# US 12,123,572 B2 · Portable solar-powered devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,123,572 B2 - Document ID: US12123572B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/975,532 - Filed: 2022-10-27 - Published: 2023-02-23 - Granted: 2024-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2015-01-22 - Assignees: MPOWERD Inc. - Applicants: MPOWERD Inc. - Inventors: John Salzinger; Michael Muehlemann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12123572B2 ## CPC - F21S 9/037: {the solar unit and the lighting unit being located within or on the same housing} - F21L 4/08: characterised by means for in situ recharging of the batteries or cells - F21V 3/026: {being inflatable} - F21V 15/012: {Housings with variable shape or dimensions, e.g. by means of elastically deformable materials or by movement of parts forming telescopic extensions of the housing body} - F21V 21/406: {for portable lighting devices} - F21V 23/009: {the casing being inside the housing of the lighting device} - F21V 23/0414: {specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices} - F21V 31/00: Gas-tight or water-tight arrangements - H05B 45/00: Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED] - H05B 45/10: Controlling the intensity of the light - H05B 45/20: Controlling the colour of the light - H05B 47/105: in response to determined parameters - H05B 47/11: by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light - H05B 47/12: by detecting audible sound - H05B 47/19: via wireless transmission - F21V 21/40: Hand grips - F21V 23/04: the elements being switches (safety devices F21V25/00) - F21W 2107/00: Use or application of lighting devices on or in particular types of vehicles - F21Y 2113/13: comprising an assembly of point-like light sources - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - Y02B 20/40: Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection - F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS - F21L: LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF, BEING PORTABLE OR SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR TRANSPORTATION - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - F21W: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract Solar-powered lighting devices that may be portable and/or collapsible are described. The devices may include a housing including a first wall, a second wall, and one or more side walls between the first wall and the second wall, at least one solar panel to generate solar energy, and a rechargeable battery to store the solar energy generated. The devices may include a plurality of operating modes for controlling lights within the housing, and a microprocessor for controlling the operating modes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A collapsible solar-powered lighting device comprising: a housing including a first wall, a second wall opposite the first wall, and one or more side walls extending between the first wall and the second wall, wherein the first wall, second wall, and one or more side walls define an inflatable bladder; at least one solar panel integrated into an outside surface of at least one of the first wall and the second wall, thereby defining the at least one of the first wall and the second wall that includes the at least one solar panel as an electronics wall of the housing; a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) integrated into an inside surface of the electronics wall of the housing, the plurality of LEDs forming a generally annular arrangement and facing an interior of the housing; a rechargeable battery integrated into the electronics wall between the inside surface of the electronics wall and the outside surface of the electronics wall, the rechargeable battery being electrically connected between the at least one solar panel and the plurality of LEDs, such that the rechargeable battery is configured to supply current to the plurality of LEDs and be recharged by the at least one solar panel; a button integrated into one or more of the first wall, the second wall, and the one or more side walls, the button being selectable by a user to control an operating mode of the plurality of LEDs; a microprocessor integrated into the electronics wall of the housing between the inside surface of the electronics wall and the outside surface of the electronics wall, the microprocessor being electrically connected to the button, the rechargeable battery, and the plurality of LEDs; and a current regulator coupled between the rechargeable battery and the microprocessor, the current regulator maintaining a threshold current delivered to the plurality of LEDs as controlled by the microprocessor; wherein the microprocessor is configured to control a plurality of operating modes of the LEDs, at least one of the operating modes including changing a color of light emitted from the housing such that a first operating mode causes the plurality of LEDs to emit a first color of light, a second operating mode causes the plurality of LEDs to emit a second color of light, a third operating mode causes the plurality of LEDs to emit a third color of light, and an nth operating mode causes the plurality of LEDs to initiate a transition sequence, the transition sequence causing the plurality of LEDs to begin emitting the first color of light, gradually change to the second color of light, gradually change to the third color of light, and gradually change to the nth color of light. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the housing is inflatable to convert the housing from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the housing comprises a biodegradable material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor, wherein data collected by the sensor controls at least one operating mode of the device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4, wherein the sensor is configured to detect light, sound, motion, moisture, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the microprocessor is configured to initiate at least one operating mode of the device when the sensor detects an amount of environmental light above a threshold value. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein the at least one operating mode includes changing the color of light emitted from the housing between red light and blue light based on the amount of environmental light detected by the sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of operating modes includes adjusting an intensity of at least a portion of the LEDs to simulate flickering light. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one transceiver for receiving wireless input to control at least one operating mode of the device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a cord coupled to the battery and extending outside of the housing, the cord including an electronic connector. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a display coupled to the battery for indicating an amount of power remaining in the battery. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of LEDs includes LEDs that emit ultraviolet light. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one handle coupled to an outer surface of the housing and at least partially detachable from the housing. ### Claim 14 An inflatable solar-powered lighting device comprising: a housing including a first wall, a second wall opposite the first wall, and one or more side walls extending between the first wall and the second wall, wherein the first wall, second wall, and one or more side walls define an airtight inflatable bladder; at least one solar panel integrated into an outside surface of at least one of the first wall and the second wall; a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) integrated into an inside surface of the at least one of the first wall and the second wall, the plurality of LEDs arranged in a generally annular arrangement and facing an interior of the airtight inflatable bladder defined by the first wall, second wall, and one or more side walls; a rechargeable battery integrated into the at least one of the first wall and the second wall between the inside surface of the at least one of the first wall and the second wall and the outside surface of the at least one of the first wall and the second wall, the rechargeable battery being electrically connected between the at least one solar panel and the plurality of LEDs, such that the rechargeable battery is configured to supply current to the plurality of LEDs and be recharged by the at least one solar panel; a button integrated into one or more of the first wall, the second wall, and the one or more side walls, the button being selectable by a user to control an operating mode of the plurality of LEDs; a microprocessor integrated into the at least one of the first wall and the second wall between the inside surface of the at least one of the first wall and the second wall and the outside surface of the at least one of the first wall and the second wall, the microprocessor being electrically connected between the button, the battery, and the plurality of LEDs; and a current regulator coupled between the rechargeable battery and the microprocessor, the current regulator maintaining a threshold current delivered to the plurality of LEDs as controlled by the microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor is configured to control a plurality of operating modes of the LEDs, the operating modes including changing a color, intensity and duty cycle of light emitted from the housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The device of claim 14, comprising a transceiver configured to receive wireless input and transmit the wireless input to the microprocessor to control at least one operating mode of the device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The device of claim 14, wherein the microprocessor includes an algorithm for controlling the LEDs to simulate flickering light. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The device of claim 14, wherein the battery operates with pulse width modulation, and at least one operating mode of the device includes modifying a duty cycle of the battery to change an intensity of light emitted from the LEDs into the housing. ### Claim 18 A collapsible solar-powered lighting device comprising: a housing including a first wall, a second wall opposite the first wall, and one or more side walls extending between the first wall and the second wall, wherein the first wall, second wall, and one or more side walls define an inflatable bladder; at least one solar panel integrated into an outside surface of at least one of the first wall and the second wall, the solar panel defining the at least one of the first wall and the second wall as an electronics wall of the housing; a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) integrated into an inside surface of the electronics wall of the housing, the plurality of LEDs arranged in a generally annular arrangement and facing an interior of the inflatable bladder defined by the first wall, second wall, and one or more side walls; a rechargeable battery integrated into the electronics wall of the housing between the inside surface of the electronics wall and the outside surface of the electronics wall, the rechargeable battery being electrically connected between the at least one solar panel and the plurality of LEDs, such that the rechargeable battery is configured to supply current to the plurality of LEDs and be recharged by the at least one solar panel; a button integrated into one or more of the first wall, the second wall, and the one or more side walls, the button being selectable by a user to control an operating mode of the plurality of LEDs; a flexible handle coupled to an outer surface of the housing; and a microprocessor integrated into the electronics wall of the housing between the inside surface of the electronics wall and the outside surface of the electronics wall, the microprocessor being electrically connected between the button, the battery, and the plurality of LEDs; wherein the microprocessor is configured to control a plurality of operating modes of the LEDs, at least one of the operating modes including changing a color of light emitted from the housing such that a first press of the button causes the plurality of LEDs to emit a first color of light, a second press of the button causes the plurality of LEDs to emit a second color of light, and a third press of the button causes the plurality of LEDs to emit a third color of light. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The device of claim 18, wherein the sensor is configured to detect light, and the microprocessor is configured to initiate at least one operating mode of the device when the sensor detects an amount of light above a threshold value. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The device of claim 19, wherein the microprocessor is configured to supply or terminate power to the plurality of LEDs when the amount of light detected by the sensor exceeds the threshold value.