Solar-powered lighting module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-8950886-B2
Application number	US-201013319981-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 2, 2010
Priority date	Jun 2, 2009
Publication date	Feb 10, 2015
Grant date	Feb 10, 2015

Abstract

A solar-powered lighting module is provided, including a solar cell for generating electricity when exposed to light, a battery for storing charge from the generated electricity, and a light generating device powered by the stored charge. In an embodiment, the module further includes a controller that regulates the current transmitted between the components of the module. In a further embodiment, the module is incorporated into an interface to an environmentally controlled space and can be positioned to light an interior portion of the space. In another embodiment, the solar cell and light generating device are transparent to allow light to pass through the interface. In a further embodiment, tinted-color conjugated polymers incorporated into the module limit the spectrum of light that can pass through the interface. In yet another embodiment, a method of modifying an existing interface with such a module is provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
an exposed surface, wherein the exposed surface is configured to allow electromagnetic radiation in a first wavelength range to enter the apparatus;
at least one photovoltaic cell, wherein the at least one photovoltaic cell is configured to generate electrical current when electromagnetic radiation in the first wavelength range enters the apparatus through the exposed surface and enters the at least one photovoltaic cell, wherein at least a portion of the at least one photovoltaic cell is at least semi-transparent such that a portion of electromagnetic radiation in the first wavelength range that enters the at least a portion of the at least one photovoltaic cell passes through the at least a portion of the at least one photovoltaic cell and exits the at least one photovoltaic cell;
at least one battery, wherein the at least one battery is operably connected to the at least one photovoltaic cell and configured to store electrical charge from the electrical current generated by the at least one photovoltaic cell; and
at least one light generating device, wherein the at least one light generating device is operably connected to the at least one battery and configured to emit electromagnetic radiation in a second wavelength range when powered by the at least one battery, wherein at least a portion of the at least one light generating device is at least semi-transparent such that a portion of electromagnetic radiation in the first wavelength range that enters the at least a portion of the at least one light generating device passes through the at least a portion of the at least one light generating device that is at least semi-transparent and exits the at least one light generating device, wherein the apparatus is configured such that at least a first portion of the electromagnetic radiation in the second wavelength range emitted by the at least one light generating device exits the apparatus via a second surface, wherein at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation in the first wavelength range that enters the apparatus through the exposed surface passes through the at least a portion of the at least one photovoltaic cell that is at least semi-transparent, passes through the at least a portion of the at least one light generating device that is at least semi-transparent, and exits the apparatus via the second surface, wherein the first surface and the second surface are different surfaces.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured such that at least a second portion of the electromagnetic radiation in the second wavelength range emitted by the at least one light generating device exits the apparatus via the exposed surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first wavelength range is at least a portion of the sun's spectrum.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured such that when the apparatus is positioned such that the exposed surface is adjacent a first space from which the electromagnetic radiation in the first wavelength range enters the exposed surface and the second surface is adjacent a second space into which the at least a first portion of the electromagnetic radiation in the second wavelength range enters after exiting the apparatus via the second surface, the apparatus is an interface between the first space and the second space.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
an absorptive/transmissive electrochromic device configured to modulate a light intensity of light emitted from the apparatus.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a reflective/transmissive electrochromic device configured to allow electromagnetic radiation in the first wavelength range that enters the apparatus through the exposed surface to reach the at least one organic photovoltaic cell when the reflective/transmissive electrochromic device is in the transmissive state and to reflect electromagnetic radiation in the second wavelength range emitted by the at least one light generating device in a direction away from the second surface back toward the second surface when the reflective/transmissive electrochromic device is in the reflective state.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least a portion of the at least one photovoltaic cell that is at least semi-transparent is transparent.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one photovoltaic cell comprises at least one organic photovoltaic cell.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light generating device comprises at least one organic light emitting device.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a controller, wherein the controller regulates the electrical current generated by the at least one photovoltaic cell that is passed to the at least one battery.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the controller regulates an electrical current from the at least one battery that is passed to the at least one light generating device.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one battery comprises at least one lithium ion battery.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the at least a portion of the at least one photovoltaic cell that is at least semi-transparent is transparent.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the at least a portion of the at least one light generating device that is at least semi-transparent is transparent.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the at least one photovoltaic cell comprises at least one organic photovoltaic cell.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation in the first wavelength range that enters the apparatus through the exposed surface and enters the at least one photovoltaic cell is either absorbed in, or passes through, the at least one photovoltaic cell, wherein at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation in the first wavelength range that enters the apparatus through the exposed surface and enters the at least one photovoltaic cell, passes through the at least one photovoltaic cell, then passes through the at least one organic light emitting device and exits the apparatus through the second surface.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the at least one organic photovoltaic cell is planar.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the at least one organic light emitting device is planar.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the at least one photovoltaic cell and at least one organic light emitting device are parallel.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the apparatus is a window.

21. A method for lighting a space, comprising:
providing an apparatus adjacent to a first space,
wherein the apparatus comprises:
an exposed surface, wherein the exposed surface is configured to allow electromagnetic radiation in a first wavelength range to enter the apparatus;
at least one photovoltaic cell, wherein the at least one photovoltaic cell is configured to generate electrical current when electromagnetic radiation in the first wavelength range enters the apparatus through the exposed surface and enters the at least one photovoltaic cell, wherein at least a portion of the at least one photovoltaic cell is at least semi-transparent such that a portion of electromagnetic radiation in the first wavelength range that enters the at least a portion of the at least one photovoltaic cell passes through the at least a portion of the at least one photovoltaic cell and exits the at least one photovoltaic cell;
at least one battery, wh

Assignees

• Meng Ying S
• Zawoy Karl R
• Xue Jiangeng
• So Franky
• Reynolds John R
• Univ Florida

Inventors

• Meng Ying S
• Zawoy Karl R
• Xue Jiangeng
• So Franky
• Reynolds John R

Classifications

• E06B2009/2464

  featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels · CPC title

• F21S9/037 Primary

  the solar unit and the lighting unit being located within or on the same housing · CPC title

• E06B2009/2476

  Solar cells · CPC title

• B82Y10/00

  Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic · CPC title

• E06B9/24

  Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; {Slat blinds}(operating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00) · CPC title