Solar-powered light fixture and system

摘要

A compact, autonomous, solar-powered, modular and aesthetic light fixture that produces useful light levels for general illumination, and includes a housing, photovoltaic cells configured to receive sunlight proximate an upper portion of the housing, concentrating optics at least partially covering the photovoltaic cells, a light source configured to emit light from the housing, an energy storage device to receive energy from the photovoltaic cells and to provide energy to the light source, an electronic energy management system for controlling charge associated with the photovoltaic cells, the energy storage device and the light source. The light fixture can be rotated 360° to accommodate any solar irradiation while sustaining a consistent appearance, it can accommodate a variety of mounting conditions, and it can be combined to form lighting systems in a variety of configurations.

主权项

1. A compact, autonomous, solar-powered, modular light fixture comprising:
a housing comprising:
a lower portion having an outer surface with a rounded shape that is substantially symmetrical about a vertical axis that passes through a center of the lower portion and an upper portion of the housing; andthe upper portion comprising a flat surface that is disposed at an angle less than 15° relative to horizontal; photovoltaic cells at the flat surface of the upper portion of the housing configured to receive sunlight from above the light fixture; a light source configured to emit light from the lower portion of the housing in a downward direction; an energy storage device inside the housing to receive energy from the photovoltaic cells and to provide energy to the light source; and an electronic energy management system inside the housing for controlling, charge associated with the photovoltaic cells, the energy storage device and the light source.