Multi-function solar-powered lighting system

• US 8,277,072 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2010
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Hwang, Gan-Lin, Chen, Ruei-Tang, Lin, Rong-Chang
• Primary Examiner(s): Dzierzynski, Evan
• Application Number:
  US12/775,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20100281721A1
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 362/183, 405/41
• US Class Current: 362/183
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0431 Signs, boards or panels connected to a pole
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/08 using both translucent and non-translucent layers
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/18 Edge-illuminated signs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 15/0037 supported by a post
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/05 indicating exit way or orientation
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/1831 using more than one light source
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/1836 using a frame-like light source
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/1854 Light diffusing layer
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/1877 Stand-like
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/222 with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0543 comprising light concentrating means of the refractive type, e.g. lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0547 comprising light concentrating means of the reflecting type, e.g. parabolic mirrors, concentrators using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators

Abstract

A solar-powered lighting system includes a substrate, wherein at least one solar chip is disposed on one lateral side of the substrate, and at least one light source is disposed on one lateral side of the substrate. Solar light enters the substrate and propagates therein. Solar light energy is collected by the at least one solar chip which transforms the solar light energy into electrical power for the at least one light source to emit light to the substrate, before propagating therein and leaving the substrate.

Claims

1. A solar-powered lighting system, comprising:

a substrate comprising at least one light diffusion layer and a plurality of light guiding layers adjacent to the light diffusion layer;

at least one solar chip disposed on at least one lateral surface of the substrate; and

at least one light source disposed on at least one lateral surface of the substrate, wherein electrical power for the at least one light source to emit light is generated by the at least one solar chip collecting solar light energy from solar light entering the substrate and propagating therein,

wherein solar light enters the substrate and is diffused by the light diffusion layer, and the diffused solar light is reflected by an interface of the light diffusion layer and the light guiding layer for solar light energy collection by the at least one solar chips, and a portion of the solar light enters the light guiding layers and is reflected by the interface of the light guiding layers,

wherein the solar light energy of the reflected light is collected by the at least one solar chips, and

wherein the light emitted from the light source is emitted to the substrate and is guided by the light diffusion layer and the light guiding layers to leave the substrate.

2. The solar-powered lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one light source comprises at least one light emitting diode.

3. The solar-powered lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light diffusion layer has a haze of 5˜

99.

4. The solar-powered lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light guiding layers are made of acrylic material, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyurethane, polyimide, silicon resin or glass.

5. The solar-powered lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light diffusion layer is made of acrylic material, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyurethane, polyimide or silicon resin.

6. The solar-powered lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light diffusion layer comprises light scattering particles.

7. The solar-powered lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light diffusion layer comprises a mixed material of two materials with different index of refractions.

8. The solar-powered lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light diffusion layer is an optical composite structure.

9. The solar-powered lighting system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a power accumulator connected to the at least one solar chip and the at least one light source, wherein the electrical power generated by the at least one solar chip is saved in the power accumulator, and the saved electrical power is provided to the at least one light source.

10. The solar-powered lighting system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the power accumulator comprises a battery.

11. The solar-powered lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and solar light passes through the first surface to enter the substrate and the light from the at least one light source passes through the first surface to leave the substrate.

12. The solar-powered lighting system as claimed in claim 11 further comprising a pattern layer disposed in the substrate, on the first surface of the substrate or on the second surface of the substrate, wherein the light from the at least one light source is emitted to the pattern layer before leaving the substrate.

13. The solar-powered lighting system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the lateral surface of the substrate is adjacent to the first surface and the second surface of the substrate.

14. The solar-powered lighting system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the lateral surface of the substrate is perpendicular to the first surface and the second surface of the substrate.

15. A signboard comprising the solar-powered light system as claimed in claim 1.

16. A warning device comprising the solar-powered light system as claimed in claim 1.

17. A planar light source comprising the solar-powered light system as claimed in claim 1.

18. A display device comprising the solar-powered light system as claimed in claim 1.

19. The solar-powered lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one solar chips are disposed around the substrate.

20. The solar-powered lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one light source is disposed on at least one of the at least one solar chips.

21. A solar-powered lighting system, comprising:

a substrate;

at least one solar chip disposed on at least one lateral surface of the substrate; and

at least one light source disposed on at least one lateral surface of the substrate, wherein electrical power for the at least one light source to emit light is generated by the at least one solar chip collecting solar light energy from solar light entering the substrate and propagating therein;

wherein the substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and solar light passes through the first surface to enter the substrate and the light from the at least one light source passes through the first surface to leave the substrate.

22. The solar-powered lighting system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the at least one light source comprises at least one light emitting diode.

23. The solar-powered lighting system as claimed in claim 21 further comprising a power accumulator connected to the at least one solar chip and the at least one light source, wherein the electrical power generated by the at least one solar chip is saved in the power accumulator, and the saved electrical power is provided to the at least one light source.

24. The solar-powered lighting system as claimed in claim 23, wherein the power accumulator comprises a battery.

25. The solar-powered lighting system as claimed in claim 21 further comprising a pattern layer disposed in the substrate, on the first surface of the substrate or on the second surface of the substrate, wherein the light from the at least one light source is emitted to the pattern layer before leaving the substrate.

26. The solar-powered lighting system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the lateral surface of the substrate is adjacent to the first surface and the second surface of the substrate.

27. The solar-powered lighting system as claimed in claim 26, wherein the lateral surface of the substrate is perpendicular to the first surface and the second surface of the substrate.