the rechargeable battery to provide electrical energy from the rechargeable battery to an electronic device; and

a battery cap coupled to the solar shell, wherein the battery cap is at least partially removable from the solar shell to enable removal of the rechargeable battery from the open interior region;

wherein the battery has a battery anode that includes;

a first layer; and

a second layer coupled with the first layer, wherein;

the first layer includes graphene and the second layer includes tin, praseodymium cerium copper oxide (PrCeCuO), or Pr_2-xCe_xCuO₄, wherein x is a non-zero value;

the first layer includes germanene and the second layer includes molybdenum disulfide;

or

the first layer includes silicene and the second layer includes silver.

33. A solar shell for a modular solar battery, the solar shell comprising:

a solar cell including;

a solar cell anode;

a photovoltaic material coupled to the solar cell anode; and

a solar cell cathode coupled to the photovoltaic material;

an encapsulant layer that at least partially encapsulates the solar cell and that forms an outside surface of the solar shell, wherein the solar shell has a three-dimensional shape with an open interior region that is to house a rechargeable battery; and

an anode contact coupled to the solar cell anode to conductively couple the solar cell anode to the rechargeable battery to charge the rechargeable battery;

wherein the solar cell anode includes;

a first layer; and

a second layer coupled with the first layer;

wherein;

the first layer includes graphene and the second layer includes tin, praseodymium cerium copper oxide (PrCeCuO), or Pr_2-xCe_xCuO₄, wherein x is a non-zero value;

the first layer includes germanene and the second layer includes molybdenum disulfide;

or

the first layer includes silicene, phosphorene, or borophene, and the second layer includes silver.

34. A solar shell for a modular solar battery, the solar shell comprising:

a solar cell including;

a solar cell anode;

a photovoltaic material coupled to the solar cell anode; and

a solar cell cathode coupled to the photovoltaic material;

an outer encapsulant layer that at least partially encapsulates the solar cell and that forms an outside surface of the solar shell, wherein the solar shell has a three-dimensional shape with an open interior region that is to house a rechargeable battery;

an inner encapsulant layer that is between the outer encapsulant layer and the solar cell and that at least partially encapsulates the solar cell, wherein the inner encapsulant layer has a permeability to moisture of less than 0.1 grams per square meter per day; and

an anode contact coupled to the solar cell anode to conductively couple the solar cell anode to the rechargeable battery to charge the rechargeable battery.