Patent ID: 8810191

Claim:
A control system for a lighting system that uses a photovoltaic solar panel to provide electrical current to charge a rechargeable battery which provides electrical current to electronic lighting devices comprising: a) a microcontroller including digital memory for storage of software instructions, one clock circuit, four analog inputs switchably connected to at least one analog-to-digital (A/D) convertor and/or permanently connected to at most four A/D convertors, and at least one digital output, b) a reference voltage source, c) a means for providing user-selectable operating options, d) an electronic measurement port connecting the photovoltaic solar panel to the first of said four analog inputs, e) an electronic measurement port connecting the rechargeable battery to the second of said four analog inputs, f) an electronic measurement port connecting the means for providing said user selectable operating options to the third of said four analog inputs, g) a means for measuring the electrical current supplied to the electronic lighting devices, h) an electronic measurement port connecting the measured electronic lighting device current to the fourth of said four analog inputs, i) a first electronic switch operated by said microcontroller digital output that controls the flow of electrical current to the lighting devices, j) a second electronic switch that controls the flow of electrical current from the photovoltaic solar panel to the rechargeable battery, k) software stored in said memory, said software includes instructions so that the microcontroller controls the first electronic switch based on voltages measured at said first, second, third and fourth analog inputs.