In situ rechargeable battery and charging stand

• US 7,705,558 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2004
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DeNovo Research, LLC
• Original Assignee: DeNovo Research, LLC
• Inventors: Silverman, Martin S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Bao Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zhang; Jue
• Application Number:
  US10/976,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20050095498A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,006 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 320/114, 320/115
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0427 Button cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4242 Regeneration of electrolyte or reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4264 with capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/469 tubular or cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• 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 secondary button cell battery that is particularly suited for use in hearing aid appliances, and an associated charging station. Recharging is accomplished without direct conductive connection between the source of the energy and either the battery or its appliance. Radio frequency energy is harvested in an enclosed chamber in a charging station and applied to the recharging of the button cell. Such energy is harvested by the use of one or more energy harvesting diodes connected in parallel with the battery. Multiple diodes connected in parallel or serial may be used to adjust charging current or voltage or both. Charge control is provided by directly or indirectly detecting the level of charge on the cell. Where the associated appliance is a hearing aid, the charge level detection may be accomplished acoustically by determining the characteristics of the sound emitted by the hearing aid, and charging is accomplished with the cell within the hearing aid appliance.

Claims

1. A charging station for a secondary battery which said secondary battery has a radio frequency energy harvesting diode chargingly associated therewith, said charging station comprising:

a charging chamber, said charging chamber having an open configuration and a closed configuration, said open configuration being adapted to the insertion and removal therefrom of said secondary battery in the form of a button cell including a radio frequency energy harvesting diode, said closed configuration being adapted to chargingly providing radio frequency energy at a frequency of from approximately 2.4 to 5.8 gigahertz to said radio frequency energy harvesting diode in said secondary battery, wherein said secondary battery is operatively associated with a hearing aid to form a battery-hearing aid combination, and said closed configuration being adapted to chargingly providing radio frequency energy to said battery-hearing aid combination, and said hearing aid being adapted to providing an indication of a level of electrical charge to a charge controlling member.

2. A charging station of claim 1 wherein said charging chamber in said closed configuration is adapted to substantially preventing the emission of said radio frequency energy from said charging chamber.

3. A charging station of claim 1 including a charge controlling member adapted to detecting the level of electrical charge on said secondary battery, and controlling the amount of said radio frequency energy generated by said charging station responsive to said detected level of electrical charge on said secondary battery.

4. A charging station for a secondary battery in the form of a button cell comprising:

a charging chamber, said charging chamber having an open configuration and a closed configuration, said open configuration being adapted to the insertion and removal therefrom of said secondary battery, said closed configuration being adapted to chargingly providing radio frequency energy at a frequency of from approximately 2.4 to 5.8 gigahertz to said secondary battery, said secondary battery having a radio frequency energy harvesting diode chargingly associated therewith; and

a charge controlling member adapted to controlling the amount of said radio frequency energy generated by said charging station responsive to a level of electrical charge on said secondary battery, wherein said secondary battery is operatively associated with a hearing aid to form a battery-hearing aid combination, and said closed configuration being adapted to chargingly providing radio frequency energy to said battery-hearing aid combination, and said hearing aid being adapted to providing an indication of said level of electrical charge to said charge controlling member.