Fabric battery

• US 9,947,905 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2015
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Keates, Andrew W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Tejash
• Application Number:
  US14/744,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20160372718A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/002 adapted to accommodate electronic equipment patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0015 Sports garments other than provided for in groups A41D13/0007 - A41D13/088
• CPC Class Codes: D02G 3/441 Yarns or threads with antistatic, conductive or radiation-shielding properties electroconductive, anti-static or radiation-shielding filaments D01F1/09, D01F1/106; anti-static fabrics D03D15/533; conducting, insulating or anti-static layers for floor coverings D06N7/0042
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 1/0088 Fabrics having an electronic function
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 11/00 Double or multi-ply fabrics not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/00 Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/25 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/16 antistatic; conductive
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/18 including electronic components
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/00 Wearing apparel
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0436 Small-sized flat cells or batteries for portable equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0065 Solid electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/103 prismatic or rectangular H01M50/109, H01M50/11 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/109 of button or coin shape
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/216 adapted for button or coin cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/503 characterised by the shape of the interconnectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/038 Textiles used as reinforcing materials for organic insulating substrates H05K1/0366
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10037 Printed or non-printed battery
• 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 battery includes a plurality of battery cells between first and second electrically conductive fabrics. The first electrically conductive fabric includes a first battery terminal. The second electrically conductive fabric includes a second battery terminal. The first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric are framed to provide an enclosed region. The plurality of battery cells are arranged in parallel between the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric within the enclosed region. Each of the plurality of battery cells is configured to establish an electrical connection, at least temporarily, with the first battery terminal through the first electrically conductive fabric and the second battery terminal through the second electrically conductive fabric.

Claims

1. A fabric battery, comprising:

a first electrically conductive fabric comprising a first battery terminal;

a second electrically conductive fabric comprising a second battery terminal, the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric framed to provide an enclosed region; and

a plurality of battery cells electrically connected in parallel between the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric within the enclosed region, each of the plurality of battery cells configured to establish an electrical connection, at least temporarily, with the first battery terminal through the first electrically conductive fabric and the second battery terminal through the second electrically conductive fabric.

2. The fabric battery of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric comprises one or more electrically conductive strands woven together with a plurality of non-electrically conductive strands.

3. The fabric battery of claim 2, wherein the one or more electrically conductive strands are electrically exposed to the plurality of battery cells within the enclosed region.

4. The fabric battery of claim 1, wherein the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric are flexible.

5. The fabric battery of claim 4, wherein the plurality of battery cells are loose within the enclosed region such that relative distances between adjacent battery cells change as the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric flex.

6. The fabric battery of claim 1, wherein the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric are stretchable.

7. The fabric battery of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of battery cells is affixed to at least one of the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric.

8. The fabric battery of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of battery cells comprises a hexagonal shape.

9. The fabric battery of claim 1, wherein the plurality of battery cells are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix.

10. The fabric battery of claim 9, wherein the two-dimensional matrix comprises a honeycomb pattern matrix.

11. The fabric battery of claim 1, further comprising a frame of electrically insulating material attached to the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric to form the enclosed region.

12. The fabric battery of claim 1, wherein the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric are shaped, sized, and configured to form part of a garment.

13. The fabric battery of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of battery cells comprises a solid state electrolyte configured to withstand tumble dry cycles for garments.

14. A method for manufacturing a battery, the method comprising:

providing a first electrically conductive fabric;

electrically coupling a plurality of battery cells in parallel in a two-dimensional matrix on the first electrically conductive fabric;

covering the two-dimensional matrix with a second electrically conductive fabric, wherein each of the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric comprises a flexible and sewable material; and

framing the two-dimensional matrix between the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric, to prevent direct electrical contact between the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric, and to allow the plurality of battery cells to establish electrical connections to the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

electrically coupling a first terminal to the first electrically conductive fabric; and

electrically coupling a second terminal to the second electrically conductive fabric.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the framing comprises affixing an electrically insulating material between the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric to enclose the two-dimensional matrix.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the affixing comprises sewing the electrically insulating material between the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric within an attachment region.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising integrating the battery into a garment.