Abstract: The invention discloses differing embodiments of integrated solar cells and battery devices, in addition to disclosing methods of distributing energy. In one embodiment of the invention, an integrated solar cell and battery device may include a top layer, a middle layer, and a bottom layer. The top, middle, and bottom layers may be made of Nanoscale material, and may comprise sublayers. The top layer may include one or more solar cells, while the bottom layer may include a battery. The middle layer may direct thermal energy from the top layer to the bottom layer. The device may also include one or more electronic circuits adapted to control electrical charge along one or more paths between the solar cells and the battery. The Nanoscale materials of the top, middle, and bottom layers may comprise a plurality of Nanotubes or a plurality of Nanowires.

Abstract: An apparatus may have a multilayered support base having a structural section made up of operating components and a function support section. The function support section may have transmission paths and components to supply thermal, power transmission, information and communication paths, along with other functions. At least some of the components may be heat generating and may have a thermal interface surface which may be in operating and heat conductive relationship with a heat conductive substrate/routing section which may have operative connections to the multilayered support base. Some of the components may transmit and receive with one another through the substrate/routing section.

Abstract: The invention discloses differing embodiments of integrated solar cells and battery devices, in addition to disclosing methods of distributing energy. In one embodiment of the invention, an integrated solar cell and battery device may include a top layer, a middle layer, and a bottom layer. The top, middle, and bottom layers may be made of Nanoscale material, and may comprise sublayers. The top layer may include one or more solar cells, while the bottom layer may include a battery. The middle layer may direct thermal energy from the top layer to the bottom layer. The device may also include one or more electronic circuits adapted to control electrical charge along one or more paths between the solar cells and the battery. The Nanoscale materials of the top, middle, and bottom layers may comprise a plurality of Nanotubes or a plurality of Nanowires.

Abstract: A device for interconnecting electrical devices employing a plurality of compressible micron scale gold-plated contacts positioned within an interposer structure such that the contacts are held in spring tension with contact pads of a printed circuit board and conductive traces of a flex cable. The flex cable contains laterally extending overlying conductive traces extending in parallel, orthogonal, radial, non-linear, or other patterns so as to provide a region of high contact density at one end of the traces and a corresponding region of lower contact density at the other end of the traces. In one version, the connector provides a vertical stack of printed circuit boards and interposers with contacts contained therein to enable vertical interconnection of the printed circuit boards while providing tolerance for various placements of the printed circuit boards within the connector stack without impairing the functioning of the circuits contained on the printed circuit boards.

Abstract: A solar powered electricity generating system comprised of a concentrator assembly that concentrates solar flux into a thermal storage unit. The thermal storage unit converts solar energy into heat energy which is then provided to three cascaded converter stages which, in the preferred embodiment, are comprised of a thermionic electric converter (TEC), an alkaline metal thermal to electric converter (AMTEC) and a thermoelectric generator stage comprised of a plurality of thermal photovoltaic cells. A phase change material is positioned within the thermal receiver such that the solar flux converts the material from a solid phase into a liquid phase such that the thermal storage unit can continue to generate heat energy when the sun is no longer providing thermal flux to the receiver as a result of the heat energy produced as the phase change material changes back from a liquid phase to a solid phase.

Abstract: Inductive charging systems comprising improved charging wands that are coupled between a source of power and a charging port that is coupled to a battery of an electric vehicle. The improvement provided by the present invention is that the charging wand has its magnetic core molded into its body. In one embodiment, a magnetic core is directly molded into the body of the charging wand. In another embodiment, the magnetic core is molded into a plastic ring that surrounds the core which in turn is secured into the body of the charging wand. The present invention improves the assembly process for charging wands by eliminating the wide tolerance range associated with core fabrication. Molding magnetic cores into the inductive charge wand eliminates the requirement for machining the side walls of the cores.

Abstract: An inductive charging coupler for use in an inductive charging apparatus used to charge a battery. The charging coupler is insertable into a charge port that is coupled to the battery. The charge port comprises a housing, an opening into which the charging coupler is inserted, and a ferrite core surrounded by secondary windings. The charging coupler comprises a housing having a hollow disk-shaped section with substantially flat opposed surfaces and a tapered handle extending therefrom. An opening is disposed through each of the flat opposed surfaces. A center magnetic core is disposed in the opening and has opposed flat surfaces that are substantially coplanar with the substantially flat opposed surfaces of the housing. A primary winding is disposed in the hollow disk-shaped section around the center magnetic core. The coupler has the shape of a paddle and is designed to give a vehicle operator a sense of safety when transferring electric power to the battery of an electric vehicle, for example.

Abstract: An inductive charging apparatus for use in charging a battery of an electric vehicle, for example, that provides for a tactile feel. The inductive charging apparatus comprises an inductive charging coupler and a charge port disposed in the electric vehicle and coupled to the battery of the electric vehicle. The charging coupler comprises a center magnetic core, and a primary winding disposed around the center magnetic core. A charger cable is coupled between the primary winding and an external power source for coupling energy to the charging coupler. A coupler housing is provided that has two mating coupler halves that are configured to provide a handle, and the mating coupler halves enclose the primary winding and the center magnetic core, and secures the charger cable in the handle. A plurality of indentations are formed in the side of the housing. The charge port has an opening into which the inductive charging coupler is inserted.

Abstract: The primary winding and part of the magnetic circuit of an automobile battery charging transformer are mounted in a separable inductive charge coupler which is insertable into and removable from an inductive charge receptacle slot in the automobile adjacent the transformer secondary winding and magnetic structure. When the inductive charge coupler is in place and is energized, the primary winding energizes the secondary winding to permit charging of the batteries on the automobile. The inductive charge coupler is cooled by a fluid passage therein. The coolant may be a gas which is vented or may be a liquid which is circulated.