Patent ID: 8858015

Claim:
A solar collection and illumination apparatus comprising: an upper housing defining an upper housing interior area, said upper housing including: a transparent upper optic lens having a hemispherical configuration that defines an apex and an opposed lower peripheral edge, said upper optic lens configured to receive high angle solar light energy from outside said upper optic lens and allow said high angle solar light energy to pass into said upper housing interior area; a prismatic lens configured to receive low angle solar light energy from outside said upper housing and to refract said low angle solar light energy directionally into said upper housing interior area, said prismatic lens having an prismatic lens upper edge connected to said upper optic lens lower peripheral edge and an opposed prismatic lens lower edge; wherein said prismatic lens is configured to taper outwardly downwardly from said upper optical lens lower edge at a predetermined angle to said prismatic lens lower edge such that said upper housing defines a generally frustoconical configuration; a photovoltaic member situated adjacent said prismatic lens lower edge, said photovoltaic member configured to receive said light energy from said upper housing interior area; wherein: said photovoltaic member has a circular configuration that defines a diameter that is substantially equal to a diameter defined by said upper optic lens lower peripheral edge; said diameter defined by said photovoltaic member is smaller than a diameter defined by said prismatic lens lower edge such that said solar light received thereon does not cast a shadow; a lower housing attached to said upper housing and defining a lower housing interior area in communication with said upper housing interior area, said lower housing having a hemispherical configuration defining an open top in communication with an open bottom of said upper housing; a battery situated in said lower housing interior area electrically connected to said photovoltaic member; and a single surface mount circuit board electrically connected to said photovoltaic member and to said battery for converting said received light energy to electrical energy and for delivering said electrical energy to said battery.