Photovoltaic power supply device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025105777-A1
Application number	US-202418824630-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 4, 2024
Priority date	Sep 26, 2023
Publication date	Mar 27, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A photovoltaic power supply device includes a base and a solar cell panel. The base is removably attached to a mobile terminal and includes a base surface (front surface). The solar cell panel is electrically connected to the base and includes a light receiving surface on an outer surface on one side in a thickness direction. Power generated by the solar cell panel is supplied to the mobile terminal via the base. The solar cell panel is supported by the base with a shaft. The position of the solar cell panel with respect to the base is variable. The position includes a retracted position in which the entirety of the solar cell panel overlaps with the base surface from the outside of the base, and a use position in which the solar cell panel does not overlap with the base surface outside the base and is tiltable about the shaft.

First claim

1 . A photovoltaic power supply device, comprising:
a base removably attached to an electronic device and including a base surface on an outer surface on one side in a thickness direction of the base; and a solar cell panel electrically connected to the base and including a light receiving surface on an outer surface on at least one side in a thickness direction of the solar cell panel, wherein the photovoltaic power supply device is configured such that power generated by the solar cell panel is supplied to the electronic device via the base, the solar cell panel is supported by the base with a shaft, a position of the solar cell panel with respect to the base is variable, and the position includes: a retracted position in which the entirety of the solar cell panel overlaps with the base surface from the outside of the base or is accommodated inside the base; and a use position in which the solar cell panel does not overlap with the base surface outside the base and is tiltable about the shaft.

2 . The photovoltaic power supply device according to claim 1 , wherein
one of the base and the solar cell panel is provided with the shaft, and the other is provided with a shaft receiving portion including a shaft receiving hole, the shaft is removably inserted into the shaft receiving hole by relative movement of the base and the solar cell panel, the base is provided with a connectable portion, the solar cell panel is provided with a connection portion, and the connection portion is connected to the connectable portion by relative movement of the base and the solar cell panel such that the connection portion and the connectable portion can be electrically disconnected.

3 . The photovoltaic power supply device according to claim 2 , wherein
the shaft and the shaft receiving hole extend along a first axis, the connectable portion and the connection portion include a combination of a connection hole and a terminal portion that extend along a second axis that is positioned on a same line as the first axis, the terminal portion is removably inserted into the connection hole as the shaft is inserted into the shaft receiving hole, and in a state in which the terminal portion is inserted into the connection hole, the terminal portion is supported by an inner wall surface of the connection hole so as to rotate about the second axis while being in contact with the inner wall surface.

4 . The photovoltaic power supply device according to claim 2 , wherein
the shaft is fixed to one of the base and the solar cell panel, the shaft is press-fitted into the shaft receiving hole, and friction generated between the shaft and an inner wall surface of the shaft receiving hole when the shaft is press-fitted into the shaft receiving hole is set to such a magnitude that an angle of the solar cell panel with respect to the base is adjustable.

5 . The photovoltaic power supply device according to claim 2 , wherein
a motor is fixed to the one of the base and the solar cell panel, at least a part of the shaft is formed by a rotary shaft of the motor, the rotary shaft is removably inserted into the shaft receiving hole, and in a state in which the rotary shaft is inserted into the shaft receiving hole, the rotary shaft is coupled to the shaft receiving hole so as to be integrally rotatable with the shaft receiving hole.

6 . The photovoltaic power supply device according to claim 1 , wherein
the solar cell panel is disposed so as to be movable with respect to the base in a direction orthogonal to the thickness direction, in the retracted position, the entire solar cell panel is accommodated in the base, and in the use position, a portion of the solar cell panel that is supported by the base with the shaft is located inside the base, and a portion of the solar cell panel different from the supported portion is located outside the base.

7 . The photovoltaic power supply device according to claim 1 , wherein
the solar cell panel includes a thin-film solar cell in which portions on both sides in a thickness direction of the thin-film solar cell are formed by two base members, the thin-film solar cell includes, between the two base members: a power generation layer that performs photoelectric conversion; a hole transport layer and an electron transport layer that are disposed on opposite sides of the power generation layer in a thickness direction of the power generation layer; a positive electrode that is connected to the hole transport layer; and a negative electrode that is connected to the electron transport layer, surfaces on opposite sides in the thickness direction of the thin-film solar cell form the light receiving surfaces, and each base member and a member located between each base member and the power generation layer are made of a material that is transmissive to light.

8 . The photovoltaic power supply device according to claim 1 , wherein
the solar cell panel includes two thin-film solar cells each having a surface on one outer side in a thickness direction of the thin-film solar cell as the light receiving surface, and the two thin-film solar cells are disposed back to back such that the light receiving surfaces form surfaces on opposite sides in the thickness direction of the solar cell panel.

9 . The photovoltaic power supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the base includes:
a power storage unit that stores power generated by the solar cell panel; and a power transmitting unit that transmits the power stored in the power storage unit to the electronic device through contactless power supply.

Assignees

• Toyoda Gosei Kk

Inventors

• Shimizu Seigi
• Takeda Shigeo
• Shimomura Yu
• Tokuyama Yuki
• Senga Takuya
• Fuki Shinichiro

Classifications

• Y02E10/50

  Photovoltaic [PV] energy · CPC title

• H02S40/38

  Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules · CPC title

• H02S20/30 Primary

  Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment · CPC title

• H02S10/40

  Mobile PV generator systems · CPC title

• H02S20/32

  specially adapted for solar tracking · CPC title