Inventus Power, Inc.

Elijah Brett Goldin

Timothy James Vallaro

Ilyas Ayub

Anvin Joe Manadan

William Mark Batts

Daniel Paul Rose

Horace Cesar Rodriguez

Marcelo Nicosia

Bryan Rossman

Kevin James Zwart

Paul John Kudrna

Christopher Michael Reinke

Michael M Zhang

John Lundeen

Aspects described herein relate to a conformal wearable battery (CWB) and/or a system that includes plural battery cells. The CWB and/or system includes a flexible printed circuit board assembly (PCBA). The plurality of battery cells are arranged in a pattern on a same side of the flexible PCBA. One or more examples of the flexible PCBA include cutouts and electrical connection pads. A battery cell is connected to an electrical connection pad via electrically conductive elements, such as tabs. In one or more examples, the electrically conductive elements extend through the cutouts in the flexible PCBA. In other examples, the electrically conductive elements wrap around an edge of the flexible PCBA.

Conformal wearable battery and system

A molded housing of a conformal wearable battery (CWB) encloses an electronic component and include an electrically conductive contact component embedded within an exterior wall to conduct electricity between an interior and an exterior of the casing. A flexible printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) for a conformal wearable battery (CWB) is enclosed in a cavity within the molded housing and includes attachment sections for a plurality of battery cells that are arranged in a grid-like pattern on a same side of the flexible PCBA. A visco-elastic shock-absorbing member installed between the upper and lower portion of the flexible PCBA when configured in a folded configuration. Each battery cell is joined to the flexible PCBA via a welding process. Each battery cell has a visco-elastic shock-absorbing member attached individually to each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells. When folded to fit within the cavity of the molded housing, the flexible PCBA forms a three-dimensional grid of physical components comprising at least the battery cell modules.

Conformal wearable battery

Battery

A battery system with a passive thermal management system is formed from a plurality of battery cells arranged on a printed circuit board assembly. In some cases, the printed circuit board assembly may include a flexible printed circuit board that is folded along an axis forming an upper and lower portion of the printed circuit board assembly. The thermal management system may include fire-blocking foam members individually attached to each battery cell. The battery cells may be arranged in a grid-like pattern to allow for a spacing arrangement between the battery cells to keep a failing battery cell from negatively affecting an adjacent battery cell. In addition, the flexible printed circuit card may include a fuse for each battery cell to shut off any current flow to a faulty battery cell if it begins to fail causing current flow to exceed beyond a predetermined current limit. The battery system may be a conformal wearable battery.

Thermal management for a conformal wearable battery

A housing of a conformal wearable battery (CWB) encloses a plurality of battery cells arranged in a grid-like pattern and electrically connected to a printed circuit board (PCB). The PCB includes an electrical connection pad that is electrically coupled to a positive terminal of a battery cell of the plurality of battery cells and a positive conductive region receiving electrical energy from one or more of the plurality of battery cells. A redundant trace fuse circuit is formed on the PCB to facilitate electrical connection of the electrical connection pad and the positive conductive region. The redundant trace fuse circuit includes a first fusible link for electrically connecting the first electrical connection pad to the positive conductive region and a second fusible link that is selectively enabled to electrically connect the first electrical connection pad to the positive conductive region when the first fusible link is inoperative.

Redundant trace fuse for a conformal wearable battery

A battery system includes a plurality of non-cylindrical shaped battery cells arranged on, and physically affixed to, a flexible printed circuit board (PCB). The PCB may include a bend axis that facilitates folding of the flexible PCB to form an upper portion of the flexible PCB and a lower portion of the flexible PCB. A central stiffener may be positioned between the upper portion and the lower portion of the flexible PCB using an adhesive foam tape to form a battery assembly. The battery system may include a flexible housing with an internal cavity that receives the battery assembly. The central stiffener, and the adhesive foam tape, may provide a degree of rigidity and/or absorption to the PCB to reduce localized deformation of the PCB when the battery system experiences shock forces and to prevent damage to components of the battery assembly. The stiffener may be formed from non-metallic material.

A matrix of battery cell modules includes a flexible printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) for a conformal wearable battery (CWB) with a plurality of attachment sections for each of a plurality of battery cells that are arranged in a grid-like pattern on a same side of the flexible PCBA. Each battery cell may be joined with a flexible PCB via a welding process. The flexible PCBA is configured to fold along a bend axis so that the flexible PCBA is folded approximately in half. When affixed to the flexible PCBA, the plurality of battery cell modules and a circuitry module form a grid of physical components. When folded, the flexible PCBA forms a three-dimensional grid of physical components comprising at least the battery cell modules.

Flexible battery matrix for a conformal wearable battery

Electrical contact

A molded housing may enclose an electronic component and include an electrically conductive contact component embedded within an exterior wall to conduct electricity between an interior and an exterior of the casing. The contact component may include two knurled areas separated by a recessed groove. The knurled areas and recessed groove may be coplanar with the exterior wall. The knurled areas and recessed groove may form an interface with the molded casing to seal the casing against ingress of liquid into the interior. The molded casing may include an upper housing and a lower housing formed from a combination of a rigid member and a flexible member. The rigid member may have a plurality of rigid regions, and the flexible member may have a plurality of flexible regions formed between neighboring rigid regions. The flexible member may be molded onto the rigid member using a two-shot injection molding process. In some examples, the contact component may be secured to a contact carrier, where the contact carrier is then secured to the exterior housing.

Housing for a conformal wearable battery

A flexible printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) for a conformal wearable battery (CBB) includes attachment sections for a plurality of battery cells that are arranged in a grid-like pattern on a same side of the flexible PCBA. The flexible PCBA is configured to fold along a bend axis so that the flexible PCBA is folded approximately in half. To reduce mechanical stresses placed on the flexible PCBA when folding the flexible PCBA along the bend axis, the flexible PCBA includes a plurality of cut-outs dispersed along the bend axis and parallel to adjacent battery cells. The CWB is configured to flex during use. The flexible PCBA includes a plurality of cut-outs disposed perpendicular to the bend axis, between adjacent rows of battery cells, and on the bend axis to relieve mechanical stresses applied to a bent portion of the flexible PCBA when the CWB is flexed during use.

Flexible circuit board for a conformal wearable battery

A battery system that is formed from a plurality of battery cells arranged on a flexible printed circuit card, where the flexible printed circuit card is folded along an axis forming an upper and lower portion of the flexible circuit card. A visco-elastic shock-absorbing member installed between the upper and lower portion of the flexible circuit card. Each battery cell may also have a visco-elastic shock-absorbing member that is attached individually to each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells.

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Chicago, IL, United States of America

Elijah Brett Goldin