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US4327316A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Battery recharging solar cell arrangement for an automotive vehicle

Assignee: Nissan Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1980-02-11
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Granted: 1982-04-27
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Expires: 2000-02-11
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Abstract

Abstract In a battery recharging arrangement for an automotive vehicle, one or more solar batteries, together with recharging current control means to charge an automotive vehicle battery, are disposed with supporting metal fixtures at a plurality of different positions to which solar energy is applied so as to prevent the rechargeable batteries mounted in an automotive vehicle body from becoming excessively discharged. The solar batteries are positioned on the roof of a vehicle or mainly within the passenger compartment at appropriate elevation angles, so that as long as the vehicle is in the condition wherever solar energy is applied, solar energy can be obtained at any position of the sun regardless of the direction the vehicle is moving in or of the place the vehicle is parked since at least one of the disposed solar batteries will be effectively exposed to sunlight. The solar batteries so disposed at a plurality of different positions within the passenger compartment are protected from dirt or splashes of mud to keep the batteries in good working conditions at all times. In addition, if appropriate light focusing devices, such as Fresnel lenses, are positioned over the solar batteries, the solar energy collecting performance will further be enhanced.

Inventors

  • 👤 Yoshitake Fujikubo
  • 👤 Mamoru Tanaka

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 10:45
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60L; B60L1/00; B60L8/00; B60L8/003; H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/34; H02J7/35; H02J2105/00; H02J2105/30; H02J2105/33; H02J2105/37; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/60; Y02T10/7072; Y10; Y10S; Y10S136/00; Y10S136/291

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 81 words
An apparatus for recharging an automotive vehicle battery provided in an automotive vehicle comprising: a first solar battery being secured on a rear view mirror support provided inside of a vehicle compartment adjacent a front windshield, a universal joint means interpositioned between said rear view mirror support and said solar battery for permitting adjustment of direction of said solar battery toward sunlight; and a recharging current control means for feeding recharging current obtained from said solar battery to said vehicle battery.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 81 words
An apparatus for recharging an automotive vehicle battery provided in an automotive vehicle comprising: a first solar battery being secured on a rear view mirror support provided inside of a vehicle compartment adjacent a front windshield, a universal joint means interpositioned between said rear view mirror support and said solar battery for permitting adjustment of direction of said solar battery toward sunlight; and a recharging current control means for feeding recharging current obtained from said solar battery to said vehicle battery.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 27 words
An apparatus for recharging an automotive vehicle battery as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a second solar battery mounted at a position on which sunlight falls.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 25 words
An apparatus for recharging an automotive battery as defined in claim 1, further comprising a light focusing device in the vicinity of said solar battery.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 31 words
Apparatus for recharging an automotive battery as defined in claim 2, further comprising a light focusing device in the vicinity of at least one of said first and second solar batteries.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 34 words
An apparatus for recharging an automotive vehicle battery as defined in claim 1, wherein said second solar battery is mounted on the roof of the automotive vehicle so as to be exposed to sunlight.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 31 words
An apparatus for recharging an automotive vehicle battery as defined in claim 1, wherein said second solar battery is provided at a portion inside of the vehicle compartment where sunlight falls.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 48 words
An apparatus for recharging an automotive vehicle battery as defined in claim 1, wherein said second solar battery is disposed in an aperture formed in the roof of the automotive vehicle and further comprising a transparent roof member through which said second solar battery is exposed to sunlight.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 35 words
An apparatus for recharging an automotive battery as defined in claim 4, wherein said second solar battery is disposed facing the front windshield glass on an instrument panel at such an orientation to receive sunlight.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 32 words
An apparatus for recharging an automotive battery as defined in claim 6, wherein said second solar battery is disposed inside the side window near the upper end portion of a center pillar.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 24 words
An apparatus for recharging an automotive battery as defined in claim 6, wherein said second solar battery is disposed inside the rear windshield glass.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 23 words
An apparatus for recharging an automotive battery as defined in claim 6, wherein said second solar battery is disposed on a rear shelf.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3444946A Cited
US3971454A Cited
US3943726A Cited
US4080221A Cited
US4181188A Cited
GB2028739A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1985-04-26 1985-10-26 1986-04-27 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1989-04-26 1989-10-26 1990-04-27 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1993-04-26 1993-10-26 1994-04-27 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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