Battery recharging solar cell arrangement for an automotive vehicle

• US 4,327,316 A
• Filed: 02/11/1980
• Issued: 04/27/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Tanaka, Mamoru, Fujikubo, Yoshitake
• Primary Examiner(s): HICKEY, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US06/120,030
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2, 320/61, 180/65 B, 180/2 A, 136/206, 136/291, 136/293, 307/66
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/00 Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/291 Applications

Abstract

In a battery recharging arrangement for an automotive vehicle, one or more solar batteries, together with recharging current control means to charge an automotive vehicle battery, are disposed with supporting metal fixtures at a plurality of different positions to which solar energy is applied so as to prevent the rechargeable batteries mounted in an automotive vehicle body from becoming excessively discharged. The solar batteries are positioned on the roof of a vehicle or mainly within the passenger compartment at appropriate elevation angles, so that as long as the vehicle is in the condition wherever solar energy is applied, solar energy can be obtained at any position of the sun regardless of the direction the vehicle is moving in or of the place the vehicle is parked since at least one of the disposed solar batteries will be effectively exposed to sunlight. The solar batteries so disposed at a plurality of different positions within the passenger compartment are protected from dirt or splashes of mud to keep the batteries in good working conditions at all times. In addition, if appropriate light focusing devices, such as Fresnel lenses, are positioned over the solar batteries, the solar energy collecting performance will further be enhanced.

Claims

1. An apparatus for recharging an automotive vehicle battery provided in an automotive vehicle comprising:

a first solar battery being secured on a rear view mirror support provided inside of a vehicle compartment adjacent a front windshield, a universal joint means interpositioned between said rear view mirror support and said solar battery for permitting adjustment of direction of said solar battery toward sunlight; and

a recharging current control means for feeding recharging current obtained from said solar battery to said vehicle battery.

2. An apparatus for recharging an automotive vehicle battery as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a second solar battery mounted at a position on which sunlight falls.

3. An apparatus for recharging an automotive battery as defined in claim 1, further comprising a light focusing device in the vicinity of said solar battery.

4. Apparatus for recharging an automotive battery as defined in claim 2, further comprising a light focusing device in the vicinity of at least one of said first and second solar batteries.

5. An apparatus for recharging an automotive vehicle battery as defined in claim 1, wherein said second solar battery is mounted on the roof of the automotive vehicle so as to be exposed to sunlight.

6. An apparatus for recharging an automotive vehicle battery as defined in claim 1, wherein said second solar battery is provided at a portion inside of the vehicle compartment where sunlight falls.

7. An apparatus for recharging an automotive vehicle battery as defined in claim 1, wherein said second solar battery is disposed in an aperture formed in the roof of the automotive vehicle and further comprising a transparent roof member through which said second solar battery is exposed to sunlight.

8. An apparatus for recharging an automotive battery as defined in claim 4, wherein said second solar battery is disposed facing the front windshield glass on an instrument panel at such an orientation to receive sunlight.

9. An apparatus for recharging an automotive battery as defined in claim 6, wherein said second solar battery is disposed inside the side window near the upper end portion of a center pillar.

10. An apparatus for recharging an automotive battery as defined in claim 6, wherein said second solar battery is disposed inside the rear windshield glass.

11. An apparatus for recharging an automotive battery as defined in claim 6, wherein said second solar battery is disposed on a rear shelf.