Semiconductor device, communication system, and method of charging the semiconductor device

• US 8,862,053 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2011
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Sato, Takehisa, Osada, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US13/244,396
• Publication Number:
  US 20120019192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,116 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 320/106, 320/128, 307/104
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0701 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for power management
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0702 the arrangement including a battery
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/27 characterised by the type of receiving antennas, e.g. rectennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices

Abstract

An object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor device including a battery that can be wirelessly charged, in which the battery can be charged even when the semiconductor device is not put close to a power feeder. Such a semiconductor device has a structure including an antenna circuit, a communication control circuit to conduct wireless communication via the antenna circuit, a battery to be charged with electric power which is externally wirelessly fed via the antenna circuit, and an oscillator circuit to wirelessly feed electric power via the antenna circuit. In addition, the battery in the semiconductor device is wirelessly charged and the semiconductor device externally feeds electric power wirelessly to a chargeable battery in another semiconductor device.

Claims

1. A semiconductor device comprising:

a first circuit; and

a first rechargeable battery electrically connected to the first circuit,

a second circuit electrically connected to the first circuit,

wherein the first circuit is configured to communicate with a device comprising a second rechargeable battery wirelessly,

wherein the first rechargeable battery is configured to be charged from the device comprising the second rechargeable battery wirelessly, and

wherein the second circuit is configured to feed a power to the device comprising the second rechargeable battery via the first circuit wirelessly.

2. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein the first rechargeable battery is charged from the device comprising the second rechargeable battery via an antenna circuit.

3. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein the first rechargeable battery is charged by using a power of an electromagnetic wave sent from the device comprising the second rechargeable battery.

4. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein the communication with the device includes:

sending information on a state of charge of the first rechargeable battery, and

receiving information on a state of charge of the second rechargeable battery.

5. A semiconductor device comprising:

an antenna circuit;

a communication control circuit electrically connected to the antenna circuit;

a first rechargeable battery electrically connected to the antenna circuit;

a first circuit electrically connected to the first rechargeable battery; and

a second circuit electrically connected to the first circuit,

wherein the communication control circuit is configured to control communication with a device comprising a second rechargeable battery via the antenna circuit,

wherein the first rechargeable battery is configured to be charged from the device comprising the second rechargeable battery wirelessly, and

wherein the second circuit is configured to feed a power to the device comprising the second rechargeable battery via the first circuit wirelessly.

6. The semiconductor device according to claim 5, wherein the first rechargeable battery is charged from the device comprising the second rechargeable battery via the antenna circuit.

7. The semiconductor device according to claim 5, wherein the first rechargeable battery is charged by using a power of an electromagnetic wave sent from the device comprising the second rechargeable battery.

8. The semiconductor device according to claim 5, wherein the communication control circuit is configured to operate by using a power from the first rechargeable battery.

9. The semiconductor device according to claim 5, wherein the communication with the device includes:

sending information on a state of charge of the first rechargeable battery, and

receiving information on a state of charge of the second rechargeable battery.

10. A semiconductor device comprising:

a first antenna circuit;

a communication control circuit electrically connected to the first antenna circuit;

a first rechargeable battery electrically connected to the communication control circuit;

a first circuit electrically connected to the first rechargeable battery; and

a second circuit electrically connected to the first circuit,

wherein the communication control circuit is configured to control communication with a device comprising a second rechargeable battery via the first antenna circuit,

wherein the first rechargeable battery is configured to be charged from the device comprising the second rechargeable battery wirelessly, and

wherein the second circuit is configured to feed a power to the device comprising the second rechargeable battery via the first circuit wirelessly.

11. The semiconductor device according to claim 10, wherein the first rechargeable battery is charged from the device comprising the second rechargeable battery via the first circuit.

12. The semiconductor device according to claim 10, wherein the first rechargeable battery is charged by using a power of an electromagnetic wave sent from the device comprising the second rechargeable battery.

13. The semiconductor device according to claim 10, wherein the communication control circuit is configured to operate by using a power from the first rechargeable battery.

14. The semiconductor device according to claim 10,

wherein the first circuit is a second antenna circuit, and

wherein the second circuit is an oscillator circuit.

15. The semiconductor device according to claim 10, wherein the power is fed to the device comprising the second rechargeable battery by an electromagnetic wave.

16. The semiconductor device according to claim 10, wherein the communication with the device includes:

sending information on a state of charge of the first rechargeable battery, and

receiving information on a state of charge of the second rechargeable battery.