System and method to charge electric-powered vehicle using light energy

• US 6,448,740 B1
• Filed: 09/12/2001
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xylon LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kirkpatrick, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUK, LAWRENCE W
• Application Number:
  US09/949,991
• Time in Patent Office: 363 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101, 320/104, 320/138, 320/137, 136/251, 136/291, 136/246, 323/906
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/00 Electric propulsion with power supply from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/465 with solar battery as charging system
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

A system for and method of charging a battery of an electric-powered vehicle is disclosed. The system utilizes a light-transforming cell that can transform light energy to current. The cell is supported by a support material positioned either inside or outside of the vehicle such that the cell may be exposed to light energy. Current produced by the cell is provided to the battery through electrical connectors, which may have a switch. This invention allows an electric-powered vehicle to be charged whenever there is sufficient light to allow energy-converting cells to convert light energy to electric current.

Claims

1. A system for charging a battery of an electric-powered vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of photovoltaic cells that can convert light energy received from a light source into electrical current, the cells being covered by protective translucent covers;

a sunshade for supporting the plurality of cells on a front side thereon, wherein the sunshade is positioned inside the vehicle such that the cells supported thereon can receive sufficient light to produce electrical current, each photovoltaic cell having a corresponding electrical connection on a back side of the sunshade leading to an electrical connector; and

an electrical connector for communicating electrical current from the cell with a chargeable battery of an electric-powered vehicle;

wherein the chargeable battery is charged when the cell coverts light incident upon the cell into electrical current, which is provided to the chargeable battery through the electrical connector.

2. A system for charging a battery of an electric-powered vehicle, comprising:

an energy-transforming cell that can convert light energy received from a light source into electrical current;

a material support for supporting the cell, wherein the material support is positioned inside the vehicle such that the cell supported thereon can receive sufficient light to produce electrical current; and

a plurality of electrical connectors separated by switches that control a flow of current between the electrical connectors, each electrical connector for communicating electrical current from the cell with a chargeable battery of an electric-powered vehicle;

wherein the chargeable battery is charged when the cell converts light incident upon the cell into electrical current, which is provided to the chargeable battery through the electrical connector.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein one of the switches comprises a variable current flow switch.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein one of the switches comprises an on/off switch.

5. A system for charging a battery of an electric-powered vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of photovoltaic cells supported on a side of a vehicle cover, each photovoltaic cell being covered by a protective translucent cover and having a corresponding electrical connection leading to an electrical connector;

an electrical connector for providing electrical current from the cells to a chargeable battery of an electric-powered vehicle;

wherein the chargeable battery is charged when light is incident upon the cells and converted into electrical current.

6. A system for charging a battery of an electric-powered vehicle, comprising:

an energy-transforming cell that can convert light energy received from a light source into electrical current;

a material support for supporting the cell, wherein the material support is positioned outside the vehicle such that the cell supported thereon can receive sufficient light to produce electrical current;

a plurality of electrical connectors separated by switches that control a flow of current between the electrical connectors, each electrical connector providing electrical current from the cell to a chargeable battery of an electric-powered vehicle;

wherein the chargeable battery is charged when light incident upon the cell and converted into electrical current.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein one of the switches comprises a variable current flow switch.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein one of the switches comprises an on/off switch.

9. A system for charging a chargeable battery of an electric-powered vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of energy-transforming cells that convert light energy received from a light source into electrical current, each cell having an electrical connection for transporting the electrical current out of the cell;

an electrical connector, connected to the plurality of cells through the plurality of electrical connections, for providing electrical current from the plurality of cells to a chargeable battery of an electric-powered vehicle;

a sunshade for supporting the plurality of cells;

wherein the chargeable battery is charged when light is incident upon the cells and converted into electrical current.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a translucent sheet positioned on the cells for protecting the cells from contaminants without completely blocking light influx onto the cells.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the cells comprise photovoltaic cells.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the photovoltaic cells are covered by a translucent cover to protect the photovoltaic cells.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein a plurality of photovoltaic cells are supported on a front side of the sunshade, each photovoltaic cell having a corresponding electrical connection on a back side of the sunshade leading to the electrical connector.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the electrical connector comprises a plurality of electrical connectors separated by switches that control a flow of current between the electrical connectors.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein one of the switches comprises a variable current flow switch.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein one of the switches comprises an on/off switch.

17. A system for charging a chargeable battery in an electric-powered vehicle, comprising:

an electric-powered vehicle having a chargeable battery;

a plurality of energy-transforming cells that can convert light energy received from a light source into electrical current, each cell having an electrical connection for transporting the electrical current out of the cell;

an electrical connector, connected to the plurality of cells through the plurality of electrical connections, for communicating electrical current from the plurality of cells with the chargeable battery of the electric-powered vehicle; and

a material support for supporting the plurality of cells, wherein the material support is positioned inside of the vehicle;

wherein the chargeable battery is charged upon light detected by the cells and converted into electrical current, which is communicated to the chargeable battery through the electrical connector.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

a translucent sheet positioned on the cells for protecting the cells from contaminants without completely blocking light influx onto the cells.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the material support comprises:

a portable device capable of being reversibly contacted with the vehicle.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the portable device is a sunshade.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the material support comprises:

a permanently-fixed device integral to the vehicle.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the permanently fixed device is a sunroof.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the permanently fixed device is a dashboard.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the permanently fixed device is a window.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein the cells comprise photovoltaic cells.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the photovoltaic cells are covered by a translucent cover to protect the photovoltaic cells.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein a plurality of photovoltaic cells are supported on a front side of a sunshade, each photovoltaic cell having a corresponding electrical connection on a back side of the sunshade leading to the electrical connector.

28. The system of claim 17, wherein the electrical connector comprises a plurality of electrical connectors separated by switches that control a flow of current between the electrical connectors.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein one of the switches comprises a variable current flow switch.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein one of the switches comprises an on/off switch.

31. A system for charging a chargeable battery in an electric-powered vehicle, comprising:

an electric-powered vehicle having a chargeable battery;

a plurality of energy-transforming cells that can convert light energy received from a light source into electrical current, each cell having an electrical connection for transporting the electrical current out of the cell;

an electrical connector, connected to the plurality of cells through the plurality of electrical connections, for communicating electrical current from the plurality of cells with the chargeable battery of the electric-powered vehicle; and

a material support for supporting the plurality of cells, wherein the material support is positioned outside of the vehicle;

wherein the chargeable battery is charged when light is incident on the cells and converted into electrical current, which is communicated to the chargeable battery through the electrical connector.

32. The system of claim 31, further comprising:

a translucent sheet positioned on the cells for protecting the cells from contaminants without completely blocking light influx onto the cells.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the material support comprises:

a portable device capable of being reversibly contacted with the vehicle.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the portable device is a vehicle cover.

35. The system of claim 31, wherein the cells comprise photovoltaic cells.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the photovoltaic cells are covered by a translucent cover to protect the photovoltaic cells.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein a plurality of photovoltaic cells are supported on a side of a vehicle cover, each photovoltaic cell having a corresponding electrical connection leading to the electrical connector.

38. The system of claim 31, wherein the electrical connector comprises a plurality of electrical connectors separated by switches that control a flow of current between the electrical connectors.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein one of the switches comprises a variable current flow switch.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein one of the switches comprises an on/off switch.

41. The system of claim 31, wherein the material support comprises:

a permanently-fixed device separate from the vehicle.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the permanently fixed device is a wall of a building.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein the permanently fixed device is a roof of a building.

44. A method of charging a battery of an electric vehicle, comprising:

providing an electric-powered vehicle having a chargeable battery, the vehicle further having a battery charging system comprising;

an energy-transforming cell that can convert light energy received from a light source into electrical current;

a material support for supporting the cell, the material support being positioned outside of the vehicle;

an electrical connector for communicating electrical current from the cell with the chargeable battery; and

a switch for controlling the electrical current between the cell and the battery;

exposing the cell to a light source; and

activating the switch to allow current from the cell to travel to the battery and thereby charge the battery.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

de-activating the switch, upon full charge of the battery, thereby preventing current from the cell to reach the battery.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the switch allows for variable current flow therethrough.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the switch is an on/off switch.