System and method to maintain charge of vehicle battery using light energy
AssigneeBellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
InventorMark A. Kirkpatrick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for and method of charging or maintaining a charge of a battery of a vehicle is disclosed. The system utilizes a light-transforming cell that can transform light energy to current. The cell may be supported such that the cell is exposed to light energy. Current produced by the cell is communicated with the battery through electrical connectors, which may have a switch. This invention may decrease occasions when a vehicle operator faces a weakened or dead battery in a vehicle because the invention serves to maintain the charge of the vehicle's battery when the vehicle is not in use.
Claims56
A system for charging or maintaining a charge of a battery of a gasoline-powered vehicle, comprising:
- an energy-transforming cell that can convert light energy received from a light source into electrical current, wherein the cell is in parallel with other energy-transforming cells;
- a switch for controlling flow of current to a battery of a vehicle;
- a battery connector that electrically communicates the battery with the switch;
- and
- an electrical connector, in electrical communication between each cell and the switch, for communicating electrical current from each cell to the switch, wherein each cell has its own independent electrical connector distinct from electrical connectors of other cells;
- wherein a charge of the battery is maintained or increased when each cell converts light incident upon the cell into electrical current.
A system for charging or maintaining a charge of a battery of a gasoline-powered vehicle, comprising:
- a plurality of energy-transforming cells that can convert light energy received from a light source into electrical current, each cell having an electrical connection for directing the electrical current out of the cell;
- a switch for controlling flow of current to a chargeable battery of a vehicle;
- a battery connector that electrically communicates the battery with the switch;
- and
- an electrical connector, connected to the plurality of cells through the plurality of electrical connections, for communicating electrical current from the plurality of cells to the switch, wherein each cell has its own independent electrical connector distinct from electrical connectors of other cells;
- wherein a charge of the battery is maintained or increased when light is incident upon the cell and converted into electrical current.
A system for charging or maintaining a charge of a battery of a vehicle, comprising:
- a gasoline-powered vehicle having a chargeable battery;
- a plurality of energy-transforming cells that can convert light energy received from a light source into electrical current, each cell having an electrical connection for directing the electrical current out of the cell;
- a switch for controlling flow of current to the battery;
- a battery connector that electrically communicates the battery with the switch;
- and
- an electrical connector, connected to the plurality of cells through the plurality of electrical connections, for communicating electrical current from the plurality of cells to the switch, wherein each cell has its own independent electrical connector distinct from electrical connectors of other cells;
- wherein a charge of the battery is maintained or increased when light is incident upon the cell and converted into electrical current.
A system for charging or maintaining a charge of a battery of a gasoline-powered vehicle, comprising:
- plurality of parallel means for converting light energy received from a light source into electrical current;
- means for communicating electrical current from each converting means with a battery of a vehicle, wherein each converting means has its own independent communicating means distinct from communicating means of converting means;
- and
- means for controlling the rate of current flowing into the battery;
- wherein a charge of the battery is maintained or increased when each converting means converts light incident upon the cell into electrical current.
A method of charging or maintaining the charge of a battery of a gasoline-powered vehicle, comprising;
- exposing a plurality of parallel energy-transforming cells to a light source, each cell being able to convert light energy received from a light source into electrical current;
- and
- communicating the electrical current produced by each cell with the battery using an electrical connector, wherein each cell has its own independent electrical connector distinct from electrical connectors of other cells, thereby maintaining the charge of the battery.
A method of charging or maintaining a charge of a battery of a gasoline-powered vehicle, comprising:
- providing a vehicle having a chargeable battery and a system for maintaining a charge of the battery, the system comprising:
- an energy-transforming cell that can convert light energy received from a light source into electrical current;
- an electrical connector for communicating electrical current from the cell with the battery, wherein each cell has its own independent electrical connector distinct from electrical connectors of other cells;
- and
- a switch for controlling flow of electrical current to the battery,
- exposing the cell to a light source;
- and
- enabling the switch to allow current flow from the cell to the battery thereby maintaining the charge of the battery.
A system for charging or maintaining a charge of a battery of a gasoline-powered vehicle, comprising:
- a plurality of energy-transforming cells that can convert light energy received from a light source into electrical current, each cell having an electrical connection for directing the electrical current out of the cell;
- an on/off switch for allowing either a full flow of current to a chargeable battery of a vehicle or no flow at all;
- a battery connector that electrically communicates the battery with the switch;
- and
- an electrical connector, connected to the plurality of cells through the plurality of electrical connections, for communicating electrical current from the plurality of cells to the switch;
- wherein a charge of the battery is maintained or increased when light is incident upon the cell and converted into electrical current.
A system for charging or maintaining a charge of a battery of a vehicle, comprising:
- a gasoline-powered vehicle having a chargeable battery;
- a plurality of energy-transforming cells that can convert light energy received from a light source into electrical current, each cell having an electrical connection for directing the electrical current out of the cell;
- a variable current flow switch for controlling a variable rate of current flow to the battery;
- a battery connector that electrically communicates the battery with the switch;
- and
- an electrical connector, connected to the plurality of cells through the plurality of electrical connections, for communicating electrical current from the plurality of cells to the switch;
- wherein a charge of the battery is maintained or increased when light is incident upon the cell and converted into electrical current.
A method of charging or maintaining a charge of a battery of a gasoline-powered vehicle, comprising:
- providing a vehicle having a chargeable battery and a system for maintaining a charge of the battery, the system comprising:
- an energy-transforming cell that can convert light energy received from a light source into electrical current;
- an electrical connector for communicating electrical current from the cell with the battery;
- and
- a variable current flow switch for controlling a variable rate of current flow to the battery;
- exposing the cell to a light source;
- and
- enabling the switch to allow current flow from the cell to the battery thereby maintaining the charge of the battery.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.