Patent Application
20230400160
This disclosure relates generally to solar lights, and more specifically to a solar light kit designed to be constructed by children.
Students, especially young children, are more frequently educated using virtual resources, leaving limited room for hands-on activities. More specifically, many young students are not provided opportunities to participate in fundamental, practical engineering projects. Additionally, children in education systems are often unaware of the lack of energy resources for children their age in developing countries. Energy poverty condemns billions of people to darkness, poor health, unfulfilled futures, and repeated cycles of poverty. Energy poverty specifically contributes to more deaths of children each year than AIDS and malaria combined. A solution for reducing energy poverty in developing countries, such as solar lights to provide light in areas of limited resources, exists. However, these lights are generally not accessible to those in need.
Currently, no programs exist which enable students to learn and build a functional device, and donate the device to a child in need. Thus, there is a need for a hands-on educational program which improves STEM-based (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education, educates communities about energy poverty in developing countries, and allows students to create a lasting impact on communities in need of energy resources.
The disclosed solar light kit joins two communities—those living in energy poverty and those in need of improved educational tools—by providing a system in which children have the opportunity to learn, build and donate a solar light device to communities with limited energy resources. The process includes learning about solar lights and energy poverty in developing countries, building a solar light device from a kit with instructions, and donating the solar light to a child in need. The learning experience may additionally include the opportunity to write a letter to accompany the donated solar light to the child receiving the device. Children and families living in energy poverty may intuitively operate the light to complete schoolwork, work, play, and travel in an otherwise dark environment, thereby improving their living standard. The knowledge gained not only from learning how to construct a solar light but also from spreading awareness of energy poverty also contributes to the education of children in developed countries. Additionally, in obtaining the solar light, children in developing countries may learn about solar light systems and how to maintain their personal device, thereby improving children's education in developing countries, too.
In some embodiments, a method of assembling a solar light kit is provided, comprising: providing the solar light kit in a kit package comprising a lens, a printed circuit board (PCB), a housing, a plurality of removable fasteners, and a handheld tool, wherein the housing comprises a removably attached solar panel and a removably attached battery; connecting the PCB to the lens using one or more of the plurality of removable fasteners and the handheld tool, electrically connecting wires from the battery in the housing to a first socket on the PCB and wires from the solar panel in the housing to a second socket on the PCB, wherein the connections are secured by applying pressure between the wires from the battery inserted to the first socket, and between the wires from the solar panel inserted to the second socket; and connecting the housing to the lens using one or more of the plurality of removable fasteners and the handheld tool, wherein each of the solar panel, battery, and PCB fit in one orientation within the housing.
In some embodiments, connecting the PCB to the lens includes orienting a switch on the PCB with one or more illustrated facial features on the lens.
In some embodiments, prior to connecting the wires from the battery and solar panel to the first and second sockets on the PCB, the method includes inserting a seal into a lip of the lens, wherein the lip extends a perimeter of the lens.
In some embodiments, prior to connecting the housing to the lens, the method includes inserting a switch button to a hole in the housing configured to receive at least a portion of the switch button.
In some embodiments, connecting the housing to the lens includes orienting the switch button inserted to the housing with a switch on the PCB connected to the lens.
In some embodiments, subsequent to connecting the housing to the lens, the method includes placing a bumper around at least a portion of the connected lens and housing, wherein the orientation of the bumper around the portion of the connected lens and housing is based at least in part on a position of a button indicator on the bumper, the button indicator configured to align with a position of a switch button inserted to the housing.
In some embodiments, the method includes attaching a removable handle to the housing by connecting at least two pegs on the housing to at least two slots on the handle.
In some embodiments, an angle of an assembled solar light is configured to be adjustable by rotating the handle about the at least two pegs on the housing.
In some embodiments, a height of an assembled solar light is configured to be adjustable by modifying a position of the at least two pegs within the at least two slots of the handle.
In some embodiments, the at least two slots provide at least two height settings for the assembled solar light.
In some embodiments, the first socket is labeled “battery” and the second socket is labeled “solar panel.”
In some embodiments, the handheld tool is a screwdriver sized for use by a child and the removable fasteners are screws configured for use with the screwdriver.
In some embodiments, the handheld tool is a wrench sized for use by a child and the removable fasteners include one or more of bolts, nuts, and screws configured for use with the wrench.
In some embodiments, each of the connections between the PCB and the lens, the housing and the lens, the wires from the battery and the first socket, and the wires from the solar panel and the second socket do not require using solder, glue, or adhesive.
In some embodiments, the wires from the battery are removably inserted into the first socket and the wires from the solar panel are removably inserted into the second socket.
In some embodiments, an assembled solar light is repairable by removing the one or more removable fasteners from the connected housing and lens to disconnect the lens from the housing and replacing one or more of the battery, the solar panel, and the PCB.
In some embodiments, a solar light kit is provided, comprising: a housing comprising a removably attached solar panel and a removably attached battery; a PCB comprising one or more light sources, the PCB configured to connect to the solar panel and the battery; a lens for diffusing light from the one or more light sources of the PCB, wherein the lens is configured to connect to the housing and the PCB; a plurality of removable fasteners for connecting the lens to one or more of the PCB and housing; and a tool for fastening the plurality of removable fasteners, wherein the housing, the PCB, the lens, the plurality of removable fasteners, and the tool are bundled together unassembled in a kit package.
In some embodiments, the solar light kit comprises a seal configured to be installed to a perimeter of the lens.
In some embodiments, the housing is configured to receive a switch button, the switch button configured to connect with a switch on the PCB.
In some embodiments, the PCB comprises at least two sockets, a first socket configured to connect to wires from the battery, and a second socket configured to connect to wires from the solar panel.
In some embodiments, the solar light kit comprises a bumper configured to surround at least a portion of the connected housing and lens.
In some embodiments, the bumper comprises a button indicator, a position of the button indicator configured to align with a position of a switch button inserted into the housing.
In some embodiments, the solar light kit comprises a handle configured to removably attach to at least two pegs on the housing, the handle comprising at least two slots configured to receive the at least two pegs.
In some embodiments, an assembled solar light is configured to be hung from or stood with the handle.
In some embodiments, at least one of a height of an assembled solar light and an angle of the assembled solar light about the handle is adjustable.
In some embodiments, the at least two slots provide at least two height settings for the assembled solar light.
In some embodiments, the tool is the only tool needed for assembly of the solar light kit.
In some embodiments, the handheld tool is a screwdriver sized for use by a child and the removable fasteners are screws configured for use with the screwdriver.
In some embodiments, the handheld tool is a wrench sized for use by a child and the removable fasteners include one or more of bolts, nuts, and screws configured for use with the wrench.
In some embodiments, the PCB comprises at least 18 light sources, and the light sources are light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
In some embodiments, a first portion of the light sources are white LEDs, and a second portion of the light sources are colored LEDs.
In some embodiments, at least one light source of the second portion of light sources is a battery indicator for indicating a charge status of the battery.
In some embodiments, the battery is a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
In some embodiments, the solar panel is a polycrystalline silicon solar panel comprising at least 10 photovoltaic (PV) cells.
In some embodiments, the solar light kit comprises a set of instructions for guiding a user through assembling the solar light from the solar light kit.
The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to implementations and embodiments of various aspects and variations of systems and methods described herein. Although several exemplary variations of the systems and methods are described herein, other variations of the systems and methods may include aspects of the systems and methods described herein combined in any suitable manner having combinations of all or some of the aspects described.
The disclosed solar light kit comprises a built-in solar panel which charges a battery, the battery powering a plurality of LED lights. One or more components of the solar light kit may be specifically designed to be assembled by children with at most one handheld tool, and without the use of solder, glue, or other adhesives. Additionally, the components of the solar light may be manufactured such that each piece must be assembled in a particular order and orientation. The device may be dimensioned such that it is handheld and portable for a child, and may comprise a removably attachable handle, which allows the device to be stood, hung, or transported with ease. The solar light may comprise additional features, such as a pair of feet and an illustrated face, which humanize the device for the intended end user (i.e., children previously unfamiliar with solar light technology).
In the following description of the various embodiments, it is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” used in the following description are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It is also to be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It is further to be understood that the terms “includes, “including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or units but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, units, and/or groups thereof.
Lens 102 may diffuse light from a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) due to the texture on the inner surface of lens 102. The texture on the inner surface of lens 102 may be, for example, a polygonal (e.g., hexagonal) pattern which covers the inner surface of lens 102 except for the facial features. Solar light 100 may comprise a plurality of white LEDs and/or a plurality of colored (e.g., red, green, and blue, or “RGB”) LEDs. In some embodiments, solar light 100 comprises up to 18 white LEDs and up to 4 RGB LEDs electrically connected in parallel on a printed circuit board (PCB). In some embodiments, the light comprises only a single RGB LED and a plurality of white LEDs, the RGB serving as a power/charge indicator, as will be described in greater detail below. In some embodiments, the device comprises less than or equal to 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, or 24 total LEDs. In some embodiments, the device comprises greater than or equal to 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, or 24 total LEDs. In some embodiments, the device may comprise any combination of white/colored lights, such as red, green, blue, pink, purple, yellow, orange, etc.
In some embodiments, the intensity of the white and/or colored lights may be altered in accordance with one or more light settings. For example, the lights may be set to three different modes, such as a low, medium, and bright mode. In some embodiments, the lights may be set to two different modes. For example, colored lights may be set to a red light mode (i.e., study mode), and a glowing mode (i.e., party mode). In some embodiments, the light comprises only a single brightness setting. In some embodiments, solar light 100 comprises more than three light settings, such as 4, 5, or 6 light settings. The LEDs employed in solar light 100 may be surface-mount LEDs, such SMD 2835. The LEDs of solar light 100 may be any type of LED suitable to be powered via a solar panel, such as through-hole LEDs, SMD LEDs, bi-color, and/or RGB LEDs. In embodiments with three light settings, the luminosity correlating to each of the three white light settings may be about 4 lm, 34 lm, and 145 lm, respectively.
Furthermore, bumper 104 may include one or more features 112 on the bottom side of the device resembling feet. Like the facial features on lens 102 described above, foot features 112 may aid in humanizing solar light 100 for the target user of children. Foot features may be a simple oval/circle shape in some embodiments, or may be shaped similar to a human foot, as shown. Foot features 112 may be manufactured from the same material as bumper 104, and may comprise one or more textured patterns, such as that which is found on bumper 104, a logo pattern, or a pattern modeled off of actual foot creases (i.e., further humanizing solar light 100). Solar light 100 may stand using foot features 112 in the instance handle 106 is removed from the device.
As shown between
In some embodiments, solar light 100 may comprise a rechargeable battery (illustrated in
The rechargeable battery may provide up to 140 hours of light, dependent on the battery type, battery size, solar panel characteristics, and estimated light output. For example, solar light 100 may provide a total of about 140 hours of white light on low-mode, about 14.5 hours of white light on medium-mode, and about 3.5 hours of white light on high-mode before requiring a solar charge. In some embodiments, solar light 100 may provide up to 26.3 hours of RGB light in party mode, and up to 10.5 hours of RGB light in study-mode. For a fully discharged battery, solar light 100 may require between about 9 to 17 hours for a full solar charge, depending on the light's exposure to the sun. For example, solar light 100 may require 9-12 hours, 12-15 hours, or up to 17 hours for a full solar charge. In some embodiments, the battery life after storage of the device may decrease over time. For example, after 1 day, the battery life of the device may be reduced by about 5%. Likewise, the battery life after 30 days may be reduced by about 6%, after 60 days by about 8%, and after 150 days by about 12%.
Solar light 100 may include a battery charging indicator and/or a battery level indicator (not illustrated), which may be implemented via one or more colored LEDs, for example. Additionally, solar light 100 may comprise circuitry which allows for overcharge and/or over-discharge protection, as well as an auto shutdown feature when the device is at low battery. Solar light 100 may be waterproof (e.g., has an IP54 waterproof rating) and be designed with one or more features which provide sun exposure protection.
In some embodiments, solar light 100 may additionally comprise a button indicator 116 on bumper 104. Button indicator 116 may be located, for example, along a lateral side or at the top of solar light 100. The button indicator 116 may correspond with a button and switch mechanism on the inside of the light, as will be described in greater detail below. By engaging with button indicator 116, the user may turn the light on and off, as well as toggle between light settings, as described above. Button indicator 116 may include one or more design features, such as an outline with a logo.
Solar light 100 may be sized such that it is handheld, lightweight, and portable for the intended user (i.e., children). For example, the device may weigh between 325 g and 375 g (e.g., 350 g), and may be about 100 mm wide and 98 mm tall, without a stand/handle 106. In some embodiments, solar light 100 may be larger or smaller than 100 mm wide by 98 mm tall. For example, the width and/or height of solar light 100 may be less than or equal to 80 mm, 85 mm, mm, 95 mm, 100 mm, 105 mm, 110 mm, 115 mm, or 120 mm. In some embodiments, the width and/or height of solar light 100 may be greater than or equal to 80 mm, 85 mm, 90 mm, 95 mm, 100 mm, 105 mm, 110 mm, 115 mm, or 120 mm. With handle 106, the device may be greater than 100 mm tall, for example, about 106 mm tall. However, the height of the device may vary based on the height setting of handle 106. The thickness of the solar light may be about 30 mm, thus allowing a child to easily hold and grip the solar light. In some embodiments, the thickness of the device may be less than or equal to 20 mm, 25 mm, 30 mm, 35 mm, or 40 mm. In some embodiments, the thickness of the device may be greater than or equal to 20 mm, 25 mm, 30 mm, mm, or 40 mm.
Unless stated otherwise, one or more components of the solar light kit 100 may be manufactured from plastic, such as polyethylene and/or polypropylene. For example, the housing, lens 102, and/or handle 106 may be manufactured from plastic such as those described above or another type of plastic. In some embodiments, solar light 100 may be manufactured in a plurality of colors. The different color options for the device may correlate to the intended use of the device. For example, a solar light intended for use in education settings may be yellow or black. In some embodiments, a solar light intended for use in corporate settings may be light or dark blue. Lastly, a solar light intended for use in festival/party settings may be light or dark purple. However, any color may be selected for any intended use of the device. Providing a color option may increase user satisfaction and allow the user to customize their solar light.
A builder, such as a young student, a child, or another intended user may open solar light 200 to reveal modular components that require assembly in a particular fashion (i.e., in a specific orientation) and following an ordered set of steps. For example, as shown in
The assembly of a solar light from solar light kit 300 will now be described with respect to
After a user opens solar light 300 as described above with respect to
In some embodiments, lens 302 may be configured to attach to PCB 322 without the use of fasteners 324. For example, lens 302 may comprise one or more connection features (e.g., snap fasteners, adhesive fabric, pins, tabs) configured to removably attach to a corresponding connection feature on PCB 322. PCB 322 must be installed prior to closure of housing 320 with lens 302 to secure the board, thereby steadying the plurality of LEDs and minimizing any chance of damage to the individual features on PCB 322, such as the LEDs. PCB 322 may be packaged with a majority of the electronic components permanently attached (e.g., soldered), such as the LEDs, switch, and various connections between different components, thereby minimizing any confusion, safety concerns, and complexity for the intended builder (e.g., children).
Lens 302 may include a plurality of connection features (e.g., ports) intended to receive fasteners 324 and/or connection features on PCB 322. For example, lens 302 may comprises 2 ports located relative to each corner of the rectangular lens 302. In some embodiments, of the 2 ports in a given corner of lens 302, the ports positioned nearer to the center of lens 302, are configured to receive the short screws. In some embodiments, in the instance PCB 322 comprises tabs, lens 302 may comprise slots configured to receive the tabs during attachment. PCB 322 shall be installed such that the location of switch 328 on PCB 322 is oriented in the direction of the facial features 336 on t lens 302, as shown. In some embodiments, facial features 336 are observed by a user when the light is turned on because lens 302 is textured to diffuse the light in all areas other than at that of facial features 336. In some embodiments, facial features 336 are printed onto the outer surface of lens 302. Switch 328 must be oriented in the same direction as facial features 336 (i.e., at the upper/top portion of lens 302) so that the location correlates with that of a button indicator on the bumper 304, which will be described in greater detail below.
Following installation of PCB 322 to lens 302, with reference to
Following installation of switch button 330 to housing 320, as shown in
Prior to connecting wires 334 to PCB 322, the builder must ensure seal 332 is installed to the slot of lens 302, because the wires once connected may obstruct a portion of the lip of lens 302, thereby making it impossible to successfully install the seal without again disconnecting the wires. Seal 332 provides water protection to the inner components of device 300, and thus it is important the seal is installed at the correct time. It is imperative that wires 334 are correctly connected to their respective sockets 338 to achieve a functioning end product.
Following successful installation of the internal components described above with respect to
Lens 302 may comprise a port in each corner of the lens (described above and illustrated in
Once housing 320 is secured to lens 302, the builder may install bumper 304 to the edge of removably attached housing 320 and lens 302. Bumper 304 may further secure the connection between lens 302 and housing 320, such as in the instance the two components are connected via tabs/slots rather than removable fasteners. As mentioned above, bumper 304 may comprise a button indicator (illustrated in
The final step of assembling a solar light from solar light kit 300 may be the installation of handle 306 to the remainder of the light. As described above, handle 306 may comprise one or more slots 310 configured to receive the one or more pegs 308 on housing 320. Slots 310 may comprise multiple settings for adjusting the height of the light during use and allowing for rotation of the light about handle 306. Handle 306 may be removably attachable to the solar light such that the solar light can be used with or without handle 306. Handle 306 may serve more than one purpose, such as to hang the device from the ceiling, to focus light during studying, as a lamp to light up a room, or to hold for walking safely at night.
Once assembled, the solar light may be donated to a child/family living in energy poverty to aid in improving their quality of life. In some embodiments, the constructed light is accompanied by a handwritten letter from the builder (i.e., a child/student in a developed country). Once with the intended end user (i.e., a child), the device may at any time be unassembled to replace one or more components of the device in the instance the light malfunctions. For example, the user may uninstall one or more of the bumper 304, removable fasteners 324, and handle 306 to disengage lens 302 from housing 320 and expose the modular internal components.
At step 404, the user may connect the PCB to the lens. In some embodiments, the PCB may be connected to the lens using one or more of the removable fasteners and the handheld tool. In some embodiments, the PCB may be configured to attach to the lens in a unique orientation, such that a switch on the PCB is oriented in the same direction as an illustrative facial feature on the lens. In some embodiments, the handheld tool may be a screwdriver or a wrench, and the removable fasteners may be one or more of screws, bolts, and nuts configured to be installed using the screwdriver or wrench. In some embodiments, the handheld tool may be intentionally sized for the intended user (i.e., a child).
At step 406, the user may connect one or more wires extending from the battery in the housing to a first socket on the PCB, and may connect one or more wires extending from the solar panel in the housing to a second socket on the PCB. In some embodiments, the PCB may be labeled such that the first socket corresponds to the battery, and the second socket corresponds to the solar panel. In some embodiments, the wires from the battery and solar panel may be inserted to the first and second sockets on the PCB by the user applying pressure between the wires and sockets. In some embodiments, the connections between the PCB and battery and solar panel may be disengaged, for example, if one or more components of the device requires replacement.
At step 408, the user may connect the housing to the lens, for example using one or more fasteners and the handheld tool. In some embodiments, the user may align a switch button inserted to the housing with the switch on the PCB (attached to the lens) to achieve the correct orientation in connecting the housing to the lens. In some embodiments, the lens and housing may be configured to attach with one or more tabs and slots. For example, the lens may comprise one or more tabs configured to fit into one or more slots in the housing. In some embodiments, the housing and lens can be detached to replace one or more internal components of the solar light. In some embodiments, each of the PCB, solar panel, battery, and PCB may be configured to fit in a specific orientation within the housing.
In some embodiments, the solar light kit may include a handle and bumper. The handle may removably attach to at least to pegs on the lateral surfaces of the solar light via two or more slots on the handle. In some embodiments, the solar light may be configured to hang or stand from the handle. The bumper may be configured to mold around at least a portion of the connected lens and housing. The bumper may comprise one or more features, such as a button indicator configured to correspond with the position of the switch button in the housing, and one or more illustrative foot features. In some embodiments, the facial features on the lens and foot features on the bumper may aid in humanizing the solar light for both the builder and the intended end user (i.e., children), wherein the users may be unfamiliar with solar light technology.
The foregoing description, for the purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the techniques and their practical applications. Others skilled in the art are thereby enabled to best utilize the techniques and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. For the purpose of clarity and a concise description, features are described herein as part of the same or separate embodiments; however, it will be appreciated that the scope of the disclosure includes embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described.
Although the disclosure and examples have been fully described with reference to the accompanying figures, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as being included within the scope of the disclosure and examples as defined by the claims. Finally, the entire disclosure of the patents and publications referred to in this application are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
