Wireless chargeable energy cell

• US 7,898,214 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2007
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acreo AB
• Original Assignee: Acreo AB
• Inventors: Robertsson, Mats
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAMADAN, RAMY O
• Application Number:
  US11/898,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20080272737A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106, 320/108, 320/128
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/27 characterised by the type of receiving antennas, e.g. rectennas
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 Electric battery cell making

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention discloses a circuitry and an element which can be activated, charged, or interacted using any useful source of EM-radiation which is able to emit a suitable EM-field, which circuitry or element can be produced in a cost-effective manner, as well as a method for charging the same. The circuitry or element includes an antenna for receiving and converting EM-radiation into electric energy; a rectifier for converting the energy to a rectified current, and a dechargeable energy cell. The energy cell includes, in at least one embodiment, a first and a second electrochemically active element, which are electronically separated from each other, and an electrolyte which is arranged in ionic contact with at least a portion of both the first and second electrochemically active element, wherein the energy cell is arranged to receive rectified current from the rectifier, and to convert the rectified current into stored energy by altering its electrochemical state in response to the rectified current.

Claims

1. A chargeable circuitry, comprising:

an antenna arranged to receive EM-radiation from an external source and to convert said EM-radiation into electric energy;

a rectifier arranged to receive electric energy from said antenna and convert said energy to a rectified current; and

a dechargeable energy cell including;

a first electrochemically active element and a second electrochemically active element, which are electronically separated from each other, and

an electrolyte which is arranged in ionic contact with at least a portion of both said first and second electrochemically active elements, wherein

said dechargeable energy cell is arranged to receive rectified current from said rectifier, and to convert said rectified current into stored energy by altering its electrochemical state in response to said rectified current, and

said dechargeable energy cell is arranged of electrochromic material.

2. The chargeable circuitry according to claim 1, further comprising an electrical component arranged to receive current from said dechargable energy cell and to alter its state in response to said received current.

3. The chargeable circuitry according to claim 2, further comprising a control device arranged to restrain a supply of current from said dechargeable energy cell to said electrical component until a predetermined event has occurred.

4. The chargeable circuit according to claim 2, wherein said electrical component includes at least one of an LED, sensor, transistor, display and a diode.

5. The chargeable circuit according to claim 2, wherein said electrical component is an electrochemically active component.

6. The chargeable circuit according to claim 5, wherein said electrochemically active component is arranged of the same materials as said dechargeable energy cell.

7. The chargeable circuitry according to claim 1, wherein said dechargeable energy cell is arranged of electrochromic material.

8. The chargeable circuitry according to claim 7, wherein the dechargeable energy cell is arranged so as to visually detect a charge status.

9. The chargeable circuitry according to claim 1, wherein said chargeable circuitry is arranged on a flexible support.

10. The chargeable circuitry according to claim 9, wherein said chargeable circuitry is arranged on a support made of a paper and/or plastic based material.

11. The chargeable circuitry according to claim 1, wherein said chargeable circuitry is arranged to receive and rectify EM-radiation emitted from a wireless device.

12. The chargeable circuitry according to claim 1, wherein said chargeable circuitry is arranged to receive and rectify EM-radiation having a frequency corresponding to that used by at least one of a wireless communication system and a wireless identification system.

13. The chargeable circuitry according to claim 1, wherein said chargeable circuitry is arranged to receive and rectify EM-radiation emitted from a domestic device.

14. The chargeable circuitry according to claim 1, wherein the rectifier is arranged to rectify an alternating current having a frequency of between about 50 to about 60 Hz.

15. The chargeable circuitry according to claim 1, wherein said antenna is a dipole antenna.

16. The chargeable circuitry according to claim 1, wherein said antenna is a folded dipole antenna.

17. The chargeable circuitry according to claim 1, wherein the chargeable circuitry has a planar configuration.

18. The chargeable circuitry according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said antenna, said rectifier and said dechargeable energy cell has a planar configuration.

19. The chargeable circuitry according to claim 1, wherein said rectifier is arranged in series between said antenna and said dechargeable energy cell.

20. The chargeable circuitry according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said electrochemically active elements of said dechargeable energy cell comprises an organic material.

21. The chargeable circuitry according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said electrochemically active elements is arranged to alter its redox-state in response to said rectified current.

22. The chargeable circuitry according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said electrolyte is sandwiched between said first and second electrochemically active elements.

23. The chargeable circuitry according to claim 1, wherein said first and second electrochemically active elements are arranged in a common plane.

24. The chargeable circuitry according to claim 1, wherein the antenna has the shape of at least one of a visually readable text, cursive script, a logotype, a signature and a recognizable design.

25. The chargeable circuitry according to claim 1, wherein the antenna has the shape of a visually readable signature.

26. A chargeable circuit element comprising a chargeable circuitry according to claim 1 carried by a first chargeable circuit element layer, wherein the chargeable circuit element is arranged to be integrated in or on a target device.

27. The chargeable circuit element according to claim 26, wherein said first chargeable circuit element layer is made of a plastic based material.

28. The chargeable circuit element according to claim 26, wherein said first chargeable circuit element layer further comprises a first substrate and a second substrate arranged such that said antenna, said rectifier and said dechargeable energy cell are sandwiched between said first and second substrates.

29. The chargeable circuit element according to claim 26, wherein said chargeable circuit element is self-contained.

30. The chargeable circuit element according to claim 26, wherein the chargeable circuit element is sandwiched between a first and a second ply of paper.

31. A method of charging an energy cell, comprising:

providing a chargeable circuitry;

emitting EM-radiation from an EM-radiation device within a receiving range of said chargeable circuit;

receiving said EM-radiation with an antenna of said chargeable circuit;

converting said received EM-radiation to a rectified electric current with a device included in said chargeable circuit;

providing said rectified electric current to said energy cell; and

altering the electrochemical state of said energy cell by use of said rectified electric current such that energy is stored therein,

wherein said energy cell is arranged of electrochromic material.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein said emitting EM-radiation comprises activating the antenna of a wireless communication device such that it emits EM-radiation.

33. The method according to claim 31, wherein said activating the antenna comprises activating the antenna of a handheld device.

34. The method according to claim 31, further comprising controlling an electrical component, coupled to said energy cell, by de-charging at least a portion of said stored energy.

35. A method comprising:

using an electromagnetic field for charging a energy cell comprising including an electrochemically active element,

providing a chargeable circuitry;

emitting EM-radiation from an EM-radiation device within a receiving range of said chargeable circuit;

receiving said EM-radiation of said chargeable circuit;

converting said received EM-radiation to a rectified electric current;

providing said rectified electric current to said energy cell; and

altering the electrochemical state of said energy cell by use of said rectified electric current such that energy is stored therein,

wherein said energy cell is arranged of electrochromic material.