Controlling device having an energy harvesting feature
AssigneeUniversal Electronics Inc.
InventorsRex Xu, Ara Gharapetian
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A controlling device has at least a light-based energy harvesting system disposed within the controlling device housing. The light-based energy harvesting system is operative to supply power to at least one of a processing device and a transmitter of the controlling device. The light-based energy harvesting system includes s a substrate having a photovoltaic (PV) active area, a lens disposed over the PV active area, and a mask associated with the lens. The mask provides a finishing to a surface of the lens that functions to allow light to reach the PV active area through the mask while blending the light-based energy harvesting system into the housing.
Claims27
A controlling device, comprising:
- a housing;
- a processing device;
- a user input coupled to the processing device;
- a transmitter coupled to the processing device wherein the processing device causes the transmitter to send commands responsive to select user interactions with the user input;
- and
- at least a light-based energy harvesting system disposed within the housing, the light-based energy harvesting system operative to supply power to at least one of the processing device and the transmitter;
- wherein the light-based energy harvesting system comprises a substrate having a photovoltaic (PV) active area, a lens, separate from the substrate, comprising a plurality of reverse pyramids disposed over the PV active area, and a mask associated with the lens, the mask providing a finishing to a surface of the lens that functions to allow light to reach the PV active area through the mask while blending the light-based energy harvesting system into the housing.
A controlling device, comprising:
- a housing;
- a processing device;
- a user input coupled to the processing device;
- a transmitter coupled to the processing device wherein the processing device causes the transmitter to send commands responsive to select user interactions with the user input;
- and
- at least a light-based energy harvesting system disposed within the housing, the light-based energy harvesting system operative to supply power to at least one of the processing device and the transmitter;
- wherein the light-based energy harvesting system comprises a substrate having a photovoltaic (PV) active area, a lens, separate from the substrate, comprising a plurality of reverse cones disposed over the PV active area, and a mask associated with the lens, the mask providing a finishing to a surface of the lens that functions to allow light to reach the PV active area through the mask while blending the light-based energy harvesting system into the housing.
A controlling device, comprising:
- a housing;
- a processing device;
- a user input coupled to the processing device;
- a transmitter coupled to the processing device wherein the processing device causes the transmitter to send commands responsive to select user interactions with the user input;
- and
- at least a light-based energy harvesting system disposed within the housing, the light-based energy harvesting system operative to supply power to at least one of the processing device and the transmitter;
- wherein the light-based energy harvesting system comprises a substrate having a photovoltaic (PV) active area, a lens, separate from the substrate, disposed over the PV active area, and a mask comprising a one-way mirroring provided upon the surface of the lens, the mask providing a finishing to a surface of the lens that functions to allow light to reach the PV active area through the mask while blending the light-based energy harvesting system into the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.