Solar Cell Lighting Charge Balancing via Light Intensity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Solar cell lighting apparatuses face challenges in achieving uniform charge capacity balancing due to varying energy storage in secondary batteries, especially in areas with shadow casting, requiring efficient methods that do not discard stored energy and are cost-effective.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that integrates multiple solar cell lighting apparatuses via a communication network, where a main control unit collects charge capacity information, determines necessary adjustments in light intensity based on reference capacities, and outputs control signals to balance charge capacities without the need for separate buck or boost circuits, considering degradation and ambient conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a buck circuit is added for charge capacity balancing, then the circuit configuration is simple and cost is reduced, but energy stored in secondary batteries with high charge capacity is discarded rather than utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the charge capacity balancing function with the existing lighting control system. The controller integrates battery status monitoring and balancing control into a unified system, eliminating the need for separate buck circuits while preventing energy wastage through intelligent power management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables batteries with high charge capacity to serve batteries with low charge capacity by allowing discharge from high-capacity batteries to charge low-capacity batteries directly through the controller, making the high-capacity batteries serve a dual purpose: lighting and charging other batteries.
2Reliability
If a boost circuit is added for charge capacity balancing, then balancing is achieved at high charge level, but the circuit becomes more expensive and difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the balancing function from complex hardware circuits and implements it through software control logic in the controller. The controller monitors battery charges and manages power distribution algorithmically, removing the need for boost circuits and their associated complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical boost circuit system with an electronic control system. The controller uses electronic signal processing and power management algorithms to achieve balancing, substituting complex analog circuitry with digital control mechanisms.
3Reliability
If separate buck or boost circuits are added for each secondary battery, then charge capacity balancing can be achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal controller that manages multiple batteries through a single integrated system. The controller performs monitoring, balancing, and power management functions for all batteries centrally, allowing each battery to be managed by the same multi-functional controller rather than requiring dedicated circuits for each battery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple battery management functions into a single controller unit. The controller integrates charging control, discharging control, balancing logic, and status monitoring into one unified device, reducing the overall system complexity compared to having separate circuits for each battery.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables efficient charge capacity balancing by adjusting light intensity, preventing energy wastage and achieving uniformity without additional circuitry, while also considering battery degradation and environmental factors.
Implementation Method 1
a solar cell light fixture is an application of a solar power generation system that converts solar energy to electrical energy using a solar cell
Implementation Method 2
stores the electrical energy converted from the solar energy in a secondary battery during the day
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a system and method for controlling a solar cell lighting apparatus. The control system according to the present disclosure integratedly manages a plurality of solar cell lighting apparatuses, each solar cell lighting apparatus including a light emitting source to emit light by a discharge power of a secondary battery and a control unit to adjust a magnitude of the discharge power, and includes a main control unit to collect charge capacity information of each of the secondary batteries included in the plurality of solar cell lighting apparatuses from the control unit of each of the plurality of solar cell lighting apparatuses, determine at least one solar cell lighting apparatus needed to control a light intensity based on the charge capacity collected from the secondary batteries, and output a light intensity control signal to the control unit of the determined solar cell lighting apparatus, to achieve charge capacity balancing of the secondary batteries. According to the present disclosure, charge capacity balancing of the secondary battery may be performed using characteristics of the lighting apparatus. Accordingly, there is no need for a separate buck circuit, and having to throw away energy stored in the secondary battery rather than making use of it may be prevented.