System and method to power an electric-powered device using light energy

• US 6,566,842 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2001
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xylon LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kirkpatrick, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US09/964,687
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101, 320/103, 320/124, 320/127, 320/135, 320/138, 136/292, 136/293, 323/906
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/2091 Foldable sunscreens B60J1/2088 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 14/005 Photoelectrochemical storage cells light sensitive devices H01G9/20, semiconductors sensitive to light H01L31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles
• 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: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/90 Energy harvesting concepts as power supply for auxiliaries' energy consumption, e.g. photovoltaic sun-roof

Abstract

A system for and method of powering an electric-powered device associated with a vehicle is described that utilizes an adapter that receives current from an energy-converting cell and the vehicle battery. The adapter may forward current to the device from either one or a combination of the two current sources thereby charging or operating the device.

Claims

1. A system for powering an electric-powered device in connection with a vehicle, comprising:

an energy-converting cell that can convert light energy received from a light source into electrical current;

an adapter in communication with the cell and a battery of a vehicle, wherein the adapter receives current from both the cell and the battery; and

an outlet on the adapter that is connectable to an electric-powered device;

wherein the adapter can draw current from either the battery or the cell or a combination thereof and forward any cumulative current as power to the device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein when the adapter detects any current coming from the cell, the adapter provides the current to the device and shuts off current from the battery.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the adapter receives current from the cell and determines a power output for the current, thereby optionally drawing additional current from the battery to supplement the current from the cell, to generate a pre-determined power level for the device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the pre-determined power level is 12 volts.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the outlet on the adapter is a socket that receives a plug that leads to the device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the socket on the adapter is shaped to receive a conventional cigarette-lighter plug.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the adapter includes a plug that fits a socket in the vehicle.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the plug on the adapter is shaped as a conventional cigarette-lighter plug.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the cell comprises a photovoltaic cell.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the photovoltaic cell is covered by a protective translucent cover.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein a plurality of photovoltaic cells are supported on a front side of a sunshade, each photovoltaic cell having a corresponding electrical connection that communicates with the adapter.

12. A system for powering an electric-powered device in connection with a vehicle, comprising:

an energy-converting cell that can convert light energy received from a light source into electrical current;

an adapter in communication with the cell and a battery of a vehicle, wherein the adapter receives current from both the cell and the battery;

an outlet on the adapter that is connectable to an electric-powered device; and

a switch on the adapter having two positions, a first position wherein when the adapter detects any current coming from the cell, the adapter provides the current to the device and shuts off current from the battery, and a second position wherein the adapter receives current from the cell and determines a power output for the current, thereby optionally drawing additional current from the battery to supplement the current from the cell, to generate a pre-determined power level for the device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the cell is supported by a material support, the material support comprising one of:

a portable device capable of being contacted with the vehicle;

a permanently-fixed device integral to the vehicle; and

a permanently-fixed device separate from the vehicle.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the portable device is one of a sunshade and a vehicle cover.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the permanently fixed device integral to the vehicle is one of a sunroof and a dashboard.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the permanently fixed device separate from the vehicle is one of a wall of a building and a roof of a building.

17. A system for powering an electric-powered device, comprising:

energy-converting means for converting light energy received from a light source into electrical current;

current-controlling means for controlling current flow, the current-controlling means in communication with the energy-converting means and a battery of a vehicle, wherein the current-controlling means receives current from both the energy-converting means and the battery; and

output means for outputting current, the output means being part of the current-controlling means and connectable to an electric-powered device;

wherein the current-controlling means can draw current from either the battery or the energy-converting means or a combination thereof and forward any cumulative current as power to the device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein when the current-controlling means detects any current coming from the energy-converting means, the current-controlling means provides the current to the device and shuts off current from the battery.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the current-controlling means receives current from the energy-converting means and determines a power output for the current, thereby optionally drawing additional current from the battery to supplement the current from the energy-converting means, to generate a pre-determined power level for the device.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the energy-converting means comprises a photovoltaic cell.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the photovoltaic cell is protected by a protective means that protects the photovoltaic cells from contaminants without blocking light influx onto the photovoltaic cell.

22. A method of powering an electric-powered device associated with a vehicle, comprising:

exposing an energy-converting cell to a light source, the cell being able to convert light energy received from a light source into electrical current;

electrically connecting an adapter with the cell and a battery of a vehicle, wherein the adapter receives current from both the cell and the battery, the adapter having an outlet that is connectable to the device, wherein the adapter can draw current from either the battery or the cell or a combination thereof; and

communicating the electrical current received by the adapter with the device, thereby powering the device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the cell is supported by a material support, the material support comprising one of:

a portable device capable of being contacted with the vehicle;

a permanently-fixed device integral to the vehicle; and

a permanently-fixed device separate from the vehicle.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the portable device is one of a sunshade and a vehicle cover.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the permanently fixed device integral to the vehicle is one of a sunroof and a dashboard.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the permanently fixed device separate from the vehicle is one of a wall of a building and a roof of a building.