US 12,280,576 B2
Energy harvesting systems for providing autonomous electrical power to mobile devices
Clark D. Boyd, Portsmouth, VA (US); Bradbury R. Face, Smithfield, VA (US); and Jeffrey D. Shepard, Norco, CA (US)
Assigned to Face International Corporation, Norfolk, VA (US)
Filed by Face International Corporation, Norfolk, VA (US)
Filed on Jan. 7, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/736,631.
Application 16/736,631 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/507,010, filed on Jul. 9, 2019, granted, now 11,355,655.
Application 16/507,010 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/416,234, filed on Jan. 26, 2017, granted, now 10,529,871.
Application 16/507,010 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/416,259, filed on Jan. 26, 2017, granted, now 10,347,777, issued on Jul. 9, 2019.
Application 15/416,234 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/416,456, filed on Jan. 26, 2017, granted, now 11,554,576.
Application 15/416,234 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/416,384, filed on Jan. 26, 2017, granted, now 10,525,684.
Application 15/416,234 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/006,143, filed on Jan. 26, 2016, granted, now 11,945,189.
Application 15/416,234 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/006,145, filed on Jan. 26, 2016, granted, now 10,795,062.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/147,573, filed on Apr. 14, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2020/0180289 A1, Jun. 11, 2020
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H01L 31/042 (2014.01); B32B 37/06 (2006.01); B32B 37/12 (2006.01); B82Y 20/00 (2011.01); G02B 1/00 (2006.01); G02B 5/28 (2006.01); H01L 31/0203 (2014.01); H01L 31/0216 (2014.01); H01L 31/0232 (2014.01); H01L 31/0236 (2006.01); H02S 40/38 (2014.01)
CPC B32B 37/06 (2013.01) [B32B 37/12 (2013.01); B82Y 20/00 (2013.01); G02B 1/005 (2013.01); G02B 5/286 (2013.01); H01L 31/0203 (2013.01); H01L 31/02168 (2013.01); H01L 31/02327 (2013.01); H01L 31/0236 (2013.01); H01L 31/042 (2013.01); H02S 40/38 (2014.12); B32B 2255/00 (2013.01); B32B 2307/418 (2013.01); B32B 2457/12 (2013.01); Y02E 10/50 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An integrated energy harvesting system for a mobile device, comprising:
an energy harvesting element arranged on a surface of one of a mobile device body structure or casing; and
an energy transmissive layer arranged over the energy harvesting element on the surface of the one of the mobile device body structure or casing, the energy transmissive layer having a body-facing side facing the surface of the one of the mobile device body structure or casing, and an energy-incident side opposite the body-facing side;
the energy transmissive layer passing 50% or more of visible light energy impinging on the energy transmissive layer through the energy transmissive layer to activate the energy harvesting element;
the energy transmissive layer being formed of a material composition comprising a plurality of substantially-transparent particles and a substantially-transparent non-liquid matrix material that fixes the plurality of substantially-transparent particles in a layer arrangement to form the energy transmissive layer;
the plurality of substantially-transparent particles being fixed in the matrix material in a manner that causes the energy-incident side to reflect substantially all of one or more selectable wavelengths of the impinging light energy in all directions on the energy-incident side to present one or more colors, textures, color patterns, or color-patterned images to produce a desired visual appearance when said structure is viewed from the energy-incident side;
wherein each of the plurality of substantially-transparent particles comprises a spherical core formed of a first transparent dielectric material, the spherical core having a value of a physical diameter equal to a half wavelength of a first selected color of light component to be reflected by the particle modified by a refractive index of the first transparent dielectric material; and
a plurality of material layers disposed radially outwardly from the spherical core, each of the plurality of material layers being formed of at least a second transparent dielectric material;
wherein each layer of said plurality of material layers has a value of physical thickness equal to a quarter wavelength of at least a second selected color of light component to be reflected by the particle modified by a refractive index of the at least the second transparent dielectric material; and
an outer coating comprised of a substantially transparent dielectric material having a selected index of refraction of 2 or less, wherein said outer coating has a thickness selected to be up to ten times the physical thickness of a material layer;
wherein a boundary is formed between the outer surface of the outer layer and the substantially-transparent matrix material;
wherein the selected index of refraction of the outer coating is further defined as having a same value as the index of refraction of said substantially-transparent matrix material, such that no reflection of light energy occurs at the boundary; and
wherein a number of substantially-transparent particles per unit volume of the substantially transparent matrix material ensures that adjacent substantially-transparent particles always touch.