Solar Powered Door Opener
AssigneeHall Labs LLC
InventorsDavid R. Hall, Jerome Miles
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The solar powered door system includes a motor configured to raise and lower the door. A cycle is one raise and one lower of the door. The system also includes a battery configured to provide power to the motor. A solar unit is included that is configured to convert solar energy into electrical power to charge the battery. In the system, the motor depletes the battery during operation at an operation rate and the solar unit charges the battery at a replenishment rate. This replenish rate is less than one third of the operation rate. The replenishment rate is also sufficient to keep the battery charged at a level sufficient to power the motor for at least 12 cycles, and preferably at least 25 cycles, in a 24-hour period.
Claims20
A system for operating a door opener, comprising:
- a motor configured to raise and lower the door, wherein a cycle is one raise and one lower of the door;
- a battery configured to provide power to the motor;
- and
- a solar unit configured to convert solar energy into electrical power to charge the battery;
- wherein the motor depletes the battery during operation at an operation rate;
- wherein the solar unit charges the battery at a replenishment rate that is less than one third of the operation rate;
- and
- wherein the replenishment rate is sufficient to keep the battery charged at a level sufficient to power the motor for at least 12 cycles in a 24-hour period.
A power system for a door, the power system comprising:
- a battery powering the door;
- a solar unit configured to charge the battery;
- a processor and memory configured to execute computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor cause the power system to perform acts, the acts comprising:
- monitoring an operation depletion rate of the battery during operation of the door;
- monitoring an operation time of the door corresponding to the operation depletion rate;
- monitoring a replenishment rate of the battery from the solar unit;
- and
- if a multiple of the operation depletion rate and the operation time are greater than a predetermined threshold, increasing the replenishment rate.
An automated door, comprising:
- a motor to operate the door to raise, lower, and stop movement of the door;
- a battery powering the motor;
- and
- a solar unit having a capacity to charge the battery at a replenishment rate;
- wherein the battery has an operation depletion rate correlated to operation of the motor through cycles, wherein one cycle comprises one raise of the door and one lower of the door;
- wherein the capacity of the solar unit is sufficient to maintain the battery at an average stable level unless the motor executes more than 25 cycles in a 24-hour period;
- and
- wherein the operation depletion rate is at least three times greater than the replenishment rate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.