Battery Radio Jacket for Host-Asset Tracking Without Form-Factor Changes

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Solution Overview

Problem

The complexity and cost of managing large numbers of IoT devices, particularly in home and small business environments, along with the need for battery management and monitoring, are not efficiently addressed by existing technologies, requiring complex networking and setup beyond the skill of average users.

Innovation Solution

Integrating a battery:radiobeacon system that includes a low-energy transmitter with computing power, sensors, and a ceramic antenna, allowing users to manage and track devices through a local area network, with smart batteries that can be wirelessly recharged and exchanged, and communicate via Bluetooth standards.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a network communications system is implemented to allow batteries to share information with smart devices, then device management and tracking capabilities are improved, but system complexity and setup difficulty increase beyond the skill of the average user

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice management capabilityVSAvoidsystem setup complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a hub device as an intermediary that simplifies the communication architecture. Instead of requiring direct peer-to-peer connections between each battery and smart device, the hub mediates all communications, providing a centralized point of control that reduces setup complexity while maintaining full device management capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The hub device serves multiple functions: it acts as a communication router between batteries and smart devices, provides a user interface for system management, enables tracking and monitoring capabilities, and facilitates data sharing across the network. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate components into a single universal device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If Bluetooth standards and wireless communication are used for battery-to-device communication, then ease of operation and user accessibility are improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser accessibilityVSAvoidbattery power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs periodic communication cycles where batteries transmit status information at intervals rather than continuously. The hub polls batteries periodically and relays information to smart devices only when changes occur, significantly reducing power consumption while maintaining real-time monitoring capability through this rhythmic, on-demand communication pattern.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Adaptability or versatility

If existing battery devices are retrofitted with networking capabilities, then device functionality is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice functionalityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the networking functionality into separate modules: a hub device that handles all complex communication and processing functions, and simple battery units that only need basic transmission capability. This segmentation allows existing batteries to be used as-is or with minimal modification, while the hub provides the sophisticated networking capabilities, greatly simplifying manufacturing compared to retrofitting each battery individually.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables users to seamlessly manage and track devices, monitor environmental conditions, and alert users to battery conditions, while conserving power and space, without requiring complex setup or obsolete existing hardware, facilitating a 'cloud of things' for individual or group use.

Implementation Method 1

a low-energy transmitter with computing power, sensors, and a ceramic antenna

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

batteries used to power electronic devices

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBattery electrochemical reaction: Battery (electricity)

Data Source

PatentUS12452638B2Battery beacon systems and methods of use

Publication Date: 2025.10.21 PB INC

AI summary

In an embodiment, a battery radio jacket with flexible printed circuit operably mountable on an external surface of a standard battery, typically with a conductive adhesive backing, the jacket having end tabs for electrically connecting with the anode and cathode of the battery. Powered in parallel with a battery-operated appliance or load (“host asset”), the radio jacket transmits a unique radio identifier useful in finding and tracking the host asset. For convenience, the battery radio jacket as assembled on a standard battery, fits into the battery-receiving compartment of the battery-operated appliance without modification of the form factor of the battery. Optionally the radio jacket may include a switch for radio control of power to the appliance or load. The battery radio jackets enable radio links to smart devices such as smartphones and may be operated by a cloud host as part of a system for finding and tracking assets and for sensing and reporting battery status and environmental data.