Electric Double Layer Capacitor Antenna for NFC Energy Harvesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic devices face limitations in data transfer rate and communication range due to constrained electrical energy, particularly in near field communication (NFC) and other frequency bands, as existing energy storage devices like lithium ion batteries are insufficient for efficient wireless communication.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising an electric double layer capacitor sandwiched between two flexible printed circuits, with conductors acting as current collectors and resonating in specific frequency bands, enabling efficient energy storage and wireless communication by providing electrical energy to radio frequency circuitry and charging circuitry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a lithium ion battery is used for electrical energy storage, then the device can operate for extended periods, but the data transfer rate and communication range are constrained due to insufficient electrical energy availability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the antenna and electrical energy storage device into a single integrated structure. The antenna serves dual purposes: wireless communication and energy storage through electromagnetic resonance. This merging allows the system to improve data transfer rate and communication range while maintaining adequate energy availability, as the same structure performs both functions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna structure is designed to perform multiple functions: it acts as both a communication antenna and an electrical energy storage device. By tuning the resonant frequency and electrical length, the antenna can store electrical energy while maintaining its communication capabilities, thus improving overall energy availability without sacrificing data transfer performance.
2Reliability
If the antenna electrical length is increased to improve resonance in a frequency band, then the communication performance improves, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) to implement the antenna structure. The FPC allows the antenna to achieve the required electrical length for resonance while maintaining a compact, flexible form factor. The flexible nature of the FPC enables the antenna to be configured in space-efficient patterns that provide the necessary electrical length without increasing the overall device footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna structure utilizes the flexible printed circuit board to achieve resonance in a compact form. By using the FPC's flexibility and multi-layer structure, the antenna can achieve the required electrical length through three-dimensional routing and stacking, rather than requiring a simple linear extension, thus maintaining small device dimensions while achieving proper resonance.
3Quantity of substance
If a planar monopole antenna or planar inverted-F antenna is integrated with a supercapacitor, then energy storage is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the antenna and supercapacitor into a single integrated structure where the supercapacitor is formed between the antenna conductor and the ground plane on the FPC. This integration eliminates the need for separate antenna and energy storage components, reducing device complexity while maintaining improved energy storage capacity. The same structural elements serve dual purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The FPC structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the antenna conductor, the ground plane, and the dielectric medium for the supercapacitor. This multi-functionality reduces the number of discrete components needed, thereby simplifying the overall device structure while achieving both communication and energy storage functions.
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
Enhances wireless data rate and communication distance by providing stable electrical energy for radio frequency operations, allowing dual functionality as both energy storage and communication components, while maintaining a compact and flexible design.
Implementation Method 1
having a first electrical length to resonate in a first operational frequency band
Implementation Method 2
an electric double layer capacitor having a first surface and a second surface
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Apparatus comprising: an electric double layer capacitor having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being opposite the second surface; a first conductor positioned adjacent the first surface and configured to function as a current collector for the electric double layer capacitor, and having a first electrical length to resonate in a first operational frequency band; and a second conductor positioned adjacent the second surface and configured to function as a current collector for the electric double layer capacitor.