Modular solar battery charger

• US 6,650,085 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2001
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ICP Global Technologies, Inc. (ICP Solar Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ICP Global Technologies, Inc. (ICP Solar Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lau, Po K., Peress, Sass M.
• Primary Examiner(s): TOATLEY, GREGORY J
• Application Number:
  US09/987,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20030094921A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/465 with solar battery as charging system
• 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 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

A portable modular solar battery charger of the lap top style is disclosed. The module includes two body members hingedly interconnected with each body member having a solar panel attached thereto. A circuit is provided for transferring the energy from the solar panels to a battery charger which, in turn, official charges a battery. The modular unit is interconnectable with additional similar modules by both a physical link and an electrical link.

Claims

1. A modular solar battery charger, comprising:

a plurality of modules that include;

a first body member and a second body member hingedly connected and moveable about a hinge axis from a storage position where each body member is positioned in overlying faced relation to a use position where each body member is in juxtaposed relation;

a solar panel on each body member for generating electricity when exposed to light;

a circuit means for transferring electrical energy from each said panel to a battery;

module interconnection means for interconnecting at least two of said modules side-by-side as a unit with respective hinge axes generally parallel to one another and with said at least two of said modules in electrical contact to electrically connect respective solar panels of said at least two of said modules, wherein said interconnection means locks together body members of adjacent modules and reduces stress on the electrical contact between said modules.

2. The battery charger as set forth in claim 1, wherein said modular interconnection means comprises first cooperative engagement means and second cooperative engagement means, said second cooperative engagement means adapted for releasable cooperative engagement with said first cooperative engagement means of a similar module.

3. The battery charger as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first cooperative engagement means comprises a male electrical connection member.

4. The battery charger as set forth in claim 2, wherein said second cooperative engagement means comprises a female electrical connection member.

5. The battery charger as set forth in claim 2, wherein said module interconnection means includes third cooperative engagement means and fourth cooperative engagement means, said fourth cooperative engagement means adapted for releasable connection with said third cooperative engagement means of similar panel.

6. The battery charger as set forth in claim 5, wherein said third cooperative engagement means and said fourth cooperative engagement means physically link connected modules in a non-electrical manner.

7. The battery charger as set forth in claim 1, wherein said battery charger further includes support means for supporting at least one of said first body member and said second body member in an inclined attitude relative to horizontal.

20. The battery charger as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first body member and said second body member form at least part of a substantially rigid enclosure that encloses the solar panels in said storage position.

8. A modular solar battery charger, comprising:

a substantially rigid housing including a first substantially rigid body member and a second substantially rigid body member hingedly connected together and moveable about a hinge axis from a storage position where each body member is positioned in overlying faced relation to a use position where each body member is in juxtaposed relation;

a solar panel fixedly mounted on each body member for generating electricity when exposed to light, wherein each said solar panel remains on a respective body member when in said use position and when in said storage position in which said solar panel is stored within said housing;

a circuit arranged to transfer electrical energy from each said panel to a battery;

at least one interconnector on at least one of said body members configured to fixedly interconnect similar battery chargers side-by-side as a unit with respective hinge axes generally parallel to one another and with said similar battery charges in electrical contact to connect solar panels of said similar battery chargers.

9. The battery charger as set forth in claim 8, wherein said at least one interconnector includes a first cooperative engagement member and a second cooperative engagement member mounted on at least one of said body members, said second cooperative engagement member adapted for releasable cooperative engagement with a similar first cooperative engagement member of a similar battery charger.

10. The battery charger as set forth in claim 8, wherein said first cooperative engagement member includes a male electrical connection member and said second cooperative engagement member includes a female electrical connection member.

11. The battery charger as set forth in claim 8, wherein at least one interconnector includes a third cooperative engagement member and a fourth cooperative engagement member, said fourth cooperative engagement member adapted for releaseable connection with a similar third cooperative engagement member of a similar panel.

12. The battery charger as set forth in claim 11, wherein said third cooperative engagement member and said fourth cooperative engagement member physically link connected battery charges in a non-electrical manner.

13. The battery charger as set forth in claim 8, wherein said battery charger further includes a support that supports at least one of said first body member and said second body member in an inclined attitude relative to horizontal.

14. The battery charger as set forth in claim 8, wherein said first substantially rigid body member and said second substantially rigid body member are connected via a hinge having overlapping mating sections on both the first and second body members, wherein an axis of rotation of said hinge extends through said mating sections on both said first and second body members.

15. The battery charger as set forth in claim 8, wherein said first and second body members are made with a strong synthetic material that protects the solar panels.

16. The battery charger as set forth in claim 14, wherein at least one of said at least one modular interconnector is located on a side of at least one of said first and second body member, which side extends generally perpendicular to said axis.

17. The battery charger as set forth in claim 8, wherein said body members are made from materials from the group consisting of high impact plastics, composite materials and ceramics.

18. A modular solar battery charger, comprising:

a first body member and a second body member hingedly connected and moveable from a storage position where each body member is positioned in overlying faced relation to a use position where each body member is in juxtaposed relation;

a solar panel on each body member for generating electricity when exposed to light;

a circuit means for transferring electrical energy from each said panel to a battery;

module interconnection means for interconnecting similar modules in electrical contact;

wherein said modular interconnection means comprises first cooperative engagement means and second cooperative engagement means, said second cooperative engagement means adapted for releasable cooperative engagement with said first cooperative engagement means of a similar module;

wherein said module interconnection means includes third cooperative engagement means and fourth cooperative engagement means, said fourth cooperative engagement means adapted for releasable connection with said third cooperative engagement means of similar panel; and

wherein said third cooperative engagement means and said fourth cooperative engagement means physically link connected modules in a non-electrical manner.

19. A modular solar battery charger, comprising:

a first substantially rigid body member and a second substantially rigid body member hingedly connected together and moveable from a storage position where each body member is positioned in overlying faced relation to a use position where each body member is in juxtaposed relation;

a solar panel fixedly mounted on each body member for generating electricity when exposed to light, wherein each said solar panel remains on a respective body member when in said use position and when in said storage position;

a circuit arranged to transfer electrical energy from each said panel to a battery;

at least one interconnector on at least one of said body members configured to interconnect similar battery chargers in electrical contact;

wherein at least one interconnector includes a third cooperative engagement member and a fourth cooperative engagement member, said fourth cooperative engagement member adapted for releasable connection with a similar third cooperative engagement member of a similar panel;

wherein said third cooperative engagement member and said fourth cooperative engagement member physically link connected battery charges in a non-electrical manner.