Battery-operated wireless-communication apparatus and method

• US 20020037756A1
• Filed: 03/23/2001
• Published: 03/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cymbet Corporation
• Original Assignee: Integrated Power Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Yan, Jenn-Feng, Klaassen, Jody Jon, Jenson, Mark Lynn, Jacobs, Harlan Theodore
• Granted Patent: US 7,433,655 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/572
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/0031 Bombardment of substrates by reactive ion beams
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/0676 Oxynitrides
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/08 Oxides C23C14/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/047 using irradiation by energy or particles
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13306 Circuit arrangements or driving methods for the control of single liquid crystal cells G02F1/132, G02F1/133382 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13324 Circuits comprising solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/08 Structural combinations, e.g. assembly or connection, of hybrid or EDL capacitors with other electric components, at least one hybrid or EDL capacitor being the main component
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/26 characterised by their structure, e.g. multi-layered, porosity or surface features
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/56 Solid electrolytes, e.g. gels; Additives therein
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/16225 the item being non-metallic, e.g. insulating substrate with or without metallisation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/49109 outside the semiconductor or solid-state body
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/58 Structural electrical arrangements for semiconductor devices not otherwise provided for , e.g. in combination with batteries H01L23/49593, H01L23/49596 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/09701 Low temperature co-fired ceramic [LTCC]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/10253 Silicon [Si]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/12044 OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/073 comprising only AIIBVI compound semiconductors, e.g. CdS/CdTe solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/1828 : the active layers comprising only AIIBVI compounds, e.g. CdS, ZnS, CdTe
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0436 : Small-sized flat cells or batteries for portable equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0472 : Vertically superposed cells with vertically disposed plates
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 : Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 : Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0562 : Solid materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/058 : Construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0585 : of accumulators having only flat construction elements, i.e. flat positive electrodes, flat negative electrodes and flat separators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 : Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 : Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 : Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4264 : with capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 : Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 : Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/465 : with solar battery as charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 14/00 : Electrochemical current or voltage generators not provided for in groups H01M6/00 - H01M12/00; Manufacture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 14/005 : Photoelectrochemical storage cells light sensitive devices H01G9/20, semiconductors sensitive to light H01L31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2004/021 : Physical characteristics, e.g. porosity, surface area
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1293 : Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/0421 : involving vapour deposition
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/0423 : Physical vapour deposition
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/0426 : Sputtering
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/1391 : of electrodes based on mixed oxides or hydroxides, or on mixtures of oxides or hydroxides, e.g. LiCoOx
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/1393 : of electrodes based on carbonaceous material, e.g. graphite-intercalation compounds or CFx
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/1397 : of electrodes based on inorganic compounds other than oxides or hydroxides, e.g. sulfides, selenides, tellurides, halogenides or LiCoFy
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/382 : Lithium H01M4/405 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/405 : Alloys based on lithium
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/483 : for non-aqueous cells H01M4/485 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/581 : Chalcogenides or intercalation compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/5825 : Oxygenated metallic salts or polyanionic structures, e.g. borates, phosphates, silicates, olivines
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/587 : for inserting or intercalating light metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/8885 : Sintering or firing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/9016 : Oxides, hydroxides or oxygenated metallic salts
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/103 : prismatic or rectangular H01M50/109, H01M50/11 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 : adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/403 : Manufacturing processes of separators, membranes or diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/185 : with oxides, hydroxides or oxysalts as solid electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/186 : Only oxysalts-containing solid electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/188 : Processes of manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/40 : Printed batteries , e.g. thin film batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/42 : Grouping of primary cells into batteries H01M6/40 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1007 : with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised H01M8/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1286 : Fuel cells applied on a support, e.g. miniature fuel cells deposited on silica supports
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 : for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/16 : incorporating printed electric components, e.g. printed resistor, capacitor, inductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/543 : Solar cells from Group II-VI materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/13 : Energy storage using capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 : Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 : Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 117/902 : Specified orientation, shape, crystallography, or size of seed or substrate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 : Electric battery cell making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49114 : including adhesively bonding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49115 : including coating or impregnating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 : Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5313 : Means to assemble electrical device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53135 : Storage cell or battery

Abstract

A combined battery and wireless-communications apparatus and method. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a support, a first conductive layer deposited on a first surface area of the support, a thin-film battery including a cathode layer, a solid-state electrolyte layer, and an anode layer deposited such that either the anode layer or the cathode layer is in electrical contact with the first conductive layer, an antenna mounted to the support structure, and an electronic communications circuit mounted to the support and electrically coupled to the battery and the antenna to transceive radio communications. Other embodiments include an energy-receiving device mounted to the support structure, and an electronic communications circuit mounted to the support structure and including a recharging circuit, the recharging circuit electrically coupled to the battery and the energy-receiving device to recharge the battery using energy received by the energy-receiving device.

Claims

1. A combined battery and wireless-communications apparatus comprising:

a support structure;

a first conductive layer deposited on a first surface area of the support structure;

a thin-film battery comprising a cathode layer;

a solid-state electrolyte layer, and an anode layer deposited such that either the anode layer or the cathode layer is in electrical contact with the first conductive layer, and the electrolyte layer in contact with and completely separating the anode layer and the cathode layer;

an antenna mounted to the support structure; and

an electronic communications circuit mounted to the support structure and electrically coupled to the battery and the antenna to transceive radio communications.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the anode or the cathode or both include an intercalation material or a metal or both.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the cathode layer comprises a lithium intercalation material deposited on the first conductive layer; and

the electrolyte layer comprises LiPON.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the cathode layer comprises lithium cobalt oxide deposited on the first conductive layer; and

the electrolyte layer comprises LiPON.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a curved shape having a convex face and an opposing concave face, and the battery is located on the concave face.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the antenna is a thin-film trace deposited on the battery.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the antenna is a thin-film trace deposited on the electronic communications circuit.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the antenna is a thin-film trace deposited on the support structure.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit includes a recharging circuit that recharges the battery using energy received by the antenna.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a photovoltaic cell, wherein the electronic circuit includes a recharging circuit that recharges the battery using energy received by the photovoltaic cell.

11. A method for making an integrated combined battery and wireless-communications device comprising:

providing a support structure;

depositing a first conductive layer on a first surface area of the support structure;

depositing a thin-film battery comprising a cathode layer;

a solid-state electrolyte layer, and an anode layer deposited such that either the anode layer or the cathode layer is in electrical contact with the first conductive layer, and the electrolyte layer in contact with and completely separating the anode layer and the cathode layer;

mounting an antenna to the support structure;

mounting an electronic communications circuit to the support structure; and

electrically coupling the electronic communications circuit to the battery and the antenna to transceive radio communications.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the anode or the cathode or both include an intercalation material or a metal or both.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the depositing of the thin-film battery comprises:

depositing a lithium intercalation material on the first conductive layer as the cathode layer; and

depositing the electrolyte layer on the cathode layer, wherein the electrolyte layer comprises LiPON.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the depositing of the thin-film battery comprises:

depositing a lithium cobalt oxide material on the first conductive layer as the cathode layer; and

depositing the electrolyte layer on the cathode layer, wherein the electrolyte layer comprises LiPON.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the depositing of the thin-film battery comprises:

depositing the cathode layer on the first conductive layer;

depositing the electrolyte layer on the cathode layer, wherein the electrolyte layer comprises LiPON; and

depositing the anode layer comprising a lithium intercalation material on the electrolyte layer.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the support structure has a curved shape having a convex face and a concave face, and the battery is located on the concave face.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the mounting of the antenna comprises depositing a thin-film trace on the battery.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the mounting of the antenna comprises depositing a thin-film trace on the electronic communications circuit.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein mounting of the antenna comprises depositing a thin-film trace on the support structure.

20. The method according to claim 11, wherein the electronic circuit includes a recharging circuit that recharges the battery using energy received by the antenna.

21. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:

mounting a photovoltaic cell to the support structure, wherein the electronic circuit includes a recharging circuit that recharges the battery using energy received by the photovoltaic cell.

22. An integrated combined battery and wireless-recharging apparatus comprising:

a support structure;

a first conductive layer deposited on a first surface area of the support structure;

a thin-film battery comprising a cathode layer;

a solid-state electrolyte layer, and an anode layer deposited such that either the anode layer or the cathode layer is in electrical contact with the first conductive layer, and the electrolyte layer in contact with and completely separating the anode layer and the cathode layer;

an energy-receiving device mounted to the support structure; and

an electronic communications circuit mounted to the support structure and including a recharging circuit, the recharging circuit electrically coupled to the battery and the energy-receiving device to recharge the battery using energy received by the energy-receiving device.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the anode or the cathode or both include an intercalation material or a metal or both, and wherein the electrolyte layer comprises LiPON.

24. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the cathode layer comprises lithium cobalt oxide deposited on the first conductive layer, and wherein the electrolyte layer comprises LiPON.

25. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the energy-receiving device comprises a photovoltaic cell.

26. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the energy-receiving device comprises an antenna.

27. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the energy-receiving device comprises an electromechanical electric generator.

28. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the energy-receiving device comprises an acoustic transducer.

29. The apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising a magnetic transducer.

30. The apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising an acoustic transducer.

31. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the apparatus operates as a hearing aid.

32. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the apparatus operates as an implantable medical device.

33. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the apparatus operates as a timepiece.