IN SITU RECHARGEABLE BATTERY AND CHARGING STAND

• US 20100237823A1
• Filed: 03/05/2010
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: MB Research & Development, LLC
• Original Assignee: MB Research & Development, LLC
• Inventors: Silverman, Martin S.
• Application Number:
  US12/718,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20100237823A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0427 Button cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4242 Regeneration of electrolyte or reactants
• 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 50/469 tubular or cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A secondary button cell battery that is particularly suited for use in hearing aid appliances, and an associated charging station. Recharging is accomplished without direct conductive connection between the source of the energy and either the battery or its appliance. Radio frequency energy is harvested in an enclosed chamber in a charging station and applied to the recharging of the button cell. Such energy is harvested by the use of one or more energy harvesting diodes connected in parallel with the battery. Multiple diodes connected in parallel or serial may be used to adjust charging current or voltage or both. Charge control is provided by directly or indirectly detecting the level of charge on the cell. Where the associated appliance is a hearing aid, the charge level detection may be accomplished acoustically by determining the characteristics of the sound emitted by the hearing aid, and charging is accomplished with the cell within the hearing aid appliance.

Claims

1. A secondary battery in the form of a button cell, said secondary battery comprising:

a positive case element;

a negative case element, said positive and negative case elements being spaced from one another by a gasket cleft;

a dielectric gasket element sealingly and electrically insulatively positioned in said gasket cleft;

a substantially sealed battery chamber bounded by said positive and negative case elements and substantially sealed by said dielectric gasket element; and

a diode chargingly associated with said secondary battery, said diode being adapted to harvesting at least radio frequency energy and chargingly supplying such harvested energy to said secondary battery.

2. A secondary battery of claim 1 wherein said diode is positioned in said gasket cleft.

3. A secondary battery of claim 1 including a plurality of said diodes.

4. A secondary battery of claim 1 wherein said diode is connected in parallel with said secondary battery.

5. A secondary battery of claim 1 wherein said diode is also adapted to harvesting photo energy.

6. A secondary battery in the form of a button cell, said secondary battery comprising:

a positive case element;

a negative case element, said positive and negative case elements being spaced from one another and defining a gasket cleft therebetween;

a dielectric gasket element sealingly and electrically insulatively positioned in said gasket cleft;

a substantially sealed battery chamber bounded by said positive and negative case elements and substantially sealed by said dielectric gasket element; and

secondary battery chemistry compressively confined in said battery chamber and adapted to undergoing a plurality of discharge-recharge cycles, said secondary battery chemistry being adapted to inherently undergoing volumetric change during a said discharge-recharge cycle, said secondary battery being adapted to maintaining said secondary battery chemistry compressively confined in said battery chamber substantially throughout a plurality of said discharge-recharge cycles.

7. A secondary battery of claim 6 wherein said positive and negative case elements are sufficiently resilient to accommodate said volumetric change without suffering permanent deformation.

8. A secondary battery of claim 6 wherein said secondary battery chemistry includes at least two reactants separated by a flexibly configured separator, said flexibly configured separator being adapted to flexibly accommodate said volumetric change.

9-11. -11. (canceled)

12. A secondary battery in the form of a button cell, said secondary battery comprising:

a positive case element;

a negative case element, said positive and negative case elements being spaced from one another to define a gasket cleft therebetween;

a dielectric gasket element sealingly and electrically insulatively positioned in said gasket cleft to form a substantially sealed battery chamber bounded by said positive and negative case elements and substantially sealed by said dielectric gasket element;

a diode chargingly associated with said secondary battery, said diode being adapted to harvesting at least radio frequency energy and chargingly supplying such harvested energy to said secondary battery; and

secondary battery chemistry compressively confined in said battery chamber and adapted to undergoing a plurality of discharge-recharge cycles, said secondary battery chemistry being adapted to inherently undergoing volumetric change during a said discharge-recharge cycle, said secondary battery being adapted to maintaining said secondary battery chemistry compressively confined in said battery chamber substantially throughout a plurality of said discharge-recharge cycles.

13-15. -15. (canceled)