Photovoltaic system and method for utilizing energy of light emitted by light fixture
AssigneeIOT Technology Corporation
InventorKai-Jie CHEN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A photovoltaic system includes an electronic device and a switch device. The electronic device includes a photovoltaic (PV) module, a transmitter and a control module. The PV module converts energy of light emitted by a light fixture into electric power and stores the same therein. The control module transmits a signal through the transmitter when it is determined that an amount of the electric power stored in the PV module is below a threshold. The switch device electrically connected between the light fixture and a socket. In response to receiving the signal from the receiver, the switch device provides mains electricity from the socket to the light fixture to turn on the light fixture to thereby allow charging of the PV module.
Claims12
A photovoltaic system utilizing energy of light emitted by a light fixture, said photovoltaic system comprising:
- an electronic device including
- a photovoltaic module for converting the energy of the light emitted by the light fixture into electric power and for storing the electric power therein,
- a transmitter, and
- a control module electrically connected to said PV module and said transmitter, and configured to determine an amount of the electric power stored in said PV module and to transmit a turn-on signal through said transmitter when it is determined by said control module that the amount of the electric power stored in said PV module is below a threshold;
- and
- a switch device configured to be electrically connected to the light fixture, and including
- a receiver for receiving the turn-on signal from said transmitter, and
- a switch unit electrically connected to said receiver, configured to be electrically connected between the light fixture and a socket, and receiving mains electricity from the socket,
- wherein, in response to receiving the turn-on signal from said receiver, said switch unit is configured to be in a conductive state to provide mains electricity to the light fixture so as to turn on the light fixture to emit light to thereby allow charging of said PV module.
A method for utilizing energy of light emitted by a light fixture implemented by a photovoltaic system and the light fixture, the photovoltaic system including an electronic device that includes a photovoltaic (PV) module, a transmitter and a control module, and a switch device that includes a receiver and a switch unit, the photovoltaic (PV) module converting the energy of the light emitted by the light fixture into electric power and storing the electric power therein, the switch unit electrically connected to the receiver, configured to be electrically connected between the light fixture and a socket, and receiving mains electricity from the socket, the method comprising:
- a) determining, by the control module, whether an amount of the electric power stored in the PV module is below a threshold;
- b) when the determination made in step a) is affirmative, transmitting, by the control module, a turn-on signal through the transmitter to the switch unit via the receiver;
- c) relaying, by the switch unit, mains electricity from the socket to the light fixture by switching to a conductive state in response to receipt of the turn-on signal from the receiver so as to turn on the light fixture to emit light to thereby allow charging of the PV module.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.