Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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INTERACTIVE PHOTOVOLTAIC APPARATUS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a photovoltaic (PV) apparatus, and more
particularly, to a PV apparatus having interactive elements capable of being
detachably and electronically connected to the apparatus to form a closed
circuit.
The solar powered interactive apparatus of the present invention is
particularly
advantageous for indoor applications in areas such as office settings where
indoor
lighting (e.g., ceiling lights) is made readily available to the PV apparatus
and such
that it is independent from any electric plugs or grid-tie power supplies; in
addition,
with a backup battery unit provided therein, the present invention may too be
used for
outdoor applications as a standalone apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Photovoltaic (PV) technology or solar cells capable of converting solar energy
directly into electricity has advanced dramatically in recent years. PV has
also been
widely adapted in standalone devices, either grid-tie or off-grid, for its
advantages of
being highly reliable and integrable. As the cost of solar cells lowers, PV in
general
serves as a great alternative source of power especially for portable and
standalone
consumer electronics in our daily lives.
Solar powered portable electronic devices such as those for use as
rechargeable
batteries, mobile phones, instruments or display signs are well known. They
exhibit
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the characteristics of being powered by PV modules and are mostly standalone
devices without additional wiring to the grid, a great advantage with the use
of PV.
However, PV devices including the ones of the abovementioned known arts all
fail to
provide user interactions and to allow device users to interact directly with
the device
with greater functional flexibilities but only with build-in functions and
fixed power
capability. In other words, known arts are mostly predefined and set to have a
certain elements and supported by a predetermined capacity of PV modules
integrated
therein. For instance, users may not detach PV modules from electronic devices
freely or vice versa and they may not attach multiple electronic devices to PV
modules or vice versa and/or the combination thereof.
Thus, one shortcoming associated with a common electronic device integrated
with PV module is its inability for users to select, attach or detach a
different set of
PV modules as desired; and the other shortcoming is that it lacks the ability
to allow
users to freely attach different electric loads or electronic units to the
device based on
user needs and interactions. Common solar powered devices are mostly made with
a
build-in circuitry to power one single electronic device and their ability to
support
extra electronic devices with a customizable number of units is prohibited or
limited
since their loops are just not designed to allow further interactions and the
circuitry
are pre-defined in order to integrate with PV modules.
In view of the foregoing, it is desirable to provide a PV apparatus capable of
charging and discharging one or more interactive electronic units at once,
wherein the
number of PV modules utilized in the apparatus may be customized and the
number
of interactive electronic devices may too be varied depending upon user
interactions.
Such PV apparatus may be particularly advantageous for indoor applications
where
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indoor lighting such as ceiling lights is made abundant and readily available
to the PV
apparatus and no additional power cords connecting to grid-tie plug is
necessary.
With an additional backup battery to store the PV converted electricity, such
PV
apparatus may also be advantageous for both outdoor and indoor applications in
the
absence of light as a standalone apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to overcome the shortcomings described above, one aspect of the
present
invention is to provide a PV apparatus having an interactive interface to
freely receive
a detachable electronic unit. An open circuit integrated with PV modules is
provided
to allow user interactions with one or more detachable electronic units. In
addition,
user interactions to the PV modules integrated therein may also be provided to
allow
detachable PV modules configured to have a circuitry with a customized
capacity for
the apparatus.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a PV integrated
apparatus
for home and office applications, such as an office partition, having an
interactive
board, with an open circuit such that it may freely receive an interactive
detachable
unit attached thereon to form a customized close circuit. The interactive
detachable
unit may be, for example, an LED pin or pin with sound chip and users may
advantageously use it with the PV apparatus as a message board of an office
partition
or panel, independent from electric plugs or grid-tie power supplies.
Still another aspect of the present invention is to provide a PV apparatus
having
an interactive board for indoor and outdoor gaming applications, such as a
dartboard,
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capable of receiving an electronic dart. For example, electronic darts built
in with a
LED or sound chip may interactively attached to the PV integrated dartboard
designed
for destructive penetrations and capable of receiving the piercing head of the
electronic darts, in a way similar to traditional dartboards while retaining
the basic
functions of it. Such gaming apparatus integrated with PV modules independent
from electric plugs or grid-tie power supplies may be used indoor or outdoor.
A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a PV apparatus having
an
interactive charging interface to receive an electronic charging unit
detachable to the
interface. The electronic rechargeable unit may be, for example, a
rechargeable
battery charger such that the PV apparatus may be a standalone device
independent
from electric plugs or grid-tie power supplies.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the interactive PV apparatus
comprises a layered body having a first conductive layer and a second
conductive
layer; a PV module assembly having a first output lead and a second output
lead,
electrically connected to said layered body; a retainer structure secured to a
portion of
the layered body; and wherein the layered body further including at least one
insulation layer disposed between the first and second conductive layers; said
first and
second output leads of the PV module assembly being electrically connected to
the
first and second conductive layers of the layered body respectively to form an
open
circuit; the layered body further including at least one protective cover
disposed on a
front and a rear surface thereof; and wherein the retainer structure being
configured to
detachably receive said PV module assembly thereon. Such that the front or
rear
surface of the interactive PV apparatus of the present invention may provide a
free
surface or interface for an interactive electronic unit, such as a piercing
object or pin,
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to be interactively attached thereon.
The interactive PV apparatus may further comprise an interactive electronic
unit
having at least one piercing protrusion; wherein the piercing protrusion
further
includes a first electric contact and a second electric contact, protruding a
predetermined depth therefrom to detachably penetrate the layered body such
that the
open circuit created by the layered body and the PV module assembly is closed
to
form a closed circuit as the first and second electric contacts electrically
connect to
the first and second conductive layers of the layered body respectively.
According to an explanatory embodiment of an interactive electronic device for
use with the interactive PV apparatus of the present invention, the device
comprises a
shell body having a top portion and a base portion; an electronic component
enclosed
within the top portion of the shell body and affixed to the base portion
thereof ; at
least one elongated protrusion attached to the base portion of the shell body
and
protruded outwardly from the shell body; and wherein the at least one
elongated
protrusion further comprises a piercing head having a first electric contact
and a
second electric contact electrically connected to the electronic component
within the
shell body, an inert block disposed between the first and second electric
contacts
thereof; and wherein the inert block is of a predetermined longitudinal length
along
the elongated protrusion away from the shell body. In accordance with the
abovementioned open circuit formed by the interactive PV apparatus, the
attachment
or insertion of the interactive device of the present invention, such as a pin
with LED
module, a pin with sound chip or both, interactively creates a closed circuit
with the
electronic component being the load of the circuit.
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For home and office indoor applications, according to one embodiment of the
present invention, an office partition or message board integrated with PV is
provided.
Such interactive PV integrated partition apparatus comprises a layered board
having a
first conductive layer, a second conductive layer and at least one insulation
layered
disposed therebetween; at least one frame member secured to a an edge of the
layered
board; a PV module assembly detachably attached to the at least one frame
member,
having a first output lead and a second output lead; an interactive electronic
unit
having at least one piercing protrusion including a first electric contact and
a second
electric contact; and wherein said first and second output lead of the PV
module
assembly being electrically connected to the first and second conductive layer
of the
layered board respectively to form an open circuit; the layered panel further
including
at least one protective cover disposed on a front and a rear surface thereof;
the
piercing protrusion protruding outwardly from the interactive electronic unit
at a
predetermined depth such that said open circuit is closed and forming a closed
circuit
as an external force being interactively exerted on the interactive electronic
unit to
force the piercing protrusion thereof to penetrate the layered board to the
predetermined depth and the first and second electric contacts electrically
connecting
to the first and second conductive layers of the layered board respectively.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a gaming apparatus for both
indoor and outdoor applications is provided. Accordingly, an interactive PV
integrated gaming apparatus comprises a layered board having a first
conductive layer,
a second conductive layer and at least one insulation layered disposed
therebetween;
an outer frame cover secured to a an edge of the layered board; a PV module
assembly attached to the outer frame cover, having a first output lead and a
second
output lead; an interactive electronic unit having at least one piercing
protrusion
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including a first electric contact and a second electric contact; and wherein
said first
and second output lead of the PV module assembly being electrically connected
to the
first and second conductive layer of the layered board respectively to form an
open
circuit; the layered board further including at least one protective cover
disposed on a
front and a rear surface thereof; the piercing protrusion protruding outwardly
from the
interactive electronic unit, having a sharp end with a predetermined depth
such that
said open circuit is closed and forming a closed circuit as an external force
being
interactively exerted on the interactive electronic unit to force the sharp
end of the
piercing protrusion thereof to penetrate the layered board to the
predetermined depth
and the first and second electric contacts electrically connecting to the
first and second
conductive layers of the layered board respectively. More particularly, the
present
invention may be advantageously embodied or used as a gaming apparatus, such
as a
dartboard game.
Furthermore, the PV apparatus of the present invention may further comprise an
electric storage means such as a rechargeable battery or capacitor such that
the
electricity converted from the PV module assembly and transferred to the
layered
body or board of the apparatus may be stored in the backup unit as it is
electrically
connected to the PV module assembly, and it may too be electrically connected
to the
layered board to supply the electricity directly in the absence of the
electricity
converted from the PV module assembly for applications where light is limited
or
prohibited to the PV module assembly of the apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing and other elements, features and advantages of the invention
will
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be more fully understood from the following descriptions of various
embodiments of
the invention and the accompanying drawings. In the drawings like reference
characters generally refer to the same elements throughout the different
views. The
drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon
illustrating
the principles of the invention.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of one embodiment of an interactive PV
apparatus of the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the structure of one embodiment of the
layered
body of the PV apparatus of the present invention;
FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of an office partition according to one
embodiment of the PV apparatus of the present invention;
FIG. 4A shows an exploded view of an embodiment of an interactive electronic
unit for use with a PV apparatus of the present invention;
FIG. 4B shows a schematic view of the connections between the electronic
component and the elongated protrusion of the interactive electronic unit of
FIG. 4A;
FIG. 5 shows an illustrative circuit diagram of an open circuit provided by
the PV
apparatus of the present invention;
FIG. 6 shows an illustrative circuit diagram of a closed circuit provided by
the
PV apparatus and the interactive electronic unit of the present invention;
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FIG. 7 shows an illustrative circuit diagram of one embodiment of the PV
apparatus of the present invention integrated with a rechargeable battery;
FIG. 8A shows a schematic view of a dartboard according to one embodiment of
the PV apparatus of the present invention;
FIG. 8B shows a schematic view of an electronic dart according to another
embodiment of an interactive electronic unit for use with the dartboard in
FIG. 8A;
FIG. 9 shows a schematic view of a charging apparatus of the PV apparatus of
the present invention with a charging unit; and
FIG. 10 shows a schematic view of one embodiment of the present invention in a
geometric shape of pyramid having multiple surfaces.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
In an explanatory embodiment of an interactive PV apparatus of the present
invention as shown in FIG. 1, the interactive PV apparatus 10 of the present
invention
designed and implemented to provide advantageous user interactions, comprises
a
layered body 20 having a first conductive layer 22 and a second conductive
layer 24; a
PV module assembly 30 having a first output lead 32 and a second output lead
34,
electrically connected to said layered body 20; a retainer structure 40
secured to a
portion of the layered body 20; and the layered body 20 further including an
insulation layer 26 disposed between the first and second conductive layers
22, 24, a
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protective cover 28 disposed on a front surface 21 and a rear surface 27
thereof; the
retainer structure 40 configured to detachably receive said PV module assembly
30
thereon; and wherein said first and second output leads 32, 34, of the PV
module
assembly 30 being electrically connected to the first and second conductive
layers 22,
24 of the layered body 20 respectively to form an open circuit. It can,
however, be
understood that more than one insulation layer 26 may be disposed between the
first
and second conductive layers 22, 24 and similarly, more than one protective
cover 28
may be disposed on both the front surface 21 or rear surface 27 of the layered
body
20.
A user may interactively attach and detach an interactive electronic unit 50
onto
the PV apparatus 10 such that the interactive electronic unit 50 is
electrically
connected to the PV apparatus to form a closed circuit and the abovementioned
open
circuit provided by the layered boy 20 in conjunction with the PV module
assembly
30 is closed with an electrical load of the interactive electronic unit 50.
More
particularly, a user may freely attach and detach the interactive electronic
unit 50 onto
the apparatus 10 via a physical penetration of the layered body 20 thereof
while
forming a perforation 29 on the front surface 21 (or rear surface 27,
depending upon
the user's desired interaction) of the layered body 20 to electrically connect
to the
apparatus 10. In addition, a user may also interactively attach and detach a
PV
module assembly 30 of different sets/numbers of PV modules 31 for a customized
capacity or output performance depending upon interactions and needs of the
user.
The abovementioned retainer structure 40 of the interactive PV apparatus 10 of
the present invention may further include a module holder 41 as shown in FIG
1.
The module holder 41 may be configured to detachably receive the PV module
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assembly 30 in a recess 43 and may be formed as an integral part of the
retainer
structure 40. Additionally, connection ports 45 may also be provided on the
module
holder 41, preferably in the recess 43, to facilitate the electrical
connections to the
first and output leads 32, 34 of the PV module assembly 30 while having the
same
polarities as the ones of the output leads connected thereon. Structural
through holes
may be further provided on the retainer structure 40 to facilitate the
electrical wiring
of the components connecting the output leads 32, 34 to the conductive layers
22, 24
of the apparatus 10 of the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the layered body 20 of an embodiment of the
PV apparatus 10 of the present invention. The layered body 20 comprises a
first
conductive layer 22 and a second conductive layer 24, separated by at least
one
insulation layer 26. On opposite sides of the first and second conductive
layers 22,
24, a protective cover 28 may be disposed on the front and rear surfaces 21,
27 of the
layered body 20, which may be a layer of non-conductive material of a certain
thickness or may be a relatively thin film coated on the front and rear
surfaces 21, 27.
To allow the transmission of electricity from the PV module assembly 30 to the
layered body 20 of the apparatus 10 of the present invention, more
particularly via the
first and second conductive layers 22, 24 thereof, the layered body 20 may
comprise
conductive polymers and elastic materials. For instance, the layered body 20
may
comprise at least one of the following materials of: ionic polymer, carbon
foil, metal
foil, synthetic polymer and natural fiber. The first and second conductive
layers 22,
24 is preferable to exhibit the properties of an elastic material having a
certain
conductivity as well as resistivity determined by the amount of conductive
elements
by weight such as carbon and metallic materials incorporated therein. The
elasticity
and rubber hardness of the material may be similar to that of a soft to medium
rubber.
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For example, elastic material or cloth having moderate flexibility together
with
rigidity and strength, such as rubber, synthetic rubber or porous synthetic
resins may
be used and incorporated. In one embodiment of the present invention, the
material
of the first and second conductive layers 22, 24 of the layered body 20 may be
of a
rubber hardness between 30 Shore 00 to 70 Shore D according to the ASTM
durometer tesing standards of Type 00, A and D scales. It may be preferable to
adopt a carbon rubber of a rubber hardness of the scale of 40 Shore 00,
substantially
equivalent to that of the material of sorbothane for the first and second
layers 22, 24
of the layered body 20. Furthermore, the electrical resistance of the material
of the
first and second layers 22, 24 of the layered body 20 may be preferably less
than 50
ohms per square. To be more specific, the first and second layers 22, 24 may
be of a
volume resistivity of from 0.001 to 6.0 ohms-cm, and a surface resistivity of
from
1.Ox 105 to 6.0 ohms/square, in accordance to the ASTM D991 testing standards
utilizing sheet samples of the material. In a particular example, a mesh
electrode pad
made of conductive polymer and fibers with low resistance may be preferably
used;
the conductive polymer and fibers in a form of rubber or foam having the
volume
resistivity less than 6.0 ohms-cm and surface resistivity of 0.03 ohms/square
may be
preferably used.
Similarly, in one embodiment, the at least one insulation layer 26 of the
layered
body 20 may be made of a non-conductive material with a rubber hardness
between
30 Shore 00 to 70 Shore D. Non-conductive material such as silicon or silicon
composites of a hardness of 40 Shore 00 may too be used. Other non-conductive
material such as wood, plastic products and electrically insulative materials
such as
textile fiber or optical fiber may be used. Examples of suitable insulative
fibers may
also include synthetic polymeric fibers, such as nylons, and natural fibers,
such as
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cotton and wool. In addition, the abovementioned protective cover 28 may too
be of
any one of the nonconductive and electrically insulative materials recited
herein.
Conductive gel such as hydrogel comprising hydrophilic polymer may be
additionally
provided between the layers of the layered body 20 of the present invention to
increase the surface conductivity of the conductive layers 22, 24 in
particular.
Furthermore, said layers of the layered body 20 may be attached to each other
by
adhesives or structurally confined by the retainer structure 40 directly, such
as at the
edges of the layered body 20 as shown in the accompanying drawings.
The electrical polarities of the first and second conductive layers 22, 24 of
the
layered body 20 may depend upon the electrical connection to the PV module
assembly 30. As shown again in FIG. 1, the PV module assembly 30 having a
first
output lead 32 and a second output lead 34 electrically connected to the first
and
second conductive layers 22, 24 of the layered body 20, the corresponding
electrical
polarities of conductive layers 22, 24 are equivalent to those of the output
leads 32, 34
of the PV module assembly 30 connected thereto. For instance, the first output
lead
32 and the first conductive layer 22 may both be of a positive polarity;
whereas the
second output lead 34 and the second conductive layer 24 may both be of a
negative
polarity, or vice versa.
FIG. 3 shows an explanatory embodiment of the interactive PV apparatus of the
present invention for home and office applications. An interactive PV
integrated
partition apparatus 100 of the present invention is provided and comprises a
layered
board 120 having a first conductive layer 122, a second conductive layer 124
and at
least one insulation layer 126 disposed therebetween; a retainer structure 140
secured
to a an edge of the layered board 120; a PV module assembly 130 detachably
attached
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to the retainer structure 140, having a first output lead 132 and a second
output lead
134; and wherein said first and second output leads 132, 134, of the PV module
assembly 130 being electrically connected to the first and second conductive
layers
122, 124 of the layered board 120 respectively to form an open circuit; the
layered
board 120 further including at least one protective cover 128 disposed on a
front and a
rear surface, 121, 127 thereof. Said layers of the layered board 120 may be
attached
to each other with an adhesive or be structurally confined by the retainer
structure 130,
such as at the edges thereof. Unlike the traditional office partitions having
no
electric plug outlets or requiring grid-tie plugs to be installed or embedded
therein, the
PV integrated partition apparatus 100 of the present invention may provide an
open
circuit ready to freely receive electrical loads to form a closed circuit
independent of
any grid-tie plugs. Users may advantageously interact with the PV integrated
partition 100 by attaching or detaching interactive electronic units 50 such
as LED pin,
pins with sound chip or both onto the partition for marking or message
displaying
purposes; they may too interact with the partition 100 by attaching or
detaching a
different PV module assembly 130 having certain predefined PV modules
connected
altogether in series or parallel for a customized capacity depending on their
needs.
The retainer structure 140 may further comprise a module frame 141 attached to
an edge of the layered board 120, at least one recess 143 formed on a portion
of the
module frame 141 to detachably secure said PV module assembly 130 thereon. The
recesses 143 of the module frame may also include connection ports 145
electrically
connect to the first and second output leads of the PV module assembly 130. It
is
advantageous to provide a module frame 141 with a recess 143 to allow the
attachment of the PV module assembly 130 onto the frame 141; the recess 143
may
further include connection ports 145 formed therein such that the first and
second
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output leads 132, 134 of the PV module assembly 130 may be electrically
connected
thereto. To facilitate both the fixation of the frame 141 attaching to the
layered
board 120 and the electrical connections from the PV module assembly 130 to
the
layered board 120, fixations 147 may preferably be provided at a rear surface
of the
frame 141. The connection ports 145 may be metal plates with polarity the same
as
the ones of the output leads 132, 134 of the PV module assembly 130 connected
thereon. Said fixations 147 may be made of conductive material such as metal,
metal alloy or carbon composites, attached to the rear surface of the module
frame
141; in another embodiment, the fixations 147 may be provided as an integral
part of
the frame 141 with through holes allowing the first and second output leads
132, 134,
of the PV module assembly 130 from the connection ports 145 directly connected
to
the layered board 120.
The PV module assembly 130 may comprise a plurality PV modules 131
connected to each other, preferably in series (parallel connection may also be
adopted
to obtain a great output current or both depending on the desired output of
voltage and
current); and the PV module assembly 130 may then be electrically connected to
the
layered body forming said open circuit. As the PV module assembly 130 may have
a total capacity equivalent to the number and type of PV modules 131 connected
thereon, a user may advantageously replace a different set of PV module
assembly
130 onto the module frame 141 of the retainer structure 140 depending on the
desired
output capacity and performance. In one embodiment, the PV module assembly 130
may be detachably secured to the module frame 141 of the retainer structure
140 via
securing means such as brackets, clips, hooks, press fitting means or magnets;
such
means may be preferably be formed within or adjacent to the recess 143
thereof. A
user may interactively replace the module frame 141 with the PV module
assembly
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130 together as one unit for a different capacity based on the needs.
Alternatively, a
number of different sets of PV module assemblies 130 may be pre-fabricated as
standard models for the attachment fitted to the PV apparatus 100 of the
present
invention based on user preference and selections. For example, module frame
having different PV module assembly 130 of output performance of IOW, 30W, 50W
with pre-connected solar cells may be supplied as selectable models to users.
FIGs. 4A and 4B are schematic views of an example of the interactive
electronic
unit 50 of the present invention. The interactive electronic unit 50 may be
used with,
for example, the interactive PV apparatus 10, 100 of the present invention. In
one
embodiment, the interactive device 50 may comprise a shell body 53 having a
top
portion 55 and a base portion 57; an electronic component 60 enclosed within
the top
portion 55 of the shell body 53 and secured to the base portion 57 thereof; an
elongated protrusion 70 attached to the base portion 57 of the shell body 53
and
protruded outwardly from the shell body 53; and wherein the elongated
protrusion 70
further comprising a piercing head 77 having a first electric contact 72 and a
second
electric contact 74 electrically connected to the electronic component 60
within the
shell body 53, an inert block 76 disposed between the first and second
electric
contacts 72, 74 thereof; and wherein the piercing head 77 having a
predetermined
depth DH along a longitudinal length L of the elongated protrusion 70 away
from the
shell body 53. The electronic component 60 may also comprise a circuit board
62 on
whish components such has resistors and capacitors may be connected thereon.
The
abovementioned elements of the unit 50 shown in FIG. 4A may be attached or
secured
to each other with fasteners, adhesives or molds configured to form a unity.
In one
embodiment, the first electric contact 72 of the piercing head 77 may form a
sharp tip
on one end of the elongated protrusion 70 and the second electric contact 74
of the
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piercing head 77 may form a conductive ring thereon separated by the inert
block 76.
More particularly, as shown in FIG. 4B, the electronic component 60 may
include an
LED module, a sound chip or both (other electrical components may too be
possible),
electrically connected to the first and second electric contacts 72, 74 of the
piercing
head 77 of the elongated protrusion 70. A resistor R of a certain selected
resistance
according to the type of electronic component 60 used is also shown for
illustrative
purpose. In addition, the piercing head 77 of the elongated protrusion 70 may
comprise metal or metallic material, plastic and combination thereof and may
have a
hardness between 50 Shore D to 30 Rockwell C, or a hardness substantially
greater
than the ones of the first and second conductive layers 22, 24, 122, 124 and
the
insulation layer 26, 126 of the PV apparatus 10, 100 mentioned previously.
Therefore, the piercing head 77 may physically penetrate the abovementioned
layered
body or board 20, 120 of the PV apparatus 10, 100 of the present invention and
may
form perforations 29 thereon.
In view of the embodiments of the interactive PV apparatus 10, 100 of the
present invention, such as the ones shown in FIGs. 1 and 3, more than one of
the
interactive electronic unit or interactive device 50 previously described may
be used
with the apparatus 10, 100. A user may advantageously use such interactive
electronic unit to freely attach to or detach from the PV apparatus. To be
more
specific, as an interactive electronic unit 50 is subject to an interactive
external force F,
say from a user, the interactive electronic unit 50 may penetrate the layered
body 20,
120 with the elongated protrusion 70 and a perforation 29 (as shown in FIG. 1)
of a
penetrating depth Dp (measured from the outermost layer of the layered body)
may be
physically formed on the layered body 20, 120. Said open circuit provided by
the
PV apparatus 10, 100 may be subsequently closed to form a closed circuit with
an
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electrical load of the interactive electronic unit 50 as the first and second
electric
contacts 72, 74 of the piercing head 77 of the elongated protrusion70
electrically
connect to the first and second conductive layers 22, 24, 122, 124 of the
layered body
or board 20, 120 respectively. In one embodiment where more than one
interactive
electronic unit 50 may be implemented, the closed circuit formed by these
units may
be a parallel circuit. Explanatory circuit diagrams are further illustrated in
the later
content.
Please refer to FIG. 2 in conjunction with FIGs. 4A and 4B. As far as the
design of the thickness of the PV apparatus 10, 100 and the electronic unit or
device
50 of the present invention may be considered, in one embodiment, the
abovementioned longitudinal length L of the elongated protrusion 70 may be
preferably greater than or equal to a combined layer thickness TL of the ones
of the at
least one protective cover Tp, the first conductive layer Tl and the at least
one
insulation layer Ti, or
LZ TL; TL =Tp x n +T1 +T; x n, where n is the number of similar layers;
and the predetermined depth DH of the piercing head 70 as previously mentioned
may
be preferably be greater than or equal to a combined conductive thickness Tc
including the ones of the first conductive layer Tc and the at least one
insulation Ti of
the layered body or board 20, 120, or
DH> Tc; Tc =T1 +T; x n, where n is the number of similar layers;
furthermore, as the interactive electronic unit or device 50 penetrates into
the layered
body 20, 120, the abovementioned penetrating depth Dp of the perforation 29
formed
on the layered body may preferably be greater than or equal to the
predetermined
depth DH of the piercing head 77 of the elongated protrusion 70 and is less
than or
equal to the longitudinal length L of the elongated protrusion 70, or
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DHSDp L;
the thickness T2 of the second conductive layer 24, 124 of the layered body
20, 120
may be advantageously selected to be substantially equivalent to Tl of the
first
conductive layer 22, 122 and being adjacent to the insulation layer 26, 126.
In one
embodiment, the piercing head 77 of the device 50 may pierce through and/or
simply
touch on the second conductive layer of layered body 20, 120 to form a close
circuit.
FIGs. 5 and 6 are illustrative circuit diagrams of embodiments of the PV
apparatus of the present invention. In one embodiment according to the
abovementioned open circuit provided by the PV module assembly 30, 130 and the
layered body 20, 120 of the apparatus 10, 100, FIG. 5 shows an illustration of
such
open circuit in which the PV modules 31, 131 are connected in series to form
the PV
module assembly 30, 130 and further connected to the first and second
conductive
layers 22, 24, 122, 124 of the layered body 20, 120 having internal resistance
R1, R2
respectively. The internal resistance Rl and R2 of the conductive layers may
refer to
the abovementioned electrical resistance of the material, in particular, the
volume
resistivity of the material of the conductive layers. The circuit is open for
additional
loads connected in parallel (series for a single load) as they are inserted or
attached
onto the layered body.
Once the interactive electronic unit 50, or more than one such unit, is
attached
onto the PV apparatus 10, 100 of the present invention, the PV apparatus 10,
100 may
provide electricity to the electronic component 60 of the unit 50 attached to
the
layered body 20, 120 thereof to create visual, audio or other effects
electrically
depending upon the type of electronic component 60 utilized therein. FIG. 6
shows
an explanatory circuit diagram of a closed circuit as electrical loads are
connected to
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the circuit, for example, three electronic units 50 with electrical loads RLI,
RL2 and
RL3 may be connected in parallel in the circuit while being attached to the
apparatus
10, 100 of the present invention. The PV module assembly 30, 130 may provide
electricity via the layered body 20, 120 having internal resistance R1 and R2
to the
electrical loads of RLI, RL2 and RL3 of different or similar electrical
functions, such as
LED module with visual effects or sound chip for audio, in the closed circuit.
The open and close circuit of the present invention may be incorporated with
additional electronic parts to obtain optimum performance based on user
preferences.
As solar cells or PV connected directly in series (or parallel or combination
of the two
depending on the desired output performance on voltage and/or current) in the
circuit,
small interruptions in light may suspend the circuit or system and may lead to
blinking of the load connected to such direct circuit. It is therefore
advantageous to
prevent such suspension or interruption to the system with additional
superconductors
adjusted within the circuit to provide current during small interruptions. In
one
embodiment, at least one electric storage means such as capacitor C, C1 or C2
as
shown in FIG. 5 and 6, may be added in parallel to the circuit, depending upon
the
energy output desired. Furthermore, to prevent the possible backflow of the
electricity
going back to the PV module assembly 30, 130 from the load in a closed circuit
as
shown in FIG. 6, it may be preferable to include a reverse diode D in the
circuit.
As the addition of capacitors, C, CI or C2, may only make the circuit to work
with the interruption in light as mentioned above, in order to provide a
better and
more adequate energy storage, it is preferably to include a rechargeable
battery B to
the circuit to provide electricity not only in the presence of light but also
in the dark.
According to an embodiment as shown in FIG. 7, electric storage means of at
least one
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rechargeable battery B may be preferably be connected to the PV module
assembly in
parallel and as well as to the layered body 20, 120. The solar circuit may
charge the
battery to provide the electricity in absence of light. Again, it is
preferable to
connect a reverse diode D in between the rechargeable battery B and the PV
modules.
For example, NiMH batteries or sealed lead-acid batteries may be used as
suitable
backup batteries.
According to another explanatory embodiment of the interactive PV apparatus of
the present invention, as shown in FIG. 8A, an interactive PV gaming apparatus
200
for use in gaming applications may comprise a layered board 220 having a first
conductive layer 222, a second conductive layer 224 and at least one
insulation
layered 226 disposed therebetween; an outer frame 240 secured to an edge of
the
layered board 220; a PV module assembly 230 attached to the outer frame 240,
having
a first output lead 232 and a second output lead 234; and wherein said first
and second
output leads 232, 234 of the PV module assembly 230 being electrically
connected to
the first and second conductive layers 222, 224 of the layered board 220
respectively
to form an open circuit; the layered board 220 further including at least one
protective
cover 228 disposed on a front and a rear surface thereof. Unlike traditional
dartboards having a score board with no electric effects or common electrical
dartboards having a plurality of pre-formed holes electrically connected to
each other
and supported by batteries or grid-tie plugs, the dartboard of the PV
integrated gaming
apparatus 200 of the present invention requires no pre-formed electric holes
or
complex electric wirings to be supported by external power supplies. In
addition,
while physical or destructive perforations into the board are being allowed,
users may
advantageously interact with the PV integrated gaming apparatus or dartboard
freely
with an interactive electronic unit 500, such as an electronic dart, in such
as way that
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the merits or basic functions of traditional dartboards may be retained.
FIG. 8B shows an embodiment of an electronic dart 500 similar to the
abovementioned interactive electronic unit 50 of the present invention. The
electronic dart 500 or the interactive electronic unit 50 may be used with the
gaming
apparatus 200 described above. In one embodiment, such electronic dart 500 may
comprise a shell body 530 having a top portion 540 and a base portion 550; an
electronic component 560 enclosed within the top portion 540 of the shell body
530
and secured to the base portion 550 thereof; an elongated protrusion 570
attached to
the base portion 550 of the shell body 530 and protruded outwardly from the
shell
body 530; and wherein the elongated protrusion 570 further comprising a
piercing
head 577 having a first electric contact 572 and a second electric contact 574
electrically connected to the electronic component 560 within the shell body
530, an
inert block 576 disposed between the first and second electric contacts 572,
574
thereof; and wherein the piercing head 577 having a predetermined depth DH
along a
longitudinal length L of the elongated protrusion 570 away from the shell body
530.
The electronic component 560 may include an LED module, a sound chip or both,
electrically connected to the first and second electric contacts 572, 574 of
the piercing
head 577 of the elongated protrusion 570.
Details recited in the above content related to the explanatory embodiments
10,
100 of the present invention shall also be applicable to the ones of the
gaming
apparatus 200 or dartboard, including such as the abovementioned circuitry
designs,
the capability to allow interactions with physical or destructive perforations
on the
board. Likewise, the first and second conductive layers 222, 224 of the
layered
board 220 of the gaming apparatus 200 may have a rubber hardness between 30
Shore
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00 to 70 Shore D according to the ASTM durometer tesing standards of Type 00,
A
and D scales. The electrical resistance of the material of the first and
second layers
222, 224 of the layered body 220 may be preferably less than 50 ohms per
square.
To be more specific, the first and second layers 222, 224 may be of a volume
resistivity of from 0.001 to 6.0 ohms-cm, and a surface resistivity of from
1.0x105 to
6.0 ohms/square, in accordance to the ASTM D991 testing standards utilizing
sheet
samples of the material. In a particular example, a mesh electrode pad made of
conductive polymer and fibers with low resistance may be preferably used; the
conductive polymer and fibers in a form of rubber or foam having the volume
resistivity less than 6.0 ohms-cm and surface resistivity of 0.03 ohms/square
may be
used.
Furthermore, according to another explanatory embodiment of the interactive PV
apparatus of the present invention, a PV integrated charging apparatus 300 is
provided
and comprises a layered board 320 having a first conductive layer 322, a
second
conductive layer 324 and at least one insulation layered 326 disposed
therebetween;
an outer frame 340 secured to a portion of the layered board 320; a PV module
assembly 330 attached to the outer frame 340, having a first output lead 332
and a
second output lead 334; and wherein said first and second output leads 332,
334 of the
PV module assembly 330 being electrically connected to the first and second
conductive layers 322, 324 of the layered board 320 respectively to form an
open
circuit; the layered board 320 further including at least one protective cover
328
disposed on a front and a rear surface thereof. Similarly, an interactive
electronic
unit such as a charging unit 600 similar to the abovementioned interactive
electronic
unit 50 of the present invention may be used with the charging apparatus 300
described herein. The PV module assembly 330 of the charging apparatus 300 may
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CA 02684819 2009-11-02
provide a sufficient amount of electricity to the charging unit 600 attached
thereon
and penetrating the layered board 320 in a way substantially similar to the
previously
described embodiments of the present invention. In one embodiment, the
charging
unit 600 may comprise a shell body 630 having at least one battery seat 640
and a
base 650; a first elongated protrusion 672 and a second elongated protrusion
674
attached to the base 650 of the shell body 630 and protruded outwardly from
the shell
body 630; and wherein the first elongated protrusion 672 further comprising a
first
electric contact 672 such as in a form of a piercing head 677 and the second
elongated
protrusion 674 further comprising a second electric contact 674 such as in a
form of a
conductive ring 678. As the charging unit 600 penetrates the layered board 320
of
the apparatus 300 and forms perforations 329 with the first and second
elongated
protrusions 674, the charging unit is electrically connect to the first and
second
conductive layers 322, 324 via the first and second electric contacts 672, 674
thereof
to form a close circuit. Rechargeable batteries (not shown) installed onto the
battery
seats 640 of the charging unit 600 may be subsequently charged.
It can be understood that the layered body or board 20, 120, 220, 320 of the
interactive PV apparatus 10, 100, 200, 300 of the present invention may be of
various
shapes, forms and dimensions. The rectangular shape of the layered body as
shown
in the accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only. FIG. 10 shows
another embodiment of an interactive PV apparatus 400 having a layered body
420 in
the shape of a pyramid integrated with a PV module assembly 430 on a top
portion
thereof. The surfaces or interface of the layered body 420 may provide users
with
interactions utilizing interactive electronic units 50, 500, 600, such as LED
pin, audio
pin or charging unit to be freely inserted or attached. It can be understood
that other
geometric shapes such as cube, sphere, roll, column or polygon are also
possible and
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CA 02684819 2009-11-02
may be applied to the layered body of the present invention.
The claims should not be read as limited to the described order or elements
unless
stated to that effect. While the invention has been particularly shown and
described
with reference to specific illustrative embodiments, it should be understood
that
various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the
spirit and
scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, the
term "a",
"an" or "one" recited above and in the claims is of the meaning equivalent to
"at least
one". By way of example, any of the disclosed features may be combined with
any
of the other disclosed features to form a PV apparatus with or without an
interactive
electronic unit attached thereon in accordance with the invention. Therefore,
all
embodiments that come within the scope and spirit of the following claims and
equivalents thereto are claimed as the invention.
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