Outdoor solar lamp

• US 6,120,165 A
• Filed: 06/03/1999
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Solar Wide Industrial Ltd. (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Solar Wide Industrial Ltd. (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Shalvi, Ram
• Primary Examiner(s): CARIASO, ALAN B
• Application Number:
  US09/214,560
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: 315/149, 315/155, 315/156, 340/565, 340/567, 362/183, 362/276, 362/802, 362/184, 362/20
• US Class Current: 362/276
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/081 of low-built type, e.g. landscape light
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/037 the solar unit and the lighting unit being located within or on the same housing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0824 Ground spikes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0435 activated by remote control means
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/10 Outdoor lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/109 of gardens
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/13 by using passive infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/23 of two or more light sources connected in series
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/72 in street lighting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

An outdoor solar lamp has a stand (10), with a foot (11), that supports a solar cell panel (12) in a housing (13). A passive infrared motion detector (14) is mounted in a peripheral surface of the housing (13). Incandescent lamps and a halogen lamp (not shown) are supported behind diffusers (15 and 16) respectively. The incandescent lamps operate automatically to be turned ON and OFF as required in a generally known manner. The halogen lamp is provided for security and is controlled to be turned ON when motion is sensed by the detector (14) to illuminate and indicate the presence of an intruder. A security mode of the halogen lamp is armed and disarmed remotely, using a handheld infrared transmitter.

Claims

1. An outdoor solar lamp comprising:

a rechargeable battery electrically connected to a solar panel;

a lamp electrically connected to a lamp drive circuit;

a passive infra-red motion detector, in which said lamp is supplied with power via said drive circuit when said motion detector is initiated, said lamp being a halogen lamp;

one or more illuminating lamps that are not initiated by said motion detector;

an automatic control circuit to supply power from said battery to said illuminating lamps during at least part of each night wherein one or more of said illuminating lamps are light emitting diodes; and

two or more of said illuminating lamps are electrically connected in series, each said illuminating lamp having a parallel circuit through which current can automatically pass if any of said illuminating lamps fail and go open circuit.

2. An outdoor solar lamp comprising:

a rechargeable battery electrically connected to a solar panel;

a lamp electrically connected to a lamp drive circuit;

a passive infra-red motion detector, in which said lamp is supplied with power via said drive circuit when said motion detector is initiated, said lamp being a halogen lamp;

one or more illuminating lamps that are not initiated by said motion detector;

an automatic control circuit to supply power from said battery to said illuminating lamps during at least part of each night wherein said illuminating lamps are incandescent lamps; and

two or more of said illuminating lamps are electrically connected in series, each said illuminating lamp having a parallel circuit through which current can automatically pass if any of said illuminating lamps fail and go open circuit.