Accordion mount for solar cells including point-of-purchase display with leds
US5012160A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 13, 1989 |
| Grant date | Apr 30, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 13, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S362/812
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A display assembly particularly for the point-of-purchase field utilizes a light source to power the display. A solar cell is electrically connected, through a simple flashing circuit, to an array of light emitting diodes (LEDs). The diodes have a current usage of about 2 ma or less; e.g., they may be double heterojunction AlGaAs/GaAs material. The circuit has a current drain of about 0.1 ma or less. The solar cell may be mounted between an artificial light source (such as a fluorescent bulb) and a surrounding metal housing by sheet material having an undulating (e.g., accordion) configuration. Transparent UV inhibited plastic film tape may attach the solar cell to a central undulation of the sheet material while magnets strips attach side edges of the sheet material to a metal housing, so that the solar cell is in close proximity to (e.g., touches) the light source.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.