Solid state MEMS activity-activated battery device and method

• US 7,274,118 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2005
• Issued: 09/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cymbet Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cymbet Corporation
• Inventors: Jenson, Mark L., Klaassen, Jody J., Lemaire, Charles A., Sullivan, Jim, Billion, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deberadinis; Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US11/134,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20050218726A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 307/116
• 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. In some embodiments, 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 formed on the substrate and connected to the circuit, the thin-film battery operable to power the circuit; and

an acceleration-enabled switch connected to the substrate and operably coupled to electrically activate the circuit,

wherein the acceleration-enabled switch is a cantilevered-beam MEMS device.

2. A system comprising:

a substrate;

a circuit connected to the substrate;

a thin-film battery formed on the substrate and connected to the circuit, the thin-film battery operable to power the circuit; and

an acceleration-enabled switch connected to the substrate and operably coupled to electrically activate the circuit,

wherein the battery is sputtered onto the substrate and the circuit is formed on the battery.

3. A system comprising:

a substrate;

a circuit connected to the substrate;

a thin-film battery formed on the substrate and connected to the circuit, the thin-film battery operable to power the circuit; and

an acceleration-enabled switch connected to the substrate and operably coupled to electrically activate the circuit, wherein the acceleration-enabled switch is a MEMS device, and wherein the acceleration-enabled switch includes at least one cantilevered beam and an electrical contact, the at least one cantilevered beam contacting the electrical contact in response to an acceleration.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the acceleration-enabled switch forms a first electrical contact in response to a first acceleration and forms a second electrical contact in response to a second acceleration, the first acceleration different than the second acceleration.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the acceleration-enabled switch includes:

a first cantilevered-beam-closure-switch; and

a second cantilevered-beam-closure-switch.

6. The system of claim 5, 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.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the acceleration-enabled switch includes a cantilevered beam and an electrical contact in each of at least two different directions such that the circuit activates differently in response to acceleration in either of two different planes.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the acceleration-enabled switch includes a first cantilevered-beam-closure-switch that forms electrical contact in response to a first acceleration in a first plane, and a second cantilevered-beam-closure-switch that forms electrical contact in response to a first acceleration in response to a second acceleration in a second plane.

9. The system of claim 3, further comprising peel-and-stick adhesive attached to the substrate and covered by a peelable layer, wherein the system forms a label configured to be adhesively attached to a package.

10. The system of claim 3, wherein the system fits within a device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the device is an ordinance.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the ordinance includes a guidance system that is powered from the battery.

13. A system comprising:

a substrate;

a circuit connected to the substrate;

a thin-film battery formed on the substrate and connected to the circuit, the thin-film battery operable to power the circuit; and

an acceleration-enabled switch connected to the substrate and operably coupled to electrically activate the circuit, wherein the acceleration-enabled switch is a MEMS device, wherein the acceleration-enabled switch includes at least one cantilevered beam and an electrical contact, the at least one cantilevered beam contacting the electrical contact in response to an acceleration, and wherein the circuit is formed on the substrate and the battery is sputtered onto the circuit.

14. A system for powering electronics, the system comprising:

a substrate;

a thin-film battery formed on the substrate;

a first lead connected to the thin-film battery;

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

a second lead connected to the electronics;

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

an activity-activated MEMS switch formed on the substrate or the electronics and configured to electrically connect the first electrical contact to the second electrical contact.

15. A system for powering electronics, the system comprising:

a substrate;

a thin-film battery formed on the substrate;

a first lead connected to the thin-film battery;

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

a second lead connected to the electronics;

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

an activity-activated MEMS switch that is formed on at least one of the substrate, the battery, and the electronics, and that is configured to electrically connect the first electrical contact to the second electrical contact,

wherein the activity-activated switch is formed in place using microelectronic fabrication techniques.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the activity-activated switch is configured to be activated in response to acceleration.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the activity-activated switch is configured to be activated in response to a magnetic field.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the activity-activated switch is configured to be activated in response to moisture.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the activity-activated switch is configured to be activated in response to a radio signal.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the activity-activated switch is configured to be activated in response to pressure.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the activity-activated switch is configured to be activated in response to light.

22. A method comprising:

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

directing the ordinance using the powered electronics.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising taking the ordinance from a deactivated state into an activated state due to the ordinance being shot causing the activating of the activity-activated switch.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising guiding the ordinance using one or more controllable fins controlled by the electronics, which are activated after the ordinance is shot.