Multiplex communications – Wide area network – Packet switching
Patent
1996-09-24
1998-08-11
Wong, Peter S.
Multiplex communications
Wide area network
Packet switching
136251, 323906, H02J 735, F16K 1310
Patent
active
057931844
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to adaptation of a battery operated device to allow the device to be supplied with power from a solar cell via circuitry and rechargeable battery.
The problem with many battery operated devices is that the cost of replacement batteries is high and often the battery life is extremely short. This problem can be reduced by mating use of rechargeable cells but this usually involves connecting a charging device to a mains supply.
It has previously been proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,686,441 to provide a photoelectric charger including a solar electric panel for generating a charging current for a battery, however, the arrangement is cumbersome and does not provide a practical solution to the problem.
The present invention provides a power supply unit comprising a converter circuit for increasing the output of a photoelectric device and rechargeable cell connected to the converter circuit, the converter circuit and cell being housed in a casing which is the same size and shape as a conventional dry cell.
The power supply unit allows a relatively small area of solar electric panel to be used for the generation of electricity compared to existing solar energy collection methods. Also, the unit allows generation of electricity from low level illumination such as that found within dwellings from artificial light or from the light near to windows. In addition to the above, the smallness of the solar electric panel reduces the cost of the power supply unit. This low cost, and interchange ability with existing dry cell, makes for a device which has applications in very many domestic environments.
The power supply unit can be used to power a wide variety of devices such as smoke alarms, intruder alarms and the like as well as radio and personal stereo players/recorders.
In order that the present invention be more readily understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which,
FIG. 1 shows a form view of one embodiment of a battery operated device with a power supply unit according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows a connection method using an external plug on the outside of the battery operating device.
FIG. 3 shows a connection method using an external plug on the outside of the battery operated devices coming from a container comprising solar cell array, step up circuit and rechargeable batteries.
FIG. 4 shows the regulating circuit for low and medium power requirements.
FIG. 5 shows the simplest regulation circuit for low current applications for use in restricted battery size.
FIG. 6 shows the regulation circuit which reduces the rechargeable battery voltage by placing more step up of voltage between the rechargeable battery and solar powered supply output.
FIG. 7 shows the regulation circuit which allows greater current supply capability when required by virtue of a by-passing connection directly from step up output which is not affected by a current limiting resistor used to control charging current to battery.
FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of the possible regulating circuit of a high current output capability employing a voltage regulator after the step up circuits, also with by-passing connection from voltage regulator to solar powered supply output not affected by current limiting resistor used to control charge current to battery.
FIGS. 9(A) and (B) show the special terminal which enables use of circuit type shown in FIG. 6.
FIG. 10 shows a means to indicate that there is sufficient light to recharge the rechargeable battery by a flashing LED.
FIG. 11 shows a suitable oscillator circuit which can be used to drive electrical pulses through the LED shown in FIG. 10.
FIG. 12 shows a special connector of another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 13 shows a special connector of a further embodiment of the invention.
The power supply unit consists of three basic parts; a solar cell array 2, a DC-DC voltage converter 3, 4, 5, a regulating circuit 7, 8, 9 and a rechargeable battery 10. The solar call 2 array con
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patent: 5530335 (1996-06-01), Decker et al.
patent: 5635816 (1997-06-01), Welsh et al.
Opcon, Ltd.
Toatley Gregory J.
Wong Peter S.
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