Custom wireless retrofitted solar powered public telephone
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of retrofitting a solar panel system to provide power to a public telephone that includes at least one telephone component comprising a handset, the method comprising:
- mounting a charge controller and a wireless unit in a pedestal of the public telephone, wherein the wireless unit is coupled to the charge controller and configured to access a wireless communications network;
disconnecting a telephone landline from a line interface within circuitry of the public telephone;
connecting a first end of a two-wire modular connector to the line interface and a second end of the two-wire modular connector to the wireless unit, wherein the public telephone is converted to enable wireless telecommunications through operation of the handset;
attaching a solar panel to an outer surface of a surrounding enclosure that houses the public telephone, wherein the solar panel is configured to be substantially flat against the outer surface; and
connecting the solar panel to existing wiring in the pedestal of the public telephone and to the charge controller coupled to the wireless unit, wherein the at least one telephone component is powered using energy output from the solar panel without requiring an additional power source,wherein the public telephone retrofitted with the solar panel system operates on the wireless communications network without connection to the telephone landline.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A public telephone powered by a solar panel system and configured to transmit and receive calls over a cellular network is provided. A solar panel systems and wireless unit are retrofitted to conventional public telephones to convert them to wireless operation and to enable operations independent of the electrical grid and from the local telephone exchange.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A method of retrofitting a solar panel system to provide power to a public telephone that includes at least one telephone component comprising a handset, the method comprising:
-
mounting a charge controller and a wireless unit in a pedestal of the public telephone, wherein the wireless unit is coupled to the charge controller and configured to access a wireless communications network; disconnecting a telephone landline from a line interface within circuitry of the public telephone; connecting a first end of a two-wire modular connector to the line interface and a second end of the two-wire modular connector to the wireless unit, wherein the public telephone is converted to enable wireless telecommunications through operation of the handset; attaching a solar panel to an outer surface of a surrounding enclosure that houses the public telephone, wherein the solar panel is configured to be substantially flat against the outer surface; and connecting the solar panel to existing wiring in the pedestal of the public telephone and to the charge controller coupled to the wireless unit, wherein the at least one telephone component is powered using energy output from the solar panel without requiring an additional power source, wherein the public telephone retrofitted with the solar panel system operates on the wireless communications network without connection to the telephone landline. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A solar-powered pay telephone, comprising:
-
at least one telephone device comprising a handset; a surrounding enclosure that houses the at least one telephone device; at least one pedestal; a solar panel system retrofitted to the at least one telephone device, wherein the solar panel system comprises; a solar panel configured attached to an outer surface of the surrounding enclosure, wherein the solar panel is configured to be substantially flat against the outer surface; a charge controller, wherein the solar panel is connected to the charge controller via existing wiring in the pedestal; and a battery unit coupled to the charge controller; and a wireless unit mounted in the pedestal and connected to the charge controller, wherein the wireless unit is configured to access a wireless communications network, and wherein; a telephone landline is disconnected from a line interface within circuitry of the at least one telephone device; and a first end of a two-wire modular connector is connected to the line interface and a second end of the two-wire modular connector is connected to the wireless unit, wherein the at least one telephone device is converted to enable wireless telecommunications through operation of the handset, wherein the solar panel system is configured to power a the at least one telephone device without requiring an additional power source, wherein the at least one telephone device retrofitted with the solar panel system operates on the wireless communications network without connection to the telephone landline. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification