Solid state activity-activated battery device and method

• US 6,906,436 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2003
• Issued: 06/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cymbet Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cymbet Corporation
• Inventors: Sullivan, Jim, Jenson, Mark L., Klaassen, Jody J., Lemaire, Charles A., Billion, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): DeBeradinis, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US10/336,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20040131925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 307/116, 429/162, 735/141.5
• US Class Current: 307/116
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/0036 Switches making use of microelectromechanical systems [MEMS] for electromagnetic relays H01H50/005; for electrostatic relays H01H59/0009
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/14 Switches operated by change of acceleration, e.g. by shock or vibration, inertia switch wherein the liquid constitutes a contact of the switch H01H29/002
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0436 Small-sized flat cells or batteries for portable equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0562 Solid materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2004/027 Negative electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2004/028 Positive electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0071 Oxides
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/36 Selection of substances as active materials, active masses, active liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/525 of mixed oxides or hydroxides containing iron, cobalt or nickel for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiNiO2, LiCoO2 or LiCoOxFy
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/11 having a chip structure, e.g. micro-sized batteries integrated on chips
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/40 Printed batteries , e.g. thin film batteries
• 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 system includes a thin-film battery and an activity-activated switch. The system is placed on a substrate with an adhesive backing. In some embodiments, the substrate is flexible. Also formed on the substrate is an electrical circuit that includes electronics. The activity-activated switch places the thin-film battery in electrical communication with the circuit and electronics. The battery and the circuit are formed on the substrate and may be comprised of one or a plurality of deposited layers.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a substrate;

a circuit connected to the substrate;

a thin-film battery connected to the substrate and connected to the circuit, the thin-film battery for powering the circuit; and

an acceleration-enabled switch connected to the substrate for electrically activating the circuit;

wherein the acceleration-enabled switch is a MEMS device;

wherein the acceleration-enabled switch includes;

a first cantilevered-beam-closure-switch; and

a second cantilevered-beam-closure-switch;

wherein the first cantilevered-beam-closure-switch forms electrical contact in response to a first acceleration and the second cantilevered-beam-closure-switch forms electrical contact in response to a second acceleration, the first acceleration different than the second acceleration;

wherein the circuit further comprises;

a memory; and

a timer, wherein the time when one of the first cantilevered-beam-closure-switch forms electrical contact in response to a first acceleration, or the time when the second cantilevered-beam-closure-switch forms electrical contact in response to a second acceleration is stored in memory.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the time when the other of the first cantilevered-beam-closure-switch forms electrical contact in response to a first acceleration, or the time when the second cantilevered-beam-closure-switch forms electrical contact in response to a second acceleration is stored in memory.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive backing adapted to attach the system to a product.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive backing adapted to attach the system to a product, the adhesive backing covered by a release layer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a warrantee period is started based on the first acceleration.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein a time of a shock event is recorded based on the second acceleration.

7. A system comprising:

a substrate;

a thin-film battery positioned on the substrate, the thin-film battery further including;

a first lead;

a first electrical contact in electrical communication with the first lead;

a second lead;

a second electrical contact in electrical communication with the second lead; and

an activity-activated switch connected to one of the first and second lead on the substrate for electrically connecting the thin-film battery to the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact;

further comprising an adhesive attached to the substrate.

8. The system of claim 7;

further comprising an electrical circuit having a clock and adapted to record a start of a warrantee period based on an activation of the activity-activated switch.

9. The system of claim 7;

further comprising an electrical circuit having a timer and adapted to record a time value based on an activation of the activity-activated switch.

10. The system of claim 7;

wherein the adhesive is a peel-and-stick releasable adhesive adapted to attach the system to a product.

11. The system of claim 7;

wherein the adhesive is a peel-and-stick permanent adhesive adapted to attach the system to a product.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the activity-activated switch is adapted to activate in response to acceleration.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the activity-activated switch is adapted to activate in response to a magnetic field.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein the activity-activated switch is adapted to activate in response to moisture.

15. The system of claim 7, wherein the activity-activated switch is adapted to activate in response to a radio signal.

16. The system of claim 7, wherein the activity-activated switch is adapted to activate in response to pressure.

17. The system of claim 7, wherein the activity-activated switch is adapted to activate in response to light.

18. The system of claim 7;

wherein the adhesive is attached to the battery and the battery is attached to the substrate.

19. A system comprising:

a substrate;

a circuit connected to the substrate;

a thin-film battery connected to the substrate and connected to the circuit, the thin-film battery adapted to power the circuit; and

a first activity-activated switch connected to the substrate adapted to electrically activate the circuit;

wherein the circuit further comprises;

a timer that outputs a timer value based on a time of activation of the first activity-activated switch in response to a first activity.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the first activity-activated, switch includes an acceleration-enabled switch connected to the substrate adapted to electrically activate the circuit;

wherein the value corresponds to a time when the first acceleration-enabled switch activates in response to a first acceleration.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the acceleration-enabled switch is a MEMS device that includes a first cantilevered-beam-closure-switch.

22. The system of claim 20, further comprising a second acceleration-enabled switch connected to the substrate adapted to electrically activate the circuit;

wherein the timer outputs a value that corresponds to a time when the second acceleration-enabled switch activates in response to a second acceleration different than the first acceleration.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein each acceleration-enabled switch is a MEMS device that includes a first cantilevered-beam-closure-switch, wherein each cantilevered-beam-closure-switch forms electrical contact in response to a different acceleration.

24. The system of claim 19, further comprising an adhesive backing adapted to attach the system to a product.

25. The system of claim 19, further comprising an adhesive backing adapted to attach the system to a product, the adhesive backing covered by a release layer.

26. A method comprising:

activating an activity-activated switch to place a thin-film battery in communication with a set of electronics;

storing a start time for a warranty using the powered electronics.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein activating an activity-activated switch includes accelerating the activity-activated switch at a selected level.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

running a self-check; and

storing the result of the self-check in response to activating the activity-activated switch.

29. The method of claim 26, further including storing other accelerations.

30. The method of claim 26, further including storing the time associated with other accelerations over a selected threshold.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising comparing the times of the other accelerations to the time when a shipper was in possession of the activity activated switch.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the activating includes activating the switch in response to acceleration.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein the activating includes activating the switch in response to a magnetic field.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein the activating includes activating the switch in response to moisture.

35. The method of claim 26, wherein the activating includes activating the switch in response to a radio signal.

36. The method of claim 26, wherein the activating includes activating the switch in response to pressure.

37. The method of claim 26, wherein the activating includes activating the switch in response to light.

38. The method of claim 26, further comprising

obtaining the activity-activated switch, the thin-film battery, and the set of electronics attached to a substrate in a label form, the label having an adhesive backing and a peel-away release layer;

removing the release layer to expose the adhesive; and

adhesively attaching the label to a product.

39. The method comprising:

adhesively attaching the activity-activated switch, the thin-film battery, and the set of electronics to a product.