Method and apparatus for providing supplemental photoelectric charge to communication devices

• US 5,801,512 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 09/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Henry Adams
• Original Assignee: Arthur Henry Adams
• Inventors: Adams, Arthur Henry, Cole, W. Parke
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, EDWARD H
• Application Number:
  US08/476,234
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 320/21, 320/2, 320/5, 320/61, 136/243, 136/244, 136/292
• US Class Current: 320/137
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/048 Encapsulation of modules
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/465 with solar battery as charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/50 Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/292 Space - satellite

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing additional charging power by means of natural and man made surrounding light sources to a communication device comprises a generally square frame member defining a front and second side, the first side of the frame member having embedded a plurality of photo-voltaic cells and the second side housing an adhesive for attachment to the second side of the communication device. The photo-voltaic cells are interconnected to each other and attached to an electrically thin ribbon wire which protrudes through the second side of the frame member. At the end of the ribbon wire is an applicator for attaching the ribbon wire into a battery plug socket located within the communication device'"'"'s battery compartment. The first side of the frame member also houses a light emitting diode (LED) electrically connected between the plurality of photo-voltaic cells and the ribbon wire to indicate if auxiliary photoelectric charge is being provided to the communication devices battery. Additionally, the LED functions as a backflow preventer to ensure that the phone'"'"'s battery does not discharge itself when the photo-voltaic cells are not in use.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing supplemental photoelectric charge to a battery housed within a communication device comprising:

a frame member having first and second sides;

said first side of said frame member having photoelectric charge means for providing electrical power to the battery;

said photoelectric charge means having electrical connection means for electrically delivering charge from said photoelectric charge means to the battery;

said second side of said frame member having attachment means for attaching said frame member to the communication device; and

indicating means housed on said first side of said frame member for indicating if supplemental photoelectric charge is being delivered from said photoelectric charge means to the battery of the communication device wherein said photoelectric charge means provides a trickle supplemental photoelectric charge to the battery housed within the communication device.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said photoelectric charge means comprises a plurality of photo-voltaic cells electrically connected in parallel and series;

and

a ribbon wire electrically connected to said plurality of photo-voltaic cells, said ribbon wire protruding through an aperture located on said second side of said frame member, wherein said ribbon wire is attached onto battery prongs of the battery of the communication device to deliver supplemental photoelectric charge provided by said plurality of said photo-voltaic cells.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second side defines a indentation for housing said attachment means, said attachment means comprising an adhesive material for affixing the frame member to the communication device.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said indicating means comprises a light emitting diode electrically connected in series to said plurality of said photo-voltaic cells and to said ribbon wire wherein said light emitting diode light indicates if supplemental photoelectric charge is provided to the battery of the communication device and further functions to prevent current backflow from the battery to ensure that the battery does not discharge when said plurality of said photo-voltaic cells are not in use.

5. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said ribbon wire further comprises an applicator having a handle at a first end, said handle sized to be easily handled by a persons fingers, a second end of said applicator defining two oblong holes, sized and configured to fit into a battery plug socket and onto battery socket prongs housed within the communication device and pierce said ribbon wire onto the socket prongs, wherein said ribbon wire being preplaced and affixed to said applicator by an adhesive tape having a pull tag to release said applicator from said ribbon wire after insertion into the communication device.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said frame member comprises a cordless phone and said photoelectric charge means comprises a plurality of photo-voltaic cells built into a side of said cordless phone.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said frame member comprises a cellular phone battery pack and said photoelectric charge means comprises a plurality of photo-voltaic cells connected to a double sided contact ribbon having an adhesive backing fitting between said cellular phone contacts and battery contacts of said cellular phone.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said frame member comprises a handheld marine transceiver unit and said photoelectric charge means comprises a plurality of photo-voltaic cells, said cells located on a plurality of sides of said unit, said attachment means comprises an elastic cover embedded with ribbon contact wires to contact transceivers charge contacts.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said frame member comprises a global positioning system and said electrical connection means comprises a bayonet plug for plugging into said global positioning system and connects said photoelectric charge means by a ribbon wire.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said frame member comprises a cellular phone battery pack and said photoelectric charge means comprises a plurality of photo-voltaic cells connected to a double sided contact ribbon between battery contacts of said cellular phone batteries.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said frame member comprises a cellular phone battery pack and said photoelectric charge means comprises a plurality of photo-voltaic cells connected to battery contacts of said cellular phone battery pack.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said frame member comprises a cellular phone and said photoelectric charge means comprises a plurality of photo-voltaic cells built into a side of said cellular phone.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said frame member comprises a beeper unit and said photoelectric charge means comprises a plurality of photo-voltaic cells built into a side of said beeper unit.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said frame member comprises a marine transceiver unit and said photoelectric charge means comprises a plurality of photo-voltaic cells built into a side of said marine transceiver unit.