Fabric battery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016372718-A1
Application number	US-201514744411-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 19, 2015
Priority date	Jun 19, 2015
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A battery includes a plurality of battery cells between first and second electrically conductive fabrics. The first electrically conductive fabric includes a first battery terminal. The second electrically conductive fabric includes a second battery terminal. The first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric are framed to provide an enclosed region. The plurality of battery cells are arranged in parallel between the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric within the enclosed region. Each of the plurality of battery cells is configured to establish an electrical connection, at least temporarily, with the first battery terminal through the first electrically conductive fabric and the second battery terminal through the second electrically conductive fabric.

First claim

1 . A fabric battery, comprising:
a first electrically conductive fabric comprising a first battery terminal; a second electrically conductive fabric comprising a second battery terminal, the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric framed to provide an enclosed region; and a plurality of battery cells arranged in parallel between the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric within the enclosed region, each of the plurality of battery cells configured to establish an electrical connection, at least temporarily, with the first battery terminal through the first electrically conductive fabric and the second battery terminal through the second electrically conductive fabric.

2 . The fabric battery of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric comprises one or more electrically conductive strands woven together with a plurality of non-electrically conductive strands.

3 . The fabric battery of claim 2 , wherein the one or more electrically conductive strands are electrically exposed to the plurality of battery cells within the enclosed region.

4 . The fabric battery of claim 1 , wherein the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric are flexible.

5 . The fabric battery of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of battery cells are loose within the enclosed region such that relative distances between adjacent battery cells change as the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric flex.

6 . The fabric battery of claim 1 , wherein the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric are stretchable.

7 . The fabric battery of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of battery cells is affixed to at least one of the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric.

8 . The fabric battery of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of battery cells comprises a hexagonal shape.

9 . The fabric battery of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of battery cells are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix.

10 . The fabric battery of claim 9 , wherein the two-dimensional matrix comprises a honeycomb pattern matrix.

11 . The fabric battery of claim 1 , further comprising a frame of electrically insulating material attached to the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric to form the enclosed region.

12 . The fabric battery of claim 1 , wherein the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric are shaped, sized, and configured to form part of a garment.

13 . The fabric battery of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of battery cells comprises a solid state electrolyte configured to withstand tumble dry cycles for garments.

14 . A method for manufacturing a battery, the method comprising:
providing a first electrically conductive fabric; arranging a plurality of battery cells in parallel in a two-dimensional matrix on the first electrically conductive fabric; covering the two-dimensional matrix with a second electrically conductive fabric, wherein each of the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric comprises a flexible and sewable material; and framing the two-dimensional matrix between the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric, to prevent direct electrical contact between the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric, and to allow the plurality of battery cells to establish electrical connections to the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
electrically coupling a first terminal to the first electrically conductive fabric; and electrically coupling a second terminal to the second electrically conductive fabric.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the framing comprises affixing an electrically insulating material between the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric to enclose the two-dimensional matrix.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the affixing comprises sewing the electrically insulating material between the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric within an attachment region.

18 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising integrating the battery into a garment.

19 . A garment comprising:
a non-electrically conducting fabric; and a fabric battery affixed to the non-electrically conducting fabric; the non-electrically conducting fabric and the fabric battery cooperating to form an article of clothing wearable by a user, the fabric battery comprising:
a first electrically conductive fabric;
a second electrically conductive fabric; and
a plurality of battery cells arranged in parallel between the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric within an enclosed region.

20 . The garment of claim 19 , wherein at least one of the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric comprises one or more electrically conductive strands woven into a plurality of non-electrically conductive strands.

21 . The garment of claim 19 , wherein the non-electrically conducting fabric, the first electrically conductive fabric, and the second electrically conductive fabric are stretchable.

22 . The garment of claim 19 , wherein at least one of the plurality of battery cells is affixed to at least one of the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric.

23 . The garment of claim 19 , further comprising a frame of electrically insulating material attached to the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric to form the enclosed region.

24 . The garment of claim 19 , further comprising a mobile device electrically coupled to the fabric battery.

25 . The garment of claim 24 , wherein at least a portion of the mobile device is integrated with the garment between the first electrically conductive fabric and the second electrically conductive fabric so as to establish an electrical connection for drawing power from the fabric battery.

Assignees

• Intel Corp

Inventors

• Keates Andrew W

Classifications

• H01M50/503

  characterised by the shape of the interconnectors · CPC title

• H01M50/103

  prismatic or rectangular (H01M50/109, H01M50/11 take precedence) · CPC title

• H05K1/038

  Textiles (used as reinforcing materials for organic insulating substrates H05K1/0366) · CPC title

• H01M10/0436 Primary

  Small-sized flat cells or batteries for portable equipment · CPC title

• D10B2501/00

  Wearing apparel · CPC title