Patent Application
20110018357
None cited
This invention was not made under any United States Government Contract. Therefore the United States Government has no rights in the invention.
1. Field of the Invention
This disclosure generally relates to a system and methods for developing electronic micro, mili, and nano chips that will harvest electrical signals, converting energy into an electrical current and storing the energy from electronics signals for use in powering each individual electronic chipset.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional electronic devices use power provided by storage devices such as batteries, or storage capacitors. These storage devices are limited to the amount of portable energy stored in the device available to the user. Carrying additional storage media is expensive, and the user must accommodate for the weight, storage space, and the disposal aspect of the additional devices. These storage devices are environmentally unfriendly and require additional costs for proper disposal methods.
Conventional shake devices similar to the shaker flashlight provide very limited amounts of storage energy which is determined by the amount of movement of the device, and adds extra weight to electronic devices. These types of self producing power devices require physical movement of the device and relative to a high frequency Radio Frequency (RF) vibration are very inefficient.
Conventional crank-powered devices have much more energy generation capabilities than the shaker activated devices, but are bulky, require physical activity, are very noisy, and are not readily deployable to power other devices.
Similarly, electro-magnetic and electro-mechanical devices and applications such as alternators, motors, and generators require large footprints, heavy portability, and massive amounts of magnetic fields generated by the magnets and the electromotive (EMF) forces. These forces are detrimental to many portable electronic devices and to personnel.
With electro-magnetic and electro-mechanical devices desired increases in power output or performance require increasing the number of coil wires and or the number and strength of the magnetic fields. These approaches required introduction of weight, cost, and desirability issues. Standard RF harvesting devices are very costly and inefficient due to associated electronics involved. The harvesting techniques are generally very poor, and are tuned to harvest at only one specific energy frequency efficiently. They do not create energy; they can only slightly harvest the energy of the RF field.
In one embodiment, a silicone chipset comprising a silicone covering layer around the chipset. In one embodiment, a layer of radio frequency electronics etched onto the layer under the top layer of the silicone chipset. In one embodiment, a layer comprising a coil of a electrical conductive winding configured to resonate at several frequencies and deposited on the chipset. In one embodiment, a coil winding set into a mesh which will resonate at differing RF frequencies and deposited on the chipset. In one embodiment, coil standoffs etched into the chipset which the coil mesh is attached. In one embodiment, a vibrational transfer plate material used to collect the RF signals and deposited onto the chipset. In one embodiment, electrically conductive coil windings configured around a magnetic source used to generate voltage. In one embodiment, carbon nanotubes which vibrate at fixed RF frequencies which have affixed magnetic bacteria which will oscillate above or below the conductive coil windings. In one embodiment, carbon nanotubes which vibrate at varying RF frequencies which have affixed magnetic bacteria which will oscillate above or below the conductive coil windings In one embodiment, electrically conductive coil mesh used to collect the voltage generated when the carbon nanotubes resonate at varying frequencies. In one embodiment, a vibrational transfer plate used for harvesting the movement of the carbon nanotubes with RF activation. In one embodiment a crystal oscillator deposited on the chipset used to tune and magnify the RF frequencies. In one embodiment, a layer of ultra pure mica is deposited onto the chip substrate. In one embodiment a layer of dense packed carbon nanotube storage material is deposited onto the chip substrate. In one embodiment a layer of chip function electronics etched into the substrate and deposited to have direct electrical interface with the dense pack carbon nanotube storage material.
In one embodiment, a silicone chipset comprising a silicone covering layer around the chipset. In one embodiment, a layer of radio frequency electronics etched onto the layer under the top layer of the silicone chipset. In one embodiment, layer comprising a coil of a electrical conductive winding configured to resonate at several frequencies and deposited on the chipset.
In one embodiment, coil winding set into a mesh which will resonate at differing RF frequencies and deposited on the chipset. In one embodiment, coil standoffs etched into the chipset which the coil mesh is attached. In one embodiment, vibrational transfer plate material used to collect the RF signals and deposited onto the chipset. In one embodiment, electrically conductive coil windings configured around a magnetic source used to generate voltage. In one embodiment, carbon nanotubes which vibrate at fixed RF frequencies which have affixed magnetic bacteria which will oscillate above or below the conductive coil windings. In one embodiment, carbon nanotubes which vibrate at varying RF frequencies which have affixed magnetic bacteria which will oscillate above or below the conductive coil windings In one embodiment, electrically conductive coil mesh used to collect the voltage generated when the carbon nanotubes resonate at varying frequencies. In one embodiment a vibrational transfer plate used for harvesting the movement of the carbon nanotubes with RF activation. In one embodiment a crystal oscillator deposited on the chipset used to tune and magnify the RF frequencies. In one embodiment, a layer of Ni—Mn—Ga magnetoplastic material deposited with the carbon nanotube which have affixed magnetic bacteria which oscillate above or below the Ni—Mn—Ga magnetoplastic material. In one embodiment, a layer of ultra pure mica is deposited onto the chip substrate. In one embodiment a layer of dense packed carbon nanotube storage material is deposited onto the chip substrate. In one embodiment a layer of chip function electronics etched into the substrate and deposited to have direct electrical interface with the dense pack carbon nanotube storage material.
In one embodiment, a silicone chipset comprising a silicone covering layer around the chipset. In one embodiment, a layer of radio frequency electronics etched onto the layer under the top layer of the silicone chipset. In one embodiment, layer comprising a coil of a electrical conductive winding configured to resonate at several frequencies and deposited on the chipset. In one embodiment, coil winding set into a mesh which will resonate at differing RF frequencies and deposited on the chipset. In one embodiment, coil standoffs etched into the chipset which the coil mesh is attached. In one embodiment, vibrational transfer plate material used to collect the RF signals and deposited onto the chipset. In one embodiment, electrically conductive coil windings configured around a magnetic source used to generate voltage. In one embodiment, carbon nanotubes which vibrate at fixed RF frequencies which have affixed magnetic bacteria which will oscillate above or below the conductive coil windings. In one embodiment a vibrational transfer plate used for harvesting the movement of the carbon nanotubes with RF activation. In one embodiment a crystal oscillator deposited on the chipset used to tune and magnify the RF frequencies. In one embodiment, a layer of Ni—Mn—Ga magnetoplastic material deposited with the carbon nanotube which have affixed magnetic bacteria which oscillate above or below the Ni—Mn—Ga magnetoplastic material. In one embodiment, a layer of ultra pure mica is deposited onto the chip substrate. In one embodiment a layer of dense packed carbon nanotube storage material is deposited onto the chip substrate. In one embodiment a layer of chip function electronics etched into the substrate and deposited to have direct electrical interface with the dense pack carbon nanotube storage material.
In one embodiment, a silicone chipset comprising a silicone covering layer around the chipset. In one embodiment, a layer of radio frequency electronics etched onto the layer under the top layer of the silicone chipset. In one embodiment, layer comprising a coil of electrical conductive winding configured to resonate at several frequencies and deposited on the chipset. In one embodiment, coil winding set into a mesh which will resonate at differing RF frequencies and deposited on the chipset. In one embodiment, coil standoffs etched into the chipset which the coil mesh is attached. In one embodiment, vibrational transfer plate material used to collect the RF signals and deposited onto the chipset. In one embodiment, electrically conductive coil windings configured around a magnetic source used to generate voltage. In one embodiment, carbon nanotubes which vibrate at fixed RF frequencies which have affixed magnetic bacteria which will oscillate above or below the conductive coil windings. In one embodiment a vibrational transfer plate used for harvesting the movement of the carbon nanotubes with RF activation. In one embodiment a crystal oscillator deposited on the chipset used to tune and magnify the RF frequencies. In one embodiment, a layer of Ni—Mn—Ga magnetoplastic material deposited with the carbon nanotube which have affixed magnetic bacteria which oscillate above or below the Ni—Mn—Ga magnetoplastic material. In one embodiment, a layer of ultra pure mica is deposited onto the chip substrate. In one embodiment, a layer of ultra pure mica is deposited onto the chip substrate. In one embodiment a layer of BLNT storage material is deposited onto the chip substrate. In one embodiment a layer of chip function electronics etched into the substrate and deposited to have direct electrical interface with the dense pack carbon nanotube storage material.
In one embodiment, a silicone chipset comprising a silicone covering layer around the chipset. In one embodiment, a layer of radio frequency electronics etched onto the layer under the top layer of the silicone chipset. In one embodiment, layer comprising a coil of a electrical conductive winding configured to resonate at several frequencies and deposited on the chipset. In one embodiment, vibrational transfer plate material used to collect the RF signals and deposited onto the chipset. In one embodiment, electrically conductive coil windings configured around a magnetic source used to generate voltage. In one embodiment, carbon nanotubes which vibrate at fixed RF frequencies which have affixed magnetic bacteria which will oscillate above or below the conductive coil windings. In one embodiment, carbon nanotubes which vibrate at varying RF frequencies which have affixed magnetic bacteria which will oscillate above or below the conductive coil windings. In one embodiment, electrically conductive coil mesh used to collect the voltage generated when the carbon nanotubes resonate at varying frequencies. In one embodiment a vibrational transfer plate used for harvesting the movement of the carbon nanotubes with RF activation. In one embodiment a crystal oscillator deposited on the chipset used to tune and magnify the RF frequencies. In one embodiment, a layer of ultra pure mica is deposited onto the chip substrate. In one embodiment a layer of dense packed carbon nanotube storage material is deposited onto the chip substrate. In one embodiment a layer of chip function electronics etched into the substrate and deposited to have direct electrical interface with the dense pack carbon nanotube storage material
The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of the patent and/or the patent application publication with its color drawings will be provided by the inventor upon request and payment of the necessary fee.
In the following description, certain details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various embodiments of devices, methods, and articles. However, one skilled in the art will understand that other embodiments may be practiced without these details. In other instances, well known structures and methods associated with coils and magnetic assemblies have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessary obscuring descriptions of the embodiments.
Unless the content requires otherwise, throughout the specifications and claims which follow, the word “comprise” and variations thereof such as “comprising” and “comprises” are to be constructed in an open, inclusive sense, that is as “including, but not limited to.”
References throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases to “one embodiment,” or “an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment, or to all embodiments. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined to obtain further embodiments.
These chipsets will produce micro-scaled nano-scaled power generation systems with energy harvesting capability for application in micro and nano-electronic based devices, components, electronic chips, and systems. In any application, military or commercial, self-contained power generation will help minimize battery size, provide improved energy efficiency for electronics and could potentially supply all the required power for certain chip applications such as sensors, single chip electronic devices and complex electronic devices such as cell phones and other portable electronic devices. This technology offers solutions to current chip technologies, which are limited by the following obstacles:
The new chipset will create self powering electronic chip technology for micro-scale power generation and eventually nano sized electronic devices and chips. The potential benefit of this platform will be integration with both system and semiconductor design. This will lead to increased energy efficiency and more compact electronic devices while reducing cost. For certain applications such as sensors, the technology may be able to keep them powered indefinitely.
Electronic devices are decreasing in size while performing increasingly complex and diverse functions. This complexity requires larger power sources. Current battery technologies are advancing, but the utilization of self powering, self generating micro, mili, and nanotechnologies will prove to be a revolution in all levels of efficiency and regenerative utilization for the majority of electronic devices' power sources regardless of size and will eventually eliminate the need for batteries.
This technology is based on Faraday's law, which states any change in the magnetic environment of a coil or wire will cause a voltage to be induced in the coil. Our innovation uses focused magnetic fields to generate the force necessary to recharge the chip. The focused magnetic field is created by compressing magnetic fields and arranging the material in configurations where compressed fields can be achieved. The opposing poles create a focused magnetic effect across the copper mesh coil and crystal structure in a localized area. This focused magnetic effect will be used with copper mesh coils designed to resonate at the same frequency that exists within the electronic devices operating Radio Frequencies (RF). This resonance will provide coil movement within the area influenced by the focused magnetic field. The generated power is transferred unidirectionally through an ultra-pure mica substrate to a storage layer located on the chip, such as and most likely a carbon nanotube storage media, The power generated by the magnetic media and the coil media will interface with the nano-chip electronics and provide power to the chip through energy harvesting of the RF signals developed by the devices clock or ambient RF waves generated by man-made signals, such as radio transmissions, found in our world today. This energy harvesting technique will allow for power to be generated by the chip and will not require battery power for its operation.
There are two methods for generating power on this proposed chip system. Both methods may be used or only one method may be used. This will be determined by industry and users.
The first method is by using a Ni—Mn—Ga magnetoplastic layer which is deformed by magnetic flux lines to cause current flow thorough coils of wire.
The role of the Ni—Mn—Ga magnetoplastic layer is to displace the coil in the compressed magnetic field. The magnetoplastic layer is actuated through a magnetic field being applied externally.
The response of magnetic shape-memory alloys to a variable magnetic field strongly depends on the crystallographic orientation of the crystals. For thin film applications, a (100) texture is required for a significant effect. Ni—Mn—Ga films grow naturally in a (110) texture on most substrates. By managing different energy contributions (strain energy vs. surface energy), it is possible to drastically change texture of thin films [8].
When a magnetic shape-memory alloy expands (or shrinks) by 10% in one direction, it also shrinks (or expands) by the same amount in an orthogonal direction. The constraints of a film deposited on a substrate (or a magnetic shape-memory layer as part of a multilayer) would suppress the cross-contraction (cross-expansion) and thus it would suppress the entire effect. Therefore, films must be patterned in nano-columns.
The magnetoplastic effect is sensitive to composition, structure, and training. The nano-structured films (or arrays with nano-columns) will be suitably trained and tested. The constraints films and small length scale need to be addressed since these affect phase transformation and small scale mechanics. All films will be carried out with ‘isolated’ Ni—Mn—Ga films. For the finally ‘assembled’ device, Ni—Mn—Ga films need to be integrated in a multilayer package. The processes for texturing, patterning, and training will be adjusted to the overall processing steps of the device.
The second method used to generate power on the self powered electronic chipset is created by using magnetic bacteria attached to carbon nanotubes which have been tuned to vibrate at several different RF frequencies. This is a unique method for magnifying the RF coil harvesting techniques that are currently employed in state-of-the-art RF harvesting.
Mili, Micro and Nano scale power generation is a completely self-contained system on a chip (Self Powered electronics). The system includes a rechargeable substrate located on the chip providing direct microelectronics interface. The chip incorporates a self-charging circuit and power management system, as well as power storage media for use in powering the chipset when no ambient or generated fields are detected. The versatility of micro- and nano-electronics is greatly enhanced by the self-charging characteristics of the system.
The magnetic effect using magnetic bacteria will be implemented with copper mesh coils designed to resonate at the same frequency that exists within the electronic devices operating Radio Frequencies (RF). This resonance will provide coil movement within the area influenced by the magnetic field. Along with another method for providing the magnetic field variation or vibration will employ a method of applying the magnetic bacteria to carbon nanotubes, or other materials such as quartz crystals, mica crystals, stainless steel spring wire, or carbon steel spring wire, that have been grown to resonate at the CPU's (Central Processor Unit) resonance as well as ambient RF waves. This will provide for a single or double power generation capability on a single chip. The generated power from both sources is then transferred unidirectionally through an ultra-pure mica substrate to a storage layer located on the chip. Which will store the harvested energy for use of the chip and for other chips as well.
The power generated by the magnetic media and the coil media will interface with the nano-chip electronics and provide power to the chip through energy harvesting of the RF signals developed by the devices clock or ambient RF waves generated by man-made signals such as radio transmissions, found in our world today. This energy harvesting technique will allow for power to be generated by the chip itself and will not require battery power for its operation.
The technology is scalable to the mili/micro/and nano level chips by creating nano scaled harvesting techniques that take advantage of magnetic structures that have been developed using magnetic bacteria called magnetosperilla, and a combination of coils used for RF field power harvesting.
By using magnetotactic bacteria, first discovered in 1975, nano-sized magnetic structures can be created to enhance the gathering of energy by RF harvesting. Magnetotactic bacteria are gram-negative aquatic prokaryotes aligning themselves with the earth's magnetic field by use of magnetosomes. Magnetosome, which are organelles containing magnetite or greigite crystals, align themselves with the earth's magnetic fields.
Each crystal is enclosed in a lipid bilayer membrane, forming chains up to 60 magnetosomes long. These crystals are attached to each other at the membrane. When the membrane of the magnetosome is lysed, the magnetite crystals agglomerate rather than staying in chain form. Aligning the magnetosome membrane provides for deposition of the cell sized magnetic structures that will be used for harvesting power.
The purified chains of magnetosomes will be isolated from the bacteria cells by use of magnetic separation techniques. The magnetic chain's coercivity is dependent on the shape, size, and orientation of the magnetosome crystal; If the crystal is less than 30 nm in diameter, it exhibits super paramagnetic properties. When the crystal becomes larger than 100 nm in diameter, it displays multiple magnetic domains. Ideally, the crystal will be between 30-100 nm in diameter and as long as possible.
The magnetic bacteria is one layer of the new chip design that allows for energy harvesting using the devices' natural RF clock speed when attached to carbon nanotubes that resonate with the device clock or through ambient RF field excitation.
Each layer of the new chip design is a preferred layer. The layers can be arranged in other orders, or replaced with similar materials or in differing configuration. The use of RF harvesting using the magnetic bacteria, and the use of RF harvesting using RF coil and magnetoplastic material harvesting techniques provides for two methods of power harvesting from the chip. The new chip design also includes a storage media that will be used to store that harvested energy when the need for the chips actual electrical need is exceeded thus providing for a storage capability to be used by other electronics or by high use times of the existing self-powering chip.
The designed chipset can operate with one power generation activity or with two. The first being the carbon nano-tubes with attached magnetosomes which will vibrate at determined frequencies or at random RF frequencies.
There are several unique layers to the chip construction. Not all layers that are on the current design need to be incorporated onto the design since it has two power harvesting functions, but the preferred method of design is for two harvesting techniques.
The constant drain of power on electronic devices to keep electronic chips powered will be eliminated by continual power generation built directly on the chipset. There is no prior art developments using magnetic bacteria for this type of power generation.
The benefits of the proposed technology are numerous. The modifications of self-powered electronics, which will change battery function technology and composition, will increase power source efficiency substantially for both small (cellular phones, laptops, sensors) and large (generators, automotive batteries) applications. In any application, military or commercial, self-contained power generation will help minimize battery size, or eliminate the need for batteries, and provide improved energy efficiency for electronics which could potentially supply all the required power for certain chip applications such as sensors, single chip electronic devices and complex electronic devices such as cell phones and other portable electronic devices.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61271659 | Jul 2009 | US |
