Thin film energy fabric

Abstract

A material is provided that includes a first section for storing energy and a second section for releasing energy received from the first section in which the energy is preferably electrical energy that is used for one from among heat dissipation, heat generation, light emission and powering of an electric circuit. Ideally the material includes a third layer adapted to collect energy and convert the energy to electrical energy for storage in the first section. A fourth protection section is provided on at least one side of the material. The material can be formed of woven strips, laminated sections, or in coaxial sections that are woven together to form a flexible fabric material having at least one characteristic from among breathability, wickability, moisture resistance, moisture-proof, and stretchability.

1 . A sheet-like material, comprising:
 a first section configured to receive and store electrical energy; and   a second section configured to utilize the electrical energy stored in the first section for use in at least one from among heat dissipation, heat generation, and light emission, the second section encapsulated with the first section to form a sheet-like material.   
   
   
       2 . The material of  claim 1 , further comprising a third section coupled to at least the first section and formed with the first and second sections to provide a charge from ambient energy to be stored in the first section or to be used by the second section. 
   
   
       3 . The material of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one protective section formed on at least one side of the material. 
   
   
       4 . The material of  claim 1  wherein the first section is configured to store electrical energy. 
   
   
       5 . The material of  claim 1  wherein the first and second sections are formed to be flexible and to have at least one of the following characteristics of breathability, moisture wickability, water resistance, waterproof, and stretchability. 
   
   
       6 . The material of  claim 5  wherein the first and second sections comprise first and second layers, respectively, and are arranged adjacent to one another. 
   
   
       7 . The material of  claim 1 , further comprising means for regulating at least one of energy storage and energy release in the first and second sections, respectively. 
   
   
       8 . A sheet-like flexible fabric material, comprising:
 a first layer adapted to receive and store electrical energy; and   a second layer coupled to the first layer and configured to receive electrical energy from the first layer and to utilize the electrical energy for at least one from among heat dissipation, heat generation, and light emission, the second layer attached to the first layer to form a multi-layer sheet-like flexible fabric material.   
   
   
       9 . The material of  claim 8 , comprising a third layer electrically coupled to the second layer and attached to the first and second layers, the third layer adapted to collect energy and convert the collected energy to electrical energy for storage by the first layer for immediate use by the second layer or both storage in the first layer and use by the second layer simultaneously. 
   
   
       10 . The material of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one protective layer adapted to protect the first, second, and third layers without interfering with the collection, conversion, storage, and use of energy. 
   
   
       11 . The material of  claim 8 , further comprises a control device for regulating at least one of energy storage and energy utilization by the first and second layers, respectively. 
   
   
       12 . A flexible fabric material adapted to be woven to provide a thin flexible fabric for use with an electric circuit, the material comprising:
 a first flexible filament adapted to receive and store electrical energy;   a second flexible filament coupled to the first flexible filament and adapted to receive the stored energy from the first flexible filament for use in at least one from among heat dissipation, heat generation, and light emission; and   electrically insulating material encapsulating the first and second flexible filaments with at least one electrical contact at a terminating end of the material to form a sheet-like flexible fabric material.   
   
   
       13 . The material of  claim 12 , comprising a third flexible filament adapted to obtain ambient energy and convert the obtained energy to electrical energy for storage in the first flexible filament, the third flexible filament formed in the electrically insulating material and electrically coupled to the first flexible filament. 
   
   
       14 . The material of  claim 12  wherein the first and second flexible filaments are layered with respect to one another. 
   
   
       15 . The material of  claim 14  wherein the first, second, and third flexible filaments are in a layered arrangement. 
   
   
       16 . The material of  claim 12 , comprising a regulator for controlling at least one of energy storage and energy usage in the first and second flexible filaments, respectively. 
   
   
       17 . The material of  claim 13  wherein the first, second, and third flexible filaments are in a coaxial arrangement. 
   
   
       18 . The material of  claim 12  wherein the first and second flexible filaments are in a tubular arrangement. 
   
   
       19 . A garment or accessory, comprising:
 a sheet-like flexible material comprising a first section configured to receive and store electrical energy and a second section configured to utilize the electrical energy stored in the first section for use in at least one from among heat dissipation, heat generation, and light emission, the second section encapsulated with the first section to form a sheet-like material.   
   
   
       20 . The garment or accessory of  claim 19  wherein the material comprises a third section adapted to obtain ambient energy and convert the obtained ambient energy to electrical energy for storage in the second section. 
   
   
       21 . The garment or accessory of  claim 20 , further comprising a protective layer formed on at least one side of the flexible material. 
   
   
       22 . The garment or accessory of  claim 21  wherein the material has at least one characteristic from among breathability, moisture wickability, water resistance, waterproof, and stretchability. 
   
   
       23 . The garment of  claim 19 , comprising a device for controlling at least one of energy storage and energy release in the first and second sections, respectively. 
   
   
       24 . A method of making a sheet-like flexible material, comprising:
 providing a first section configured to receive and store electrical energy;   providing a second section coupled to the first section and adapted to utilize the electrical energy stored in the first section for use in at least one from among heat dissipation, heat generation, and light emission, the second section encapsulated with the first section to form a sheet-like material.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , comprising forming a third section with the first and second sections, the third section adapted to collect ambient energy and convert the ambient energy to electrical energy for storage in the second section. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , comprising providing at least one protective section on at least one side of the material. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the material includes at least one characteristic from among breathability, wickability, water resistance, waterproof, and stretchability. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the first and second sections are formed as individual plies that are layered together. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the first, second, and third sections are formed as flexible filaments layered together to form a flexible filament, and further comprising weaving the layered flexible filament to form the flexible material.