Device for determining state of electricity generation of solar battery

• US 5,608,385 A
• Filed: 05/22/1995
• Issued: 03/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Masaki, Junya
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr., Timothy
• Application Number:
  US08/446,221
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 323/906, 320/48, 340/636, 324/433, 324/435
• US Class Current: 340/636.16
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 50/10 Testing of PV devices, e.g. of PV modules or single PV cells testing of semiconductor devices during manufacturing H01L22/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 323/906 Solar cell systems

Abstract

A device for determining a state of electricity generation of a solar battery and an apparatus, such as a camera, including such a device are disclosed. The device comprises a first circuit for connecting different loads to the solar battery, and a second circuit for determining a state of electricity generation of the solar battery in accordance with a state of a load current of the solar battery relative to the different loads.

Claims

1. An apparatus for determining a state of electricity generation of a solar battery, comprising:

(A) a first device which selectively connects ones of different loads to the solar battery; and

(B) a second device which determines a state of electricity generation of the solar battery in accordance with a state of a load current flowing through a load connected to the solar battery by said first device.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a chargeable unit to be charged by the solar battery.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said chargeable unit includes a secondary battery.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first device comprises means for connecting the different loads to the solar battery outside of a charging path for charging the chargeable unit by the solar battery.

5. An apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a third device which causes said second device to operate, said third device preventing said chargeable unit from being charged by the solar battery when said third device causes said second device to operate.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second device comprises means for comparing a level of the load current of the solar battery with a predetermined value.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined value is set higher than a minimum driving level at which said second device can be driven.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second device comprises means for determining the state of electricity generation of the solar battery relative to each of the different loads.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first device comprises means for selectively connecting the different loads to the solar battery so that the load varies from a large load to a small load.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising the solar battery the state of electricity generation of which is determined by said second device.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising resistances having different resistance values, said resistances respectively serving as the different loads to be connected to the solar battery by said first device.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display device which displays the state of electricity generation of the solar battery determined by said second device.

13. An apparatus having a device for determining a state of electricity generation of a solar battery, comprising:

(A) a first device which selectively connects ones of different loads to the solar battery; and

(B) a second device which determines a state of electricity generation of the solar battery in accordance with a state of a load current flowing through a load connected to the solar battery by said first device.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a chargeable unit to be charged by the solar battery.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said chargeable unit includes a secondary battery.

16. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said first device comprises means for connecting the different loads to the solar battery outside of a charging path for charging the chargeable unit by the solar battery.

17. An apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a third device which causes said second device to operate, said third device preventing said chargeable unit from being charged by the solar battery when said third device causes said second device to operate.

18. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said second device comprises means for comparing a level of the load current of the solar battery with a predetermined value.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the predetermined value is set higher than a minimum driving level at which said second device can be driven.

20. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said second device comprises means for determining the state of electricity generation of the solar battery relative to each of the different loads.

21. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said first device comprises means for selectively connecting the different loads to the solar battery so that the load varies from a large load to a small load.

22. An apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising the solar battery the state of electricity generation of which is determined by said second means.

23. An apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising resistances having different resistance values, said resistances respectively serving as the different loads to be connected to the solar battery by said first means.

24. An apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a display device which displays the state of electricity generation of the solar battery determined by said second device.

25. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said apparatus includes a camera.

26. A device for determining a state of electricity generation of a solar battery, comprising a plurality of discrete and different electrical loads and control means for successively, individually connecting said different loads to said solar battery and determining said electricity generation state of said solar battery.