Apparatus for controlling solar charging and method therefor

• US 9,800,085 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2015
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Miji Enertech Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Miji Enertech Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Berm Soo, Hwang, Hye Rin, Jeon, Jin Sung, Kim, Jung Ki
• Primary Examiner(s): Lin, Sun
• Application Number:
  US14/942,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20160204649A1
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 320101
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/035 the solar unit being integrated within the support for the lighting unit, e.g. within or on a pole
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

Disclosed are solar charging control apparatuses and methods for the same. An apparatus for controlling solar power charging includes a main controller controlling charge/discharge of a battery storing power generated in a solar cell in order to protect overcharge and overdischarge of the battery; and a secondary controller maintaining a sleep mode when a terminal voltage of the battery is not less than a threshold voltage and reviving the main controller by using power generated in the solar cell when the terminal voltage of the battery is less than the threshold voltage. Therefore, even when the main controller of the solar charging control apparatus is downed, the solar charging control apparatus can be ordinarily operated by using power generated by solar cells. Also, costs demanded for managing a solar charging system which is installed in a remote place can be saved.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling solar charging, the apparatus comprising:

a main controller controlling charge/discharge operations of a battery storing power generated in a solar cell in order to protect overcharge and overdischarge of the battery; and

a secondary controller maintaining a sleep mode when a terminal voltage of the battery is not less than a threshold voltage and reviving the main controller by using power generated in the solar cell when the terminal voltage of the battery is less than the threshold voltage.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first regulator controlling an operation power supplied from the battery to the main controller; and

a second regulator controlling the power generated in the solar cell to be supplied to the secondary controller.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the secondary controller monitors the battery and supplies the power generated in the solar cell to the main controller through the second regulator.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the secondary controller stops an operation of the first regulator and supplies the power generated in the solar cell to the main controller when an energy state level of the battery is less than a predetermined threshold.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second regulator supplies the power generated in the solar cell to the secondary controller when the power generated in the solar cell is not less than a cell threshold voltage.

6. A method for controlling a streetlamp system using solar charging, the streetlamp system comprising a main controller, a secondary controller, a battery, and a solar cell,

wherein, when a terminal voltage of the battery is less than a threshold voltage and the main controller is downed, the secondary controller is operated by using power generated in the solar cell and revives the main controller so that the main controller controls the streetlamp system.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein a first regulator located between the battery and the main controller controls an operation power supplied from the battery to the main controller, and a second regulator located between the solar cell and the secondary controller controls the power generated in the solar cell to be supplied to the secondary controller.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the secondary controller stops an operation of the first regulator and supplies the power generated in the solar cell to the main controller when an energy state level of the battery is less than a predetermined threshold.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the second regulator supplies the power generated in the solar cell to the secondary controller when the power generated in the solar cell is not less than a cell threshold voltage.