Solar rechargeable lantern

Illumination – Self powered lamp – Rechargeable electrical source of with external connections

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C362S276000, C362S802000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06290367

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to battery-powered lanterns, and more particularly to rechargeable battery-powered lanterns.
Battery-powered lanterns are well known and are used worldwide as portable light sources for a wide variety of work and leisure activities. Such lanterns typically include a base and a fixture mounted on the base. One or more light bulbs are supported within the fixture, and a battery is contained within the base to power the bulbs.
As with all battery-powered devices, battery life is a concern. Without a battery tester, determining the remaining life of a battery is difficult. To avoid running out of power, a user either will replace batteries before they are fully used or will carry extra batteries. Particularly in remote areas, extra batteries fill needed space, add weight, and can be hard to procure.
Solar-powered lanterns were developed in part to eliminate the need to replace batteries prematurely and/or the need to carry extra batteries. These solar-powered lanterns include a rechargeable battery in the base and a separate solar panel that can be connected to the lantern to recharge the battery. Unfortunately, solar-powered lanterns suffer several disadvantages. First, when the battery fully discharges, the life of the battery is shortened. Second, full discharge degrades the battery, causing the battery to hold less charge each cycle. Third, the lights within the solar lanterns oscillate or flicker when the battery is weak.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aforementioned problems are overcome in the present invention wherein a solar-powered rechargeable lantern includes a power management system to prevent the battery from fully discharging and to prevent the lantern from operating when the battery is charging.
In a first aspect of the invention, the power management system terminates power output to the light bulb when the voltage from the battery drops below a specified level. Preferably, power is not restored to the bulb until the charging circuit is reset. The advantages of this technique are numerous. First, the power management system prevents the battery from fully discharging thereby extending the life of the battery. Second, since a rechargeable battery can build some charge after the power is terminated (i.e. with no load on the battery), the power management system prevents the light from turning back on until the charging circuit has been reset. Third, the termination of power until the charging circuit is reset prevents the light bulb from flickering or oscillating near the end of the battery's cycle. Fourth, power is removed from the lantern control circuitry when the solar panel is connected.
In a second aspect of the invention, the power management system prevents operation of the lantern while the battery is recharging. In the preferred embodiment, the connection of the solar panel to the lantern actuates a switch that prevents the light from being powered. Because the charging current is less than the operating current, this technique prevents the operation of the lantern when there is insufficient power to properly do so.
These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be more readily understood and appreciated by reference to the detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4384317 (1983-05-01), Stackpole
patent: 4481562 (1984-11-01), Hickson
patent: 4751622 (1988-06-01), Williams
patent: 4884017 (1989-11-01), Williams
patent: 5221891 (1993-06-01), Janda
patent: 5262756 (1993-11-01), Chein
patent: 5905356 (1999-05-01), Wells

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