SOLAR CELL AND PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20140111135A1
• Filed: 10/24/2012
• Published: 04/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: IDZIK, Jacek S., MANKOWSKI, Peter, GERIS, Ryan Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 9,368,987 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/02021 for solar cells electrical connection means, e.g. junction boxes, specially adapted for structural association with photovoltaic modules H02S40/34
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/022425 for solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/465 with solar battery as charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A solar cell and a portable electronic device are provided. The solar cell includes a semiconductor material configured to absorb light for generating a current. The solar cell further includes a positive contact and a negative contact. In addition, the negative contact is configured to couple with an external interface. The portable electronic device includes an energy storage unit. The portable electronic device also includes a semiconductor material configured to absorb light for generating a current, a positive contact, and a negative contact. The negative contact of the portable electronic device is configured to couple with an external interface.

Claims

1. A solar cell comprising:

a semiconductor material configured to absorb light for generating a current, the semiconductor material having a positive side and a negative side;

a positive contact in electrical communication with the positive side, the positive contact configured to collect current from the positive side; and

a negative contact in electrical communication with the negative side, the negative contact configured to collect current from the negative side, the negative contact having a coil geometry for coupling with an external interface.

2. The solar cell of claim 1, wherein the coil geometry is configured for wireless charging.

3. The solar cell of claim 2, wherein the coil geometry is configured for inductive charging.

4. The solar cell of claim 2, wherein the negative contact is electrically connectable to a first circuit and a second circuit, the first circuit for collecting current from the semiconductor material, and the second circuit for generating current via induction.

5. The solar cell of claim 1, wherein the negative contact is configured for providing near field communication.

6. The solar cell of claim 5, wherein the negative contact is electrically connectable to a first circuit and a second circuit, the first circuit for collecting current from the semiconductor material, and the second circuit coupling with the external interface to provide near field communication between the negative contact and the external interface.

7. The solar cell of claim 1, further comprising an anti-reflection layer disposed on the negative side, the anti-reflection layer for decreasing reflective loss of light.

8. The solar cell of claim 7, wherein the anti-reflection layer is disposed over the negative contact to form a protective layer.

9. A portable electronic device comprising:

an energy storage unit configured to provide power to the portable electronic device, the energy storage unit having a positive terminal and a negative terminal;

a semiconductor material configured to absorb light for generating a current, the semiconductor material having a positive side and a negative side;

a positive contact in electrical communication with the positive side, the positive contact configured to collect current from the positive side and further configured to be electrically connectable to the positive terminal; and

a negative contact in electrical communication with the negative side, the negative contact configured to collect current from the negative side and further configured to be electrically connectable to the negative terminal, the negative contact having a coil geometry for coupling with an external interface.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 9, wherein the coil geometry is configured for wireless charging.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the coil geometry is configured for inductive charging.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 10, further comprising:

a first circuit for electrically connecting the energy storage unit, the positive contact, the negative contact and the semiconductor material, wherein the negative contact is in electrical communication with the negative terminal and the positive contact is in electrical communication with the positive terminal, the first circuit configured to provide solar charging;

a second circuit for electrically connecting the energy storage unit and the negative contact, wherein a first point of the negative contact is in electrical communication with the positive terminal and a second point of the negative contact is in electrical communication the negative terminal, the second circuit configured to provide wireless charging; and

a switch configured to switch between the first circuit and the second circuit.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 12, further comprising a processor configured to operate the switch.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to determine an optimal charging method and automatically operate the switch to provide the optimal charging method.

15. The portable electronic device of claim 9, wherein the negative contact is configured for providing near field communication.

16. The portable electronic device of claim 15, further comprising:

a processor configured to communicate with an external device via the external interface;

a first circuit for electrically connecting the energy storage unit, the positive contact, the negative contact and the semiconductor material, wherein the negative contact is in electrical communication with the negative terminal and the positive contact is in electrical communication with the positive terminal, the first circuit configured to provide solar charging;

a second circuit for electrically connecting the processor and the negative contact, the second circuit configured to couple with the external interface to provide near field communication between the negative contact and the external interface; and

a switch configured to switch between the first circuit and the second circuit.

17. The portable electronic device of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to operate the switch.

18. The portable electronic device of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to automatically operate the switch to provide near field communication when requested and to provide solar charging at other times.

19. The portable electronic device of claim 9, further comprising an anti-reflection layer disposed on the negative side, the anti-reflection layer for decreasing reflective loss of light.

20. The portable electronic device of claim 19, wherein the anti-reflection layer is disposed over the negative contact to form a protective layer.