Integrated Solar Cell Negative Contact Coil for Wireless Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing functionality of portable electronic devices leads to greater space requirements and energy demands, resulting in decreased battery life due to the need for more components, which existing technologies fail to efficiently address through energy harvesting.
Innovation Solution
A solar cell with a semiconductor material, positive and negative contacts, and a coil geometry for wireless charging, integrated into a portable electronic device, allowing for solar charging, inductive charging, and near-field communication, with a processor to optimize charging methods and switch between modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If more components are packaged into portable electronic devices to increase functionality, then device functionality is improved, but space requirements and energy consumption increase leading to decreased battery life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the solar cell's negative contact with the wireless charging coil into a single integrated component. This merging eliminates the need for separate components for solar current collection and wireless power transfer, reducing overall device complexity and space requirements while maintaining multiple functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The negative contact is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the current collection electrode for the solar cell and the coil structure for wireless inductive charging. This multi-functionality allows the device to harvest energy from both solar and external wireless sources, extending battery life without adding additional components
2Adaptability or versatility
If more components are added to portable electronic devices, then device functionality is improved, but the number of components and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the solar cell's negative contact with the wireless charging coil into a single integrated component. This reduces the total component count while enabling both solar energy harvesting and wireless charging functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated negative contact/coil structure performs multiple functions: solar current collection, wireless power reception, and potential near-field communication. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated components for each function
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
The solar cell extends battery life by harnessing energy from the environment and external sources efficiently, reducing the need for conventional charging and minimizing component count for a more compact device.
Implementation Method 1
a semiconductor material configured to absorb light for generating a current
Implementation Method 2
The negative contact has a coil geometry for coupling with an external interface... configured for inductive charging
Data Source
AI summary
A solar cell and a portable electronic device are provided. The solar cell includes a semiconductor material configured to absorb light for generating a current. The solar cell further includes a positive contact and a negative contact. In addition, the negative contact is configured to couple with an external interface. The portable electronic device includes an energy storage unit. The portable electronic device also includes a semiconductor material configured to absorb light for generating a current, a positive contact, and a negative contact. The negative contact of the portable electronic device is configured to couple with an external interface.