Wireless chargeable energy cell

• US 20080272737A1
• Filed: 09/14/2007
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acreo AB
• Original Assignee: Acreo AB
• Inventors: Robertsson, Mats
• Granted Patent: US 7,898,214 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/128
• 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 it into electric energy;

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

a dechargeable energy cell comprising;

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

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

said 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.

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

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

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

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

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

8. A chargeable circuitry according to claim 7, wherein the energy cell is arranged such that its charge status is visually detectable.

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

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

11. A circuitry according to claim 1, arranged to receive and rectify EM-radiation emitted from a wireless device.

12. A circuitry according to claim 1, 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. A circuitry according to claim 1, arranged to receive and rectify EM-radiation emitted from a domestic device.

14. A 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. A circuitry according to claim 1, wherein said antenna is a dipole antenna.

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

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

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

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

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

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

23. A circuitry according to claim 1, wherein said first and second electrochemically active element is arranged in a common plane.

24. A 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 recognisable design.

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

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

27. An element according to claim 26, wherein said element layer is made of a plastic based material.

28. An element according to claim 26, wherein said layer further comprises a second substrate arranged such that said antenna, rectifier and energy cell is sandwiched between said substrates.

29. An element according to claim 26, wherein said element is self-contained.

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

31. A method of producing a chargeable circuit element, comprising:

providing a first and a second chargeable circuit element layer;

arranging an antenna of electrically conducting material on said first element layer;

arranging a rectifier of electrically conducting material on either of said first and second element layers;

arranging an energy cell on either of said first and second element layers;

arranging electrical conductors of electrically conducting material on at least said first element layer, and

attaching said first element layer to said second element layer,

such that said rectifier is electrically connected to both said antenna and said energy cell, at least after said first and second layers have been attached to each other.

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein at least one of the arranging said antenna, arranging said rectifier, arranging said energy cell and arranging said electrical conductors comprises printing electrically conductive material on a respective element layer.

33. A method according to claim 31, wherein

said providing said first and second energy cell layers, further comprises providing at least one of said element layers with at least one continuous layer of electrically conducting material, and

at least one of the arranging said antenna, arranging said rectifier, arranging said energy cell and arranging said electrical conductors comprises removing portions of electrically conducting material from said at least one continuous layer.

34. A method according to claim 33, wherein at least one of said at least one continuous layer is provided with an anti-oxidation layer.

35. A method according to claim 31, further comprising providing an adhesive on top of either of said first and second energy cell layers, before said layers are attached to each other.

36. A method according to claim 35, where said adhesive is provided by printing.

37. A method according to claim 31, wherein said rectifier, said energy cell and said conductors are arranged on said first element layer.

38. A method according to claim 37, wherein said second element layer is a protective layer.

39. A method according to claim 31, wherein said rectifier and energy cell are arranged on said second element layer.

40. A method of charging a energy cell, comprising:

providing a chargeable circuitry;

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

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

converting said received EM-radiation to an rectified electric current with means comprised 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.

41. A method according to claim 40, wherein said emitting EM-radiation comprises activating the antenna of a wireless communication device such that it emits EM-radiation.

42. A method according to claim 40, wherein said activating the antenna comprises activating the antenna of a handheld device.

43. A method according to claim 40, further comprising controlling an electrical component, coupled to said energy cell, by de-charging at least a portion of said stored energy.

44. A method comprising:

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