Conformal Wearable Battery Shock Absorption
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Portable battery systems face challenges in increasing power capacity while reducing size and weight, and ensuring user safety, as existing solutions often lead to increased size and weight, and lack effective shock and vibration absorption.
Innovation Solution
A conformal wearable battery system incorporating non-cylindrical shaped battery cells, a flexible printed circuit board, visco-elastic central shock-absorbing members, and a flexible housing with battery cell shock-absorbing members to absorb shock and vibration, while maintaining electrical insulation and flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If additional battery cells or higher capacity battery cells are used to increase power storage capability, then power capacity is improved, but size and weight increase, reducing mobility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible battery cells with thin-film construction and conformable housing that can bend and flex, reducing the need for bulky protective structures. This allows higher capacity cells to be integrated without proportionally increasing overall device weight and volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes composite material structures combining multiple layers and materials in the battery assembly, including flexible substrates, electrode materials, and housing components. These composites optimize the strength-to-weight ratio, enabling increased power capacity without linear weight increase.
2Power
If additional battery cells or higher capacity battery cells are used to increase power storage capability, then power capacity is improved, but size increases, reducing mobility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from rigid, planar battery configurations to three-dimensional conformable structures that can bend and wrap around surfaces. This dimensional flexibility allows more efficient space utilization and higher capacity density within the same external envelope.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible battery construction uses thin-film electrodes and substrates that reduce overall cell thickness and volume. This enables higher capacity cells to be integrated without proportionally increasing the device's external dimensions.
3Reliability
If battery packages are arranged in a durable and sealed housing to protect batteries from damage, then reliability is improved, but shock and vibration forces are not adequately absorbed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates shock-absorbing materials and vibration-dampening structures within the housing design before impacts occur. These pre-positioned cushioning elements absorb and dissipate shock and vibration forces, protecting the battery cells from damage during normal use and extreme conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing employs composite material construction combining rigid protective outer shells with flexible shock-absorbing inner layers. This composite structure provides both durability and shock/vibration absorption, enhancing reliability without compromising protection.
4Reliability
If battery packages are arranged in a durable and sealed housing to protect batteries from damage, then reliability is improved, but flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes flexible housing materials and thin-film construction that allow the battery package to bend and conform to various surfaces while maintaining sealed protection. This flexibility enables the battery to adapt to different wear locations and body contours without compromising reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing design incorporates dynamic flexibility, allowing the structure to adapt its rigidity based on operational needs. The flexible yet protective housing can bend during normal use but maintains structural integrity and sealed protection when needed, providing both adaptability and reliability.
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 solution effectively increases power capacity, reduces size and weight, and enhances user safety by absorbing shock and vibration, ensuring the battery system remains functional and safe under various environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a visco-elastic central shock-absorbing member positioned between the upper portion and the lower portion of the flexible PCB
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of non-cylindrical shaped battery polymer cells
Data Source
AI summary
A battery system that is formed from a plurality of battery cells arranged on a flexible printed circuit card, where the flexible printed circuit card is folded along an axis forming an upper and lower portion of the flexible circuit card. A visco-elastic shock-absorbing member installed between the upper and lower portion of the flexible circuit card. Each battery cell may also have a visco-elastic shock-absorbing member that is attached individually to each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells.