Energy-conserving multiple power source and method for battery-operated products

Claim 2

A multiple D.C. power source for electrical and electronic products having, in combination, a rechargeable primary D.C. voltage source having chargeable means and comprising photovoltaic cell means and in which the voltage value thereof is controlled in response to charging induced by light received by the photovoltaic cell means; a backup D.C. voltage source; oppositely alternately operative switching means for connecting the primary D.C. voltage source to the product while disconnecting the backup D.C. voltage source from the product; and sense and control means connected to monitor the state of the said voltage value of the primary D.C. voltage source and for establishing predetermined upper and lower threshold voltages therefor, and for controlling the switching means in response to the monitoring, automatically and instantaneously to connect the backup D.C. voltage source to the product while disconnecting the primary D.C. voltage source therefrom when said voltage value thereof drops to said lower threshold voltage; and means for automatically and instantaneously reconnecting the primary D.C. voltage source to the product while disconnecting the backup D.C. voltage source from the product when the voltage value of the primary D.C. voltage source has recharged sufficiently to reach said upper threshold value, whereby in the absence of the backup D.C. voltage source the switching means is powered from the primary D.C. voltage source.

Claim 3

A multiple D.C. power source as claimed in claim 1 and in which said primary D.C. voltage source comprises rechargeable battery cell means connected to be charged by said photovoltaic cell means.

Claim 4

A multiple D.C. power source as claimed in claim 2 and in which said backup D.C. voltage source comprises non-rechargeable battery cell means.

Claim 5

A multiple D.C. power source as claimed in claim 1 and in which said backup D.C. voltage source comprises non-rechargeable battery cell means.

Claim 8

A method as claimed in claim 5 and in which the developing of the primary D.C. voltage is effected by charging a rechargeable battery cell from a photovoltage cell.

Claim 9

A method as claimed in claim 6 and in which the product is provided with an on/off power switch connected such that the rechargeable battery cell is always preliminarily connected to the product irrespective of its voltage value above the lower threshold voltage when the power switch is turned on, except in the event its voltage value is below said lower threshold voltage.

Claim 10

A multiple power source for battery operated electrical and electronic products having, in combination, photovoltaic cell means, rechargeable battery cell means and a back-up D.C. voltage source; charging circuit means for connecting the photovoltaic cell means to charge the rechargeable battery cell means in response to light received by the photovoltaic cell means; a pair of oppositely alternatively operative switching means for connecting the rechargeable battery cell means to the product while disconnecting the backup voltage source from the product; and sense and control means connected to monitor the state of voltage charge on the rechargeable battery cell means and for establishing predetermined upper and lower threshold voltage therefor, and for controlling the switching means automatically and instantaneously to connect the backup voltage source to the product while disconnecting the rechargeable battery cell means therefrom when the voltages thereof drops to said lower threshold voltage, and means for automatically and instantaneously reconnecting the rechargeable battery cell means to the product while disconnecting the backup voltage source from the product when the voltage of the rechargeable battery cell means again reaches said upper threshold voltage, whereby in the absence of the backup D.C. voltage source the switching means is powered from the primary D.C. voltage source.

Claim 11

A multiple power source for battery operated electrical and electronic products having, in combination, photovoltaic cell means, rechargeable battery cell means and a back-up D.C. voltage source; charging circuit means for connecting the photovoltaic cell means to charge the rechargeable battery cell means in response to light received by the photovoltaic cell means; a pair of oppositely alternatively operative switching means for connecting the rechargeable battery cell means to the product while disconnecting the backup voltage source from the product; and sense and control means connected to monitor the state of voltage charge on the rechargeable battery cell means and for establishing predetermined upper and lower threshold voltage therefor, and for controlling the switching means automatically and instantaneously to connect the backup voltage source to the product while disconnecting the rechargeable battery cell means therefrom when the voltages thereof drops to said lower threshold voltage, and means for automatically and instantaneously reconnecting the rechargeable battery cell means to the product while disconnecting the backup voltage source from the product when the voltage of the rechargeable battery cell means again reaches said upper threshold voltage, whereby in the absence of the backup D.C. voltage source the switching means is powered from the primary D.C. voltage source.

Claim 12

A multiple power source as claimed in claim 8 and in which the backup D.C. voltage source comprises battery means that do not recharge in the circuit.

Claim 13

A multiple power source as claimed in claim 8 and in which the product is provided with an on/off power switch connected with means for preliminarily connecting the rechargeable battery cell means to the product irrespective of its voltage value above the lower threshold voltage when the power switch is turned on, except in the event its voltage value is below said lower threshold voltage.

Claim 14

A multiple power source as claimed in claim 10 and in which said means connecting the rechargeable battery cell means to the product when the said power switch is turned on comprises capacitive and resistive attenuator dividers, the resistive divider establishing the upper threshold voltage and monitoring the voltage of the rechargeable battery cell means, and the capacitive divider providing a switching transient upon turn-on of said power switch to ensure the switching of the rechargeable battery cell means to the product.

Claim 15

A multiple power source as claimed in claim 9 and in which said pair of switching means comprises PNP bipolar transistor switches and said sense and control means comprises low-power circuitry for alternately oppositely operating the PNP bipolar transistor switches.

Claim 16

A multiple D.C. power source for electrical and electronic products having, in combination, a primary D.C. voltage source provided with rechargeable battery cell means having charging means and connected with voltage-supplying means, for controlling the voltage value of the rechargeable battery cell means; a backup D.C. voltage source; oppositely alternately operative switching means for connecting the primary D.C. voltage source to the product while disconnecting the backup D.C. voltage source from the product; and sense and control means connected to monitor the state of the said voltage value of the primary D.C. voltage source rechargeable battery means and for establishing predetermined upper and lower threshold voltages therefor, and for controlling the switching means in response to the monitoring, automatically and instantaneously to connect the backup D.C. voltage source to the product while disconnecting the primary D.C. voltage source rechargeable battery cell means therefrom when said voltage value thereof drops to said lower threshold voltage; and means for automatically and instantaneously reconnecting the primary D.C. voltage source rechargeable battery cell means to the product while disconnecting the back-up D.C. voltage source from the product when the voltage value of the primary D.C. voltage source rechargeable battery cell means reaches said upper threshold value, whereby in the absence of the backup D.C. voltage source the switching means is powered from the primary D.C. voltage source.

Claim 17

A multiple D.C. power source for electrical and electronic products having, in combination, a primary D.C. voltage source provided with rechargeable battery cell means having charging means and connected with voltage-supplying means, for controlling the voltage value of the rechargeable battery cell means; a backup D.C. voltage source; oppositely alternately operative switching means for connecting the primary D.C. voltage source to the product while disconnecting the backup D.C. voltage source from the product; and sense and control means connected to monitor the state of the said voltage value of the primary D.C. voltage source rechargeable battery means and for establishing predetermined upper and lower threshold voltages therefor, and for controlling the switching means in response to the monitoring, automatically and instantaneously to connect the backup D.C. voltage source to the product while disconnecting the primary D.C. voltage source rechargeable battery cell means therefrom when said voltage value thereof drops to said lower threshold voltage; and means for automatically and instantaneously reconnecting the primary D.C. voltage source rechargeable battery cell means to the product while disconnecting the back-up D.C. voltage source from the product when the voltage value of the primary D.C. voltage source rechargeable battery cell means reaches said upper threshold value, whereby in the absence of the backup D.C. voltage source the switching means is powered from the primary D.C. voltage source.

Claim 18

A multiple D.C. power source as claimed in claim 13 and in which said voltage-supplying means for said primary D.C. voltage source comprises photovoltaic cell means.

Claim 19

A multiple D.C. power source as claimed in claim 13 and in which voltage-supply means for said primary d.c. voltage source comprises an external D.C. power source.