Abstract:
A portable solar powered battery charger made of multiple panels which can be deployed in a variety of configurations, depending on the amount and shape of the space available. If less than the total number of panels is deployed to gather solar energy, then the electrical configuration is adjusted accordingly with a multiposition switch. The panels include a set of telescoping legs, which can be extended to keep the charger positioned in a window. The panels of the charger can be rotated apart to be deployed on a curved surface such as an umbrella or a tent.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to portable solar battery chargers. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Since the first demonstration of a solar cell many years ago, there has been a great deal of research and development in the field of solar cells. Much progress has been made in increasing the efficiency of solar cells and decreasing the cost of production. There have been various portable devices made or proposed for increasing the use of solar cells for converting solar energy to electrical energy, but there is a need for a device that is more versatile in terms of how it could be used and deployed in various applications. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A portable solar powered battery charger made of multiple panels which can be deployed in a variety of configurations, depending on the amount and shape of the space available. If less than the total number of panels is deployed to gather soar energy, then the electrical configuration is adjusted accordingly with a multiposition switch. The panels include a set of telescoping legs, which can be extended to keep the charger positioned in a window. The panels of the charger can be rotated apart to be deployed on a curved surface such as an umbrella or a tent. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  shows a folded portable solar battery charger according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  shows a partially unfolded portable solar battery charger. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  shows one completely unfolded charger. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  shows an alternate embodiment of a charger with extendable legs. 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  shows the charger of  FIG. 4  with the legs extended to support the charger in the front window of a car. 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  shows the first three sections at one end of a charger. 
           [0010]      FIG. 7A  shows a charger deployed with four panels supported in a briefcase. 
           [0011]      FIG. 7B  shows front and side views of the charger as configured in  FIG. 7A . 
           [0012]      FIG. 8A  shows a charger deployed with two panels in a window. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8B  is a front view of the charger as configured in  FIG. 8A . 
           [0014]      FIG. 8C  is a top view of the charger as configured in  FIG. 8A . 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is another embodiment of the charger of the present invention in a partially rotated configuration. 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  shows a charger in a fully rotated configuration. 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  shows a hinge panel of a charger. 
           [0018]      FIG. 12  shows a partial view of a hinge panel between two solar panels of a charger. 
           [0019]      FIG. 13  shows a cross sectional view of a solar panel and two adjacent solar panels. 
           [0020]      FIG. 14A  shows a charger deployed on top of an umbrella. 
           [0021]      FIG. 14B  shows a charger positioned on top of a different kind of umbrella. 
           [0022]      FIG. 14C  shows a fully rotated charger placed on the top of a canopy. 
           [0023]      FIG. 14D  shows a top view of a charger located on top of an umbrella. 
           [0024]      FIG. 14E  shows an unfolded charger on one side of the top of a canopy. 
           [0025]      FIG. 14F  shows an unfolded charger on the top of a canopy. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0026]      FIG. 1  shows a folded portable solar battery charger  100  according to one embodiment of the present invention. Charger  100  is shown folded into a compact configuration making it easier to store and to protect the solar cells when not in use. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  shows a partially unfolded portable solar battery charger  100  in one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, charger  100  is made of eight solar panels  102  to  109  with covering end panels  101  and  110  at the ends of charger  100 . In other embodiments, charger  100  can have more or less than eight panels. Hinge  131  connects panel  101  to  102  and hinge  132  connects panel  102  to  103 . Similarly, each of panels  104  to  109  is connected to each adjacent panel by hinges, as for example  131  and  132 . Panel  102  includes solar cells  121 A and  121 B and fasteners  141 A,  141 B,  141 C and  141 D. Adjacent panel  103  includes solar cells  122 A and  122 B with similar fasteners as on panel  102 . Each of the panels  102  to  109  can contain one or more solar cells or solar panels as needed during the design or manufacture of charger  100  to generate a required voltage or current per panel for a particular application. Panel  102  shown with two solar cells  121 A and  121 B is one exemplary configuration of panel  102 . 
         [0028]    Fasteners  141 A,  141 B,  141 C and  141 D can be any of various well known kinds of mechanical connectors or fasteners, such as screws, bolts or rivets made of metal or plastic. If panel  102  is a multilayer panel, such as in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 13 , fasteners  141 A to  141 D can provide a way to connect the various layers of the multilayer panel  102  shown in  FIG. 13 , which will be discussed in more detail with regard to  FIG. 13 . Fasteners  141 A to  141 D can also extend through to the back (not shown) of panel  102  and include a way to connect or mate to similar fasteners on the back of adjacent panel  103 . Such mating fasteners can provide a way to keep the panels of charger  100  together in a compact configuration, when folded or partially unfolded. The connections between the fasteners  141 A to  141 D on the back of panel  102  to similar fasteners on the back of panel  103  can be of made of various types, such as mating male to female snap fasteners, mating hook and loop fasteners, mating magnetized fastener heads or other mating types of fasteners. 
         [0029]    In other embodiments of charger  100  (not shown), charger  100  can fold in a manner so that the front sides of panels  102  and  103  face each other. In such an embodiment, fasteners  141 A to  141 D on the front of panel  102  connect or mate with fasteners  141 A to  141 D on the front of panel  103 . 
         [0030]    Charger  100  on panel  101  includes multiposition switch  111  and electrical connector  112 . Switch  111 , also shown in  FIG. 6 , is shown as having four positions, which corresponds to how charger  100  is unfolded and deployed so that either two, four, six or eight panels are selected for collecting solar energy and converting it to electrical energy. Charger  100  can, for example, be unfolded completely to deploy all eight panels to collect solar energy or partially unfolded for two, four or six panels depending on the space available or the amount of power desired. Electrical connector  112  is the output terminal used to connect a rechargeable battery to be recharged or an electrical device to be powered by charger  100 . Charger  100  can also incorporate various configurations of internal rechargeable batteries (not shown) to be recharged by charger  100 , with their electrical output at connector  112 . 
         [0031]    The solar cells and panels of charger  100  can be electrically connected in a variety of parallel, series or parallel/series configurations (not shown) to generate a desired voltage or current output level. Additional electrical switches (not shown) can be designed into the electrical wiring of charger  100  to connect the panels of charger  100  in any desired parallel, series or parallel/series configuration. 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  shows the charger of  FIG. 2  completely unfolded for the maximum gathering of solar energy and converting it to electrical energy. In such an unfolded configuration, charger  100  can be positioned on a surface such as a car roof, hood or trunk. Small magnets or magnetic tape on the back side of charger  100  can keep charger  100  positioned on a metal surface of a car or vehicle. If fasteners  141 A to  141 D are magnetic, then those fasteners can be used to keep charger  100  positioned on a metal surface. 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  shows an alternate embodiment of charger  100  with extendable legs  150 A- 150 D. Legs  150 A- 150 D can be made of metal or plastic tubing with rubber tips and can be stored in a collapsed position within charger  100  and can be extended as needed to position and hold charger  100  in a confined space or aperture such as a window. 
         [0034]      FIG. 5  shows the charger  100  of  FIG. 4  with the legs  150 A- 150 D extended to support the charger in the front window  210  of a parked car. Similarly, charger  100  with legs extended could be positioned in the rear window of a parked car or across two side windows of a parked minivan, van or other vehicle with large side windows, such as a sport utility vehicle. 
         [0035]      FIG. 6  shows the first three sections at one end of charger  100  with legs  150 A and  150 B. Leg  150 A includes shaft  152 A, tip  153 A and lock  151 A. Leg  150 A is shown in a collapsed position and stored in a channel or pocket in cover panel  101 . Leg  150 B includes shaft  152 B, tip  153 B and lock  151 B, and is shown with lock  151 B locking leg  150 B in a partially extended position. Shafts  152 A and  152 B can be made of metal or plastic and can have a circular, square or other geometric cross sectional profile. Tips  153 A and  153 B can be made of rubber or plastic. Locks  151 A and  151 B can be any of a variety of cam or lever locks as are commonly used on camera tripod legs. In other embodiments (not shown), legs  150 A and  150 B can include a spring loaded mechanism, which can help to keep legs  150 A and  150 B in an extended position, as locks  151 A and  151 B are locked. 
         [0036]      FIG. 7A  shows charger  100  deployed with four panels supported in a briefcase  220 . Previously discussed legs  150 A- 150 D (not visible) are extended as needed to maintain charger  100  in a stable position at an angle in open briefcase  220 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 7B  shows front and side views of charger  100  as configured in  FIG. 7A . Legs  150 A and  150 B adjacent to panel  102  are partially extended in the space between the two sides of the upper section of open briefcase  220 . Similarly, legs  150 C and  150 D adjacent to panel  109  are partially extended in the space between the two sides of the lower section of open briefcase  220 . In the embodiment shown, the panels of charger  100  are folded in such a way as to position the first two panels,  102  and  103  and the last two panels,  108  and  109  to be facing out to collect solar energy. Charger  100  is supported in the position shown in  FIG. 7A  by legs  150 A- 150 D and by a combination of mechanical or magnetic fasteners between panels  103 , 104  and  105  and between panels  106 ,  107  and  108 . Additional stability for this configuration of charger  100  can be provided by a hook and loop type fastener along the adjacent edges of panels  103  and  108 . For charger  100  to be functioning electrically in a four panel mode, multiposition switch  111  shown in some previous figures has to be selected to be in four panel mode. In an alternate embodiment of charger  100 , the electrical wiring of the panels can be configured so as to provide for the inner panels  104 ,  105 ,  106  and  107  to be selected to face the sun and generate electricity from sunlight. 
         [0038]      FIG. 8A  shows charger  100  deployed with two panels in a window and legs  150 A- 150 D extended to support charger  100 .  FIG. 8B  shows a front view of the charger as configured in  FIG. 8A  with panels  102  and  109  facing toward the sun to collect solar energy.  FIG. 8C  is a top view of charger  100  as configured in  FIG. 8A , showing how the unused panels of charger  100  are folded behind the deployed panels  102  and  109 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 9  is another embodiment of charger  100  of the present invention in a partially rotated configuration. For example, hinge panel  336  is attached to panels  106  and  107  in such a manner as to allow panel  107  to rotate away from panel  106 . The rotation of panel  107  away from  106  results in an inside curve  100 A formed on the bottom edge of charger  100  and an outside curve formed on the top edge  100 B of charger  100 . Each of panels  102  to  109  is attached to each adjacent panel with hinge panels like  336 . Hinge panel  336  is attached to adjacent panel  106  by fasteners  141 B and  141 C. Hinge panel  336  is also attached to adjacent panel  107  by fasteners  141 A and  141 D. As panel  107  is moved away from panel  106 , rotating about the respective fasteners  141 C and  141 D, a portion of hinge panel  336  is brought into view. Fastener  141 B towards the top end of panel  106  provides a stop to limit the rotation of hinge panel  336 . One way to limit the rotation of hinge panel  336  with respect to panel  106  is for a hook or loop (not shown) on the upper left corner of  336  to engage the back of fastener  141 B and limit the rotation of hinge panel  336  away from  106 . Similarly, the upper right corner of  336  has a hook or loop (not shown) to limit the rotation of panel  107  with respect to hinge panel  336 . Hinge panel  336  also includes hinge  236  which provides for the folding of charger  100  into a compact folded configuration for storage or transport as shown in  FIG. 1 . Similarly, hinge panel  337  is attached to panels  107  and  108  in such a manner as to allow panel  108  to rotate away from panel  107 . 
         [0040]    In other embodiments of charger  100  (not shown), a hinge panel such as  336  can allow rotation around either the upper fasteners  141 A and  141 B or around the lower fasteners  141 C and  141 D. 
         [0041]      FIG. 10  shows charger  100  of  FIG. 9  in an exemplary configuration with all of the solar panels  102  to  109  rotated apart. Charger  100  with its hinge panels  331 - 337  can be deployed n a variety of geometric configurations, due to the ability to rotate one or more solar panels  101 - 109  as needed to position charger  100  to best fit the available space and maximize the number of solar panels exposed to the sun. In the fully rotated configuration of  FIG. 10 , end panels  101  and  109  can be connected together to provide additional stability using fasteners such as hook and loop or magnetic fasteners. Any of many different configurations between the linear arrangement of panels as in  FIG. 2  and the circular arrangement of  FIG. 10 , such as  FIG. 9  are possible, depending on the number of hinge panels rotated and the amount that each hinge panel is rotated. 
         [0042]      FIG. 11  shows an exemplary hinge panel  332  of charger  100  with hinge  132 . Hinge panel  332  includes sections  300 A and  300 B on either side of hinge  132 , hooks  301 A and  301 B and holes  31   1 A and  311 B. As can be seen from  FIG. 10 , hinge panel  332  is located between panels  102  and  103 . As panel  103  is rotated away from panel  102 , hinge panel  332  comes into view. Holes  311 A and  311 B are centers of rotation for respective panels  103  and  102 , as they rotate away from each other. Hooks  301 A and  301 B engage fasteners in respective panels  103  and  102 , and provide a limit or stop to the rotation of respective panels  103  and  102 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 12  shows a partial view of hinge panel  332  between two solar panels  102  and  103  of charger  100 . As panel  103  is rotated away from panel  102  and hinge panel  332  comes into view, hook  301 A engages with fastener  141 A on panel  103  and hook  301 B engages with fastener  141 B on panel  102 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 13  shows a cross sectional view of solar panel  103  and two adjacent solar panels  102  and  104 . The structure of panel  103  shown in  FIG. 13  is an example of the construction of any of panels  102  to  109 . The mechanical structure of panel  103  is primarily made of several layers: base  420 , inner panel  421  and bottom panel  422 . Panel  103  is connected to adjacent panels  102  and  104  by respective hinge panels  332  and  333 . Panel  103  is made of base  410  to which are attached solar cells  122 A and  122 B (not visible in  FIG. 13 ), using, for example, glue or an adhesive. The edges of solar cell  122 A and  122 B are protected by molding  420 , which can function as a frame around solar cells  122 A and  122 B. Below base  410  is hinge panel  333 , which includes hinge  133 . Beneath hinge panel  333  is inner panel  421 . Below inner panel  421  is hinge panel  332 , which includes hinge  132 . Under hinge panel  332  is bottom panel  422 . Layers  410 ,  421  and  422  can be made of any of a variety of sheet material such as nylon, polyethylene or other plastic. 
         [0045]    Panels  420 ,  421  and  422  of panel  103  are held together by fasteners  141 A,  141 B,  141 C and  141 D. Fasteners  141 C and  141 D are not shown in  FIG. 13 . Fasteners  141 A-D are held in place by parts  141 A( 2 )-D( 2 ). The type of fastener used for  141 A, which could be a screw or a rivet, will determine the kind of part  141 A( 2 ), such as a nut or a washer, that will mate with and keep fastener  141 A locked in position. Fasteners  141 A-D are locked in position to hold the layers of panel  103  together, but also provide some uncompressed space between the layers to enable hinge layers  332  and  333  to slide on the adjacent layers of  103 , when panel  103  is rotated away from adjacent panels  102  or  104 . 
         [0046]      FIGS. 14A to 14F  are exemplary deployments of charger  100  in a variety of different geometric configurations.  FIG. 14A  shows charger  100  deployed on top of an umbrella  201 .  FIG. 14B  shows charger  100  positioned on top of a larger umbrella  202 .  FIG. 14C  shows a fully rotated charger  100  placed on the top of a canopy  203 .  FIG. 14D  shows a top view of a charger  100  located on top of a circular canopy  204 .  FIG. 14E  shows an unfolded charger  100  on one side of the top of a canopy  205 .  FIG. 14F  shows an unfolded charger  100  on the top of a canopy  206 . 
         [0047]    Although this invention has been described in certain specific embodiments, many additional modifications and variations would be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is therefore to be understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. Thus, the present embodiments of the invention should be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention to be determined by any claims supportable by this application and the claims&#39; equivalents.