System and apparatus for charging an electronic device using solar energy

• US 6,870,089 B1
• Filed: 11/12/2002
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Randolph Dean Gray
• Original Assignee: Randolph Dean Gray
• Inventors: Gray, Randolph Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAMOND, ALAN D
• Application Number:
  US10/292,248
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: 136/251, 136/244, 136/291, 136/203, 136/200, 136/245, 62/32, 62/36, 62/36.2, 224/153
• US Class Current: 136/251
• 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 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• 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 40/38 Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/291 Applications

Abstract

A system and apparatus for charging an electronic device using solar energy are disclosed. In one form, a portable storage apparatus operable to charge a battery associated with an electronic device is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first material configured to provide a storage space for storing articles. The storage space includes an interior portion and an exterior portion. The apparatus further includes a first flexible solar panel coupled to an exterior portion of the portable storage apparatus and integrated as a part of the first material. A second positional solar panel is also provided and coupled to an interior portion of the portable storage apparatus. The apparatus further includes a universal 12-volt charge port coupled to the first and second solar panels and operable to receive a charge conductor for charging the electronic device.

Claims

1. A portable storage apparatus for charging an electronic device comprising:

at least one solar panel intergrated as a part of an exterior surface of a storage apparatus operable to store an electronic device;

a conductive element electrically coupled between the at least one solar panel and a universal twelve-volt charge port, the universal twelve-volt charge port operable to couple converted solar energy to charge a rechargeable battery of the electronic device; and

a layer of material, not directly coupled to the solar panel, covering the solar panel and coupled to the material of the exterior surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second solar panel coupled to an interior portion of the storage apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the solar panel comprises a flexible solar panel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising plural charge ports electrically coupled to the at least one solar panel, at least one the charge ports being accessible via an interior portion of the storage apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the layer of material is a liquid resisting material.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a backpack as the portable storage apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a thermal cooler as the portable storage apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the thermal cooler comprises a collapsible thermal cooler.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second charge port operable to receive a rechargeable battery and operably associated with a charge status indicator for providing a charge status of the rechargeable battery.

10. A portable solar charge system for charging an energy source associated with an elctronic device comprising:

at teast one flexible solar panel integrated as a part of an exterior surface of a storage apparatus operable to store an electronic device;

at least one charge port electrically coupled to the at least one flexible solar panel to provide converted solar energy to charge the energy source; and

a layer of material, not directly coupled to the solar panel, covering the solar panel and coupled to the material of the exterior surface.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising a second positional solar panel coupled to an exterior portion of the storage apparatus.

12. The system of claim 10 further comprising a second solar panel coupled to an interior portion of the storage apparatus.

13. The system of claim 10 further comprising at least one universal twelve-volt charge port coupled to an interior portion of the storage apparatus.

14. The system of claim 10 further comprising a device specific charge port operably associated with a charge circuit to provide sufficient energy converted by the flexible solar panel and based on the device specification.

15. The system of claim 10 further comprising the at least one charge port accessible external to the storage apparatus.

16. The system of claim 10 further comprising a battery port operable to receive a rechargeable battery associated with an electronic device, the battery port electrically coupled to the flexible solar panel to provide converted solar energy to charge the rechargeable battery.

17. The system of claim 10 further comprising a rigid solar panel.

18. The system of claim 10 further comprising the solar energy repository coupled to the flexible solar panel, the repository operable to store solar energy.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising the solar energy repository electrically coupled to the at least one charge port to provide the converted solar energy.

20. The system of claim 17 further comprising a regulator coupled between the flexible and rigid solar panels and the at least one charge port, the regulator operable to regulate energy provided by the flexible and rigid solar panels to the at least one charge port.

21. The system of claim 10 further comprising:

a universal twelve-volt charge port directly coupled to the flexible solar panel via a conductor; and

a device specific charge port coupled to a charge circuit operable to convert energy provided by the flexible solar panel based on a specification of the electronic device.

22. The system of claim 10 further comprising:

means for coupling converted solar energy to a charge accessory operable associated with charging a battery; and

means for converting the solar energy to an electrical energy sufficient to charge the battery.

23. The system of claim 10 further comprising a solar energy regulator and distribution module coupled between a solar panel array and plural charge ports, the module operable to couple different output levels to each port charging electronic devices.

24. A backpack operable to charge a battery associated with an electronic device comprising:

a storage space for storing an electronic device, the storage space including an interior portion and an exterior portion;

a first flexible solar panel integrated as a part of the exterior portion;

a second positional solar panel coupled to a portion of the interior portion of the backpack; and

a universal 12-volt charge port electrically coupled to the first and second solar panels, the universal 12-volt charge port operable to actively provide solar energy to charge the electronic device while the backpack is being used within a mobile environment.