Method for supplying power to a device

• US 20070069868A1
• Filed: 09/28/2006
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Duplessis, Philippe
• Application Number:
  US11/528,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20070069868A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/310.110
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells

Abstract

The invention proposes a method for supplying power to a device comprising photosensitive means arranged for changing a received luminous energy into electric power, the device being associated with power storage means for storing electric power obtained by the photosensitive means. The method comprises the following steps: detecting a remaining load in the power storage means; and when said remaining load is below a first threshold, commanding a light source to be switched on.

Claims

1. A method for supplying power to a device comprising photosensitive means arranged for changing a received luminous energy into electric power, the device being associated with power storage means for storing electric power obtained by the photosensitive means, the method comprising the following steps

detecting a remaining load in the power storage means;

and

when said remaining load is below a first threshold, commanding a light source to be switched on.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising a further step of commanding the light source to be switched off when the remaining load in the power storage means is above a second threshold, the second threshold value being more than the first threshold value.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source is controlled by a switch, wherein the device and the switch have communication means, and wherein commanding the light source to be switched on comprises sending a signal from the device via said communication means.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said signal is sent directly to the switch.

5. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said signal is sent to a coordination device and wherein commanding the light source to be switched on further comprises sending a signal from the coordination device to the switch via said communication means.

6. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the communication means are wireless.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said device includes a sensor.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power storage means are designed to store a predetermined amount of electric power set for supplying the device substantially for a whole night after the photosensitive means of the device have been exposed to the daylight substantially for a whole day.

9. A device comprising photosensitive means arranged for changing a received luminous energy into electric power, the device being associated with power storage means for storing electric power obtained by the photosensitive means, said device further comprising:

means for detecting a remaining load in the power storage means; and

means for commanding a light source to be switched on when said remaining load is below a first threshold.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9, further comprising means for commanding the light source to be switched off when the remaining load is above a second threshold, the second threshold value being more than the first threshold value.

11. A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the light source is controlled by a switch, wherein the device has communication means and wherein the means for commanding the light source to be switched on comprise means for sending a signal via said communication means.

12. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the means for sending a signal are arranged for sending the signal directly to the switch.

13. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the means for sending a signal are arranged for sending the signal to a coordination device.

14. A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the communication means are wireless.

15. A device as claimed in claim 9, including a sensor.

16. A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the power storage means are designed to store a predetermined amount of electric power set for supplying the device substantially for a whole night after the photosensitive means of the device have been exposed to the daylight substantially for a whole day.