Patent Application
20240133369
Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
The use of solar cells as a source of power for garden products and ornaments is known in the art. For example, it is known to connect a solar panel to an electric pump to supply, or circulate, water to or around a garden water feature. The solar panel is selected so as to generate a sufficient amount of electrical energy to operate a given water pump.
Batteries may also be used to store power so that the given water pump can be operated when solar energy is not adequate. For example, the battery can be used at night when there is not enough solar energy for the solar panel to generate electrical energy to operate the given water pump. In some instances, energy stored by the battery might be excess electrical energy generated by the solar panel throughout the day. However, as the energy stored by the battery is only excess, the amount of electrical energy stored by the battery is not reliable. Therefore, a user cannot designate a time to operate the water pump from the battery if and when solar generation is not enough to power the pump.
The present disclosure generally relates to a water feature (e.g., decorative fountain) with a solar-powered water pump with an automatic water pump shutoff sensor, the ability to simultaneously operate the water pump and charge the battery enough so that the water pump can be reliably used when the solar energy is low, and the ability to designate a period of time to operate the water pump from the battery if and when the solar generation is not enough to power the pump.
In one aspect, the present application describes a water feature. The water feature includes a vessel and an electrically powered submersible pump within the vessel to pump liquid within the vessel, an outlet fluidly connected to the electrically powered submersible pump, a solar panel to provide electrical power to the electrically powered submersible pump and a battery, where the battery provides electrical power to the electrically powered submersible pump. The water feature also includes a controller. The controller includes at least one processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The non-transitory computer-readable medium stores a set of program instructions which when executed by the at least one processor causes the water feature to perform operations. The operations include receiving a predetermined time to operate the electrically powered submersible pump on the battery. Based on the predetermined time to operate the electrically powered submersible pump on the battery, the operations also include allocating a percent of a total electrical power generated by the solar panel to charge the battery and a remainder of the total electrical power generated to operate the electrically powered submersible pump. The operations additionally include determining that the battery has reached a threshold power level associated with the predetermined time to operate the electrically powered submersible pump. The operations further include allocating the total electrical power generated to operate the electrically powered submersible pump.
In another aspect, the present application describes a method of simultaneously charging a battery and operating a pump with the ability to designate a period of time to operate the pump from the battery if and when the solar generation is not enough to power the pump. The method includes receiving a predetermined time to operate an electrically powered submersible pump on a battery. Based on the predetermined time to operate the electrically powered submersible pump on the battery, the method also includes allocating a percent of a total electrical power generated by a solar panel to charge the battery and a remainder of the total electrical power generated to operate the electrically powered submersible pump. The method additionally includes determining that the battery has reached a threshold power level associated with the predetermined time to operate the electrically powered submersible pump. The method further includes allocating the total electrical power generated to operate the electrically powered submersible pump.
In yet another aspect, the present application describes a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations. The operations include receiving a predetermined time to operate the electrically powered submersible pump on a battery. Based on the predetermined time to operate the electrically powered submersible pump on the battery, the operations also include allocating a percent of a total electrical power generated by a solar panel to charge the battery and a remainder of the total electrical power generated to operate the electrically powered submersible pump. The operations additionally include determining that the battery has reached a threshold power level associated with the predetermined time to operate the electrically powered submersible pump. The operations further include allocating the total electrical power generated to operate the electrically powered submersible pump.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the figures and the following detailed description.
Example methods, devices, and systems are described herein. It should be understood that the words “example” and “exemplary” are used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment or feature described herein as being an “example” or “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or features. Other embodiments can be utilized, and other changes can be made, without departing from the scope of the subject matter presented herein.
Thus, the example embodiments described herein are not meant to be limiting. Aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are contemplated herein.
Further, unless context suggests otherwise, the features illustrated in each of the figures may be used in combination with one another. Thus, the figures should be generally viewed as component aspects of one or more overall embodiments, with the understanding that not all illustrated features are necessary for each embodiment.
By the term “about” or “substantially” with reference to amounts or measurement values described herein, it is meant that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those of skill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to provide.
Outdoor water features, such as bird baths and fountains, may be powered using solar generated energy. However, such water features may not operate at night. Currently, one technique may be to add a battery to the water feature. The battery may store any excess power generated by a solar panel that is not needed to operate the water feature. As this technique only stores the excess power generated, there may be instances where there was no excess power. Thus, the battery may not contain enough power to operate an electrically powered submersible pump at night or when the solar intensity is below a threshold. Additionally and/or alternatively, there may be scenarios in which the pump continues to operate even when there is no water in the water feature. This could result in burning out the pump.
In some embodiments, the present disclosure can include a water feature that can simultaneously charge its battery and operate its pump from power generated by its solar panel. For example, from the power that the solar panel generates, a predetermined portion can go towards operating the pump, and a predetermined portion can go toward charging the battery. In an example embodiment, 75% of the power generated can go towards operating the pump while 25% of the power generated can go towards charging the battery. This may allow enough power to be stored in the battery so that the water feature can be reliably operated when the sun is not out. To reliably operate the solar feature may mean that in at least 75% of the times a user wishes to operate the water feature when solar power is not enough, the water feature will operate. For example, the user can designate that they would like the water feature to continue operation after sunset, and the water feature does.
Further, a remote control can be used to designate for how long the pump should be run and if and when the pump should be shutoff. For example, the pump could be operated for two hours and then shut off for all of the power generated by the solar panel to go to the battery. Alternatively, the pump could be run until, around dusk, there is not enough sun for the solar panel to generate enough power to run the pump. The pump can therefore be shutoff and the battery can be charged with the last remaining rays of sun.
In an example embodiment, the water feature can also include an automatic pump shutoff sensor. The automatic pump shut off sensor can include a plurality of moisture sensing electrodes disposed on the pump approximately 15 to 20 millimeters off of the bottom of the vessel that holds the water in the water feature. When the electrodes sense a moisture level that is below a predetermined threshold, the circuit that runs the pump may be opened to shutoff the pump. This prevents the pump from draining the battery when there is no water in the vessel, let alone from burning out the pump.
In an example embodiment, the vessel 1 may hold a liquid, such as water, for the bird bath. The water can define a surface 7 in the vessel 1. The solar panel 4 can be disposed below the surface 7 of the water. For example, the solar panel 4 can be disposed anywhere from 1 mm to 50 mm below the surface 7 of the water. Alternatively, the solar panel 4 could be level with the surface 7 of the liquid.
The pump 2 is mounted to the lower side of the insert 5 and secured thereto and is thus disposed in the volume of water 106 in the collecting basin 102 of the water feature body 1. In an example embodiment, the pump 2 can include a DC motor. The solar panel 4 and pump 2 are electrically connected by a connecting plug 3 which can be pulled apart. The pump 2 can also be fluidly connected to a water outlet 107. For example, the water delivered by the pump 2 passes through a riser pipe 6 having the water outlet 107 above the surface of the water 7 from which water issues in the form of a fountain 108. The riser pipe 6 passes through a hole in the housing 5 and solar cell 4.
Additionally, in an attempt to ensure that the pump 2 does not continue to run when there is no water in the collecting basin 102, the pump 2 may include a plurality of moisture sensors 110. The moisture sensors 110 could include a plurality of electrodes positioned on the pump 2 to detect whether the water level in the collecting basin 102 reaches a water intake on pump 2. In operation, if the water level reaches the electrodes, the water acts as a resistive element between the electrodes and completes a circuit in the pump 2, however when the water level does not reach the electrodes, the circuit opens and the pump 2 will shut off. The moisture sensors may be positioned on the pump 2, adjacent to a bottom of the body 1. For example, the moisture sensors may be positioned anywhere from 1 mm to 50 mm above the bottom of the vessel. The intake for the pump 2 may be the same distance above the bottom of the vessel as the sensors. Alternatively, the intake for the pump 2 could be closer to the bottom of the vessel than the sensors.
The water can flow through apertures 8 in the insert 5 which provide a return path from the upper portion into the lower portion of the water feature body 1, thus ensuring a constant supply of water to the pump 2.
The solar cell 24 is a prefabricated unit and has waterproof glass on the top and at the sides. In an alternative embodiment, the top of the solar cell can be made from other suitable materials, including but not limited to silicon, or plastic. On the underside is provided a film which is sealed off at the edges by laser treatment. A corresponding laser seal may be provided for the passage of the riser pipe 26.
An example embodiment of the water feature can further include a remote device.
Alternatively, the user interface to operate the water feature could be disposed on the water feature. For example, the user interface could be positioned on the outside of the vessel. The user interface could include an “on” button, an “off” button, a battery button, a timer button, and a plurality of times to operate the pump. Alternatively still, the water feature could operate automatically without the need for any user interface.
The computer-readable medium 218 may also store a set of water feature program instructions 220 executable by the processor(s) 212 to perform operations. The at least one processor(s) 212 can include one or more processors, such as one or more general-purpose microprocessors and/or one or more special purpose microprocessors. The one or more processors may include, for instance, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). Other types of processors, computers, or devices configured to carry out software instructions are also contemplated herein.
As illustrated in
The computer-readable medium 234 may also store a set of remote device program instructions 236 executable by the processor(s) 228 to perform operations. The at least one processor(s) 228 can include one or more processors, such as one or more general-purpose microprocessors and/or one or more special purpose microprocessors. The one or more processors may include, for instance, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). Other types of processors, computers, or devices configured to carry out software instructions are also contemplated herein.
At block 302, operations 300 may include receiving a predetermined time to operate the electrically powered submersible pump on the battery. In an example embodiment, the predetermined time is received via the remote device as previously described. For example, the remote device could include buttons to select that the pump should run on battery when the solar energy is not enough, that the pump should run on a timer during the day, and how long the pump should be run for. Alternatively, the predetermined time could be received from a user interface located on the water feature.
In an example embodiment the predetermined time to operate the pump on the battery could be a time associated with a solar power level that is below a threshold solar power level. During the time below the threshold solar power level, power is provided to the pump from the battery. The threshold solar power level could be the amount of solar power needed to power the pump using the solar panel, and any time of day associated with a solar power level below the threshold could be the predetermined time. For example, the time could be after sunset when the solar power is no longer strong enough to power the pump.
The predetermined time could also be a time period. The time period could be a length of time that the pump should operate from the battery. For example, the operations could include receiving an instruction for the pump to operate off of the battery for one hour after the solar power level is below the threshold solar power level. Alternatively, the pump could continuously operate off of the battery until the battery has reached a baseline battery power capacity cut off. For example, 15% of the total battery power capacity left. Other values are also possible. In an example embodiment, the pump will not drain the battery to below the baseline battery power capacity cut off power capacity.
Additionally, the operations could include receiving a predetermined time to operate the pump from solar power could include time for operating on the solar panel. This could be receiving an amount of time that the pump should operate during the day when the solar power level is above the threshold level.
At block 304, operations 300 may include based on the predetermined time to operate the electrically powered submersible pump on the battery, allocating a percent of a total electrical power generated by the solar panel to charge the battery and a remainder of the total electrical power generated to operate the electrically powered submersible pump. In an example embodiment, during a sunny day the solar panel could generate enough electrical power to use 75% of the power to operate the pump and 25% of the power to charge the battery in order to operate the pump when the solar power level is below the threshold. Other allocation percentages are also possible. For example, 85% of the power generated by the solar panel could go towards operating the pump, while 15% could go toward charging the battery.
In an example embodiment allocating the power to the battery and the pump can include determining how much power the battery needs based on how long the pump needs to run off of the battery. The operations can first include determining an amount of power associated with the predetermined time period of operating the electrically powered submersible pump on the battery. The operations could further include determining a first temporal period to allocate the percent of a total electrical power generated by the solar panel to charge the battery and the remainder of the total electrical power generated to operate the electrically powered submersible pump. For example, to run the pump from the battery for one hour, the battery may need to be charged to 25% its capacity. In order to charge the battery to 25%, the solar panel may only need to allocate power to the battery for a few hours. The operations can then include determining a second temporal period to allocate the total electrical power generated to the pump. The second temporal period could be any time following the first temporal period when power is allocated to charge the battery. During the second temporal period, all of the electrical power generated by the solar panel could go towards operating the pump.
Alternatively, the pump could be switched off and all of the electrical power generated by the solar panel could be allocated towards charging the battery. In this embodiment, the remote device could be used to select the “off” button. In “off” all of the power generated can go to the battery. Therefore, the battery may be fully charged in order to operate the fountain at night.
At block 306, operations 300 may include determining that the battery has reached a threshold power level associated with the predetermined time to operate the electrically powered submersible pump. The threshold power level might be when the battery is fully charged so that the pump can be operated at night. Alternatively, the threshold power level could be the amount of power needed to be stored in the battery in order for the pump to be operated off of the battery for the predetermined time. Referring to a previous example, to run the pump from the battery for one hour, the battery may need to be charged to 25% its capacity. Once the battery is charged to 25% of its capacity the threshold power level is met.
At block 308, operations 300 may include allocating the total electrical power generated to operate the electrically powered submersible pump. Once the battery is charged to the threshold power level, all of the electrical power that is generated by the solar panel may be allocated towards operating the pump. This could occur after the battery is fully charged, or after the battery is partially charged. Alternatively, all electrical power generated could go towards operating the pump and none could go toward charging the battery.
A further example embodiment could include detecting, with the moisture sensors, a moisture level that is below a predetermined threshold. As previously discussed, the moisture sensors may be positioned on the bottom of the pump and can be used to detect when the water level in the vessel is too low to operate the pump. When the water level does not reach the moisture sensors, the moisture level is below the predetermined threshold. Then, the pump will turn off. This safeguard may assist in preventing the pump from continuously running when there is no water in thus vessel. Therefore, power is not wasted, and the pump does not burn out.
For example, the circuit includes a first conductive prong 402 and a second conductive prong 404 which are moisture sensors. There may be an electrical potential between the prongs. In operation, when water is covering the two moisture sensors the water lowers the resistance in the circuit and allows the circuit to be closed therefore allowing the pump to operate.
In an example embodiment, the circuit can include voltage regulator 406, a single-cell lithium-ion battery constant current and constant voltage linear charging integrated circuit 408, a lithium-ion battery protection integrated circuit 410, a step-up DC-DC converter 412, a low-dropout linear voltage regulators with a built-in voltage reference module, error correction module and phase compensation module 414, and a wireless receiver circuit 416.
The above detailed description describes various features and functions of the disclosed systems, devices, and methods with reference to the accompanying figures. While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope being indicated by the following claims.
It should be understood that arrangements described herein are for purposes of example only. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other arrangements and other elements (e.g. machines, apparatuses, interfaces, functions, orders, and groupings of functions, etc.) can be used instead, and some elements may be omitted altogether according to the desired results. Further, many of the elements that are described are functional entities that may be implemented as discrete or distributed components or in conjunction with other components, in any suitable combination and location.
