Solar charger for a portable electronic device

• US 9,190,857 B1
• Filed: 11/02/2013
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bright Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: David M. Lee
• Inventors: Lee, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lin, Sun
• Application Number:
  US14/070,528
• Time in Patent Office: 745 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/042 PV modules or arrays of single PV cells supporting structures for PV modules H02S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• 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 40/36 characterised by special electrical interconnection means between two or more PV modules, e.g. electrical module-to-module connection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

A charging device for charging a portable electronic device having a charging port has at least one solar cell array having a top side adapted for converting light energy into an electrical energy. The solar cell array is sized similarly to a paper currency and has a bisector fold line between a first side and a second side along which the solar cell array can be folded and stored within a wallet without damage. A voltage regulator converts the electrical energy from the solar cell array into a DC power within a preset voltage range and providing the DC power on an output connector plug. At least one auxiliary plug adapter can be further included, each having a socket adapted for an electrical connection with the output connector plug of the voltage regulator and a unique charging plug for electrically connecting with the portable electronic device.

Claims

1. A charging device for a portable electronic device having a charging port, comprising:

a solar cell array having a top side, a bottom side, a first end, a second end, a first side, and a second side, the top side of the solar cell array adapted for converting light energy into an electrical energy, the solar cell array and being sized similarly to a paper currency and having a bisector fold line between the a first side and a second side along which the solar cell array can be folded without damaging the solar cell array; and

a voltage regulator adapted for converting the electrical energy from the solar cell array into a DC power within a preset voltage range and providing the DC power on an output connector plug;

whereby the solar cell array can be stored and folded within a conventional wallet, or removed with the output connector plug being electrically engaged with the charging port of the portable electronic device to charge the portable electronic device.

2. The charging device of claim 1 wherein the output connector plug is a micro-USB plug.

3. The charging device of claim 2 further including at least one auxiliary plug adapter each having a socket adapted for an electrical connection with the micro-USB output connector plug of the voltage regulator and a unique charging plug for electrically connecting with the portable electronic device.

4. The charging device of claim 1 further including at least one auxiliary plug adapter each having a socket adapted for an electrical connection with the output connector plug of the voltage regulator and a unique charging plug for electrically connecting with the portable electronic device.

5. The charging device of claim 1 wherein the solar cell array is sized similar to a United States paper currency.

6. The charging device of claim 1 wherein the preset voltage range of the voltage regulator is between 4.5V and 5.5V DC.

7. The charging device of claim 1 wherein the solar cell array is made from a flexible material.

8. The charging device of claim 1 wherein the solar cell array is made from a resilient material.

9. The charging device of claim 1 wherein the solar cell array is made from a rigid material and is separated into two halves hinged at the bisector fold line, each half of the solar cell array being electrically mutually connected with a plurality of flexible conductors.

10. A charging device for a portable electronic device having a charging port, comprising:

a plurality of solar cell arrays each solar cell array having a top side, a bottom side, a first end, a second end, a first side, and a second side, the top side of each solar cell array adapted for converting light energy into an electrical energy, each solar cell array being sized similarly to a paper currency and having a first bisector fold line between the first side and the second side along which each solar cell array can be folded without damaging said each solar cell array, the plurality of solar cell arrays each mutually connected and having a second bisector fold line between the first end and the second ends along which each solar cell array can be folded so that the plurality of solar cell arrays together are sized similar to the paper currency, each solar cell array mutually connected with a plurality of flexible conductors; and

a voltage regulator adapted for converting the electrical energy from the solar cell arrays into a DC power within a preset voltage range and providing the DC power on an output connector plug;

whereby the solar cell arrays can be stored and folded within a conventional wallet, or removed with the output connector plug being electrically engaged with the charging port of the portable electronic device to charge the portable electronic device.

11. The charging device of claim 10 wherein the output connector plug is a micro-USB plug.

12. The charging device of claim 11 further including at least one auxiliary plug adapter each having a socket adapted for an electrical connection with the micro-USB output connector plug of the voltage regulator and a unique charging plug for electrically connecting with the portable electronic device.

13. The charging device of claim 10 further including at least one auxiliary plug adapter each having a socket adapted for an electrical connection with the output connector plug of the voltage regulator and a unique charging plug for electrically connecting with the portable electronic device.

14. The charging device of claim 10 wherein each solar cell array is sized similar to a United States paper currency.

15. The charging device of claim 10 wherein the preset voltage range of the voltage regulator is between 4.5V and 5.5V DC.

16. The charging device of claim 10 wherein each solar cell array is made from a flexible material.

17. The charging device of claim 10 wherein each solar cell array is made from a resilient material.

18. The charging device of claim 10 wherein each solar cell array is made from a rigid material and is separated into two halves, all mutually hinged at the first bisector fold line and the second bisector fold line, each half of each solar cell array being electrically mutually connected with a plurality of flexible conductors.