Soil battery

• US 20060019149A1
• Filed: 07/21/2004
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mahowald, Peter H.
• Application Number:
  US10/896,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20060019149A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/47
• 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 6/26 Cells without oxidising active material, e.g. Volta cells

Abstract

Power for a device is generated by a soil battery. The soil battery includes anode material and cathode material placed in soil.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a device that requires an electrical current to operate; and

,

a soil battery used to provide power to the device, the soil battery including;

anode material placed in soil, and

cathode material placed in the soil.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein the device comprises a sensor in wireless communication with a monitoring system.

3. A system as in claim 2 wherein the sensor includes a moisture detector.

4. A system as in claim 2 wherein the sensor includes a thermometer.

5. A method for performing monitoring comprising:

placing a sensor in wireless communication with a monitoring system; and

,

generating power for the sensor by placing anode material and cathode material within soil.

6. A method as in claim 5 wherein the sensor includes a detector that measures level of liquid within a storage container.

7. A method as in claim 5 wherein the sensor includes a moisture detector.

8. A method as in claim 5 wherein the sensor includes a thermometer.

9. A remote system that performs monitoring, comprising:

communications means for performing wireless communication with a monitoring system; and

,

power means for receiving power from anode material and cathode material placed in soil.

10. A remote system as in claim 9 wherein the remote system additionally comprises a detector that measures level of liquid within a storage container.

11. A remote system as in claim 9 wherein the remote system additionally comprises a detector means for detecting moisture.

12. A remote system as in claim 9 wherein the remote system additionally comprises a detector means for detecting temperature.

13. A method for providing power to a device that requires an electrical current to operate, the method comprising:

placing anode material in soil;

placing cathode material in soil; and

,

utilizing current flowing between the anode material and the cathode material to provide power to the device.