Abstract:
A plastic structural casing, having a base and four electrically and structurally contiguous sidewalls, is formed using a single plastic battery. This base and contiguous sidewalls form a cavity wherein those electrical components which draw power from the plastic battery can be housed. Thus, the one structural casing simultaneously provides the functions of (a) mechanical durability, strength, and structural integrity to house electrical components as well as (b) delivers direct current (DC) electrical power to those same electrical components. A cover, which may also be a plastic battery, is used to seal this cavity from external contamination.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0001]    This application hereby incorporates by reference two United States patents. The first is U.S. Pat. No. 6,165,645 which was issued to Nishimura et-al on Dec. 26, 2000 and entitled Polymer Electrolyte and Lithium Polymer Battery using the Same. The second is U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,960 which was issued to Scrosati et-al on Jul. 8, 1997 and entitled Thin Film Lithium Polymer Battery.  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of polymer batteries and more specifically to polymer batteries having sufficient mechanical durability, strength, and structural integrity to additionally form a housing for electronics. These polymer batteries may also be called plastic batteries. However, the term polymer batteries will be used for consistency.  
           [0003]    Portable electronic devices have provided individuals with an unparalleled degree of personal freedom. Laptop computers, pagers, palm pilots, portable radios, and portable CD-ROM (compact disk, read only memory) and DVD (digital versatile disk) players have revolutionized an individual&#39;s mobility. In order to function, each portable electronic device requires a mobile power source, a battery. Today&#39;s portable electronic devices are typically powered using rechargeable battery packs made of conventional Lithium, NiCad, or NiMH batteries. The only disadvantage to Lithium-Ion batteries is that they are currently more expensive than NiCad and NiMH battery packs.  
           [0004]    Lithium batteries are commonly used due to the fact that Lithium is the lightest metal and the metal that has the highest electrochemical potential, +3.045 volts at 25C. Lithium, however, is an unstable metal, so Lithium-Ion batteries are made from chemically-induced ionized-Lithium (does this sound better than what you said?). Because of its lightness and high energy density, Lithium-Ion batteries are ideal for portable devices, such as portable computers. In addition, Lithium-Ion batteries have no memory effect and do not use poisonous heavy-metals, such as lead, mercury or cadmium.  
           [0005]    NiCad stands for nickel-cadmium, the materials used in the battery packs for many portable computers. NiCad batteries can provide considerable power, but they need to be recharged every three or four hours. Full recharging can take as much as twelve hours, although newer batteries can be recharged in just a few hours. Older NiCad batteries suffer from a phenomenon known as the memory effect. If they were only partially drained and then recharged, they lost their capacity to be fully charged. This is not such a problem with modern NiCad batteries. Even with full drainage (called deep discharging), all batteries have a limit to the number of times they can be recharged. The maximum for most NiCad batteries is about one thousand recharges.  
           [0006]    NiMH stands for Nickel-Metal Hydride , the materials used in some battery packs. Unlike NiCad batteries, NiMH batteries do not use heavy metals that may have toxic effects. In addition, they can store up to 50% more power than NiCad batteries and do not suffer from memory effects.  
           [0007]    Batteries consist of three components: an anode (the positive electrode), a cathode (the negative electrode), and an electrolyte (the conductive material between the electrodes, such as the liquid in a car battery). In conventional batteries such as Lithium-Ion, NiCad, or NiMH batteries, the electrodes are made of a metal and the electrolyte is made of a conducting liquid. In an all-polymer battery, both of the electrodes and the electrolyte are made of polymers. All polymer batteries are significantly lighter in weight than conventional Lithium-Ion, NiCad, or NiMH batteries. In addition, this power cell&#39;s unusual thin sandwich design makes it highly adaptable. The anode and cathode are made of thin, foil-like plastic sheets. The electrolyte is a polymer gel film placed between the electrodes, holding the battery together. One current configuration for an all-polymer battery has a layer of polytetrafluoroethylene, also known by the tradename TEFLON, supporting a carbon current collector layer. Below the carbon current-collector layer is a layer of poly 3, 4, 5 TFPT that serves as the anode. TFPT is trifluorophenylthiophene. A layer of poly 3, 5 DFPT serves as the cathode below the anode. DFPT is difluorophenylthiophene. Between the anode and cathode is a polymer gel electrolyte. Another layer of carbon current collector is placed below the cathode and is supported by another layer of Teflon.  
           [0008]    In addition, polymer batteries exist that have high mechanical strength. The U.S. Pat. No. 6,165,645 issued to Nishimura et al. discloses a gelled polymer electrolyte having a high mechanical strength and a high ion conductivity and a lithium polymer battery using the same electrolyte. The gelled polymer electrolyte comprises a polymer alloy and an organic electrolyte solution, wherein the polymer alloy includes a polymer which is hardly soluble in the organic electrolyte solution and another polymer which is soluble in the organic electrolyte solution. The lithium polymer battery comprises a negative electrode including metallic lithium, a lithium alloy, carbon or an inorganic compound, and a positive electrode including an active material of a metal oxide capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium in a reversible manner, such as LiCoO 2 , LiNiO 2  or the like, and the gelled polymer electrolyte placed between both electrodes.  
           [0009]    Unlike nickel-cadmium rechargeable batteries, all-polymer batteries contain no heavy metals, which can contaminate soil and water. The all-polymer batteries also contain no liquids, which can leak and pose safety hazards. In addition, the all-polymer battery operates efficiently in extreme heat or cold. The electrical producing properties of many conventional battery materials vary with temperature. For example, car batteries typically have difficulty under extreme cold temperatures. However, polymer batteries are capable of operating at temperatures far below conventional metal-electrode batteries without any change in electrical properties.  
           [0010]    Due to their design, it is impractical to utilize Lithium-Ion, NiCad, or NiMH batteries as a structural component to a device. While polymer batteries are known in the current state of the art for their ability to produce electricity, currently the ability of polymer batteries to provide structural support to the devices they power is unknown in the art.  
           [0011]    Another electrical component that requires power is volatile memory. Volatile memories lose their data when power is shut off. Dynamic RAM (random access memory) is a common form of volatile memory. RAM is a type of computer memory that can be accessed randomly; that is, any byte of memory can be accessed without touching the preceding bytes. RAM is the most common type of memory found in computers and other devices, such as printers. There are two basic types of RAM: Dynamic RAM (DRAM) and Static RAM (SRAM). Dynamic RAM needs to be refreshed thousands of times per second. Static RAM does not need to be refreshed, which makes it faster; but it is also more expensive than dynamic RAM. Both DRAM and SRAM are comprised of electrical circuits that are formed on microchips.  
           [0012]    The power required to refresh volatile memories is minimal. It is possible to refresh DRAM data using batteries. The use of conventional batteries to refresh volatile memories is well known and such batteries exist in many varieties. However, the current state of the art does not disclose a method of using a durable plastic housing to both physically protect the memory microchip and additionally provide a backup battery power source for that memory chip.  
           [0013]    To summarize, all portable electric devices are protected by a durable polymer housing. In addition, all microchips, including the ones for DRAM, are protected by a durable polymer housing. Currently, the durable polymer housings for portable electric devices and microchips only provide structural support and protection. It is currently unknown to provide a durable polymer housing that also serves as an electrical power source.  
         SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
         [0014]    The object of the present invention is to provide a durable housing for portable electronic devices and for microchips that also serves as a power source. More specifically, this invention discloses the use of polymer batteries to form the durable polymer housing for portable electronic devices and for microchips.  
           [0015]    Batteries have three key design parameters for portable devices. Weight is a key design parameter. Customers did not want to lug a thirty-pound laptop computer through an airport, so the race has been going on to produce lighter laptops ever since the first luggable personal computers were made in the early 1980&#39;s. Size is another key parameter. Shrinking an electrical device&#39;s size enhances its portability. Today, the most expensive and sought after portable phones are the ones that have the smallest physical dimensions. As the size of the portable device shrinks, so must the power source. Still another key design parameter is power. While the size of batteries is shrinking, consumer demand for more device functions and longer lifetime require increasing the lifetime and power provided by batteries.  
           [0016]    At present, all portable electronic devices are protected and supported by a durable polymer shell. It is possible to meet consumer desires for low weight, small, well powered portable electric devices through replacing existing durable polymer housings that store no electrical charge with durable polymer housings that are made from polymer batteries. Polymer batteries are lighter in weight than existing conventional batteries that have metal electrodes. Converting the space occupied by existing durable polymer housings that store no electrical charge into polymer batteries greatly increases the volume available for power storage. This conversion enables smaller portable electronic devices to have enhanced capabilities and endurance.  
           [0017]    As noted earlier, microchips are currently protected by a durable polymer housing that stores no electrical power. The present invention discloses the use of forming the durable polymer housing to microchips out of polymer batteries thereby turning the durable housing into a power source. The object of this invention is to provide a durable polymer housing for DRAM and SRAM microchips that functions as a backup power supply in addition to providing structural support and protection.  
           [0018]    Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize this invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0019]    The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself; however, both as to its structure and operation together with the additional objects and advantages thereof are best understood through the following description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 shows a polymer battery (prior art);  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 shows a polymer battery (prior art);  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 shows a view and a cutout section view of a cellular phone having a durable polymer structural casing formed from a polymer battery; FIG. 3A shows a sectional view of the cellular phone casing;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4 shows a view and two cutout section views of a portable computer having a durable polymer structural casing formed from a polymer battery; FIG. 4A shows a sectional view of the laptop computer casing; FIG. 4B shows a sectional view of the laptop computer casing;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 5 shows a view and a cutout section view of a microchip having a durable polymer structural casing formed from a polymer battery; FIG. 5A shows a sectional view of the microchip casing;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 6 shows view and a cutout section view of a camera having a durable polymer structural casing formed from a polymer battery; FIG. 6A shows a sectional view of the camera casing;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 7 shows a cross-section view of a durable polymer structural casing formed from a polymer battery, showing four structurally and electrically contiguous sidewalls;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 8 shows two halves of a durable polymer structural casing, at least one formed from a polymer battery, showing two sidewalls on each half; and  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 9 shows two halves of a durable polymer structural casing, at least one formed from a polymer battery, showing one sidewall on one half and three sidewalls on the other half. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0029]    While the invention has been shown and described with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, it will be understood to those skilled in the art, that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 1 shows a prior art polymer battery  100  from U.S. Pat. No. 6,165,645. Negative electrode layer  102  is configured by adhering a metallic lithium to a negative electrode current collector layer  101 . Positive electrode layer  104  is configured by applying a paste composed of LiCoO 2 , acetylene black, and a binder to a positive electrode current collector layer  105 . Between both electrodes, gelled electrolyte layer  103  is inserted, to obtain a lithium polymer battery. As depicted in prior art FIG. 1, all layers are flat parallel planes.  
         [0031]    The quantity of polyethylene oxide is preferably between 25% and 60% by weight. This provides a tensile strength between 400 to 100 kilograms-force per square centimeter, where the tensile strength decreases as the weight percentage of polyethylene increases. Given that 1 kilogram-force is 2.2 pounds-force and that there are 2.54 centimeters per inch, 1 kilogram-force per square centimeter is equal to approximately 14.2 pounds per square inch (psi). This gives a tensile strength in the range of 5,680 psi to 1,420 psi, which is sufficiently high to provide mechanical durability, strength, and structural integrity to form a housing for electronics, in addition to providing power to those same electronics.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 2 shows an alternate prior art polymer battery  200  that was disclosed in an article entitled “An all polymer charge storage device” authored by Yossef Gofer, Haripada Sarker, Jeffrey G. Killian, Theodore O. Poehler, and Peter C. Searson and published in Appl. Phys. Lett. (USA) Vol.71, No.11, September 15, 1997, pages 1582-1584. Teflon support  201  has carbon current collector  202  on an inner surface. Carbon current collector  202  is in contact with poly-3,4,5 TFPT (trifluorphenylthiophene) anode  203 . Polymer gel layer  204  is sandwiched between anode  203  and poly-3,5 DFPT (difluorophenylthiophene) cathode  205 . Polymer gel layer  204  may be approximately 1 mm thick, or thicker, depending on the application. Finally, Teflon support  207  has carbon current collector  206  on an inner surface. Carbon current collector  206  is in contact with cathode  205 . Polymer battery  200  is rechargeable and can be manufactured in thin, flat shapes, as opposed to the bulky and cylindrically-shaped common batteries used in flashlights, television remotes, etc. Teflon supports  201  and  207  provide mechanical durability, strength, and structural integrity. Thus, polymer battery  200  exhibits the same propensity to be used as a structural member as polymer battery  100 .  
         [0033]    Polymer batteries  100  and  200  are shown as exemplary examples of the art. In Comparing FIGS. 1 and 2, carbon current collector  202  corresponds to positive electrode current collector layer  105 , poly-3,4,5 TFPT anode  203  corresponds to positive electrode layer  104 , polymer gel layer  204  corresponds to gelled electrolyte layer  103 , poly-3,5 DFPT cathode  205  corresponds to negative electrode layer  102 , carbon current collector  206  corresponds to negative electrode current collector layer  107 . However, the invention is not limited to these specific polymeric batteries and, in fact, any polymeric battery with sufficient mechanical durability, strength, and structural integrity may be used as shown in FIGS. 3 through 9.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 3 shows cellular phone  300  having a durable polymer structural casing  301  formed from a polymer battery. This polymer battery could be layers  101 - 105  as shown in FIG. 1, layers  201 - 207  as shown in FIG. 2, or any similar polymer battery. Structural casing  301  preferably includes a base  307  and four structurally and electrically contiguous side walls. Two of these sidewalls,  302  and  303 , are shown in FIG. 3. The base and four contiguous sidewalls form a cavity which encloses the electronics of cellular telephone  300 . In the cutout section of FIG. 3, shown in FIG. 3A, positive electrode current collector layer  105  is shown as the outermost layer of the polymer battery, and the inward progression of layers is  104 ,  103 ,  102 , and ending with negative electrode current collector layer  101  as the inner most layer. However, the ordering of these layers could be reversed for a given design, with negative electrode current collector layer  101  as the outermost layer of the polymer battery, and the inward progression of layers would then be  102 ,  103 ,  704 , and ending with positive electrode current collector layer  105  as the inner most layer. Either way, cover  306  seals this cavity from external contamination.  
         [0035]    Cover  306  may also be formed from a polymer battery. If cover  306  is indeed formed from a polymer battery, then cover  306  could be electrically connected to structural casing  301  in two ways, either in parallel or serially. Cover  306  would increase the current capacity by being connected in parallel to structural casing  301 . However, cover  306  would increase the voltage capacity by being connected in series to structural casing  301 .  
         [0036]    Cover  306  supports display  311 , which is preferably an LCD (liquid crystal display). An LCD uses organic fluids called liquid crystals, because liquid crystals possess two important properties. First, liquid crystals are transparent but can alter the orientation of polarized light passing through them. Second, the alignment of liquid crystal molecules and their polarization properties can be changed by applying an electric field. Liquid crystals are sandwiched between two glass plates, the outsides of which having been coated with polarizing filters and the inner plate is typically backlit via fluorescent light. Inside these glass plates is a matrix of electrodes. When an element of the matrix, called a pixel, experiences a voltage change, the polarization of the adjacent liquid crystal molecules change, which alters the light transmitted through the LCD pixel and hence seen by the user. However, display  311  could also be a LED (light emitting diode) display or an electroluminescent display.  
         [0037]    Cover  306  may have holes through which a plurality of push-button keys protrude specifically for user input. Push-button keys  360  are the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 0 keys commonly used for dialing phone numbers, as well as the well known * and # keys. Push-button keys  350 ,  351 , and  370  are typically special function keys, such as scroll keys for viewing information on LCD  311 . All of these push-button keys are optional, as display  311  may have a touch screen feature capable of supporting user input.  
         [0038]    Cover  306  has holes  340  which permit spoken sound to be received by a microphone (not shown) inside the aforementioned cavity for conversion into electrical signals for transmission by antenna  320 . Cover  306  also has holes  330  which permit electrical signals received by antenna  320  and subsequently converted into sound by a speaker (not shown) inside the aforementioned cavity. Structural casing  301  would typically need either a slot or hole (not shown) cut in it to accommodate antenna  320 .  
         [0039]    The aforementioned cavity contains the electrical circuitry (not shown) which makes the conversion between sound and wireless communications per one of many possible standards. Europe and Asia currently use the GSM (Global Standard for Mobile communications) standard. Europe and Asia may switch in the future to W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access). In North America, CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) networks may also migrate to W-CDMA. TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) systems may migrate to EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution).  
         [0040]    Cellular phone  300  has electrically conductive recharge contacts  360  and  361 , for the purpose of recharging the polymer battery which comprises polymer structural casing  301 . If cover  306  is also formed from a polymer battery, it would be recharged via the same contacts. A typical location for recharge contacts  360  and  361  would be on sidewall  303 , so that cellular phone  300  would be recharged while standing in its recharger (not shown). However, recharge contacts  360  and  361  could be anywhere on cellular phone  300 .  
         [0041]    Cellular telephone  300  also has on/off switch  380 . When switch  380  is on, cellular phone  300  is in an active state and capable of transmitting and receiving. This active state consumes battery power. However, when switch  380  is off, cellular phone  300  is in an inactive state and battery power is conserved.  
         [0042]    The polymer battery which comprise structural casing  301  and possibly cover  306  provide the power for the microphone, speaker, display  311  and the circuitry to transmit and receive telephone conversations. Thus, the structural casing of cellular phone  300  simultaneously provides mechanical durability, strength, and structural integrity as well as electrical power.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 4 shows portable computer  400  having upper polymer structural casing  410  and lower polymer structural casing  430  each formed from a polymer battery. Upper polymer structural casing  410  and lower polymer structural casing  430  are rotatably connected by one or more hinges  420 . Computer  400  could be a common laptop. However, computer  400  could equally be a Palm-Pilot or other hand-held computer or calculator.  
         [0044]    Each polymer battery could be layers  101 - 105  as shown in FIG. 1, layers  201 - 207  as shown in FIG. 2, or any similar polymer battery. Upper structural casing  410  preferably includes a base  401  and four structurally and electrically contiguous side walls. Two of these sidewalls,  402  and  403 , are shown in FIG. 4. Base  401  and the four contiguous sidewalls form an upper cavity which encloses the display electronics of portable computer  400 . Lower structural casing  430  preferably includes a base  404  and four structurally and electrically contiguous side walls. Two of these sidewalls,  405  and  406 , are shown in FIG. 4. Base  404  and its four sidewalls form a lower cavity which encloses the calculating electronics of portable computer  400 . In the cutout sections of FIG. 4, shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, positive electrode current collector layer  105  is shown as the outermost layer of each polymer battery, and the inward progression of layers is  104 ,  103 ,  102 , and ending with negative electrode current collector layer  101  as the inner most layer. However, the ordering of these layers could be reversed for a given design, with negative electrode current collector layer  101  as the outermost layer of either polymer battery, and the inward progression of layers would then be  102 ,  103 ,  104 , and ending with positive electrode current collector layer  105  as the inner most layer. Either way, cover  412  seals the upper cavity and cover  432  seals the lower cavity from external contamination. Hinges  420  also contain wiring which allows electrical communication between the electronics in the upper and lower cavities.  
         [0045]    Covers  412  and  432  may also be formed from polymer batteries. If covers  412  and  432  indeed formed from a polymer battery, then cover  412  could be electrically connected to structural casing  410  and cover  432  could be electrically connected to structural casing  430  either of two ways, in parallel or serially. A parallel connection would increase the current capacity and a serial connection would increase the voltage capacity.  
         [0046]    Cover  412  supports display  411 , which is preferably an LCD (liquid crystal display). However, display  411  could also be a LED (light emitting diode) display or an electroluminescent display.  
         [0047]    Cover  432  may have holes through which a plurality of push-button keys protrude specifically for user input. Push-button keys  440  are the QWERTY keys commonly used for typing or keyboarding input. Push-button keys  460  are typically special function keys, such as F 1 , F 2 , through F 12 . Push-button keys  450  may be numeric keys 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. All of these push-button keys are optional, as the display  411  may have a touch screen feature capable of supporting user input.  
         [0048]    Recharging plug  460  is used for recharging the polymer batteries in portable computer  400 . I/O port  462  can receive data from digital camera  600  or other device.  
         [0049]    The polymer battery which comprise structural casings  410  and  430  as well as possibly covers  412  and  432  provide the power for display  411 , as well as memory  500 , a microprocessor (not shown), and any computer peripheral such as a hard disk drive (not shown) in one of the cavities in computer  400 . Thus, the structural casings of computer  400  simultaneously provide mechanical durability, strength, and structural integrity as well as electrical power.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 5 shows microchip  500  having a durable polymer structural casing  510  formed from a polymer battery. This polymer battery could be layers  101 - 105  as shown in FIG. 1, layers  201 - 207  as shown in FIG. 2, or any similar polymer battery. Structural casing  510  preferably includes a top  511  and four structurally and electrically contiguous side walls. Two of these sidewalls,  512  and  513 , are shown in FIG. 5. The base and four contiguous sidewalls form a cavity which encloses the electronics  531  of microchip  500 . In the cutout section of FIG. 5, shown in FIG. 5A, negative electrode current collector layer  101  is shown as the outermost layer of the polymer battery, and the inward progression of layers are  102 ,  103 ,  104 , and ending with positive electrode current collector layer  105  as the inner most layer. However, the ordering of these layers could be reversed for a given design, with positive electrode current collector layer  105  as the outermost layer of the polymer battery, and the inward progression of layers is  104 ,  103 ,  102 , and ending with negative electrode current collector layer  101  as the inner most layer. Either way, a base (not shown) seals this cavity from external contamination.  
         [0051]    Microchip  500  has a series of electrical contacts  520  emanating along the perimeter of its base. Electrical contacts  520  are used to provide power to and I/O to/from electronics  531  via wires  532 . The proper orientation of microchip  500  on its circuit board (not shown) is provided for by identifier  560 , which is typically a very shallow circular depression in one corner of the outer surface of top  511 .  
         [0052]    If microchip  500  is an EPROM (erasable, programmable read only memory) chip, electronics  531  may be visible through a sealed but optically transparent window  530 . This window  530  allows the use of ultraviolet radiation to erase the currently stored microcode or data contents of electronics  531 , so that they may be subsequently replaced by new microcode or data.  
         [0053]    The polymer battery which comprise structural casing  510  provides the power or the backup power for electronics  530 . Thus, the structural casing of microchip  500  simultaneously provides mechanical durability, strength, and structural integrity as well as electrical power.  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 6 shows camera  600  having a durable polymer structural casing  610  formed from a polymer battery. This polymer battery could be layers  101 - 105  as shown in FIG. 1, layers  201 - 207  as shown in FIG. 2, or any similar polymer battery. Structural casing  610  preferably includes a base  611  and four structurally and electrically contiguous side walls. Two of these sidewalls,  612  and  613 , are shown in FIG. 6. The base and four contiguous sidewalls form a cavity which encloses the optics and electronics of camera  600 . In the cutout section of FIG. 6, shown in FIG. 6A, positive electrode current collector layer  105  is shown as the outermost layer of the polymer battery, and the inward progression of layers is  104 ,  103 ,  702 , and ending with negative electrode current collector layer  101  as the inner most layer. However, the ordering of these layers could be reversed for a given design, with negative electrode current collector layer  101  as the outermost layer of the polymer battery, and the inward progression of layers would then be  102 ,  103 ,  104 , and ending with positive electrode current collector layer  105  as the inner most layer. Either way, cover  616  seals this cavity from external contamination.  
         [0055]    Cover  616  may also be formed from a polymer battery. If cover  616  is indeed formed from a polymer battery, then cover  616  could be electrically connected to structural casing  610  in two ways, either in parallel or serially. Cover  616  would increase the current capacity by being connected in parallel to structural casing  610 . However, cover  616  would increase the voltage capacity by being connected in series to structural casing  610 .  
         [0056]    Cover  616  supports optical lens  670 . Light is focused by optical lens  670  onto either film (not shown) or a CCD (charge coupled device, not shown) inside the aforementioned cavity. If focused onto a CCD, the digital image may be stored in microchip  500  or other data storage device until eventually downloaded to a main data storage device such computer  400 . This downloading would be done via download port  662 .  
         [0057]    Cover  616  has at least one hole, through which the light passes from optical lens  670  to either the film or CCD inside the aforementioned cavity. Optional flash unit  630  may also mounted on cover  616 . Optional LCD  640  indicates how many remaining shots are available, the adequacy of the ambient lighting, etc.  
         [0058]    Camera  600  has electrical recharge port  660 , for the purpose of recharging the polymer battery which comprises polymer structural casing  610 . If cover  616  is also formed from a polymer battery, it would be recharged via the same port. One possible location for recharge port  660  could be on sidewall  613 . However, recharge port  660  could be anywhere on camera  600 .  
         [0059]    Camera  600  may also have on/off switch  680 . When switch  680  is on, the camera is in an active state and capable of taking pictures when shutter button  620  is pressed. However, when switch  680  is off, the camera  600  is incapable of taking pictures should shutter button  620  be accidentally pressed. Camera  600  may have optional carrying strap  650 .  
         [0060]    The polymer battery which comprise structural casing  610  and possibly cover  616  provide the power for flash unit  630 , memory  500 , LCD  640  and, if used, the internal CCD. Thus, the structural casing of camera  600  simultaneously provides mechanical durability, strength, and structural integrity as well as electrical power.  
         [0061]    [0061]FIG. 7 shows a cross-section view of a durable polymer structural casing  700  formed from a polymer battery. This polymer battery could be layers  101 - 105  as shown in FIG. 1, layers  201 - 207  as shown in FIG. 2, or any similar polymer battery. Starting with the exterior layer of the polymer battery, succeeding interior layers are nested inside, until the final layer is reached. Structural casing  700  includes a base  711  and four structurally and electrically contiguous side walls  712 ,  713 ,  714 , and  715 . The interior surfaces of base  711  and the four contiguous sidewalls  712 - 715  form cavity  720  which encloses one or more electrical elements  740 . Starting with the exterior layer, succeeding interior layers are nested inside, until the final layer is reached.  
         [0062]    In FIG. 7, positive electrode current collector layer  105  is shown as the outermost layer of the polymer battery, and the inward progression of layers is  104 ,  103 ,  102 , and ending with negative electrode current collector layer  101  as the inner most layer. However, the ordering of these layers could be reversed for a given design, with negative electrode current collector layer  101  as the outermost layer of the polymer battery, and the inward progression of layers would then be  102 ,  103 ,  104 , and ending with positive electrode current collector layer  105  as the inner most layer.  
         [0063]    The one or more electrical elements  740  are electrically connected to positive electrode current collector layer  105  and negative electrode current collector layer  101  via wires  743 ,  744 ,  745 ,  746 , and  747 . Thus, DC (direct current) may flow from the polymer battery which comprises durable polymer structural casing  700  and one or more electrical elements  740 . One or more electrical elements  740  may include optional voltage regulator  747 , to provide a uniform voltage to one or more electrical elements  740 . In addition, optional on/off switch  780  may be available to turn power on or off to one or more electrical elements  740 . On/off switch  780  is shown in the off position in FIG. 7. Optional DC voltage regulator  741  may turn on/off switch  780  to the off position via control line  742 , should the remaining DC voltage in polymer structural casing  700  fall below a preset threshold for operation of one or more electrical elements  740 , so that one or more electrical elements  740  are not damaged by insufficient DC voltage. If optional DC voltage regulator  741  is not present, then wires  743  and  746  are contiguous, wires  745  and  747  are contiguous, and control line  742  would not be present.  
         [0064]    An example of optional voltage regulator  741  is off-the-shelf chips LM3712 and LM3713 by National Semiconductor. The LM3712/LM3713 series of microprocessor supervisory circuits provide the maximum flexibility for monitoring power supplies and battery controlled functions in systems. These chips include threshold detector for power fail warning.  
         [0065]    Polymer structural casing  700  also shows the cross-section of hole  730  through battery layers  101 - 105 . Hole  730  allows the connection of antenna  320 , display  311 , keys  360 , etc. for cellular phone  300 ; LCD  411 , keys  440 , etc., for computer  400 ; sealed but optically transparent window  530 , etc., for microchip  500 ; and optical lens  670 , LCD  640 , recharge port  660 , etc., for camera  600 . The presence of hole  730  does not compromise the ability of polymer structural casing  700  to simultaneously provide mechanical durability, strength, and structural integrity as well as DC electrical power. The exposed surface of hole  730 , as well as all exposed surfaces of polymer structural casing  700 , would be sealed by a conventional nonconductive polymeric or elastomeric compound  790 , to protect the electric storage capabilities of polymeric structural casing  700 . Examples of a conventional nonconductive polymeric compound include polycarbonate, polytetrafluoroethylene (commonly known by the trade name of TEFLON), and acrylic.  
         [0066]    The recharge of the polymer battery would use controller  790  and line  791 , which is connected to layer  101 , and line  795 , which is connected to layer  105 . Controller  790  would then be connected to external power (not shown). An example of a recharge controller is the LM3420 series of controllers by National Semiconductor.  
         [0067]    These LM3420 controllers are monolithic integrated circuits designed for charging and end-of-charge control for Lithium-Ion rechargeable batteries. The LM3420 is available in five fixed voltage versions for one through four cell charger applications (4.2V, 8.2V/8.4V, 12.6V and 16.8V respectively). Included in a very small package is an (internally compensated) op amp, a bandgap reference, an NPN output transistor, and voltage setting resistors. The amplifier&#39;s inverting input is externally accessible for loop frequency compensation. The output is an open-emitter NPN transistor capable of driving up to 15 mA of output current into external circuitry. A trimmed precision bandgap reference utilizes temperature drift curvature correction for excellent voltage stability over the operating temperature range. Available with an initial tolerance of 0.5% for the A grade version, and 1% for the standard version, the LM3420 allows for precision end-of-charge control for Lithium-Ion rechargeable batteries. The LM3420 is available in a sub-miniature 5-lead SOT23-5 surface mount package thus allowing very compact designs.  
         [0068]    [0068]FIG. 8 shows an alternative view of a durable polymer structural casing  800  formed from two polymer batteries. Each polymer battery could be layers  101 - 105  as shown in FIG. 1, layers  201 - 207  as shown in FIG. 2, or any similar polymer battery. Starting with the exterior layer of the polymer battery, succeeding interior layers are nested inside, until the final layer is reached. Specific layering is not shown in FIG. 8, because this layering has been shown in detail in preceding FIGS.  3 - 7 . Structural casing  800  includes lower-half structural casing battery  810  and upper-half structural casing battery  820 . Lower-half structural casing  810  has base  811  and two structurally and electrically contiguous side walls  812  and  813 . Upper-half structural casing  820  has top  821  and two structurally and electrically contiguous side walls  822  and  823 . The interior surfaces of base  811 , top  821 , and the four contiguous sidewalls  812  and  813 , as well as  822  and  823  form a cavity which encloses one or more electrical elements. Lower-half structural casing battery  810  and upper-half structural casing battery  820  may be electrically connected in series to provide additional voltage capacity or in parallel to provide additional current capacity.  
         [0069]    [0069]FIG. 9 shows yet another an alternative view of a durable polymer structural casing  900  formed from two polymer batteries. Each polymer battery could be layers  101 - 105  as shown in FIG. 1, layers  201 - 207  as shown in FIG. 2, or any similar polymer battery. Starting with the exterior layer of the polymer battery, succeeding interior layers are nested inside, until the final layer is reached. Specific layering is not shown in FIG. 9, because this layering has been shown in detail in preceding FIGS.  3 - 7 . Structural casing  900  includes lower-half structural casing battery  910  and upper-half structural casing battery  920 . Lower-half structural casing  910  has base  911  and three structurally and electrically contiguous side wall  912 ,  913 , and  914 . Upper-half structural casing  920  has top  921  and one structurally and electrically contiguous side wall  922 . The interior surfaces of base  911 , top  921 , and the four contiguous sidewalls  912 ,  913 ,  914 , and  922  form a cavity which encloses one or more electrical elements. Lower-half casing battery  910  and upper-half casing battery  920  may be electrically connected in series to provide additional voltage capacity or in parallel to provide additional current capacity. Furthermore, lower-half structural casing battery  910  and upper-half structural casing battery  920  can be interchanged, so that lower becomes upper and visa versa.  
         [0070]    In FIGS.  3 - 9 , the battery may be recharged while external power is provided to the electronics. This is practiced today, in laptop computers. Then, when external power is removed, either deliberately for mobile operations or by accident, during a power black out, the polymer batteries then supply the required power to the electronics. In FIGS.  3 - 9 , the structural casing simultaneously provides mechanical durability, strength, and structural integrity as well as electrical power. Thus, a physically separate battery is not needed.  
         [0071]    It should be noted that FIGS. 3 through 9 show generally rectangular box casings. In fact, only 3 sidewalls are needed to form a generally triangularly shaped cavity for both storing and providing power to electronics. More sidewalls could be used to provide other geometric shapes. For example, five sidewalls would form a generally pentagonal shaped cavity and six sidewalls would form a generally hexagonal shaped cavity. For ergonomic reasons, curvilinear surfaces such as ellipsoids, hemispheres, and domes could equally be used.  
         [0072]    Additionally, the polymer battery shown in FIG. 1 and the durable polymer structural casings shown in FIGS. 3 through 9 could be augmented and further stiffened by adding the teflon support layers  201  and  207  which are shown in FIG. 2. A teflon layer could support negative electrode current collector layer  101  on the surface of negative electrode current collector layer  101  opposite to negative electrode layer  102 . Another teflon layer could support positive electrode current collector layer  105  along the surface of positive electrode current collector layer  105  opposite to positive electrode layer  104 . Instead of teflon, other nonconducting polymers, such as polycarbonate or acrylic, or epoxy could be used for these support layers.  
         [0073]    While the invention has been shown and described with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, it will be understood to those skilled in the art, that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.