Apparatus and Methods for Electrical Energy Harvesting and/or Wireless Communication

• US 20150255226A1
• Filed: 08/15/2012
• Published: 09/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2012
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Rouvala, Markku Antti Kyosti, Rauner, Tapani Von, Luukkonen, Olli Juhani
• Granted Patent: US 10,283,281 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 11/22 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/56 Solid electrolytes, e.g. gels; Additives therein
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/66 Current collectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/70 characterised by their structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/74 Terminals, e.g. extensions of current collectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/84 Processes for the manufacture of hybrid or EDL capacitors, or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/27 Spiral antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0242 Structural details of individual signal conductors, e.g. related to the skin effect
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/13 Energy storage using capacitors

Abstract

Apparatus including an electric double layer capacitor having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being opposite the second surface; a first conductor positioned adjacent the first surface and configured to function as a current collector for the electric double layer capacitor, and having a first electrical length to resonate in a first operational frequency band; and a second conductor positioned adjacent the second surface and configured to function as a current collector for the electric double layer capacitor.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

an electric double layer capacitor having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being opposite the second surface;

a first conductor positioned adjacent the first surface and configured to function as a current collector for the electric double layer capacitor, and having a first electrical length to resonate in a first operational frequency band; and

a second conductor positioned adjacent the second surface and configured to function as a current collector for the electric double layer capacitor.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first operational frequency band includes a near field communication (NFC) frequency band, a Qi frequency band, or a far field frequency band.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first conductor and the second conductor are coils having at least one turn.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first flexible printed circuit including the first conductor, and a second flexible printed circuit including the second conductor, the electric double layer capacitor being sandwiched between the first flexible printed circuit and the second flexible printed circuit.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising radio frequency circuitry configured to provide signals to, and/or receive signals from, the first conductor.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising charging circuitry configured to charge the electric double layer capacitor via the first conductor and the second conductor.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second conductor has a second electrical length to resonate in a second operational frequency band.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first operational frequency band and the second operational frequency band at least partially overlap in frequency.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first operational frequency band and the second operational frequency band do not overlap in frequency.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprising radio frequency circuitry configured to provide signals to, and/or receive signals from, the second conductor.

11. A portable electronic device comprising apparatus as claimed in claim 1.

12. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the portable electronic device is flexible.

13. A module comprising apparatus as claimed in claim 1.

14. A method comprising:

providing an electric double layer capacitor having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being opposite the second surface;

providing a first conductor positioned adjacent the first surface and configured to function as a current collector for the electric double layer capacitor, and having a first electrical length to resonate in a first operational frequency band; and

providing a second conductor positioned adjacent the second surface and configured to function as a current collector for the electric double layer capacitor.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first operational frequency band includes a near field communication (NFC) frequency band, a Qi frequency band, or a far field frequency band.

16. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first conductor and the second conductor are coils having at least one turn.

17. A method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising providing a first flexible printed circuit including the first conductor, and providing a second flexible printed circuit including the second conductor, the electric double layer capacitor being sandwiched between the first flexible printed circuit and the second flexible printed circuit.

18. A method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising providing radio frequency circuitry configured to provide signals to, and/or receive signals from, the first conductor.

19. A method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising providing charging circuitry configured to charge the electric double layer capacitor via the first conductor and the second conductor.

20. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the second conductor has a second electrical length to resonate in a second operational frequency band.

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)