Patent Publication Number: US-2007121317-A1

Title: Solar lighting device having color and brightness control mechanism

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      (a) Technical Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to solar devices and more particularly to a solar lighting device having means for generating electric power by solar energy and a control circuit for controlling color and brightness of light emitted by a light-emitting member (e.g., LED or lamp) thereof.  
      (b) Description of the Prior Art  
      Conventionally, the design of a cup, bottle, flower shaped ornament, or animal or plant shaped ornament made of glass, plastics, or acrylic material emphasizes on the shape thereof. Its aesthetic appearance cannot be appreciated in the night or dark environment. Reflective coating is formed on some cups, bottles, transparent containers, or ornaments for rendering color in certain types. However, its illumination is low and its color is poor. A light may be mounted in such ornaments for aesthetic purpose. However, its external power supply is a big problem. Rechargeable battery or cells may be employed in another design. However, its charging is bothersome if it is rechargeable or its disposal after use may cause environmental pollution if it is non-rechargeable. Thus, continuing improvements in the exploitation of a solar lighting device having a color and brightness control mechanism assembled with container, ornament, or the like are constantly being sought.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a solar lighting device adapted to assemble with bottom of a glass, a cup, a flower vase, an alcohol bottle, an ornament, or a transparent or translucent container such that one of the above objects may emit light with varying color and/or brightness when a light-emitting member of the solar lighting device is activated.  
      It is another object of the present invention to provide a solar lighting device having means for generating electric power by solar energy.  
      The above and other objects of the present invention are realized by providing a solar lighting device comprising a transparent housing; a control circuit having a light-emitting member for emitting light of different colors; a rechargeable battery electrically connected to the control circuit; and means for converting the radiant energy of sunlight into electric power.  
      In one aspect of the present invention, the housing is comprised of an upper shell and a lower shell secured together.  
      In another aspect of the present invention, the conversion means is a plate solar collector.  
      In yet another aspect of the present invention, the control circuit comprises a microprocessor having an embedded program, the microprocessor being electrically connected to the light-emitting member such that the microprocessor is adapted to change color and brightness of light emitted by the light-emitting member.  
      In a further aspect of the present invention, the light-emitting member is an LED or a lamp.  
      In yet further aspect of the present invention, there are further provided an external trigger member and a switch controlled by the microprocessor, and wherein the switch is a magnetic reed switch activated by magnetic force, a light sensitive switch activated by light, or a temperature sensitive switch activated by body temperature such that placing the trigger member proximate the solar lighting device will cause the microprocessor to activate the switch, and a light-emitting mode of the light-emitting member is changed in response to a signal generated by the times of approaching the trigger member to the solar lighting device.  
      In yet further aspect of the present invention, there is further provided a charging cabinet having an open side and comprises an upper lamp, a light absorbing plate under the lamp, and two parallel crossbars below the light absorbing plate such that for example an upside down glass may hang on the crossbars and the plate solar collector in the glass may absorb the sun&#39;s rays and convert the radiant energy of sunlight into electric power which is then supplied to the battery for charging. The provision of charging cabinet as a charging device is particular applicable to an environment when sunlight is weak or even there is no sunlight.  
      The foregoing object and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.  
      Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a solar lighting device according to the invention;  
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the solar lighting device showing its internal details according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 2A  is an exploded view of the solar lighting device showing its internal details according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a circuit diagram of the solar lighting device;  
       FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the solar lighting device to be assembled with a glass;  
       FIG. 4A  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  showing another configuration of the solar lighting device and the glass shown in  FIG. 4 ;  
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the solar lighting device to be assembled with a glass;  
       FIG. 5A  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  where the solar lighting device is exploded to show another configuration thereof;  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the solar lighting device assembled with another glass;  
       FIG. 6A  is an exploded perspective view of the solar lighting device shown in  FIG. 6 ;  
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the solar lighting device assembled with yet another glass;  
       FIG. 7A  is an exploded perspective view of the solar lighting device shown in  FIG. 7 ;  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of charging cabinet for charging the consumed solar lighting device assembled with glass;  
       FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of mask for charging the consumed solar lighting device assembled with glass;  
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the solar lighting device assembled with a glass showing light emitted by the solar lighting device by placing a trigger member proximate thereto;  
       FIG. 10  is a view similar to  FIG. 8  showing light emitted from another glass by the solar lighting device by placing a trigger member proximate thereto where the trigger member has a different shape;  
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the solar lighting device assembled with a menu board;  
       FIG. 11A  is an exploded perspective view showing another configuration of the solar lighting device and the menu board shown in  FIG. 11 ;  
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the solar lighting device assembled with a flower vase;  
       FIG. 12A  is an exploded perspective view showing another configuration of the solar lighting device and the flower vase shown in  FIG. 12 ;  
       FIG. 13  is an exploded perspective view the solar lighting device assembled with a pad together to be assembled with a glass;  
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the solar lighting device assembled with an alcohol bottle;  
       FIG. 14A  is an exploded perspective view showing another configuration of the solar lighting device and the alcohol bottle shown in  FIG. 14 ;  
       FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the solar lighting device assembled with a crystal ball;  
       FIG. 15A  is an exploded perspective view showing another configuration of the solar lighting device and the crystal ball shown in  FIG. 15 ;  
       FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the solar lighting device assembled with a lamp; and  
       FIG. 16A  is an exploded perspective view showing another configuration of the solar lighting device and the lamp shown in  FIG. 16 .  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      The following descriptions are of exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2 , and  3 , a disk-shaped solar lighting device  100  in accordance with the invention is shown. The device  100  comprises an upper shell  11  and a lower shell  12  both formed of transparent or translucent material. As shown in  FIG. 2 , outer threads  111  are formed around a lower portion of the upper shell  11  and inner threads  122  are formed around an inner surface of the lower shell  12 . The outer and inner threads  111  and  122  are adapted to engage for securing the upper and lower shells  11  and  12  together. In another configuration as shown in  FIG. 2A , four through holes  112  are formed in the upper shell  11 . Four walls  122  are arranged at four sides of a rectangular area on the lower shell  12 . Four blocks  123  with a threaded hole are formed with the walls  122 . Four screws  20  are adapted to drive through the holes  112  into the blocks  123  for securing the upper and lower shells  11  and  12  together.  
      Within a housing consisting of the upper and lower shells  11  and  12 , there are provided a control circuit  13  in the shape of a board, the control circuit  13  having a top light-emitting member (e.g., LED (light-emitting diode) or lamp)  14  for emitting different colors, and a rechargeable battery  15  formed on the control circuit  13  and electrically connected thereto, and a square plate solar collector  16  formed on a bottom of the control circuit  13  for charging the battery  15  by converting the radiant energy of sunlight into electric power. Both the control circuit  13  and the plate solar collector  16  are fastened by the walls  122  on the lower shell  12 .  
      The control circuit  13  comprises a microprocessor  131  electrically connected to the battery  15 , the plate solar collector  16 , and the light-emitting member  14 , the microprocessor  131  including an embedded program, and a switch  132  controlled by the microprocessor  131 , the switch  132  being adapted to activate by magnetic force, light, or body temperature for  15  controlling color and brightness of light emitted by the light-emitting member  14  as detailed later.  
      The control circuit  13  further comprises a voltage stabilizer (e.g., Zener diode)  133  for stabilizing electric power from the battery  15  such that the control circuit  13  may operate normally under a predetermined operating voltage. The light-emitting member  14  is implemented as a red-green-blue LED and is activated by red, green, and blue transistors  134  which are electrically connected to the microprocessor  131  such that light with varying color and/or brightness may be emitted from the light-emitting member  14 .  
      The solar lighting device  100  is adapted to assemble with bottom or therewithin of a glass, a cup, a flower vase, an alcohol bottle, an ornament, or a transparent or translucent container. Thus, one of the above objects may emit light with varying color and/or brightness when the light-emitting member  14  is activated.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 4, 4A ,  5 , and  5 A, the solar lighting device  100  is mounted under a glass  2  (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) or on a pad  10  with the glass  2  placed thereon (see  FIGS. 4A and 5A ). Thus, the glass  2  may emit light with varying color and/or brightness when the solar lighting device  100  is activated.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 6, 6A ,  7 , and  7 A, the solar lighting device  100  is adapted to assemble with one of a plurality of glasses  3  and  4  having different shapes. As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 7 A, ice  5  is filled in the glass  4  such that an additional dazzling effect of reflecting light by the ice  5  is carried out.  
      Referring to  FIG. 8 , for charging the solar lighting device  100  formed with a glass  2  a user may place the glass  2  upside down to concentrate the sun&#39;s rays on the plate solar collector  16  and the battery  15  is thus charged. An additional effect of killing microorganism contained in the glass  2  is also carried out. The glass  2  may place in a charging cabinet  6  for charging when sunlight is weak or even there is no sunlight. The charging cabinet  6  is a box having an open side. Within the charging cabinet  6 , there are provided an upper lamp  62 , a light. absorbing plate  63  under the lamp  62 , and two parallel crossbars  64  below the light absorbing plate  63  such that an upside down glass  2  may hang on the crossbars  64 . In this position, the plate solar collector  16  in the glass  2  may absorb the sun&#39;s rays and convert the radiant energy of sunlight into electric power which is then supplied to the battery  15  for charging. Referring to  FIG. 8A , in another configuration such as in a sunny day a conic mask  200  is placed above the glass  2  to concentrate the sun&#39;s rays for increasing the generation of electric power.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10  in conjunction with  FIG. 3 , the switch  132  is implemented as a magnetic reed switch, a light sensitive switch, or a temperature sensitive switch. Thus, a user may place a trigger member  7  proximate bottom of a glass  3  or  4  for activating the switch  132  and thus changing a light-emitting mode of the light-emitting member  14  in which the magnetic reed switch is activated by magnetic force, the light sensitive switch is activated by light, and the temperature sensitive switch is activated by body temperature. Moreover, the microprocessor  131  may change a light-emitting mode of the light-emitting member  14  in response to a signal generated by the times of approaching the trigger member  7  to the glass  3  or  4 . Further, the trigger member  7  may be shaped as a heart (see  FIG. 9 ), a star (see  FIG. 10 ), or the like.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 11 A, the solar lighting device  100  is mounted on a bottom of a leg of a menu board  8  (see  FIG. 11 ). Further, the assembled solar lighting device  100  and the menu board  8  may place on a pad  10  (see  FIG. 11 A ). The menu board  8  is lit by the solar lighting device  100  for illuminating menu placed or printed on the menu board  8 . Referring to  FIGS. 12 and 12 A, the solar lighting device  100  is mounted on a bottom of flower vase  9  (see  FIG. 12 ). Further, the assembled solar lighting device  100  and the flower vase  9  may place on a pad  10  (see  FIG. 12A ). The flower vase  9  is lit by the solar lighting device  100  such that the flower vase  9  can be more attractive.  
      Referring to  FIG. 13 , the solar lighting device  100  is formed as a pad  10  such that a glass  2  placed thereon may be lit by the solar lighting device  100 . Referring to  FIGS. 14 and 14 A, the solar lighting device  100  is mounted on a bottom of an alcohol bottle  20  (see  FIG. 14 ). Further, the assembled solar lighting device  100  and the alcohol bottle  20  may place on a pad  10  (see  FIG. 14A ). The alcohol bottle  20  is lit by the solar lighting device  100  for showing a varying color and brightness. Referring to  FIGS. 15 and 15 A, the solar lighting device  100  is mounted on a stand  31  of a crystal ball  30  (see  FIG. 15 ). Further, the assembled solar lighting device  100  and the crystal ball  30  may place on a pad  10  (see  FIG. 15A ). Referring to  FIGS. 16 and 16 A, the solar lighting device  100  is mounted on a bottom of a leg of a lamp  40  (see  FIG. 16 ). Further, the assembled solar lighting device  100  and the lamp  40  may place on a pad  10  (see  FIG. 16A ).  
      It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.  
      While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.