Abstract: Various embodiments of a battery assembly include a first housing shell, a second housing shell, an insulator and battery components. The first housing shell has a first perimeter side wall, a first housing bottom, and a first contact area on the first housing bottom. The second housing shell has a second perimeter side wall, a second housing bottom, and a second contact area on the second housing bottom. The second housing shell is disposed in the first housing shell with the second contact area opposing the first contact area. The insulator is interposed between the first housing shell and the second housing shell to effect electrical insulation between the first housing shell and the second housing shell. The battery components include an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and a separator interposed between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode. The separator contains an electrolyte.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a battery assembly include a first housing shell, a second housing shell, an insulator and battery components. The first housing shell has a first perimeter side wall, a first housing bottom, and a first contact area on the first housing bottom. The second housing shell has a second perimeter side wall, a second housing bottom, and a second contact area on the second housing bottom. The second housing shell is disposed in the first housing shell with the second contact area opposing the first contact area. The insulator is interposed between the first housing shell and the second housing shell to effect electrical insulation between the first housing shell and the second housing shell. The battery components include an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and a separator interposed between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode. The separator contains an electrolyte.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a battery assembly include a first housing shell, a second housing shell, an insulator and battery components. The first housing shell has a first perimeter side wall, a first housing bottom, and a first contact area on the first housing bottom. The second housing shell has a second perimeter side wall, a second housing bottom, and a second contact area on the second housing bottom. The second housing shell is disposed in the first housing shell with the second contact area opposing the first contact area. The insulator is interposed between the first housing shell and the second housing shell to effect electrical insulation between the first housing shell and the second housing shell. The battery components include an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and a separator interposed between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode. The separator contains an electrolyte.

Abstract: Semi-solid electrolyte compositions are disclosed. The semi-solid electrolyte compositions contain a glyme or mixture of glymes, a lithium salt(s), and a polymeric complexing agent(s).

Abstract: Various embodiments of a battery assembly include a first housing shell, a second housing shell, an insulator and battery components. The first housing shell has a first perimeter side wall, a first housing bottom, and a first contact area on the first housing bottom. The second housing shell has a second perimeter side wall, a second housing bottom, and a second contact area on the second housing bottom. The second housing shell is disposed in the first housing shell with the second contact area opposing the first contact area. The insulator is interposed between the first housing shell and the second housing shell to effect electrical insulation between the first housing shell and the second housing shell. The battery components include an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and a separator interposed between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode. The separator contains an electrolyte.

Abstract: Semi-solid electrolyte compositions are disclosed. The semi-solid electrolyte compositions contain a glyme or mixture of glymes, a lithium salt(s), and a polymeric complexing agent(s).

Abstract: A method for producing a thin film lithium battery is provided, comprising applying a cathode current collector, a cathode material, an anode current collector, and an electrolyte layer separating the cathode material from the anode current collector to a substrate, wherein at least one of the layers contains lithiated compounds that is patterned at least in part by a photolithography operation comprising removal of a photoresist material from the layer containing lithiated compounds by a process including a wet chemical treatment. Additionally, a method and apparatus for making lithium batteries by providing a first sheet that includes a substrate having a cathode material, an anode material, and a LiPON barrier/electrolyte layer separating the cathode material from the anode material; and removing a subset of first material to separate a plurality of cells from the first sheet.

Abstract: A combined battery and wireless-communications apparatus and method. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a support, a first conductive layer deposited on a first surface area of the support, a thin-film battery including a cathode layer, a solid-state electrolyte layer, and an anode layer deposited such that either the anode layer or the cathode layer is in electrical contact with the first conductive layer, an antenna mounted to the support structure, and an electronic communications circuit mounted to the support and electrically coupled to the battery and the antenna to transceive radio communications. Other embodiments include an energy-receiving device mounted to the support structure, and an electronic communications circuit mounted to the support structure and including a recharging circuit, the recharging circuit electrically coupled to the battery and the energy-receiving device to recharge the battery using energy received by the energy-receiving device.

Abstract: A combined battery and device apparatus and associated method. This apparatus includes a first conductive layer, a battery comprising a cathode layer; an anode layer, and an electrolyte layer located between and electrically isolating the anode layer from the cathode layer, wherein the anode or the cathode or both include an intercalation material, the battery disposed such that either the cathode layer or the anode layer is in electrical contact with the first conductive layer, and an electrical circuit adjacent face-to-face to and electrically connected to the battery. Some embodiments further include a photovoltaic cell and/or thin-film capacitor. In some embodiments, the substrate includes a polymer having a melting point substantially below 700 degrees centigrade. In some embodiments, the substrate includes a glass. For example, some embodiments include a battery deposited directly on the back of a liquid-crystal display (LCD) device.

Abstract: A method for producing a thin film lithium battery is provided, comprising applying a cathode current collector, a cathode material, an anode current collector, and an electrolyte layer separating the cathode material from the anode current collector to a substrate, wherein at least one of the layers contains lithiated compounds that is patterned at least in part by a photolithography operation comprising removal of a photoresist material from the layer containing lithiated compounds by a process including a wet chemical treatment. Additionally, a method and apparatus for making lithium batteries by providing a first sheet that includes a substrate having a cathode material, an anode material, and a LiPON barrier/electrolyte layer separating the cathode material from the anode material; and removing a subset of first material to separate a plurality of cells from the first sheet.

Abstract: A combined battery and device apparatus and associated method. This apparatus includes a first conductive layer, a battery comprising a cathode layer; an anode layer, and an electrolyte layer located between and electrically isolating the anode layer from the cathode layer, wherein the anode or the cathode or both include an intercalation material, the battery disposed such that either the cathode layer or the anode layer is in electrical contact with the first conductive layer, and an electrical circuit adjacent face-to-face to and electrically connected to the battery. Some embodiments further include a photovoltaic cell and/or thin-film capacitor. In some embodiments, the substrate includes a polymer having a melting point substantially below 700 degrees centigrade. In some embodiments, the substrate includes a glass. For example, some embodiments include a battery deposited directly on the back of a liquid-crystal display (LCD) device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making thin-film batteries having composite multi-layered electrolytes with soft electrolyte between hard electrolyte covering the negative and/or positive electrode, and the resulting batteries. In some embodiments, foil-core cathode sheets each having a cathode material (e.g., LiCoO2) covered by a hard electrolyte on both sides, and foil-core anode sheets having an anode material (e.g., lithium metal) covered by a hard electrolyte on both sides, are laminated using a soft (e.g., polymer gel) electrolyte sandwiched between alternating cathode and anode sheets. A hard glass-like electrolyte layer obtains a smooth hard positive-electrode lithium-metal layer upon charging, but when very thin, have randomly spaced pinholes/defects. When the hard layers are formed on both the positive and negative electrodes, one electrode's dendrite-short-causing defects on are not aligned with the other electrode's defects.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making thin-film batteries having composite multi-layered electrolytes with soft electrolyte between hard electrolyte covering the negative and/or positive electrode, and the resulting batteries. In some embodiments, foil-core cathode sheets each having a cathode material (e.g., LiCoO2) covered by a hard electrolyte on both sides, and foil-core anode sheets having an anode material (e.g., lithium metal) covered by a hard electrolyte on both sides, are laminated using a soft (e.g., polymer gel) electrolyte sandwiched between alternating cathode and anode sheets. A hard glass-like electrolyte layer obtains a smooth hard positive-electrode lithium-metal layer upon charging, but when very thin, have randomly spaced pinholes/defects. When the hard layers are formed on both the positive and negative electrodes, one electrode's dendrite-short-causing defects on are not aligned with the other electrode's defects.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making thin-film batteries having composite multi-layered electrolytes with soft electrolyte between hard electrolyte covering the negative and/or positive electrode, and the resulting batteries. In some embodiments, foil-core cathode sheets each having a cathode material (e.g., LiCoO2) covered by a hard electrolyte on both sides, and foil-core anode sheets having an anode material (e.g., lithium metal) covered by a hard electrolyte on both sides, are laminated using a soft (e.g., polymer gel) electrolyte sandwiched between alternating cathode and anode sheets. A hard glass-like electrolyte layer obtains a smooth hard positive-electrode lithium-metal layer upon charging, but when very thin, have randomly spaced pinholes/defects. When the hard layers are formed on both the positive and negative electrodes, one electrode's dendrite-short-causing defects on are not aligned with the other electrode's defects.

Abstract: A combined battery and wireless-communications apparatus and method. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a support, a first conductive layer deposited on a first surface area of the support, a thin-film battery including a cathode layer, a solid-state electrolyte layer, and an anode layer deposited such that either the anode layer or the cathode layer is in electrical contact with the first conductive layer, an antenna mounted to the support structure, and an electronic communications circuit mounted to the support and electrically coupled to the battery and the antenna to transceive radio communications. Other embodiments include an energy-receiving device mounted to the support structure, and an electronic communications circuit mounted to the support structure and including a recharging circuit, the recharging circuit electrically coupled to the battery and the energy-receiving device to recharge the battery using energy received by the energy-receiving device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making thin-film batteries having composite multi-layered electrolytes with soft electrolyte between hard electrolyte covering the negative and/or positive electrode, and the resulting batteries. In some embodiments, foil-core cathode sheets each having a cathode material (e.g., LiCoO2) covered by a hard electrolyte on both sides, and foil-core anode sheets having an anode material (e.g., lithium metal) covered by a hard electrolyte on both sides, are laminated using a soft (e.g., polymer gel) electrolyte sandwiched between alternating cathode and anode sheets. A hard glass-like electrolyte layer obtains a smooth hard positive-electrode lithium-metal layer upon charging, but when very thin, have randomly spaced pinholes/defects. When the hard layers are formed on both the positive and negative electrodes, one electrode's dendrite-short-causing defects on are not aligned with the other electrode's defects.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making thin-film batteries having composite multi-layered electrolytes with soft electrolyte between hard electrolyte covering the negative and/or positive electrode, and the resulting batteries. In some embodiments, foil-core cathode sheets each having a cathode material (e.g., LiCoO2) covered by a hard electrolyte on both sides, and foil-core anode sheets having an anode material (e.g., lithium metal) covered by a hard electrolyte on both sides, are laminated using a soft (e.g., polymer gel) electrolyte sandwiched between alternating cathode and anode sheets. A hard glass-like electrolyte layer obtains a smooth hard positive-electrode lithium-metal layer upon charging, but when very thin, have randomly spaced pinholes/defects. When the hard layers are formed on both the positive and negative electrodes, one electrode's dendrite-short-causing defects on are not aligned with the other electrode's defects.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) device provided on a thin-film battery. A system includes the RFID device in communication with a remote radio frequency (RF) transmitter and/or receiver. In some embodiments, the RFID device of the system includes a flexible substrate, a thin-film battery deposited on the flexible substrate, an electronic circuit placed on the battery and coupled to the battery to provide power, and a Radio Frequency (RF) antenna connected to the electronic circuit. In some embodiments, the battery of the RFID device is a rechargeable battery, and the battery is recharged when energy is transmitted from the remote device. Another aspect of the invention provides a system for making an RFID device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making lithium/air batteries with LiPON as separator and protective barrier, and the resulting cell(s) and/or battery(s). Some embodiments include an apparatus that includes a lithium anode; a polymer-air cathode; and a LiPON separator between the anode and cathode. In some embodiments, the polymer-air cathode includes a carbon-polyfluoroacrylate material. In some embodiments, the anode overlays a copper anode contact.

Abstract: A system includes a thin-film battery and an activity-activated switch. In some embodiments, the system is placed on a substrate with an adhesive backing. In some embodiments, the substrate is flexible. Also formed on the substrate is an electrical circuit that includes electronics. The activity-activated switch places the thin-film battery in electrical communication with the circuit and electronics. The battery and the circuit are formed on the substrate and may be comprised of one or a plurality of deposited layers.