Color changing apparatuses with solar cells

• US 10,361,328 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2015
• Issued: 07/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Wu, Kuan-Ting, Chu, Wei-Kuang, Yang, Chienlung, Lim, Hui Leng
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben, Loha
• Application Number:
  US15/542,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20180047860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,545 Days
• Field of Search: 359241, 359244, 359265, 359274, 359275, 345105, 345106, 136200, 136213, 136225, 136243, 136244, 136251, 136253, 136254, 136256, 136257, 438 19, 438 54, 438 57, 438 67, 438 70, 438 73, 438 74, 438 80, 438 81
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2476 Solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/50 using change in colour of an indicator, e.g. actinometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 11/12 using changes in colour, translucency or reflectance
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0126 Opto-optical modulation, i.e. control of one light beam by another light beam, not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0147 based on thermo-optic effects G02F1/132 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0216 Coatings H01L31/041 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/02327 the optical elements being integrated or being directly associated to the device, e.g. back reflectors optical coatings H01L31/0216
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/042 PV modules or arrays of single PV cells supporting structures for PV modules H02S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/053 Energy storage means directly associated or integrated with the PV cell, e.g. a capacitor integrated with a PV cell energy storage means associated with the PV module H02S40/38
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/054 Optical elements directly associated or integrated with the PV cell, e.g. light-reflecting means or light-concentrating means
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0547 comprising light concentrating means of the reflecting type, e.g. parabolic mirrors, concentrators using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a color changing apparatus. The color changing apparatus includes a solar cell assembly to absorb solar energy and converse the solar energy to thermal energy or electromagnetic radiation. The color changing apparatus also includes a color changing element to be in contact with the solar cell and display different color features by absorbing the thermal energy or electromagnetic radiation provided by the solar cell assembly.

Claims

1. A color changing apparatus, comprising:

a color changing element, wherein the color changing element is a flexible photochromic band; and

a solar cell assembly to absorb solar energy and provide thermal energy or electromagnetic radiation, the solar cell assembly comprising a plurality of flexible solar cells arranged into a plurality of recesses of the color changing element, wherein the color changing element contacts the solar cell assembly and displays different color features by absorbing the thermal energy or electromagnetic radiation provided by the solar cell assembly.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a back-up battery unit to provide thermal energy or electromagnetic radiation in the color changing apparatus in place of the solar cell assembly when the solar cell assembly does not work normally.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color changing element is disposed over a substrate.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the flexible photochromic band includes a flexible photochromic coating, and wherein the plurality of flexible solar cells of the solar cell assembly are arranged into a plurality of recesses formed in the substrate, respectively, and the color changing element is formed between the plurality of flexible solar cells of the solar cell assembly and the substrate.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the solar cell assembly is arranged on the top side of the substrate with the color changing element being formed between the solar cell assembly and the substrate.

6. A method for producing a color changing apparatus, comprising:

forming a color changing element to display different color features by absorbing thermal energy or electromagnetic radiation provided by a solar cell assembly, wherein the color changing element is a flexible thermochromic band;

forming a plurality of recesses into the color changing element; and

arranging the solar cell assembly comprising a plurality of flexible solar cells arranged into the plurality of recesses, wherein the solar cell assembly is to absorb solar energy and provide the thermal energy or the electromagnetic radiation.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising arranging a back-up battery unit in contact with the color changing element, the back-up battery unit is to provide thermal energy or electromagnetic radiation in the color changing apparatus in place of the solar cell assembly when the solar cell assembly does not work normally.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein forming a color changing element comprises forming the color changing element over a substrate.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the flexible thermochromic band includes a flexible thermochromic coating, and wherein arranging the solar cell assembly with the color changing element comprises forming a plurality of recesses in the substrate and arranging the plurality of flexible solar cells of the solar cell assembly into the plurality of recesses in the substrate, respectively, and wherein the color changing element is formed between the plurality of flexible solar cells of the solar cell assembly and the substrate.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein arranging the solar cell assembly with the color changing element comprises arranging the solar cell assembly on the top side of the substrate with the color changing element being formed between the solar cell assembly and the substrate.

11. A wearable device comprising:

a color changing apparatus, the color changing apparatus comprising;

a color changing element, wherein the color changing element is a flexible photochromic band or a flexible thermochromic band; and

a solar cell assembly to absorb solar energy and provide thermal energy or electromagnetic radiation, the solar cell assembly comprising a plurality of flexible solar cells arranged into a plurality of recesses of the color changing element, wherein the color changing element contacts the solar cell assembly and displays different color features by absorbing the thermal energy or electromagnetic radiation provided by the solar cell assembly.

12. The wearable device according to claim 11, wherein the color changing apparatus further comprising a back-up battery unit to provide thermal energy or electromagnetic radiation in the color changing apparatus in place of the solar cell assembly when the solar cell assembly does not work normally.

13. The wearable device according to claim 11, wherein the color changing element includes a photochromic coating or a thermochromic coating.