Solar cell and portable electronic device

• US 9,368,987 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2012
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Idzik, Jacek S., Mankowski, Peter, Geris, Ryan Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Boateng, Alexis A
• Application Number:
  US13/659,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20140111135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101, 320/107, 320/108, 320/115, 320/103, 320/114, 320/116, 320/138, 136/244, 136/245, 136/256, 136/291, 136/252, 136/293, 136/206
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/02021 for solar cells electrical connection means, e.g. junction boxes, specially adapted for structural association with photovoltaic modules H02S40/34
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/022425 for solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/465 with solar battery as charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A solar cell and a portable electronic device are provided. The solar cell includes a semiconductor material configured to absorb light for generating a current. The solar cell further includes a positive contact and a negative contact. In addition, the negative contact is configured to couple with an external interface. The portable electronic device includes an energy storage unit. The portable electronic device also includes a semiconductor material configured to absorb light for generating a current, a positive contact, and a negative contact. The negative contact of the portable electronic device is configured to couple with an external interface.

Claims

1. A solar cell comprising:

a semiconductor material configured to absorb light for generating a current, the semiconductor material having a positive side and a negative side, the positive side comprising an inward facing side and the negative comprising an outward facing side;

a positive contact in electrical communication with the positive side, the positive contact configured to collect a light induced current from the positive side; and

a negative contact in electrical communication with the negative side, and located on the outward facing side, the negative contact configured to collect the light induced current from the negative side, the negative contact having a coil geometry configured to couple with an external power charging interface to generate inductive current in the negative contact, and an external near field communication device to receive data therefrom, the positive contact and the negative contact further configured to connect with an energy storage unit to convey the light induced current there to, and the negative contact further configured to;

connect to the energy storage unit independent of the positive contact to convey the induction current thereto; and

communicate the data received from the external near field communication device to a data processing device.

2. The solar cell of claim 1, further comprising an anti-reflection layer disposed on the negative side, the anti-reflection layer for decreasing reflective loss of light.

3. The solar cell of claim 2, wherein the anti-reflection layer is disposed over the negative contact to form a protective layer.

4. A portable electronic device comprising:

a data processing device;

an energy storage unit configured to provide power to the portable electronic device, the energy storage unit having a positive terminal and a negative terminal;

a semiconductor material configured to absorb light for generating a current, the semiconductor material having a positive side and a negative side, the positive side comprising an inward facing side and the negative comprising an outward facing side;

a positive contact in electrical communication with the positive side, the positive contact configured to collect a light induced current from the positive side and further configured to be electrically connectable to the positive terminal; and

a negative contact in electrical communication with the negative side, and located on the outward facing side, the negative contact configured to collect the light induced current from the negative side and further configured to be electrically connectable to the negative terminal, the negative contact having a coil geometry configured to couple with an external power charging interface to generate inductive current in the negative contact, and an external near field communication device to receive data therefrom, the positive contact and the negative contact further configured to connect with an energy storage unit to convey the light induced current there to, and the negative contact further configured to;

connect to the energy storage unit independent of the positive contact to convey the induction current thereto; and

communicate the data received from the external near field communication device to the data processing device.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 4, further comprising:

one or more switches configured to;

in a light charging mode, connect the positive contact and the negative contact to the energy storage unit; and

, in an induction charging mode, disconnect the positive contact from the energy storage unit and connect the negative contact to the energy storage unit; and

in a data connection mode, disconnect the positive contact and the negative contact from the energy storage unit, and connect the negative contact to the data processing device.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 5, further comprising a processor configured to operate the one or more switches.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to determine an optimal charging method and automatically operate the one or more switches to provide the optimal charging method.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 4, further comprising an anti-reflection layer disposed on the negative side, the anti-reflection layer for decreasing reflective loss of light.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the anti-reflection layer is disposed over the negative contact to form a protective layer.