Abstract:
An improved, solar-controlled light device with a circuit-control having a phototransistor, a variable resistor, and a first transistor connected to a storage unit, to a solar cell, and to a current-control. The variable resistor can be set to permit the device to turn on at pre-set ambient light levels. The current-control has a transformer, a second resistor, and a second transistor, connected at one end of the current-control to a light and at another end connected to the circuit-control, wherein the current-control senses the amount of power and boosts the power as needed to a sufficient level to power the lights.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a Continuation-In-Part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/507,240 filed Jul. 22, 2009. which is currently copending. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to the field of solar-powered devices, specifically solar-powered lighting. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The device of the present disclosure relates to an improvement in self-sustaining lighting devices utilizing solar power. There is a need for such devices to provide lighting. 
         [0004]    State of the art lighting devices lack the simplicity of the present device, including the ability to detect current flow and boost that flow when and as necessary, and they lack the present invention&#39;s unique double-coiled transformer, as shown herein, that functions in the capacity of a sensor and booster component in the present configuration. The present device also possesses unique on/off switching capability with an additional variable resistor to set the amount of ambient light that triggers the emitted light source. If the variable resistor is set all the way to “off”, the device will only charge the storage device, whereas if the variable resistor is set all the way to “on”, the device will force itself to activate the lights. 
         [0005]    This unique lighting device is easy and inexpensive to manufacture, easy and inexpensive to operate, and more importantly, easy and inexpensive to maintain. 
         [0006]    The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the lighting device. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the lighting device. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed lighting device in a different manner or by modifying the lighting device within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the lighting device may be had by referring to the summary of the lighting device and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the lighting device defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention is a solar-controlled light device having a solar cell, a power storage means, a circuit-control means for placing the device into an open mode by opening the flow of energy, a current-control means for sensing and controlling the flow of energy, and a light to be powered on at darkness and to be powered off with ambient light, unless overridden by the variable resistor. The circuit-control means has a phototransistor, a first resistor, a variable resistor, and a first transistor connected to the power storage unit, to the solar cell, and to the current-control means. 
         [0008]    The current-control has a transformer, a second resistor, and a second transistor, wherein the current-control means is connected at one end to the light and the other end of the current-control means is connected to the circuit-control. The current-control is adapted to sense the amount of electrical power flowing in the open mode and to boost the electrical power as needed to a sufficient level to power the lights. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1 . Block diagram of the preferred embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    The lighting system and unique device of this disclosure basically comprises one or more of the following conventionally available components: a solar cell, a capacitor, a resistor, a variable resistor, a transistor, a transformer, a phototransistor, and a lighting component. Typical components, or their equivalent, for this system and specific lighting device and their specifications, could include (refer to  FIG. 1 ): 
         [0011]    1. A NessCap capacitor, Model PSHLR-0050C0-002R3, of about 2.3V and storage potential of about 50 Farad, or equivalent 
         [0012]    2. Any generic solar cell  14  of approximately 2.2 v and 112 mA. The solar cell  14  should have a voltage rating approximately equivalent to that of the capacitor  12 . 
         [0013]    3. Any generic resistor  22 C, of about 3.3 kilo ohm at ⅛ Watt with a tolerance of about 5%, or equivalent. 
         [0014]    4. Any two generic NPN-type switching transistors,  24 A and  24 B, having a power dissipation of about 350 mW and I(C) Max. of 200 mA as the maximum current for this lighting device. 
         [0015]    5. A Siemens ®, infrared NPN phototransistor  32 , Model BPX81, or equivalent. 
         [0016]    6. A Laird Technology ®, transformer  26  with a ferrite core, Model 35T0231-00P, or equivalent. This is important as the transformer serves as the current-control mechanism by sensing the voltage, regulating it, and boosting it as necessary to power the lights. 
         [0017]    7. Lite-On® brand white super-bright LED lights  40 , Model LAW-420D7, of about 3.3V with current of about 30 mA, and power dissipation of about 120 mW. 
         [0018]    8. A variable resistor  22 A that is center-tapped and 10 K Ohm. 
         [0019]    9. Any generic resistor  22 B, of about 1 kilo ohm at ⅛ Watt with a tolerance of about 5%, or equivalent. 
         [0020]    As configured in this disclosure and in operation, the lighting device becomes a self-contained, self-generating lighting device which captures solar energy, converts the solar energy to electricity, and stores the electricity for use during darkness when ambient light is no longer detected. A simple solar cell is used to absorb the solar energy and convert it into electricity. 
         [0021]    A super-capacitor is charged by the converted electricity and stores such for later use. When light is no longer detected by the phototransistor, based on the sensitivity setting imposed by the variable resistor  22 A, the phototransistor will cease its operation and the switching transistor  24 A will cause the circuit to close, allowing the capacitor to power the lights associated with the lighting device. 
         [0022]    Based on the variable resistor  22 A setting, the device can be entirely switched off so that no power flows to the lights  40 , or a variable amount of power can be sent to the lights in a controlled manner. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , if the tap T 1  of the variable resistor  22 A is all the way towards L 2 , the resistance between L 1  and T 1  would be maximized to a point where no amount of light could activate the circuit, and the only thing that the circuit could do is charge. If the tap is in the middle, then the tap&#39;s relative location would dictate how dark it would have to be before the light activates. With the tap being closer to L 1 , the light would turn on when it is still bright. When the tap is closer to L 2 , it would have to be darker before the light activates. 
         [0024]    Internal circuitry regulates the voltage and current streaming from the capacitor to provide a consistent and long-lasting light from the lighting device with minimal, if any, variations in luminescence as the capacitor discharges. The values of the transformer, lights, capacitor (power store) and variable resistor can be selected to maximize light duration, lumen output and storage time to meet performance requirements for the system. 
         [0025]    The variable resistor  22 A operates with the first switching transistor,  24 A, and allows a minute portion of electricity to pass to  24 A, the resistor R 3 , and the phototransistor, which comprises the control section of the circuit. The resistor R 3  operates in conjunction with the first switching transistor,  24 A, and the variable resistor, R 1 , and permits only a minute portion of the electricity to pass around the phototransistor. This allows the control circuit to be grounded at all times, thereby allowing it to be forced to remain off. 
         [0026]    Refer to  FIG. 1  to see a preferred embodiment of the configuration of the components and their connections, which are critical for the operation of the circuit and its control, the current and its control, and the voltage necessary to maintain this lighting system and device as operational. 
         [0027]    The positive leads of the capacitor  12  and the solar cell  14  are connected to one another and to a first lead [L 1 ] of the variable resistor [R 1 ]  22 A and to the collector lead [CL] of the first transistor [T 1 ]  24 A. By way of Line-B, the collector lead [CL] of the phototransistor  32  is connected to the second lead [L 2 ] of the variable resistor [R 1 ]  22 A and to the first lead [L 1 ] of resistor R 3   22 C. The tap T 1  of the variable resistor  22 A is connected directly to the base lead of the first transistor  24 A. The negative output of the capacitor  12 , solar cell  14 , L@ of resistor [R 3 ]  22 C, and the emitter lead [EL] of the phototransistor  32  are connected to a common ground  50 . 
         [0028]    Line-C connects the emitter lead [EL] of the first transistor [T 1 ]  24 A to a common lead [Line-D] and to one end of the first coil [FC]. This configuration forces the capacitor  12  to store electrical power generated by the solar cell  14  and, in conjunction with the phototransistor  32  and the variable resistor  22 A, enables transistor [T 1 ]  24 A to control whether and when power will flow from the capacitor  12  to the transformer  26 . 
         [0029]    This type of configuration also pulls the current flowing to the base lead [BL] of the first transistor [T 1 ]  24 A to positive and functions as the control to thereby activate the circuit and, if ambient light is detected, also pulls the current flowing to the base lead [BL] of transistor  24 A to negative and deactivates that circuit. If, however, no ambient light is detected by, or exists, the phototransistor  32  will not activate. 
         [0030]    Typically, when ambient light is sufficient, the phototransistor  32  will be active and prevent transistor [T 1 ]  24 A from activating by drawing current away from the base lead [BL] of the first transistor [T 1 ]  24 A, preventing the solar cell  14  and the capacitor  12  from powering the rest of the circuit. When this occurs, the solar cell  14  recharges the capacitor  12  via the connection depicted by Line-A. During darkness, the phototransistor  32  deactivates, allowing transistor [T 1 ]  24 A to activate, completing the circuit and providing power from the capacitor  12  to the rest of the circuit thereby allowing the rest of the circuit to activate. 
         [0031]    The common lead of the transformer  26  [Line-D] also connects one lead of the transformer&#39;s coil [first coil (FC)] to the opposing lead of the transformer&#39;s second coil [SC]. This connection ensures that if current is flowing through the second coil [SC] of the transformer  26  it will create a magnetic field that will cancel out current flowing through the first coil [FC] of the transformer  26 . 
         [0032]    In this embodiment, the remaining lead of the first coil [FC] of the transformer  26  connects to a first lead [L 1 ] of the second resistor [R 2 ]  22 B through Line-E and the second lead [L 2 ] of the second resistor [R 2 ]  22 B connects to the base lead [BL] of the second transistor [T 2 ]  24 B through Line-G. As so configured, the first coil [FC] of the transformer  26 , combined with the second resistor [R 2 ]  22 B and the second transistor [T 2 ]  24 B, act as a sensor to detect whether or not a sufficient amount of current is flowing through the second coil [SC] of the transformer  26  and if not, to “boost” the flow thereby increasing the voltage to an amount sufficient to power the lights  40 . 
         [0033]    The emitter lead [EL] of the second transistor [R 2 ]  24 B is connected to the common ground  50  and the remaining lead of the second coil [SC] of the transformer  26  is connected to the collector lead [CL] of the second transistor [T 2 ]  24 B and to the lighting array  40  through Line-F. 
         [0034]    The lighting array  40  is also connected to the common ground  50 . The second transistor [T 2 ]  24 B initiates the lighting operation by allowing current to flow freely through the second coil [SC] and to the ground  50 ; however, if sufficient current flows through the second coil [SC] of the transformer  26 , the second transistor [T 2 ]  24 B deactivates and forces current to flow through the lighting array  40 . In doing so, the second coil [SC] of the transformer  26  acts like a temporary battery in series with the capacitor  12  and thereby generates sufficient voltage to power the lights of the light array  40 . If, however, the current flowing through the second coil [SC] cannot sustain this output, the current will drop triggering current to flow through the first coil [FC] of the transformer  26  which thereby causes the second transistor [T 2 ]  24 B to reactivate and start the cycle over again. 
         [0035]    The second resistor [R 2 ]  22 B limits the amount of current flowing into the base lead [BL] of the second transistor [T 2 ]  24 B, therefore preventing the second transistor [T 2 ]  24 B from suffering damage as a result of current flowing from the first coil [FC] of the transformer  26 . 
         [0036]    Although this lighting device has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and numerous changes in the details of construction and combination and arrangement of parts and method steps may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the lighting device. Accordingly, the scope of the lighting device should be determined not by the embodiment[s] illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. 
         [0037]    Applicant[s] have attempted to disclose all the embodiment[s] of the lighting device that could be reasonably foreseen. It must be understood, however, that there may be unforeseeable insubstantial modifications to the present invention that remain as equivalents to it, and thereby fall within its scope.