Shading Object, Intelligent Umbrella and Intelligent Shading Charging Security System and Method of Operation

• US 20170324372A1
• Filed: 08/22/2016
• Published: 11/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ShadeCraft, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ShadeCraft, LLC
• Inventors: Gharabegian, Armen Sevada
• Granted Patent: US 10,455,395 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 17/00 Tiltable umbrellas
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2017/005 with additional rotation about a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2023/0012 Ground supported umbrellas or sunshades on a single post, e.g. resting in or on a surface there below
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2200/1018 with illuminating devices, e.g. electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2200/1027 with means for generating solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 25/143 automatic
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 25/165 with fluid or electric actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/03 rechargeable by exposure to light
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/10 Supporting structures directly fixed to the ground H02S20/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/32 specially adapted for solar tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 30/20 Collapsible or foldable PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/37 Converter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/125 : by using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 : Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 : Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 : Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 : Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

An intelligent umbrella includes an array of solar panels/cells for capturing sunlight and converting into electrical energy, a solar panel charging assembly to receive power from one or more solar assemblies, a rechargeable battery to receive power generated from the solar panel charging assembly, and a processor and a memory, the processor and the memory to receive power from the rechargeable battery; and a wireless transceiver to receive power from the rechargeable battery, the wireless transceiver to communicate messages and/or signals when no external power source is connected to and/or available for the intelligent umbrella. The intelligent umbrella may further comprise a cellular transceiver to receive power from the rechargeable battery, the cellular transceiver to communicate messages and/or signals when no external power source is connected to and/or available to supply power for the intelligent umbrella.

Claims

1. An intelligent umbrella, comprising:

an array of solar panels/cells for capturing sunlight and converting into electrical energy;

a solar panel charging assembly to receive power from one or more solar assemblies;

a rechargeable battery to receive power generated from the solar panel charging assembly;

a processor and a memory, the processor and the memory to receive power from the rechargeable battery; and

a WiFi transceiver to receive power from the rechargeable battery, the WiFi transceiver to communicate messages and/or signals when no external power source is connected to and/or available for the intelligent umbrella.

2. The intelligent umbrella of claim 1, further comprising:

a cellular transceiver to receive power from the rechargeable battery, the cellular transceiver to communicate messages and/or signals when no external power source is connected to and/or available to supply power for the intelligent umbrella.

3. The intelligent umbrella of claim 1, further comprising:

a lighting assembly to receive power from the rechargeable battery, the lighting assembly to activate and/or deactivate in response to signals generated by other powered assemblies and/or components when no external power source is connected to and/or available to supply power for the intelligent umbrella.

4. The intelligent umbrella of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more cameras to receive power from the rechargeable battery, the one or more camera to activate and/or deactivate in response to signals generated by other powered assemblies and/or components when no external power source is connected to and/or available to supply power to the intelligent umbrella.

5. The intelligent umbrella of claim 4, wherein the one or more cameras capture images, video and/or audio of an area surrounding the intelligent umbrella if no external power is available to power the intelligent umbrella and communicates the captured images, video and/or audio to an external computing device via the WiFi transceiver.

6. The intelligent umbrella of claim 1, further comprising a carbon monoxide sensor and/or a methane sensor, the carbon monoxide sensor and/or methane sensor to receive power from the rechargeable battery, the carbon monoxide sensor and/or methane sensor to measure carbon monoxide and/or methane respectively, in an environment surrounding the intelligent umbrella and communicate the measured carbon monoxide and/or methane to the processor, wherein if the measured carbon monoxide sensor is greater than a threshold, the processor generates and communicates an alert message.

7. The intelligent umbrella of claim 1, further comprising an ultraviolet radiation sensor, the ultraviolet radiation sensor receiving power from the rechargeable battery, the ultraviolet radiation sensor capturing a first UV radiation measurement and a subsequent UV radiation measurement of an area around the intelligent umbrella, wherein if the first UV measurement is greater than a first threshold, the processor generate and communicates an alert message.

8. The intelligent umbrella of claim 7, wherein if the second UV measurement is greater than a second threshold, the processor communicates an emergency alert message.

9. The intelligent umbrella of claim 1, further comprising a universal serial bus (USB) converter and a USB charging port, the rechargeable battery providing power to the USB converter and the USB charging port, the USB charging port providing power to portable electronic devices coupled thereto.

10. The intelligent umbrella of claim 1, further comprising a secondary rechargeable battery, the secondary rechargeable battery providing power to components and/or assemblies of the intelligent umbrella if the rechargeable battery does not have enough charge or power or if the rechargeable battery fails.

11. The intelligent umbrella of claim 1, further comprising a motion detector, the rechargeable battery providing power to the motion detector, the motion detector to detect movement of an object or individual in an area surrounding the intelligent umbrella if no external power is available to power the intelligent umbrella.

13. The intelligent umbrella of claim 11, further comprising a lighting assembly, wherein the processor communicates a signal to the lighting assembly to activate and project light to the area surrounding the intelligent umbrella.

14. The intelligent umbrella of claim 1, further comprising a radio receiver and a sound reproduction device, the radio receiver receiving transmitted emergency radio frequency broadcasts and communicates the received emergency radio frequency broadcasts to the sound reproduction device.

12. The intelligent umbrella of clam 11, further comprising one or more cameras, wherein if the motion detector detects movement of the object or individual in an area surrounding the intelligent umbrella, the motion detector communicates a signal to the processor and the processor communicates a signal to the camera to activate and capture images, video, and/or audio the area surrounding the intelligent umbrella.

15. A method of operating a shading object and/or intelligent umbrella when no external power and/or solar power is available, comprising:

entering the shading object and/or intelligent umbrella into an autonomous power mode;

providing power, via a rechargeable battery, to a specified number of components, assemblies, circuits and/or subsystems;

communicating messages and/or signals via a WiFi transceiver to external computing devices; and

communicating messages and/or signals via a cellular transceiver to external computing devices if the WiFi transceiver is non-operational.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising transmitting an emergency signal to external computing devices indicating location of users of the shading object and/or intelligent umbrella.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising projecting an emergency beacon into a sky or air surrounding the shading object and/or intelligent umbrella.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving carbon monoxide and/or methane measurements from methane sensors and generating alert messages if a carbon monoxide and/or methane measurement is over an established threshold.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the rechargeable battery providing power to a USB converter and/or USB charging port to charge mobile communication devices.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving an emergency broadcast signal at a radio frequency receiver and communicating an alert based on the emergency broadcast signal to a sound reproduction device.