Digital battery

Abstract

A dynamic battery array of individual discrete cells, controllably interconnected for instantaneous dynamic configuration into a plurality of individual power buses having different electrical power output characteristics, each of which is tailored to supply the electrical power required at the instant by a particular electrical load within a circuit. Preferably the cells are fungible and randomly available so that at any given instant any given cell can be poweringly associated with a particular electrical load. The dynamic battery array, consisting of discrete cells lends itself to mounting on physically flexible substrates such as credit cards. The programmable array employs low resistance switch arrays for dynamically and instantaneously forming individual power networks or power buses between selected power cells and individual electrical loads in electrical circuits. The circuits to which such battery arrays are applied are generally complex circuits in which several different loads occur, each of which has a different power requirement.

1. A digital battery comprising:
 a substrate that is incapable of producing electrical energy;  
 a plurality of discrete electricity generating cells supported in an array by said substrate, individual ones of said cells being capable of providing electrical energy , said array being electrically interconnected through an electrical interconnection system, said electrical interconnection system being changeably  dynamically configurable responsive to signals from an interconnection controller;  
 an electrical  electronic circuit operatively connected to said array, said electrical  electronic circuit including at least two electrical loads that require different electrical energy conditions, said interconnection controller being adapted to dynamically configure said electrical interconnection system so that individual ones of said plurality of discrete electricity generating cells are interconnected to provide each of said two electrical loads with the required different electrical energy conditions, whereby the electrical energy condition of the electrical energy supplied through said electrical interconnection system is dynamically tailored to the individual requirements of the respective electrical loads.  
 
     
     
       2. A digital battery comprising:
 a physically flexible substrate that is incapable of producing electrical energy;  
 a plurality of discrete electricity generating cells supported in an array by said substrate, individual ones of said cells being capable of providing electrical power , said array being dynamically and electrically interconnected through a semiconductor switch array;  
 an electrical circuit operatively connected to said array, said electrical circuit including at least two electrical loads that require different instantaneous electrical energy conditions, said semiconductor switch array interconnecting said individual ones of said discrete electricity generating cells to provide at least each of said two electrical loads with the required different instantaneous electrical energy conditions, whereby the instantaneous electrical energy condition of the electrical energy is dynamically tailored to the individual requirements of the respective electrical loads.  
 
     
     
       3. A process of forming a digital battery comprising:
 selecting a substrate that is incapable of producing electrical energy;  
 forming a plurality of discrete electricity generating cells supported in an array by said substrate, individual ones of said cells being capable of providing electrical energy,  said array being dynamically and electrically interconnected through an electrical interconnection system;  
 providing an electrical circuit operatively connected to said array, said electrical circuit including at least two components  electrical loads that require different electrical energy conditions, said electrical interconnection system being adapted to dynamically interconnecting between said individual ones of said discrete electricity generating cells and said electrical loads to provide at least each of said two components  electrical loads with the required different electrical energy conditions, whereby the electrical energy condition of the provided electrical energy is dynamically tailored to the individual requirements of the individual electrical loads.  
 
     
     
       4. A complex electronic device including a plurality of individual  discrete electricity generating power cells, said complex electronic device comprising:
 a plurality of individual electrical loads different ones of which require electrical energy with different parameters;  
 a plurality of power  electrically conductive paths conductively, dynamically, and selectively associatable with each of said individual  discrete electricity generating power cells and each of said individual electrical loads;  
 a plurality of semiconductor switches operatively associated with said plurality of power  electrically conductive paths, said semiconductor switches being adapted to substantially dynamically selecting  select at least one of said individual  discrete electricity generating power cells to form a power selection, and to form said power selection into an individual power  a first instantaneous individual electrical bus for one of said individual electrical loads, and to substantially dynamically select at least one of said discrete electricity generating power cells to form at least a second instantaneous individual electrical bus for a second of said individual electrical loads, whereby respective individual electrical loads are dynamically connected through instantaneous individual electrical buses to generally separate sub-sets of said discrete electricity generating power cells to provide such respective individual electrical loads with electrical energy having the parameters required for the operation of such respective individual electrical loads at the moment.  
 
     
     
       5. A complex electronic device of  claim 4  wherein said individual  discrete electricity generating power cells are selected randomly from said plurality of individual  discrete electricity generating power cells to form said power selection  individual electrical buses. 
     
     
       6. A complex electronic device of  claim 4  including a programmable switch array, said programmable switch array including said semiconductor switches. 
     
     
       7. A system comprising:
 a power array, said power array including a plurality of separate electrical power generating cells;  
 an electronic circuit, said electronic circuit including at least first and second electrical loads, said first and second electrical loads requiring electrical power for their operation, the parameters of the electrical power required to operate said first electrical load being different from the parameters of the electrical power required to operate said second electrical load; and  
 a programmable switch array between said power array and said electronic circuit, said programmable switch array being adapted to dynamically forming individual electrical power buses between sub-sets of said electrical power generating cells in said power array and each of said first and second  respective ones of said electrical loads, said individual power buses being formed from said separate power generating cells, substantially all of  said separate electrical power generating cells being substantially instantaneously fungible between said individual electrical power buses, whereby the parameters of the electrical power supplied by said individual electrical power buses are dynamically tailored to the individual requirements of the individual electrical loads.  
 
     
     
       8. A system of  claim 7  wherein said programmable switch array includes a plurality of semiconductor switches, said semiconductor switches have an ON resistance of less than approximately  0 . 5    0 . 01  ohms. 
     
     
       9. A system of  claim 7  wherein said power array includes enough of said separate electrical power generating cells to provide a plurality of normally spare separate electrical power generating cells. 
     
     
       10. A system of  claim 7  wherein said electronic circuit includes more than two loads and the power requirements of each of said loads is different  substantially all of said separate electrical power generating cells are substantially instantaneously fungible between said individual electrical power buses. 
     
     
       11. A system of  claim 7  wherein at least some of said electrical power generating cells are electrochemical cells. 
     
     
       12. A system of  claim 7  wherein said system is mounted on a physically flexible substrate. 
     
     
       13. A method of providing instantaneous individual electrical power buses for different electrical loads in an electronic circuit comprising:
 selecting a power array including a plurality of electricity generating power cells;  
 selecting a said electronic circuit including a plurality of said electrical loads, said loads requiring electrical power for their operation, and at least one of said electrical loads differing from at least one other of said electrical loads in requiring at least one different electrical parameter in the electrical energy required for operation; 
 dynamically selecting at least a first said electricity generating power cell from said power array, and poweringly associating said first electricity generating power cell with a first of said electrical loads to form a first individual electrical power bus; and  
 dynamically selecting at least a second said electricity generating power cell from said power array, and poweringly associating said second electricity generating power cell with a second of said electrical loads to form a second individual electrical power bus, all of the  said electricity generating power cells on said first individual electrical power bus being different from the said electricity generating power cells on said second individual electrical power bus, said forming of said first and second individual electrical power buses including establishing electrical connections using semiconductor switches having an ON resistance of less than approximately 0.5 ohms, and said semiconductor switches being actuated to establish said electrical connections responsive to control signals generated by a programmable switch array, whereby the parameters of the electrical energy supplied by said individual electrical power buses are dynamically tailored to the individual requirements of the individual electrical loads.  
 
     
     
       14. A complex electronic device of  claim 13  including a plurality of said semiconductor switches operatively associated with said plurality of individual said electrical power buses, said semiconductor switches being adapted to substantially dynamically forming said individual electrical power buses from said individual electricity generating power cells and maintaining at least one power  electrical energy characteristic on at least one of said individual power busses  buses at substantially a predetermined value by substantially instantaneously switching individual electricity generating power cells into and out of said one individual electrical power bus. 
     
     
       15. An electrical  electronic device comprising:
 a plurality of individual  discrete power cells;  
 a plurality of individual electric  electrical loads in a complex electronic circuit, including at least first and second individual electrical loads that require electrical energy with different parameters such that if said first and second individual electrical loads were to both be supplied with electrical energy having the same parameters at least one of said first and second individual electrical loads would require that the parameters of the electrical energy so supplied be adjusted by at least one electrical energy conditioning component to the different parameters required by said at least one individual electrical load;  
 a plurality of semiconductor switcher  switches adapted to substantially simultaneously and instantaneously poweringly associating at least a first of said individual  discrete power cells with a  said first of said  individual electrical loads  load and at least a second of said individual  discrete power cells with a  said second of said  individual electrical loads  load, at least said first and second individual  discrete power cells being substantially fungible between said first and second individual electrical loads, whereby said one individual electrical load is provided with electrical energy having the parameters such one individual electrical load requires without using said electrical energy conditioning component.  
 
     
     
       16. An electrical  electronic device of  claim 15 , substantially all of said individual  discrete power cells being substantially fungible between substantially all of said individual electric  electrical loads. 
     
     
       17. An electrical  electronic device of  claim 15 , said plurality of semiconductor switches being adapted to substantially instantaneously poweringly associating at least two of said individual  discrete power cells with a  said first of said  individual electrical loads  load. 
     
     
       18. A method of powering an electrical  electronic device comprising:
 selecting a plurality of individual  discrete electricity generating power cells;  
 selecting a plurality of individual electrical loads in said electrical  electronic device, including at least first and second individual electrical loads that require electrical energy with different parameters such that if said first and second individual electrical loads were to both be supplied with electrical energy having the same parameters at least one of said first and second individual electrical loads would require that the parameters of the electrical energy so supplied be adjusted by using at least one electrical energy conditioning component to form electrical energy having the different parameters required by said at least one individual electrical load;  
 selecting a plurality of actuatable semiconductor switches, said plurality of semiconductor switches being electrical power bus formingly associated between said plurality of individual  discrete electricity generating power cells and said plurality of individual electrical loads;  
 actuating said plurality of actuatable semiconductor switches; and  
 allowing at least first and second individual electrical power busses  buses to substantially instantaneously and simultaneously  dynamically form, said first individual electrical power bus being between at least a first of said individual  discrete electricity generating power cells and a  said first of said  individual electrical loads  load, and said second individual electrical power bus being between as  at least a second of said individual  discrete electricity generating power cells and a  said second of said  individual electrical loads  load, whereby said one individual electrical load is provided with electrical energy having said different parameters said one electrical load requires without using said electrical energy conditioning component.  
 
     
     
       19. A method of  claim 18  including allowing at least said first individual electrical power bus to form between at least two of said individual  discrete electricity generating power cells and said first individual electrical load. 
     
     
       20. A method of  claim 18  including allowing at least three of said individual power busses to  said first and second individual electrical power buses to substantially instantaneously and simultaneously form. 
     
     
       21. A method of powering an electrical  electronic device comprising:
 selecting a plurality of individual  discrete electricity generating power cells;  
 selecting a plurality of individual electrical loads in said electrical  electronic device;  
 selecting a plurality of actuatable semiconductor switches, said plurality of semiconductor switches being dynamically electrical power bus formingly associated between said plurality of individual  discrete electricity generating power cells and said plurality of individual electrical loads;  
 actuating said plurality of actuatable semiconductor switches;  
 allowing at least first and second individual electrical power busses  buses to dynamically and substantially instantaneously and simultaneously form, said first individual electrical power bus being between at least a first and second of said individual  discrete electricity generating power cells and a first of said individual electrical loads, and said second individual electrical power bus being between at least a third one of said individual  discrete electricity generating power cells and a second of said individual electrical loads, said first individual electricity generating power bus having first instantaneous electrical energy characteristics and said second electrical power bus having second instantaneous electrical energy characteristics, said first and second instantaneous electrical energy characteristics being different from one another at least as to voltage; and  
 establishing said first and second instantaneous electrical energy characteristics at desired values  by dynamically adding and removing said individual  discrete electricity generating power cells to said first and second individual electrical power busses  buses.  
 
     
     
       22. An electrical device comprising:
 a substrate, said substrate being populated by a plurality of discrete electricity generating power cells, and  said discrete electricity generating power cells being distributed about and integrated with said substrate;  
 a plurality of electrical modules mounted on  supported by and distributed about said substrate, said electrical modules requiring electrical energy for their operation, the electrical energy requirements for the operation of at least a first of such electrical modules being different from the electrical energy requirements for the operation of a second of said modules at least as to voltage;  
 a switch array adapted to substantially instantaneously electrically poweringly associating at least a first of said discrete electricity generating power cells with said first electrical module and at least a second of said discrete electricity generating power cells with said second electrical module, said switch array being adapted to dynamically electrically re-poweringly associating said discrete electricity generating power cells with said electrical modules responsive to at least changes in said electrical energy requirements.  
 
     
     
       23. An electrical device of  claim 22  wherein a sub-group of said discrete electricity generating power cells is physically positioned next to a sub-group of said electrical modules on said substrate , and said switch array is adapted to preferentially electrically poweringly associating said sub-group of discrete electricity generating power cells with said-sub-group of electrical modules. 
     
     
       24. An electrical device of  claim 22  wherein said substrate includes at least first and second physical areas, at least first and second electricity generating power cell sub-groups, and at least first and second electrical module sub-groups, each of said first and second electricity generating power cell sub-groups being composed of at least two of said discrete electricity generating power cells, each of said first and second electrical module sub-groups being composed of at least one of said electrical modules, and first electricity generating power cell sub-group and said first electrical module sub-group being physically located in said first physical area of said substrate, and said switch array being adapted to preferentially electrically poweringly associating said first electricity generating power cell sub-group with said first electrical module sub-group. 
     
     
       25. A method of electrically powering an electrical device comprising:
 selecting a plurality of individual  discrete electricity generating power cells, said discrete electricity generating power cells being integral with  supported by a substrate;  
 selecting a plurality of individual electrical loads in said electrical device, said individual electrical loads resulting from the operation of electrical components mounted on  supported by said substrate;  
 selecting a plurality of actuatable semiconductor switches, said actuatable semiconductor switches having ON resistances of less than about 0.5 ohms, said plurality of semiconductor switches being dynamically electrical power bus formingly associated between said plurality of individual  discrete electricity generating power cells and said plurality of individual electrical loads;  
 actuating said plurality of actuatable semiconductor switches;  
 allowing at least first and second individual electrical power busses  buses to dynamically and substantially instantaneously form, said firsts  first individual electrical power bus being between at least a first and second of said individual  discrete electricity generating power cells and a first of said individual electrical loads, and said second individual electrical power bus being between at least a third one of said individual  discrete electricity generating power cells and a second of said individual electrical loads, said first individual electrical power bus having first instantaneous electrical energy characteristics, and said second individual electrical power bus having second instantaneous electrical energy characteristics, said first and second instantaneous electrical energy characteristics being different from one another and changing over time; and  
 establishing said first and second instantaneous electrical energy characteristics at desired values by dynamically adding and removing said individual  discrete electricity generating power cells from time to time to said first and second individual electrical power busses  buses.  
 
     
     
       26. A method of  claim 25  wherein said plurality of actuatable semiconductor switches includes semiconductor switches ganged in parallel to reduce the total ON resistance of said included semiconductor switches to less than about 0.5 ohms. 
     
     
       27. An electrical device of  claim 26  wherein said first and second discrete electricity generating power cells and said first and second electrical modules are completely embedded within said substrate between said  opposed external surfaces of said substrate. 
     
     
       28. An electrical device of  claim 26  wherein substantially all of said discrete electricity generating power cells and electrical modules are completely embedded within said substrate between said  opposed external surfaces of said substrate. 
     
     
       29. An electrical device comprising:
 a substrate, said substrate having a thickness between opposed external surfaces and being populated by a plurality of Discrete  discrete electricity generating power cells, said discrete electricity generating power cells being distributed about and integrated with  supported by said substrate, and at least some of such discrete electricity generating power cells being at lest  least partially embedded within said substrate between said opposed exrernal  external surfaces;  
 a plurality of electrical modules mounted on  supported by and distributed about said substrate, at least some of said electrical modules being at least partially embedded within said substrate between said opposed external surfaces, said electrical modules having electrical energy requirements for their operation, and the electrical energy requirements for operating a first of said electrical modules being different from the electrical energy requirements for operating a second of said electrical modules;  
 a switch array adapted to substantially instantaneously electrically poweringly associating at least a first of said discrete electricity generating power cells with said first electrical module and at least a second of said discrete electricity generating power cells with said second electrical module, said switch array being adapted to dynamically electrically re-poweringly associating said discrete electricity generating power cells with said electrical modules responsive to changes in said electrical energy requirements or said discrete electricity generating power cells.  
 
     
     
       30. An electrical device comprising:
 a substrate, said substrate being physically flexible and being populated by a plurality of discrete electricity generating power cells, said discrete electricity generating power cells being capable of generating electrical energy and being distributed about and integrated with  supported by said substrate, said substrate having at least first and second areas, said first area comprising at least about 8 such discrete electricity generating power cells per square inch;  
 a plurality of electrical modules mounted on  supported by and distributed about said substrate, said electrical modules having electrical energy requirements for their operation, and the electrical energy requirements for operating a first of said electrical modules being different from the electrical energy requirements for operating a second of said electrical modules;  
 a switch array adapted to substantially instantaneously electrically poweringly associating at least a first of said discrete electricity generating power cells with said first electrical module and at least a second of said discrete electricity generating power cells with said second electrical module, said switch array being adapted to dynamically re-poweringly associating said discrete electricity generating power cells with said electrical modules responsive to changes in said electrical energy requirements or in the electrical energy generation of  generated by said discrete electricity generating power cells.  
 
     
     
       31. An electrical device of  claim 30  wherein at least some of said discrete electricity generating power cells and electrical modules are located substantially between opposed external surfaces of said substrate. 
     
     
       32. An electrical device of  claim 30  wherein said substrate has an unbent length and said substrate is adapted to being repeatedly bent to a height such that the ratio of the height of the bent substrate to the unbent length is approximately 0.2 without substantially impairing the integrity or connectivity of said discrete electricity generating power cells. 
     
     
       33. An electrical device comprising:
 a substrate comprising at least a first area, said substrate being populated by a plurality of discrete electricity generating power cells, said discrete electricity generating power cells being distributed about and integrated with said substrate, and said first area having at least about 8 of said discrete electricity generating power cells per square inch;  
 a plurality of electrical modules mounted on  supported by and distributed about said substrate, the electrical energy requirements for the operation of at least a first of such electrical modules being different from the electrical energy requirements for the operation of a second of said modules;  
 a switch array adapted to substantially instantaneously electrically poweringly associating at least first of said discrete electricity generating power cells with said first electrical module at least a second of said discrete electricity generating power cells with said second electrical module, said switch array being adapted to dynamically electrically re-poweringly associating said discrete electricity generating power cells with said electrical modules responsive to at least changes in said electrical energy requirements.  
 
     
     
       34. An electrical device of  claim 33  wherein said discrete electricity generating power cells are electrochemical cells and the components of at least some of said electrochemical cells are under pressure.