Electronic device with structure for harvesting energy

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11533005-B2
Application number	US-202017118899-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 11, 2020
Priority date	Dec 11, 2019
Publication date	Dec 20, 2022
Grant date	Dec 20, 2022

Abstract

An electronic device includes a housing structure including a first cover facing in a first direction and forming a first surface of the electronic device, and a second cover facing in a second direction opposite to the first direction and forming a second surface of the electronic device. The electronic device also includes a display positioned in a space formed by the housing structure and exposed through the first surface. The electronic device further includes an energy harvesting structure positioned in the space and configured to generate a current from a contact input to the first surface and a sound input generated inside and outside the electronic device. The electronic device additionally includes a battery positioned in the space. The electronic device also includes a charging circuit configured to charge the battery using the current received from the energy harvesting structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device, comprising:
a housing structure comprising a first cover facing in a first direction and forming a first surface of the electronic device, and a second cover facing in a second direction opposite to the first direction and forming a second surface of the electronic device;
a display positioned in a space formed by the housing structure and exposed through the first surface;
an energy harvesting structure positioned in the space and configured to generate a current from a contact input to the first surface and a sound input generated inside and outside the electronic device;
a battery positioned in the space; and
a charging circuit configured to charge the battery using the current received from the energy harvesting structure,
wherein the energy harvesting structure comprises:
a first positive charge charging member comprising a plurality of positive charge lattices and a plurality of connection portions connecting positive charge lattices adjacent to each other, and electrically connected to the charging circuit;
a second positive charge charging member electrically connected to the charging circuit;
a negative charge charging member positioned between the first positive charge charging member and the second positive charge charging member and comprising a plurality of negative charge lattices, each attached respectively to each of the plurality of positive charge lattices; and
a spacer configured with an insulator and configured to form lattice spaces enabling the positive charge lattices to vibrate, and to fix the plurality of connection portions.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the spacer comprises:
a first spacer comprising first fixing portions attached to an upper portion of the plurality of connection portions to fix the plurality of connection portions when the positive charge lattices vibrate, and configured to form first lattice spaces to enable the positive charge lattices to move upward; and
a second spacer comprising second fixing portions attached to a lower portion of the plurality of connection portions to fix the plurality of connection portions when the positive charge lattices vibrate, and configured to form second lattice spaces to enable the positive charge lattices to move downward.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first positive charge charging member comprises:
first lines arranged in a first layer in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction; and
second lines arranged in a second layer in a fourth direction crossing the third direction.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the spacer comprises:
a first spacer comprising a first fixing portion attached to a lower portion of first connection portions of the first lines to fix the first connection portions when first positive charge lattices of the first lines vibrate and configured to form lattice spaces to enable the first positive charge lattices to move upward, and form lattice spaces to enable second positive charge lattices of the second lines to move upward;
a second spacer comprising a second fixing portion positioned between the first lines and the second lines, and attached to lower portions of the first connection portions and upper portions of second connection portions of the second lines to fix the first connection portions and the second connection portions when the first positive charge lattices and the second positive charge lattices vibrate, and configured to form lattice spaces to enable the first positive charge lattices to move downward, and form lattice spaces to enable the second positive charge lattices to move upward; and
a third spacer comprising a third fixing portion attached to a lower portion of the second connection portions to fix the second connection portions when the second positive charge lattices vibrate and configured to form lattice spaces to enable the first positive charge lattices to move downward and form lattice spaces to enable the second positive charge lattices to move downward.

5. The electronic device of claim 3 , further comprising:
a processor configured to measure noise based on a current generated in the first lines and the second lines; and
a switch configured to sequentially connect the first lines and the second lines one by one to the processor or to connect both the first lines and the second lines to the charging circuit.

6. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the processor is configured to:
sequentially receive electrical signals from the first lines and the second lines through the switch;
calculate current values generated in the first lines and the second lines using the sequentially received electrical signals;
calculate intensity values corresponding to each of the calculated current values; and
determine an average of the intensity values as the intensity value of the measured noise.

7. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the switch comprises a first switch and a second switch,
wherein the first switch comprises terminals connected to each of the first lines and the second lines, and the processor is configured to control the first switch to sequentially connect the terminals one by one to the second switch or connect all of the terminals to the second switch; and
wherein the second switch comprises a first terminal connected to the processor and a second terminal connected to the charging circuit, and the processor is configured to control the second switch to connect the first switch to the first terminal or the second terminal.

8. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the processor is configured to recognize a contact input on the display based on the current generated in the first lines and the second lines.

9. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to exclude a current generated in a line in which the contact input is transferred, when measuring noise.

10. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to display a message requesting contact interruption on the display based on recognition of the contact input.

11. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the processor is configured to:
control the switch to sequentially connect the first lines and the second lines one by one thereto based on execution of a noise measurement application; and
control the switch to connect both the first lines and the second lines to the charging circuit based on an end of the execution of the noise measurement application.

12. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the processor is configured to control the switch to connect both the first lines and the second lines to the charging circuit based on execution of a specific application.

13. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the processor is configured to control the switch to connect both the first lines and the second lines to the charging circuit based on execution of a function using a digital pen.

14. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the energy harvesting structure is attached to a flexible display that is configured to fold and unfold.

15. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the energy harvesting structure is disposed under the display when facing the first surface from above the first cover.

16. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first cover is made of a material with a hardness level that is less than a hardness level of glass.

17. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a hinge structure, and
wherein the housing structure comprises:

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Sangheon
• An Seongjin
• Oh Bookeun
• Lee Jaeyeon

Classifications

• H02J50/005

  Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices · CPC title

• G06F2203/04102

  Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper · CPC title

• H02J50/001

  Energy harvesting or scavenging · CPC title

• H02J50/15

  using ultrasonic waves · CPC title

• G06F1/26

  Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof (for memories G11C) · CPC title