Conformal power supplies

• US 20030044665A1
• Filed: 09/05/2002
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnitek Partners LLC
• Original Assignee: Omnitek Partners LLC
• Inventors: Spinelli, Thomas, Rastegar, Jahangir S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,118,825 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/27
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/02 Anti-aircraft or anti-guided missile or anti-torpedo defence installations or systems cartridges or missiles for producing smoke or for dispensing radar chaff or infrared material F42B5/15, F42B12/48, F42B12/70; informative reference: details of radar or sonar systems G01S7/00; jamming or electronic countermeasures G01S7/38, G01S7/495, H04K3/00
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 2/00 Reflecting targets, e.g. radar-reflector targets; Active targets transmitting electromagnetic or acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/14 using fins spread or deployed after launch, e.g. after leaving the barrel
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/34 expanding before or on impact, i.e. of dumdum or mushroom type
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/46 for dispensing gases, vapours, powders or chemically-reactive substances F42B12/70 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 15/40 wherein the safety or arming action is effected electrically
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/06 with one metallic and one gaseous electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/36 containing electrolyte and made operational by physical means, e.g. thermal cells

Abstract

A device including: a structure for housing or supporting at least one power consuming element; and a power supply integrated into the structure, the power supply being electrically connected to the at least one power consuming element for supplying power to the same.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a structure for housing or supporting at least one power consuming element; and

a power supply integrated into the structure, the power supply being electrically connected to the at least one power consuming element for supplying power to the same.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the power supply is a load bearing member integrated into the structure.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the power supply is a film of power generating material covering at least a portion of the structure.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the device generates heat on at least a portion of the surface of the structure, wherein the film of generating material is disposed at least partly in the portion of the surface which generates heat and the film of generating material is thermophotovoltaic.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising electrical connections disposed on a wall of the structure, the electrical connections being operatively connected to the power supply, wherein the at least one power consuming element is directly attached to the electrical connections without the need for wiring between the electrical connections and the at least one power consuming element.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the power supply is a metal fuel cell.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the housing serves as an anode or cathode of the metal fuel cell.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein an electrolyte gel is stored in a cavity in the housing to cooperatively interact with the portion of the housing serving as the anode or cathode to produce electrical power.

9. The device of claim 8, further comprising means for initiating the generation of electrical power from the metal fuel cell upon the acceleration of the device.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising means for initiating the generation of electrical power from the power supply upon the acceleration of the device.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a projectile and the structure is a projectile shell.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a disposable electrical device.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the disposable electrical device is selected from a group consisting of a disposable camera, portable CD player, cassette player, cellular telephone, palmtop, personal digital assistant, and flashlight.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a non-disposable device.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the power consuming element is one of a capacitor or rechargeable battery.