MICROELECTRONIC DEVICES FOR HARVESTING KINETIC ENERGY AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS
First Claim
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1. A microelectronic device system, comprising:
- a semiconductor chip having an active semiconductor element that includes a processor element, a memory element, or both a processor element and a memory element;
a support member;
a flexible connection between the support member and the semiconductor chip positioned to allow the semiconductor chip to move relative to the support member;
a magnet carried by one of the semiconductor chip and the support member;
an electrical coil carried by the other of the semiconductor chip and the support member; and
a signal conditioning element coupled to the electrical coil to condition electrical power generated by movement of the semiconductor chip relative to the support member, wherein the flexible connection includes a conductor coupled between the signal conditioning element and the semiconductor chip to transmit the electrical power to the semiconductor chip.
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Abstract
Microelectronic devices for harvesting kinetic energy and associated systems and methods. Particular embodiments include an energy harvesting device for generating electrical energy for use by microelectronic devices, where the energy harvesting device converts to electrical energy the kinetic energy among or within the microelectronic devices and their packaging, and provides this electrical energy to power the microelectronic devices.
13 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A microelectronic device system, comprising:
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a semiconductor chip having an active semiconductor element that includes a processor element, a memory element, or both a processor element and a memory element; a support member; a flexible connection between the support member and the semiconductor chip positioned to allow the semiconductor chip to move relative to the support member; a magnet carried by one of the semiconductor chip and the support member; an electrical coil carried by the other of the semiconductor chip and the support member; and a signal conditioning element coupled to the electrical coil to condition electrical power generated by movement of the semiconductor chip relative to the support member, wherein the flexible connection includes a conductor coupled between the signal conditioning element and the semiconductor chip to transmit the electrical power to the semiconductor chip. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A microelectronic device system, comprising:
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a semiconductor chip having an active semiconductor element; a support member; a flexible connection between the support member and the semiconductor chip positioned to allow relative movement between the semiconductor chip and the support member, wherein at least one of the semiconductor chip and the flexible connection includes an electrical power generation element; and a circuit element coupled to the electrical power generation element to condition electrical power generated by movement of the semiconductor chip relative to the support member. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for harvesting kinetic energy from a microelectronic device, comprising:
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supporting a semiconductor chip relative to a support member with a flexible connection, the semiconductor chip having an active semiconductor element; generating electrical power from relative motion between the semiconductor chip and the support member; and performing an electrically-driven process with the semiconductor chip. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for harvesting kinetic energy and transducing the kinetic energy into electrical energy for use by a microelectronic device, by:
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(a) harvesting the kinetic energy produced by relative motion between the microelectronic device and at least one of a support member and packaging for the microelectronic device, and (b) transducing the kinetic energy into electrical energy by any one or more of the following processes; (i) an electromagnetic process, in which the kinetic energy causes relative mechanical movement between a magnet and an electrical coil, which induces a change in magnetic flux that drives a current in the coil; (ii) an electrostatic process, in which the kinetic energy causes relative mechanical movement between charged elements, which induces currents in wires connected to the charged elements, (iii) a piezoelectric process, in which the kinetic energy induces time-varying elastic strain in a piezoelectric material, producing a time-varying electric field in the piezoelectric material, and a corresponding electrical current, (iv) a magnetostrictive process, in which the kinetic energy induces a time-varying elastic strain in a magnetostrictive material in the presence of an electrical coil, producing a time-varying magnetic field in the magnetostrictive material, and a corresponding electrical current in the coil, and (v) a fluidic process, in which the kinetic energy causes relative fluid movements, which are transduced into electrical current. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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34. A method for making a microelectronic device, comprising:
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connecting (a) a semiconductor chip having an active semiconductor element to (b) a support member, with (c) a flexible connection that allows relative movement between the semiconductor chip and the support member, providing at least one of the support member and the semiconductor chip with an electrical power generation element; and connecting a circuit element to the electrical power generation element to condition electrical power generated by relative movement between the semiconductor chip and the support member. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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37. A microelectronic system, comprising:
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a microelectronic structure; a battery; a flexible connection between the microelectronic structure and the battery positioned to allow relative movement between the microelectronic structure and the battery, wherein at least one of the microelectronic structure, the battery and the flexible connection includes an electrical power generation element; and a circuit element coupled to the electrical power generation element to condition electrical power generated by movement of the semiconductor chip relative to the support member. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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Specification