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US 2014/0179368 A1Published application
Custom wireless retrofitted solar powered public telephone
AssigneeRenewable Edge, LLC
InventorsRichard C. CONTRATA, JR., Richard C. Contrata, III, David J. Schaffer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A public telephone powered by a solar panel system and configured to transmit and receive calls over a cellular network is provided. A solar panel systems and wireless unit are retrofitted to conventional public telephones to convert them to wireless operation and to enable operations independent of the electrical grid and from the local telephone exchange.
Claims22
A method of retrofitting a solar panel system to provide power to a public telephone, comprising:
- mounting a charge controller in the public telephone;
- mounting a battery unit in the public telephone, wherein the battery unit is connected to the charge controller;
- attaching a solar panel to an outer surface of a surrounding enclosure that houses a public telephone, wherein the solar panel is configured to be substantially flat against the outer surface;
- and
- connecting the solar panel to existing wiring in the pedestal of the public telephone and to the charge controller.
2 more elements
A solar-powered public telephone, comprising:
- at least one telephone device;
- a surrounding enclosure that houses the at least one telephone device;
- at least one pedestal;
- and
- a solar panel system retrofitted to the pay telephone, wherein the solar panel system comprises:
- a solar panel configured attached to an outer surface of the surrounding enclosure, wherein the solar panel is configured to be substantially flat against the outer surface;
- and
- a charge controller, wherein the solar panel is connected to the charge controller via existing wiring in the pedestal;
- and
- a battery unit coupled to the charge controller.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.