Abstract: A thin-film rechargeable battery includes a cathode film; including a lithium transition metal oxide, an electrolyte film coupled to the cathode film, the electrolyte film being substantially nonreactive with oxidizing materials and with metallic lithium, an anode current collector coupled to the electrolyte film; and an overlying layer coupled to the anode current collector. The thin-film rechargeable battery is activated during an initial charge by electrochemical plating of a metallic lithium anode between the anode current collector and the electrolyte film. The plating of the anode during charging and the stripping of the anode layer during discharging are essentially reversible. Therefore, almost no diminishment of discharge capacity occurs, even after many discharge and charge cycles. Other advantages include no need for special packaging for shipping and handling.

Abstract: The battery testing circuit of the present invention preferably includes a substrate, a display printed on the substrate for displaying a level of discharge of a battery, a display driver circuit coupled to the display and to the battery for receiving power from the battery to drive the display, and a battery discharge level sensing circuit coupled to the display and to the battery for sensing a discharge level of the battery and for supplying a display signal representing the sensed discharge level to the display. At least one of the circuits is printed on the substrate using processable conductive polymer materials as ink layers. Preferably, the battery discharge level sensing circuit component continuously senses the discharge level and the display continuously displays the discharge level. The display is preferably a field-responsive liquid crystal display made of either polymer liquid crystal or polymer dispersed liquid crystal material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for extracting plasticizer from polymer structures includes, in one embodiment, a vacuum chamber, a heating member and a condenser, the plasticizer being vaporized from the polymer structure by a combination of low temperature and heat, and in another embodiment, an evaporation chamber, a conveyer belt, and a plasticizer removal system, the plasticizer removal system including a duct having mounted therein a heating member, a fan and a condenser so that plasticizer may be extracted by forced air convection.

Abstract: An ultra thin primary battery construction is disclosed along with a method for making same. The battery itself is a laminate construction consisting of a polymer film casing, printed thin film electrodes, and an aqueous electrolyte which is in intimate contact with the active surfaces of both electrodes. In this system, the electrodes themselves consist of a non-reactive conductive ink base having active electrode materials embedded into its surface. The anode to cathode electrode geometry may take one of many forms, however for ease of manufacturing, the anode and cathode electrodes face each other in an offset configuration that eliminates the need for a porous separator. The method of manufacture involves first forming the electrodes onto a polymer film followed by adding the appropriate aqueous electrolyte, and finally sealing the battery.

Abstract: A battery is disclosed having two electrodes, each with a conductive strip connected thereto. A separator separates the two electrodes and an insulating envelope encloses the two electrodes. The two electrodes extend from openings of the insulating envelope and curve over the envelope toward the battery center.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of making a battery includes fusing an alkali metal onto a patterned conductive layer.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of making a battery includes fusing an alkali metal onto a patterned conductive layer.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of making a battery includes fusing an alkali metal onto a patterned conductive layer.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of making a battery includes fusing an alkali metal onto a patterned conductive layer.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of making a battery includes fusing an alkali metal onto a patterned conductive layer.

Abstract: The invention is directed to batteries having a nonconductive layer next to a conductive layer wherein the conductive layer comprises a cured conductive ink. The anode is against the conductive ink layer.

Abstract: The invention is directed to batteries having a nonconductive layer next to a conductive layer wherein the conductive layer comprises a cured conductive ink. The cathode is against the conductive ink layer.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of making a battery includes fusing an alkali metal onto a patterned conductive layer.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of making a battery includes fusing an alkali metal onto a patterned conductive layer.

Abstract: A programmable battery capable of providing a variable voltage and/or current depending upon the needs of a particular host device. The battery is formed on a separator substrate (10) and includes a plurality of discrete battery cells (102-124) which may be resettably interconnected in various configurations in order to provide varying voltage and/or current. The discrete cells (102-124) are electrically interconnected via a resettable micropositioner switch (500) The micropositioner switch determines the voltage and/or current needs of a particular device and electrically interconnects a sufficient number of discrete cells in series and/or parallel, in order to satisfy the requirements of the device.

Abstract: An RF tag (20) includes a low profile battery power source (22). The RF tag includes an electrically insulating substrate 21, an RF transmitter (24) on the substrate for transmitting a predetermined identification code, and the battery (22). The battery includes a first pattern of conductive material to form a planar anode structure (48) and a second pattern of conductive material on the substrate to form a cathode structure (50). A protective layer (92) overlies the substrate. The protective layer includes an opening (94) to expose the anode and cathode of the battery to permit an electrolyte to be applied to the anode and cathode for completing the formation of the battery and to provide electrical energy to the RF transmitter. A manufacturing apparatus (60) is also described which permits the RF tags to be manufactured in a low cost, reel-to-reel, basis. Also described is a dispenser (100) for activating and dispensing the RF tags one at a time at a point of use.

Abstract: Improved polymer batteries and improved methods of manufacturing such polymer batteries are provided. One improved method of manufacture involves the formation of a laminated array structure that includes a number of individual battery cells. After formation of the laminated array the individual batteries are singulated from the array by cutting, shearing or stamping. Other manufacturing improvements include the use of a printing process (e.g. stenciling) to form the cathodes, the use of permanent mask layers to contain and insulate the cathodes and anodes, and the use of a molten lithium deposition process for forming the anodes.

Abstract: Using sheet battery material as a circuit board substrate eliminates the weight and bulk of batteries as a separate circuit component and also eliminates the weight and bulk of fiberglass substrate or flex substrate as printed circuit materials. Insets with wiring built in can give vertical wiring between two or more circuit layers and can support electronic components which have leads connecting wiring on more than one layer of a printed circuit. Connector clips inserted when the connector pins are polarized target connection to power and to ground components of one or more layers of sheet battery. Using these connections between battery substrate components of the structure allows a single power source as A-C or solar to recharge all battery substrate in the electronic component.

Abstract: Using sheet battery material as a circuit board substrate eliminates the weight and bulk of batteries as a separate circuit component and also eliminates the weight and bulk of fiberglass substrate or flex substrate as printed circuit materials. Insets with wiring built in can give vertical wiring between two or more circuit layers and can support electronic components which have leads connecting wiring on more than one layer of a printed circuit. Connector clips inserted when the connector pins are polarized target connection to power and to ground components of one or more layers of sheet battery. Using these connections between battery substrate components of the structure allows a single power source as A-C or solar to recharge all battery substrate in the electronic component.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a thin film cell in which a cell unit is sealed by a polyamide film. Such a cell unit can be obtained by forming an ion-conductive polymer electrolytic layer formed by mixing polyethylene oxide derivatives with lithium salt on a negative-polarity material composed of lithium or a lithiumaluminum metal foil and then forming a layer of a positive-polarity material from composite materials formed by mixing Vanadium oxide and polyethylene oxide derivatives together, on the electrolytic layer, by using a screen printing process. Also disclosed is a printed circuit board with a thin film cell incorporated therein, in which said cell unit is to be mounted on a flexible film substrate, by using a screen printing process. By this invention, the thin film cell and the printed circuit board can be fabricated in a continuous manner by making use of a screen printing process.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing a solid state battery successively comprising, superposed between two metallic contact elements, a layer or thin film of an alkali metal such as lithium, constituting a source of ions, a layer or thin film of a superionic solid electrolyte and a layer or thin film of a layered intercalation compound capable of inserting ions issued from the alkali metal film. The lamellae of the film of layered compound are oriented so that their c-axis is substantially parallel to the surface of the solid electrolyte. The process consists essentially in making the layer or thin film of layered compound by direct grafting on the film which is to serve as substrate therefor, on which is initially impressed a grating which conditions the nucleation starting the crystal growth by means of the techniques of molecular beam deposition. The invention also relates to a battery made in accordance with this process.

Abstract: A space-saving back-up power supply apparatus has length and width dimensions substantially the same as those of a conventional integrated circuit connector. The apparatus includes sockets arranged on its top for making connection to a socket-pluggable integrated circuit such as a standard CMOS RAM, and the apparatus has pins extending from its bottom for making connection to a printed circuit board or connector of a host electronic system. Control circuitry and one or more batteries are located within the apparatus. The back-up power supply is operative to provide power to the socket-pluggable integrated circuit even if the normal power supply of the host electronic system is short-circuited. The control circuitry of the back-up power supply controls the chip enable signal and performs a battery test upon power-up.

Abstract: A solid state ambient temperature cell having a thin layer of an alkali or alkaline earth metal as anode, a thin layer of a solid ionic conductive electrolyte and a thin cathode layer of a metal or metalloid which can accommodate anode cations in the crystalline structure thereof. Such metals or metalloids include bismuth, arsenic, antimony, lead, tin, selenium or tellurium. The cell is dischargeable at high rates and is rechargeable.

Abstract: An electrochemical storage cell is formed by connecting up elements in hydraulic and electric series and, in each of the elements, in electrically insulating the inside of the negative end fitting situated hydraulically the nearest to the following element. In this way, the interference transfer of charges resulting from the electric series connection of two neighbouring elements can be effected only by ionic conduction in the electrolyte flowing between the two elements. The invention is used in air-zinc cells.

Abstract: Improved polymer batteries and improved methods of manufacturing such polymer batteries are provided. One improved method of manufacture involves the formation of a laminated array structure that includes a number of individual battery cells. After formation of the laminated array the individual batteries are singulated from the array by cutting, shearing or stamping. Other manufacturing improvements include the use of a printing process (e.g. stenciling) to form the cathodes, the use of permanent mask layers to contain and insulate the cathodes and anodes, and the use of a molten lithium deposition process for forming the anodes.