Battery charger and solar cells for battery charging

• US 5,855,692 A
• Filed: 08/01/1997
• Issued: 01/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Hikosaka, Masaru, Haga, Takahiro, Takabatake, Yosinobu, Kaido, Yosinori, Ono, Masayosi, Kaji, Masanori
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAPMAN, MARK A
• Application Number:
  US08/904,614
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101, 136/245, 136/256
• US Class Current: 136/245
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 15/00 Purses, bags, luggage or other receptacles covered by groups A45C1/00 - A45C11/00, combined with other objects or articles A45C1/08, A45C3/14, A45C11/321, A45C13/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/0081 for transmitting energy, e.g. electrical cable routing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/606 for electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/48 utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member H01R4/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 10/40 Mobile PV generator systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 30/20 Collapsible or foldable PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/38 Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/293 Circuits

Abstract

A battery charger is provided with a battery charger unit which connects to, and charges a battery Solar cells are used as the source of power for charging the battery, and connecting parts electrically connect the solar cells and the battery charger unit. The battery charger unit is provided with a solar cell compartment for stowing the solar cells batteries when not in use charging a battery.

Claims

1. A solar cell apparatus having solar cells comprising:

(1) flexible leads which electrically connect the solar cells;

(2) pivot rods which connect to the flexible leads along a folding line; and

(3) protective laminate film which covers the surfaces of the flexible leads, the solar cells, and the pivot rods.

2. The solar cell apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the pivor rods are metal rods which project through the protective laminate film to serve the additional purpose as output terminals.

3. The solar apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein hinge sheets are attached to the flexible leads.

4. A solar cell apparatus having solar cells wherein the solar cells are connected by flexible leads in a manner allowing folding, each flexible lead is provided with a first lead, a second lead, and a coil spring, and characterized in that:

(1) the first lead and the second lead are connected to the solar cells;

(2) the first lead has a rod section positioned on a folding line created when the solar cells are folded;

(3) the second lead has a cylinder section which accepts insertion of the rod section of the first lead;

(4) the coil spring is positioned around the rod section of the first lead, and is disposed between the outer surface of the rod section of the first and lead the inner surface of the cylinder section of the second lead; and

(5) the first lead and second lead are resiliently contacted by the coil spring for electrical connection.

5. The solar cell apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein the first lead has the form of a metal rod bent in a C-shape, the center region is the rod section, both end regions connect to a solar cell device, and the cylinder section of the second lead is connected to the rod section via the coil spring in a manner such that the cylinder section does not slide laterally.

6. A solar cell apparatus having solar cells wherein the solar cells are connected by flexible leads in a manner allowing folding, each flexible lead is provided with a first lead, a second lead, and a coil spring, and characterized in that:

(1) the first lead and the second lead are connected to the solar cells;

(2) the first lead has a rod section positioned on a folding line created when the solar cells are folded;

(3) the second lead has a cylinder section with a base which accepts insertion of the rod section of the first lead;

(4) the coil spring is inserted within the cylinder section of the second lead, and is disposed between the surface of the base of the cylinder section of the second lead and the surface of the end of the rod section of the first lead; and

(5) the first lead and the second lead are resiliently contacted by the coil spring for electrical connection.

7. Solar cell apparatus comprising:

a plurality sheets each defining a solar cell; and

a plurality of conducting fasteners detachably connecting the sheets of each of the solar cells, both mechanically and electrically.

8. The solar cell apparatus as claimed in 7, wherein each of said sheet has a rectangular shape, said fasteners are located around both ends of each of facing sides of each of said sheets of the solar cell, and said fasteners are located around both ends in one of the facing sides conducting each other.

9. A solar cell apparatus comprising:

a plurality of sheets each defining a solar cell;

an insulating film sheet having at least two rows of conducting lines; and

a plurality of conducting fasteners detachably connecting said sheets of each of the solar cells, both mechanically and electrically on said at least two rows of conducting lines.

10. The solar cell apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sheet having a rectangular shape, fasteners locating around both ends of each of facing sides in the sheet of the solar cell, the fasteners located around both ends of one of the facing sides conducting each other.