WO2021206662A1

WO2021206662A1 - Eco-friendly power station device

Info

Publication number: WO2021206662A1
Application number: PCT/TR2021/050325
Authority: WO
Inventors: Burak YAZAR; Serkan MAHİR
Original assignee: Turkcell Teknoloji Arastirma Ve Gelistirme Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2020-04-07
Filing date: 2021-04-07
Publication date: 2021-10-14
Also published as: EP4133568A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (1) which enables users to charge their electronic devices and is suitable for providing service upon being placed in different locations particularly in open spaces, whereby service parameters can be monitored by using a communication network apart from communication networks operating with terrestrial hardware, which enables to operate systems with higher power requirement upon being connected in a suitable formation and can be carried easily.

Description

ECO-FRIENDLY POWER STATION DEVICE

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a portable device for enabling users to charge their electronic devices by means of electric network incoming over both solar energy and distribution system.

Background of the Invention

Today, users utilize their personal communication devices such as smart phone, tablet and electronic products such as portable computer in their daily life. Charging need of these electronic devices is met by using suitable chargers over electric network incoming over distribution system under normal conditions.

Nevertheless, the said electronic devices will have difficulty of charging in locations that cannot be accessed by the electric network incoming over the distribution system and wherein no constant settlement is available or in cases of natural disaster, network maintenance and repair when it is not possible to provide electric power from the electric network incoming over the distribution system and in similar cases. Therefore, today electronic device charging stations which enable users to charge their electronic devices and uses renewable energy sources such as solar power are used in locations that cannot be accessed by the electric network incoming over the distribution system or it is not possible to provide electric power from the electric network incoming over the distribution system.

The said electronic device charging stations are physically fixed to locations where it is aimed to provide charging service to users. Electronic device charging station can use renewable energy resources that can be accessed by renewable energy gathering units included in its current hardware, and provide a service limited by environmental conditions. Transaction of moving an electronic device charging station to a different location in order to provide service to more users requires disassembly and transport of a fixed station.

Besides, electronic device charging stations are used in cases where communication networks operating with terrestrial hardware do not operate in certain circumstances such as natural disaster. Due to the fact that service parameters of the said stations cannot be monitored by communication networks operating with terrestrial hardware; service parameters such as stations’ charge status, health of battery, usage of renewable energy, regional weather conditions, number of users who get service must be regularly controlled by at least one station maintenance personnel.

The said electronic device charging stations cannot provide power in a sufficient amount to operate communication infrastructure devices of the above-mentioned communication networks promptly, in cases where communication networks operating by terrestrial hardware under specific conditions such as natural disaster. It is not possible to meet the energy need of at least one communication infrastructure device that must be urgently operated in the natural disaster area by using a plurality of electronic device charging stations together in the current technique.

Considering the deficiencies of electronic device charging stations in the current technique, it is seen that there is need for a device which is suitable for providing service upon being placed in different locations particularly in open spaces, whereby service parameters can be monitored by using a communication network apart from communication networks operating with terrestrial hardware, which enables to operate systems with higher power requirement upon being connected in a suitable formation and can be carried easily in the state of the art. The Slovak Utility Model document no. SK7007, an application in the state of the art, discloses a system for charging electronic devices of users by using solar energy in natural disasters and emergencies. The said system comprises a solar panel, a battery, an inverter, at least one power output, a charge measurement unit, a charge control unit, a measurement unit of power consumption, a main control unit and a wifi router.

Summary of the Invention

An objective of the present invention is to realize a device which enables users to charge their electronic devices and is suitable for providing service upon being placed in different locations particularly in open spaces, whereby service parameters can be monitored by using a communication network apart from communication networks operating with terrestrial hardware, which enables to operate systems with higher power requirement upon being connected in a suitable formation and can be carried easily.

Detailed Description of the Invention

“Eco-Friendly Power Station Device” realized to fulfil the objective of the present invention is shown in the figure attached, in which:

Figure l is a front view of the inventive device.

The components illustrated in the figure are individually numbered, where the numbers refer to the following:

1. Device

2. Battery 3. Battery charger

4. Charge controller

5. AC cable

6. Charging cable 7. Solar panel

8. Sensor

9. Inverter

10. Socket outlet

11. Power distribution stabilizer 12. Carrier wheel

13. Screen

14. Antenna

G: Body

The inventive device (1) which enables users to charge their electronic devices and is suitable for providing service upon being placed in different locations particularly in open spaces, whereby service parameters can be monitored by using a communication network apart from communication networks operating with terrestrial hardware, which enables to operate systems with higher power requirement upon being connected in a suitable formation and can be carried easily comprises: at least one battery (2) which is configured to store electric power and to distribute the electric power stored; at least one battery charger (3) which is configured to control method of charging, charging current and percentage of charge of the battery (2); at least one charge controller (4) which is configured to control charge of the users’ electronic devices by means of electric power received from the battery (2); at least one AC cable (5) which is configured to charge the battery (2) over mains in cases of accessing the mains voltage by means of the battery charger (3); at least one charging cable (6) which is configured to transmit electric power to electronic devices by connecting to charge inputs of users’ electronic devices; at least one solar panel (7) which is configured to charge the battery (2) by means of the battery charger (3) by converting solar rays into electric power; at least one sensor (8) which is configured to gather amount of charge, health of charge of the battery (2), amount of power provided by the solar panel (7), amount of power extracted from the charge controller (4), environmental weather conditions, user statistics; at least one inverter (9) which is configured to convert the DC current received from the battery (2) into the AC power output at the same voltage with the mains; at least one socket outlet (10) which is configured to supply the AC power at the same voltage with the mains arising from the inverter (9), to an electronic device that operates or is charged with the mains voltage; at least one power distribution stabilizer (11) which is configured to decide on distribution of the power generated in the inverter (9), in the socket outlets (10); a plurality of carrier wheels (12) which are configured to carry the device (1) upon being placed under the body (G) and to facilitate the movement of the device (1); at least one screen (13) which is located on the body (G) and configured to carry out transactions of charge approval or payment of the user’ s electronic device and to initiate transactions of charge approval or payment by recognizing the user by means of facial recognition technology. The batery (2) included on the inventive device (1) is configured to be charged by the battery charger (3) and to supply the energy stored on it to electronic devices of users as DC or AC by means of the charge controller (4) or the inverter (9). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, lithium-ion bateries are used inside the battery (2).

The batery charger (3) included on the inventive device (1) is configured to charge the batery (2) by using the AC or the DC voltage incoming over the AC cable (5) or the solar panel (7). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, charge of the battery (2) in devices (1) placed in locations with no access to mains is realized by the power incoming from the solar panel (7) whereas charge of the batery (2) in devices (1) placed in locations no access to mains is realized by the power incoming from the AC cable (5).

The charge controller (4) included on the inventive device (1) is configured to supply the power stored in the battery (2) to the user’s electronic devices by means of the charging cable (6). In one embodiment of the invention, the charge controller (4) is configured to charge portable personal communication devices of a user in the form of smart phone, tablet and electronic devices serving different purposes in the form of digital/monologue camera, camera, portable charger, navigation device, flashlight. In another embodiment of the invention, a plurality of charge controllers (4) are included in the device (1).

The AC cable (5) included on the inventive device (1) is configured to charge the battery (2) in cases where it is placed in locations with access to mains by connecting to the batery charger (3). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the AC cable (5) is configured to ensure that the device (1) is charged and it is made ready for use by connecting to the mains in cases where the charge status of the battery (2) falls below a certain level. The charging cable (6) included on the inventive device (1) is configured to transmit the electric power received from the charge controller (4) to the user’s electronic devices. In one embodiment of the invention, the charging cable (6) is available up to the number of charge controller (4).

The solar panel (7) included on the inventive device (1) is configured to charge the battery (2) by means of the battery charger (3). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, charge of the battery (2) in devices (1) placed in locations with no access to mains is realized by the power incoming from the solar panel (7). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the solar panel (7) is in monocrystalline cell structure for maximum energy recovery.

The sensor (8) included on the inventive device (1) is a Nb-IoT sensor configured to gather amount of charge, health of charge of the battery (2), amount of power provided by the solar panel (7), amount of power extracted from the charge controller (4), environmental weather conditions, user statistics and service parameters of the device (1). In one embodiment of the invention, a different sensor (8) is used for each service parameter of the device (1). In another embodiment of the invention, a common sensor (8) is used by combining the parameters to be measured by the same sensor (8).

The inverter (9) included on the inventive device (1) is configured to convert the DC current received from the battery (2) into the AC power output at the same voltage with the mains. In one embodiment of the invention, the inverter (9) is configured to supply electronic devices up to the number of socket outlet (10) being used. In another embodiment of the invention, the inverters (9) of a plurality of devices (1) are configured to meet the energy need of a communication infrastructure device operating by a power higher than the power value that a single device (1) can supply upon being connected in parallel. The socket outlet (10) included on the inventive device (1) is configured to supply an electronic device in the form of a laptop that operates or is charged by AC power mains voltage that is same as the mains leaving the inverter (9). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, AC voltage generated in the inverter (9) is supplied to the electronic device that is plugged into the socket outlet (10). In one embodiment of the invention, the socket outlet (10) is configured to charge electric bicycle, drone or electric scooter devices used for increasing the mobility in the event of a disaster.

The power distribution stabilizer (11) included on the inventive device (1) is configured to decide on distribution of the power generated in the inverter (9), in the socket outlets (10). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the power distribution stabilizer (11) is configured to send suitable power values to electronic devices that may be plugged into the said socket outlets (10), in the event that a plurality of socket outlets (10) are positioned on the device (1).

The carrier wheels (12) included on the inventive device (1) are located under the body (G) in order to facilitate transportation and movement.

The screen (13) included on the inventive device (1) is positioned on the body (G) and configured to carry out transactions of charge approval or payment of the user’s electronic device and to initiate transactions of charge approval or payment by recognizing the user by means of facial recognition technology. In one embodiment of the invention, the screen (13) is configured to carry out video and audio communication with emergency centers by means of camera and microphone it includes, to transmit emergency message and to make emergency notification to users in another embodiment of the invention, the screen (13) is configured to provide basic communication services in regions located out of the coverage area of the communication networks operating with terrestrial hardware wherein it is positioned. In another embodiment of the invention, the screen (13) is configured to carry out entry and payment transactions of activities in densely populated areas. In a further embodiment of the invention, the screen (13) is configured to initiate a user’s transaction of charge approval, transaction of charge payment, transaction of activity entry or transaction of activity payment by means of facial recognition technology.

The antenna (14) included on the inventive device (1) is positioned on the body (G), configured to communicate with a central server by using low Earth orbit satellites or any wireless communication method in the state of the art. In one embodiment of the invention, the antenna (14) is configured to enable subunits of the device (1) to communicate with a central server by using low Earth orbit satellites in cases where communication networks operating with terrestrial hardware cannot be accessed, by using wireless communication methods operating with terrestrial hardware of subunits of the device (1) in cases where communication networks operating with terrestrial hardware can be accessed.

The inventive device (1) is an eco-friendly power station device which can be placed in different locations particularly in open spaces by means of the carrier wheels (12) located under the body (G) and enables to charge electronic devices of users by converting solar power into electric power. The solar panel (7) located on the device (1) provides DC current to the battery charger (3) for charging the battery

(2). In the battery charger (3), it is enabled to charge the battery (2) by setting the current incoming from the solar panel (7) to a suitable voltage range. The AC cable (5) located on the device (1) provides AC current to the battery charger (3) upon connecting to the mains. It is ensured to charge the battery (2) in the battery charger

(3) by converting the current incoming from the AC cable (5) into DC current and setting it to a suitable voltage range. The electric power stored in the battery (2) supplied to electronic devices of users by means of the charging cable (6) wherein personal communication devices of users such as smart phone, tablet are connected by the charge controller (4). The said device (1) enables to charge a plurality of personal communication devices at the same time. The electric power gathered in the battery (2) is converted from DC current into AC current of 220 V -that is used in the mains- by the inverter (9) and it enables to charge or operate electronic devices by setting it to power values suitable for electronic devices that may be connected to the socket outlets (10) by the power distribution stabilizer (11). Electric power of a plurality of devices (1) stored in the batteries (2) is used for meeting the energy need of a communication infrastructure device which operates with a power higher than the power values that can be supplied by a single device (1) which must be reactivated temporarily in case of an emergency such as a natural disaster upon AC current outputs of a plurality of inverters (9) are connected in parallel in the devices (1). Amount of charge, health of charge of the battery (2), amount of power provided by the solar panel (7), amount of power extracted from the charge controller (4), environmental weather conditions, user statistics and service parameters of the (1) -which indicate the working status of the device (1)- are gathered by the sensor (8) having Nb-IoT connection capability. Service parameters of the device (1) are measured by a common sensor (8) upon combining parameters that can be measured by means of different sensors (8) or the same sensor (8). It is ensured to monitor operating status of each device (1) by gathering the data received from the sensors (8) in a central server. The screen (13) enables to carry out charge approval transactions or charge payment transactions of a user’s electronic device. Transactions of charge approval or transactions of charge payment can be initiated by recognizing the user by means of facial recognition technology included in the screen (13). In the region where the device (1) is positioned in an emergency such as a natural disaster, users are enabled to communicate with emergency centers, to transmit emergency messages and to transmit emergency notifications to users by means of the screen (13). The screen (13) provides communication services in regions located out of the coverage area of the communication networks operating with terrestrial hardware wherein the device (1) is positioned. The screen (13) enables to carry out entry and payment transactions of activities to be organized in densely populated areas. The screen (13) is used to initiate a user’s transaction of charge approval, transaction of charge payment, transaction of activity entry or activity payment of activities to be organized in densely populated areas, by means of facial recognition technology. The antenna (14) is configured to enable subunits of the device (1) to communicate with a central server by using low Earth orbit satellites in cases where communication networks operating with terrestrial hardware cannot be accessed, by using wireless communication methods operating with terrestrial hardware of subunits of the device (1) in cases where communication networks operating with terrestrial hardware can be accessed. The antenna (14) is configured to transfer data such as angle of incidence of the sun, location-specific weather forecast, the number of sunny days and electricity generation capacity of the location on a minute, hourly, daily, monthly and annual basis -which are gathered by from the device (1) by means of the sensor (8)- to a central cloud server by means of satellites in low Earth orbit in order to be used while positioning a new device (1). By means of the data gathered in a central cloud server, a new device (1) is enabled to obtain maximum efficiency from solar power. In another embodiment of the invention, data to be gathered by the sensor (8) included in the device (1) can be commercializes and other information about location-based weather conditions can be shared with power companies.

Within these basic concepts; it is possible to develop various embodiments of the inventive “Eco-Friendly Power Station Device (1)”; the invention cannot be limited to examples disclosed herein and it is essentially according to claims.

Claims

1. A device (1) which enables users to charge their electronic devices and is suitable for providing service upon being placed in different locations particularly in open spaces, whereby service parameters can be monitored by using a communication network apart from communication networks operating with terrestrial hardware, which enables to operate systems with higher power requirement upon being connected in a suitable formation and can be carried easily comprising: at least one battery (2) which is configured to store electric power and to distribute the electric power stored; at least one battery charger (3) which is configured to control method of charging, charging current and percentage of charge of the battery (2); at least one charge controller (4) which is configured to control charge of the users’ electronic devices by means of electric power received from the battery (2); at least one AC cable (5) which is configured to charge the battery (2) over mains in cases of accessing the mains voltage by means of the battery charger (3); at least one charging cable (6) which is configured to transmit electric power to electronic devices by connecting to charge inputs of users’ electronic devices; at least one solar panel (7) which is configured to charge the battery (2) by means of the battery charger (3) by converting solar rays into electric power; at least one sensor (8) which is configured to gather amount of charge, health of charge of the battery (2), amount of power provided by the solar panel (7), amount of power extracted from the charge controller (4), environmental weather conditions, user statistics; at least one inverter (9) which is configured to convert the DC current received from the battery (2) into the AC power output at the same voltage with the mains; at least one socket outlet (10) which is configured to supply the AC power at the same voltage with the mains arising from the inverter (9), to an electronic device that operates or is charged with the mains voltage; at least one power distribution stabilizer (11) which is configured to decide on distribution of the power generated in the inverter (9), in the socket outlets (10); characterized by a plurality of carrier wheels (12) which are configured to carry the device (1) upon being placed under the body (G) and to facilitate the movement of the device (1); at least one screen (13) which is located on the body (G) and configured to carry out transactions of charge approval or payment of the user’s electronic device and to initiate transactions of charge approval or payment by recognizing the user by means of facial recognition technology.

2. A device (1) according to Claim 1; characterized by the battery (2) which is configured to be charged by the battery charger (3) and to supply the energy stored on it to electronic devices of users as DC or AC by means of the charge controller (4) or the inverter (9).

3. A device (1) according to Claim 1 or 2; characterized by the battery charger (3) which is configured to charge the battery (2) by using the AC or the DC voltage incoming over the AC cable (5) or the solar panel (7).

4. A device (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the charge controller (4) which is configured to supply the power stored in the battery (2) to the user’s electronic devices by means of the charging cable (6).

5. A device (1) according to Claim 4; characterized by the charge controller (4) which is configured to charge portable personal communication devices of a user in the form of smart phone, tablet and electronic devices serving different purposes in the form of digital/monologue camera, camera, portable charger, navigation device, flashlight.

6. A device (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the AC cable (5) which is configured to charge the battery (2) in cases where it is placed in locations with access to mains by connecting to the battery charger (3).

7. A device (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the AC cable (5) which is configured to connect to the mains in cases where the charge status of the battery (2) falls below a certain level.

8. A device (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the charging cable (6) which is configured to transmit the electric power received from the charge controller (4) to the user’s electronic devices.

9. A device (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the charging cable (6) which is available up to the number of charge controller (4).

10. A device (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the solar panel (7) which is configured to charge the battery (2) by means of the battery charger (3).

11. A device (1) according to Claim 10; characterized by the solar panel (7) which is configured to charge the battery (2) in locations with no access to mains.

12. A device (1) according to Claim 10 or 11; characterized by the solar panel

(7) which is configured in monocrystalline cell structure for maximum energy recovery.

13. A device (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the sensor (8) which is configured to gather amount of charge, health of charge of the battery (2), amount of power provided by the solar panel (7), amount of power extracted from the charge controller (4), environmental weather conditions, user statistics and service parameters of the device (1).

14. A device (1) according to Claim 13; characterized by the Nb-IoT sensor

(8) which is configured to gather amount of charge, health of charge of the battery (2), amount of power provided by the solar panel (7), amount of power extracted from the charge controller (4), environmental weather conditions, user statistics and service parameters.

15. A device (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the inverter (9) which is configured to convert the DC current received from the battery (2) into the AC power output at the same voltage with the mains.

16. A device (1) according to Claim 15; characterized by the inverter (9) which is configured to supply electronic devices up to the number of socket outlet (10) being used.

17. A device (1) according to Claim 15 or 16; characterized by the inverter (9) which is configured to meet the energy need of a communication infrastructure device operating by a high power upon being connected in parallel

18. A device (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the socket outlet (10) which is configured to supply an electronic device in the form of a laptop that operates or is charged by AC power mains voltage that is same as the mains leaving the inverter (9).

19. A device (1) according to Claim 18; characterized by the socket outlet (10) which is configured to charge electric bicycle, drone or electric scooter devices used for increasing the mobility in the event of a disaster.

20. A device (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the power distribution stabilizer (11) which is configured to decide on distribution of the power generated in the inverter (9), in the socket outlets (10).

21. A device (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the carrier wheels (12) which are located under the body (G) in order to facilitate transportation and movement.

22. A device (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the screen (13) which is positioned on the body (G) and configured to carry out transactions of charge approval or payment of the user’s electronic device and to initiate transactions of charge approval or payment by recognizing the user by means of facial recognition technology.

23. A device (1) according to Claim 22; characterized by the screen (13) which is configured to carry out video and audio communication with emergency centers by means of camera and microphone it includes, to transmit emergency message and to make emergency notification to users.

24. A device (1) according to Claim 22 or 23; characterized by the screen (13) which is configured to provide basic communication services in regions located out of the coverage area of the communication networks operating with terrestrial hardware wherein it is positioned.

25. A device (1) according to Claim 22 to 24; characterized by the screen (13) which is configured to carry out entry and payment transactions of activities in densely populated areas.

26. A device (1) according to Claim 22to 25; characterized by the screen (13) which is configured to initiate a user’s transaction of charge approval, transaction of charge payment, transaction of activity entry or transaction of activity payment by means of facial recognition technology.

27. A device (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the antenna (14) which is positioned on the body (G), configured to communicate with a central server by using low Earth orbit satellites or any wireless communication method.

28. A device (1) according to Claim 27; characterized by the antenna (14) which is configured to enable subunits of the device (1) to communicate with a central server by using low Earth orbit satellites in cases where communication networks operating with terrestrial hardware cannot be accessed, by using wireless communication methods operating with terrestrial hardware of subunits of the device (1) in cases where communication networks operating with terrestrial hardware can be accessed.