Wirelessly Rechargeable Energy Storage Device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wirelessly rechargeable energy storage device. The device is characterized in that the housing (1) is formed of a dielectric material with a dielectric constant of 2 to 5 and has a wall thickness of 0.5 to 15 mm. At least one layer of strip antenna (3) made of a conductive material is applied to the outer surface of the housing (1), with successive antenna layers separated by layers of dielectric material. The housing (1) has a housing guide (4) formed inside for inserting a PCB (5) equipped with a system (6) for converting RF energy to DC. Terminals (7) and contacts (8) for connecting at least one energy storage module (2) to terminals (7) of the system for converting RF energy to DC are embedded in the PCB (5), and at least one antenna (3) is connected to them.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an energy storage device that is charged wirelessly by harvesting electromagnetic waves, particularly in the radio frequency band. [Background technology]

[0002] The wirelessly rechargeable battery disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 11,043,833 includes the following components: a housing formed with dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of a standardized battery; one or more antennas disposed in the housing, the antennas configured to receive radio frequency (RF) wireless power from a wireless charging system; one or more electronic circuit boards disposed in the housing; one or more electronic circuit boards configured to convert the received RF wireless power into direct current (DC) power; and one or more battery modules configured to store the DC power; wherein the polarization of one or more antennas is adjustable, and the wirelessly rechargeable battery device is configured to determine and adjust the optimal polarization of the one or more antennas by the following steps: for each of a plurality of antenna polarization modes, configure the one or more antennas based on the associated antenna polarization mode and measure the amount of received wireless power; and, for each antenna, select the antenna polarization mode with the greatest amount of measured wireless power as the optimal antenna polarization mode.

[0003] International Patent Application No. 2021173676A1 relates to a housing for a wirelessly rechargeable battery, including a housing having a base and an opposing open end. A hole is drilled in the base of the housing. The housing includes an end piece secured to the housing near the base, the end piece having opposing open ends. The housing includes a first conductive coating formed on an inner surface of the housing and a first surface of the base, and a second conductive coating formed on an inner surface of the end portion and a second surface of the base. The housing and end portion are configured with dimensions that match standard battery dimensions. The battery is disposed within a cavity in the housing, and circuitry is disposed within a cavity in the end portion. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In the present invention, the housing is made of a dielectric material with a dielectric constant in the range of 2 to 5 and a wall thickness of 0.5 mm to 15 mm, and at least one layer of strip antenna made of a conductive material is applied to the outer surface of the housing, with the antenna layers separated by a layer of dielectric material. A guide is formed inside the housing, and a printed circuit board (PCB) equipped with a system for converting RF energy to DC is inserted into the guide. Terminals and contacts connecting at least one energy storage module to terminals of the system for converting RF energy to DC are embedded in the PCB, and at least one antenna is connected to these terminals.

[0005] Preferably, one of the poles of the antenna is embedded in the outer surface of the housing, and the majority of it is embedded inside the housing and connected to the ground of the RF to DC energy conversion system, and the antenna is provided with contacts that transmit signals to the corresponding input and ground of the RF to DC energy conversion system. The geometry of the antenna, the thickness and dielectric constant of the housing material determine the width of the radio wave absorption range.

[0006] Preferably, the dielectric material is a plastic selected from Teflon, silicone, PS, PP, ABS, PVC, PE, and rubber. Preferably, the housing has a spatial shape having a cross section selected from a polygon and an ellipse, and is preferably circular.

[0007] Preferably, at least one wall of the housing is corrugated at the top, preferably over its entire height.

[0008] Preferably, the antenna has a length corresponding to λ / 2n, where λ is the length of the electromagnetic wave and n is an integer, or the antenna has a fractal length corresponding to λ / 2n corresponding to ultra-wideband antenna matching.

[0009] Preferably, the antenna is made of a composition containing a conductive material selected from silver, copper, aluminum, tin, graphite, and graphene, and is applied to the outer surface of the housing by a printing technique.

[0010] Preferably, the antenna is made of a composition including a conductive material selected from silver, copper, aluminum, tin, graphite, and graphene, and is applied to an insulating substrate that is adhered to the outer surface of the housing in the form of a self-adhesive sticker.

[0011] Preferably, the composition comprises a conductive material selected from alloys of silver, copper, aluminum, tin, graphite, and graphene.

[0012] Preferably, the housing is corrugated and has packed conductive paths formed thereon to form an antenna that extends the frequency range of radio waves it receives.

[0013] Preferably, the antenna is formed in a meander shape or a wave-shaped line shape. Preferably, the printed circuit board including the RF to DC energy conversion system is a spring-loaded PCB, and only necessary conductive elements are arranged on the board, and unnecessary conductive elements are removed.

[0014] Preferably, a free space is provided within the housing for adjusting the radio wave absorption band and matching the antenna input impedance, and its size and geometry are determined based on the housing dimensions, the housing wall thickness, and the ratio of the dielectric constants of the housing materials. Preferably, the free space within the housing is distributed along the entire length of the housing, the free space within the housing surrounds the energy storage module along its entire length, or the free space within the housing is above and below the energy storage module.

[0015] Preferably, the energy storage module is placed in free space and does not interfere with the radio wave absorption band or the impedance matching of the antenna input.

[0016] Preferably, the energy storage module comprises at least one battery and / or at least one supercapacitor.

[0017] Preferably, the PCB and antenna are manufactured using rigid-flex PCB technology, the PCB is manufactured using rigid PCB technology, the antenna is manufactured using said flex PCB technology and is directly connected to the circuitry of the PCB, and the antenna is further bonded to the outer surface of the housing.

[0018] Preferably, the antenna manufactured with the aforementioned flex PCB technology is in the form of a self-adhesive sticker.

[0019] The energy storage device of the present invention enables wireless energy supply, particularly to energy storage systems installed in locations where cable charging is not possible or is difficult to access. It also offers the possibility of charging energy storage devices built into many devices without removing them. The device has the function of collecting electromagnetic radiation smog and using it to charge the energy storage system. Furthermore, the device continuously and uninterruptedly charges the energy storage system even when not in use, thereby extending the lifespan of potentially used batteries whose lifespan is shortened by the self-discharge process. This allows for the elimination of conventional batteries and the replacement of low-energy device power systems with energy harvesting and storage systems, thereby reducing environmental pollution from used, still harmful, batteries. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] The subject matter of embodiments of the invention is illustrated in the drawings.

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an axonometric view of a housing-free wirelessly rechargeable electrical energy storage device. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is an axonometric view of a wirelessly rechargeable electrical energy storage device with an enclosure. [Figure 3] This is an axonometric view of the PCB printed circuit board inside the housing. [Figure 4]FIG. 1 is an axonometric view of a housing with a serpentine antenna applied to the striped side. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is an axonometric view of a housing with a meandering antenna applied to the cylindrical side surface. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a housing having straight side walls, an energy storage module arranged in free space over the entire height of the housing, and an antenna applied from a first side over the entire height of the housing and from a second side over half the height of the housing. [Figure 7] 1 is a schematic vertical cross-section of a housing with striped sidewalls, an energy storage module arranged in free space over the entire height of the housing, and an antenna applied over the entire height of the housing; FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an enclosure with striped sidewalls, energy storage modules arranged symmetrically inside the enclosure, and antennas applied across the entire height of the enclosure. [Figure 9] 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a housing having straight side walls, an energy storage module arranged symmetrically in free space inside the housing, and an antenna applied from a first side over the entire height of the housing and from a second side up to half the height of the housing. [Figure 10] 10 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a housing having straight side walls, an energy storage module in contact with the housing, free space being arranged above and below the energy storage module, and an antenna being applied to the height of the housing from a first side to the top of the energy storage module and from a second side to the height of the housing to the top of the energy storage module. [Figure 11] 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a housing in which an energy storage module abuts the enclosure, corrugated sidewalls are disposed above and below the energy storage module, free space is disposed above and below the energy storage module, and an antenna is disposed on the corrugated sidewalls. [Figure 12] It is a three-layer strip antenna made of conductive material separated by two layers of insulating material. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Example 1 The wireless electrical energy charging and storage device includes a housing 1 with an embedded energy storage module 2 and connected to an RF-to-DC energy conversion system 6 equipped with two antennas 3. The housing 1 is made of a dielectric material, specifically Teflon, with a dielectric constant of 2 and a wall thickness of 0.5 mm. The housing 1 has a three-dimensional shape with a circular cross section. The top of the housing is closed by a cover equipped with the device's positive terminal 10, and the bottom is closed by the energy storage module 2. Two strip-shaped antennas 3 made of a conductive material are disposed on the outer surface of the housing 1. A housing guide 4 is formed inside the housing 1, into which a printed circuit board (PCB) 5 carrying the RF-to-DC energy conversion system 6 is inserted. Terminals 7 connecting the energy storage module 2 and the terminals 7 of the RF-to-DC energy conversion system are disposed on the printed circuit board 5, and contacts 8 to which the antenna 3 is connected are formed on the printed circuit board 5. One of the poles of the antenna 3 is attached to the outer surface of the housing 1, most of which is embedded inside the housing 1 and connected to the RF-to-DC energy conversion system 6. The antenna 3 has contacts 8 that transmit signals to and through the RF-to-DC energy conversion system 6. The width of the radio wave absorption range is determined by the geometry of the antenna 3 and the thickness and dielectric constant of the material of the housing 1. The antenna 3 has a length equivalent to λ / 2 of the wavelength λ of the electromagnetic wave, is formed from a silver-containing composition, and is applied to the outer surface of the housing 1 using a screen printing technique. The energy storage module 2 is a battery, and is placed in free space 9 so as not to interfere with the radio wave absorption band and to match the input impedance of the antenna 3.

[0023] Example 2 The wireless charging and storage device for electrical energy is constructed similarly to Example 1, except that the housing 1 is formed of an ABS dielectric material with a dielectric constant of 3.3 and a wall thickness of 15 mm, and four strip-shaped antennas 3 formed of a conductive material consisting of a composition containing copper as the conductive material are applied to the outer wall surface of the housing. Furthermore, the antennas 3 have a length equivalent to λ / 2, where λ is the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave and n is an integer equal to 3. The housing 1 is a cylindrical three-dimensional shape with a circular cross section, is made of ABS as an insulating material with a dielectric constant of 3.3, and has a corrugated upper surface. Furthermore, packed conductive tracks forming the antennas 3 are applied to the housing 1, which extend the frequency range of the received radio waves.

[0024] Example 3 The wireless charging and storage device for electrical energy is fabricated in a manner similar to that of Example 1, except that the housing 1 is made of a silicone dielectric material with a dielectric constant of 10 and has a wall thickness of 15 mm. Six strip-shaped antennas 3 formed of a conductive material composed of a composition containing aluminum as the conductive material are applied to the outer surface of the housing 1. Furthermore, the antennas 3 have a length equivalent to λ / 2, where λ is the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave and n is an integer equal to 2. The antennas 3 are made of a composition containing copper as the conductive material. The housing 1 is a cylindrical spatial structure with an elliptical cross section and is formed of silicone with a dielectric constant of 10. The printed circuit board containing the circuit for converting RF energy to DC is a spring-loaded printed circuit board (PCB), in which only the relevant conductive elements are present and additional conductive elements are removed. Furthermore, the antennas 3 have a fractal length of λ / 2n, corresponding to the ultra-wideband matching of the antennas 3.

[0025] Example 4 The wireless charging and storage device for electric energy is manufactured in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 3, except that a free space 9 is provided inside the housing 1 to adjust the absorption band of radio waves and match the input impedance of the antenna 3, and the dimensions and geometric shape of the free space 9 are determined based on the ratio of the dimensions of the housing 1, the thickness of the housing wall 1, and the dielectric constant of the housing material 1. Furthermore, a self-adhesive sticker with the antenna 3 applied to an insulating substrate is attached to the outer surface of the housing 1.

[0026] Example 5 The wireless charging and storage device for electrical energy is manufactured in a similar manner to Example 4, except that in an enclosure 1 with straight walls, the energy storage module 2 is arranged over the entire height of the free space 9, and the antenna 3 is applied from a first side surface across the entire height of the enclosure 1 and from a second side surface up to half its height.

[0027] Example 6 The wireless charging and storage device for electrical energy is manufactured in a similar way to Example 4, except that in the corrugated walls of the housing 1, the energy storage module 2 is arranged in free space over the entire height of the housing, and the antenna 3 is arranged over the entire height of the housing.

[0028] Example 7 The wireless charging and storage device for electrical energy is manufactured in a similar manner to Example 4, except that the energy storage modules 2 are arranged symmetrically inside the housing 1 in the corrugated walls of the housing 1, and the antenna 3 is arranged over the entire height of the housing 1.

[0029] Example 8 The wireless charging and storage device for electrical energy is manufactured in a similar manner to Example 4, except that in a housing 1 having straight walls, the energy storage module 2 is arranged symmetrically inside the housing, and the antenna 3 is arranged from a first side of the housing 1 over the entire height of the housing and from a second side up to half its height.

[0030] Example 9 The wireless charging and storage device for electrical energy is manufactured in a similar manner to Example 4, except that an energy storage module 2 is adjacent to a housing 1 having straight side walls, with free space disposed above and below the energy storage module 2. An antenna is applied from a first side to the height of the housing 1 above the energy storage module 2, and from a second side of the housing to the height of the housing 1 above the energy storage module 2.

[0031] Example 10 The wireless charging and storage device for electrical energy is manufactured similarly to Example 4, except that the energy storage module 2 is adjacent to the housing 1, the housing 1 has corrugated sidewalls with free space disposed above and below the energy storage module 2, and the antenna is disposed on the corrugated sidewalls.

[0032] Example 11 The wireless charging and storage device for electric energy is manufactured in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 3, but differs in that the antenna 3 is formed in a wavy linear shape.

[0033] Example 12 The wireless charging and storage device for electric energy is manufactured in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 3, except that the energy storage module 2 is a battery.

[0034] Example 13 The wireless charging and storage device for electric energy is manufactured in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 3, except that the energy storage module 2 is a supercapacitor.

[0035] Example 14 The wireless charging and storage device for electrical energy is manufactured in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 3, except that the energy storage module 2 is three batteries.

[0036] Example 15 The wireless charging and storage device for electrical energy is manufactured in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 3, except that the energy storage module 2 is five supercapacitors.

[0037] Example 16 The wireless charging and storage device for electric energy is manufactured in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 3, except that the printed circuit board PCB5 and the antenna 3 are manufactured using rigid-flex PCB technology. The PCB 5 is manufactured using rigid PCB technology, and the antenna 3 is manufactured using flex PCB technology and is directly connected to the circuit of the PCB 5. Furthermore, the antenna 3 is bonded to the outer surface of the housing 1.

[0038] Example 17 The wireless charging and storage device for electrical energy is manufactured in a similar manner to Example 16, except that the antenna 3, manufactured using flex PCB technology, is in the form of a self-adhesive sticker.

[0039] Example 18 The wireless charging and storage device for electrical energy is manufactured in a similar manner to Examples 1 to 3, except that a three-layer strip antenna 3 made of a conductive material is applied to the outer surface of the housing 1. The layers of the antenna 3 are separated by layers of insulating material.

[0040] The wireless charging and storage device for electric energy has a housing 1 made of a dielectric plastic material with a dielectric constant in the range of 2 to 10, particularly silicone, Teflon, ABS, PVC, PE, PS, PP, and rubber. The antenna 3 is formed from a composition containing a conductive material selected from silver, copper, aluminum, tin, graphite, graphene, and alloys or mixtures thereof, and is applied to the insulating housing. The antenna 3 may also be formed in the form of a self-adhesive sticker having an insulating substrate with a composition containing a conductive material selected from silver, copper, aluminum, tin, graphite, graphene, and alloys or mixtures thereof. This composition is applied to the insulating substrate in the form of a self-adhesive sticker and adhered to the outer surface of the housing 1. The device of the present invention can collect electromagnetic waves in the radio frequency range and convert the absorbed electromagnetic energy into low-voltage direct current. Subsequently, a built-in conversion circuit increases the voltage of the absorbed charge and charges the energy storage module 2 to a set voltage. This energy storage module is typically a battery, capacitor, supercapacitor, or the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1. Housing 2. Energy storage module 3. Antenna 4. Housing Guide 5. Printed Circuit Board (PCB) 6. RF to DC energy conversion circuits 7. Terminals 8. Contact 9.Free space 10. Positive electrode of the device

Claims

1. A wirelessly rechargeable energy storage device, comprising: a housing; an energy storage module; and a system for harvesting electromagnetic energy from the environment and converting RF energy into DC, wherein at least two antennas are connected to the system; and the system for harvesting electromagnetic energy from the environment has a charging connector; The housing (1) is formed from a dielectric material having a dielectric constant in the range of 2 to 5 and has a wall thickness of 0.5 mm to 15 mm, and at least one layer of a strip antenna (3) formed from a conductive material is applied to the outer surface of the housing (1), successive antenna layers being separated by layers of dielectric material; The device includes a housing guide (4) formed inside the housing (1), into which a PCB (5) having a system (6) for converting RF energy into DC is inserted, and further includes terminals (7) for connecting at least one energy storage module (2) to terminals (7) of the system for converting RF energy into DC, and contacts (8) embedded in the PCB (5), and at least one antenna (3) connected thereto.

2. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein one pole of the antenna (3) is mounted on the outer surface of the housing (1), and the majority of it is mounted inside the housing (1) and connected to the DC ground of a system that converts RF energy into DC, and the antenna (3) is provided with contacts (8) that direct the signal to the input matching and ground of the system that converts RF energy into DC, and the geometry of the antenna (3) and the thickness and dielectric constant of the housing material (1) determine the width of the radio wave absorption range.

3. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the dielectric material is a plastic selected from the group consisting of silicone, Teflon, ABS, PVC, PE, PS, PP, and rubber.

4. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the housing (1) is a three-dimensional shape having a cross section selected from the group consisting of polygonal and elliptical, preferably circular.

5. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one wall of the housing (1) is corrugated at the top, preferably over its entire height.

6. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the antenna (3) has a length corresponding to λ / 2n, where λ is the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave and n is an integer.

7. 7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the antenna (3) has a fractal length corresponding to λ / 2n and is matched with an ultra-wideband antenna (3).

8. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the antenna (3) is formed from a composition comprising a conductive material selected from silver, copper, aluminum, tin, graphite, and graphene, and is applied to the outer surface of the housing (1) by printing technology.

9. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the antenna (3) is formed from a composition comprising a conductive material selected from silver, copper, aluminum, tin, graphite, and graphene, and is applied to the insulating substrate in the form of a self-adhesive sticker adhered to the outer surface of the housing (1).

10. 10. The device of claim 8 or 9, wherein the composition comprises a conductive material selected from alloys of silver, copper, aluminum, tin, graphite, and graphene.

11. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (1) is corrugated and on which are applied conductive tracks forming an antenna (3) which extends the range of radio frequencies received.

12. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the antenna (3) is formed in a meander shape.

13. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the antenna (3) is formed in the shape of a wavy line.

14. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board with the system for converting RF energy into DC is a spring-loaded printed circuit board (5) on which the essential conductive elements are arranged and the additional conductive elements are removed.

15. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein a free space (9) is provided within the housing (1) for adjusting the absorption band of radio waves and matching the input impedance of the antenna (3), the dimensions and geometric shape of which are determined based on the ratio of the dimensions of the housing (1), the wall thickness of the housing (1), and the dielectric constant of the material of the housing (1).

16. 16. Device according to claim 15, wherein the free space (9) within the housing (1) is distributed along the entire length of the housing (1).

17. 16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the free space (9) within the housing (1) surrounds the energy storage module (2) along its entire length.

18. 18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the free space (9) in the housing (1) is arranged above and below the energy storage module (2).

19. 16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the energy storage module (2) is placed in free space (9) so as not to disturb the absorption band of radio waves and to match the input impedance of the antenna (3).

20. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the energy storage module (2) comprises at least one battery and / or at least one supercapacitor.

21. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the PCB (5) and the antenna (3) are manufactured using rigid-flex PCB technology, the PCB (5) is formed using rigid PCB technology, the antenna (3) is formed using flex PCB technology and is directly connected to the circuitry of the PCB (5), and the antenna (3) is bonded to the outer surface of the housing (1).

22. 22. Device according to claim 21, wherein the antenna (3) formed in flex PCB technology has the form of a self-adhesive sticker.

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