DE102014200213A1 - Electronic module and method and apparatus for creating such an electronic module - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic module (100). The electronic module (100) comprises at least one photovoltaic cell (105) with an interface (715) to at least one electronic component (115, 720) which is electrically conductively connected or connectable to the photovoltaic cell (105) in order to conduct light the photovoltaic cell (105) to be supplied with electrical energy. Furthermore, the electronic module (100) comprises at least one light guide element (110) comprising a fluorescent material, wherein a light exit region (120) of the light guide element (110) adjacent to a surface of the photovoltaic cell (105) is arranged or arranged to light on the Surface of the photovoltaic cell (105) to conduct.

Description

State of the art

The present invention relates to an electronic module, to a method and apparatus for constructing such an electronic module and to a corresponding computer program product.

Self-powered applications may include photovoltaic, piezoelectric or thermoelectric elements to generate electrical energy by means of energy harvesting. Sensor networks or information boards are usually equipped with photovoltaic elements to use incident light for power supply.

In the course of the advancing development of the so-called Internet of Things ("Internet of Things") more and more devices rely on external energy sources. For example, in the field of sensor technology in 2019 photovoltaic sales of up to 80 megawatt peak are expected. Especially sensor networks, such as with humidity, temperature or presence sensors, as well as advertising signs, displays or other smaller consumers often require energy and are difficult to power via cables.

Disclosure of the invention

Against this background, an electronic module, a method and a device for creating such an electronic module as well as finally a corresponding computer program product according to the main claims are presented with the approach presented here. Advantageous embodiments emerge from the respective subclaims and the following description.

The present approach creates an electronic module with the following features:
at least one photovoltaic cell having an interface to at least one electronic component, which is electrically conductively connected or connectable to the photovoltaic cell to be supplied with electrical energy when directing light to the photovoltaic cell; and
at least one light guide element comprising a fluorescent material, wherein a light exit region of the light guide element is arranged adjacent to a surface of the photovoltaic cell or arranged to direct light onto the surface of the photovoltaic cell.

A photovoltaic cell may be understood to mean a plate-like semiconductor component for converting light energy into electrical energy. For example, the photovoltaic cell can be realized as a silicon, CIGS or organic solar cell. A light-guiding element can be understood, for example, to be a fluorescence collector. The light-guiding element can be made of a material that fluoresces when exposed to light. By total reflections within the light guide, a majority of the incident light can be directed to a light exit region of the light guide. A light exit region may be understood to mean a non-reflective region of the light-guiding element. For example, the light exit region may be formed on an edge or in a partial region of a surface of the light guide element. Through the light exit region, the light reflected in the light guide element can be directed in a concentrated manner out of the light guide element. Adjacent to the light exit region, a surface of the photovoltaic cell may be arranged. A surface of the photovoltaic cell can be understood as meaning a surface through which light can fall into the photovoltaic cell.

A light-guiding element can be embodied as a fluorescence collector. Photovoltaic cells can be coupled with fluorescence concentrators. Interior comparative measurements show a yield advantage per area of organic photovoltaics (OPV) of up to 30 percent over other photovoltaic technologies such as dye-sensitized solar cells (DSC) and crystalline (c-Si), amorphous cells (a-Si) or microcrystalline (μc-Si) silicon or copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS). Current fluorescence concentrators can achieve an efficiency of up to 6.7 percent. A coupling of fluorescence concentrators and photovoltaic elements can be used, for example, for power supply in an indoor environment.

The present approach is based on the finding that a self-sufficient energy supply of an electronic module can be realized by means of a photovoltaic cell and a fluorescence collector coupled to the photovoltaic cell.

Such a combination of a photovoltaic cell and a fluorescence collector in an electronic module has the advantage that the electronic module can be operated very efficiently even with local restrictions such as a low incidence of light or an area that is insufficient or predetermined by a design of the electronic module.

For example, the fluorescence collector can be shaped as desired. As a result, the electronic module can be adapted flexibly to curved surfaces or to geometries deviating from a rectangle.

According to one embodiment of the present approach, the light-guiding element may be designed to be changed in size and / or shape. For example, the light guide can be made of a cut to size material. As a result, the light guide can be flexibly adapted to given light or space.

Furthermore, the electronic module may comprise at least one fixing device, which is designed to fix the light exit region of the light guide element releasably to the surface of the photovoltaic cell. A fixing device can be understood, for example, as a clamping device or an insertion device. By means of the fixing device, the light guide can be easily and quickly assembled and disassembled. For example, this allows a simple and quick replacement of the light-guiding element.

Furthermore, one surface of the light-guiding element can correspond to at least one hundred times a surface of the photovoltaic cell. Thereby, an efficiency of the power supply of the electronic module, especially in low light conditions, be improved.

The light-guiding element can have at least one further light exit area. In this case, the further light exit region can be arranged or arranged adjacent to at least one further surface of the photovoltaic cell in order to guide light onto the further surface of the photovoltaic cell. As a result of this embodiment of the present approach, more light can be conducted onto the photovoltaic cell in comparison to an embodiment with only one light exit area. Thus, an efficiency of the power supply of the electronic module can be improved.

According to a further embodiment of the present approach, the light-guiding element may comprise a luminous surface which is designed to illuminate when light is guided through the light-guiding element. A luminous surface can be understood, for example, as a strip-shaped or planar partial region of the light-guiding element. As a result, the light-guiding element can also be used for lighting or decoration.

In addition, the luminous surface may have at least one luminous element for illuminating the luminous surface. A lighting element can be understood as an element that converts electrical energy into light. By way of example, the luminous element may be an LED or a light bulb. Thus, the light guide can be additionally used as a display or lighting device.

According to a further embodiment of the present approach, the electronic module may comprise the at least one electronic component. In this case, the electronic component may be realized as a sensor element. By a sensor element can be understood, for example, a temperature, humidity, pressure, sound, brightness or acceleration sensor. By means of this embodiment of the present approach, the sensor element can be operated and arranged independently of the presence of module-external current sources.

The present approach further provides a table top with an electronic module according to any of the embodiments described above. In this case, the light-guiding element can be at least partially integrated into the table surface. An extension of the light-guiding element can correspond to at least one third of an extension of the table surface. Under a table surface, for example, a table top of a desk or a conference table can be understood. The light guide can be embedded in the table top. Thus, the electronic module can be mounted space-saving and decorative in a location with generally good lighting conditions.

Furthermore, the present approach provides a method of constructing an electronic module according to any of the above-described embodiments, the method comprising the steps of:

Reading in a luminance signal, wherein the luminance signal represents a brightness of an outside environment of the light guide element; and

Determining a size and / or a shape of the light-guiding element that is suitable for guiding light required for operating the electronic module to the surface of the photovoltaic cell, using the brightness signal.

A size or shape determined in the step of determining may, for example, be displayed or output via an interface of a suitable device for carrying out the method.

According to one embodiment of the present approach, in the reading-in step, the brightness signal can be read in by means of an interface of a brightness sensor of a mobile terminal. For example, the brightness sensor can be integrated in a camera of the mobile terminal. A mobile terminal can be understood as a smartphone, a tablet PC or a laptop. As a result, the brightness signal can be provided location-independently.

Finally, the approach presented here creates a device which is designed to implement or implement the steps of a variant of a method presented here in corresponding devices. Also by this embodiment of the invention in the form of a device, the object underlying the invention can be solved quickly and efficiently.

In the present case, a device can be understood as meaning an electrical device which processes sensor signals and outputs control and / or data signals in dependence thereon. The device may have an interface, which may be formed in hardware and / or software. In the case of a hardware-based embodiment, the interfaces can be part of a so-called system ASIC, for example, which contains a wide variety of functions of the device. However, it is also possible that the interfaces are their own integrated circuits or at least partially consist of discrete components. In a software training, the interfaces may be software modules that are present, for example, on a microcontroller in addition to other software modules.

The device can be realized for example as a component of the mobile terminal.

A computer program product with program code which can be stored on a machine-readable carrier such as a semiconductor memory, a hard disk memory or an optical memory and is used to carry out the method according to one of the embodiments described above if the program product is installed on a computer or a device is also of advantage is performed.

The computer program may be, for example, an application executable on a smartphone or a tablet PC, also called an app.

The approach presented here will be explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

1 a schematic representation of an electronic module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 a schematic representation of an electronic module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 a schematic representation of an electronic module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 a schematic representation of a light guide element for use in an electronic module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

5 a schematic representation of a table with a table surface according to an embodiment of the present invention;

6 a flowchart of a method for operating an electronic module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

7 a schematic representation of an arrangement for determining a brightness of an environment of an electronic module according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

8th a block diagram of an apparatus for operating an electronic module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the following description of favorable embodiments of the present invention, the same or similar reference numerals are used for the elements shown in the various figures and similar acting, with a repeated description of these elements is omitted.

1 shows a schematic representation of an electronic module 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electronic module 100 includes a photovoltaic cell 105 , a light guide 110 and a sensor element 115 , The photovoltaic cell 105 is on a surface of the sensor element 115 arranged. An end region of the light-guiding element 110 includes a non-reflective surface 120 , as the light exit region of the light guide 110 acts. The non-reflective surface 120 is on one of the sensor element 115 remote surface of the photovoltaic cell 105 arranged.

In 1 extends the light guide 110 clearly above the sensor element 115 out. For example, the light guide 110 the shape of a strip that is 5, 10, or 20 times as long as the sensor element 115 ,

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a size and / or a shape of the light-guiding element 110 be variably adjusted, for example by means of cutting, to an energy efficiency of the electronic module 100 depending on given light or space conditions to improve.

The sensor element 115 is exemplified as a layer composite constructed with three superimposed layers. This is in a first position 125 an energy management unit of the sensor element 115 integrated. The energy management unit is with the photovoltaic cell 105 connected electrically conductive. In a second location 130 is a sensor unit of the sensor element 115 integrated. The sensor unit is electrically conductively connected to the power management unit to be powered by the power management unit. In a third location 135 is a radio frequency circuit of the sensor element 115 designed, for example, to transmit a signal provided by the sensor unit signal by means of a wireless data connection. In this case, the high-frequency circuit is electrically conductively connected to the sensor unit and the energy management unit. The second location 130 is an example between the first location 125 and the third location 135 arranged. The first location 125 in this case forms that surface of the sensor element 115 on which the photovoltaic cell 105 is arranged.

The light guide 110 is made of a fluorescent material such as Plexiglas. The light guide 110 is designed to capture light and over the non-reflective surface 120 on the surface of the photovoltaic cell 105 to steer. The photovoltaic cell 105 is adapted to guide the light onto the surface of the photovoltaic cell 105 an electrical energy for operating the sensor element 115 to create.

Since external constraints can affect a power supply function for standalone applications in some premises and in some places, use of such applications is often locally limited. For example, in the case of a sensor or an advertising sign, an area of the application may initially be limited to a device area of the sensor or the advertising sign.

Through a direct integration of a photovoltaic cell 105 on a final product 115 can be a form of photovoltaic module 100 to be disabled. An adaptation of the photovoltaic module 100 curved surfaces or geometries deviating from a rectangle can lead to an inhomogeneous illumination of the photovoltaic surface and to loss of conversion. For serial interconnection of solar cells 105 in a module 100 Cell strips of the same area are necessary to maximize current yield, which usually results in rectangular module shapes. This limitation can be achieved with a fluorescence collector 110 be lifted in the sensor area, as an area of the fluorescence collector 110 can take any forms.

By such a scalable additional collector 110 It is also possible to open up places which were not yet suitable for operation and to improve the application possibilities of the applications, for example by means of a higher clock rate for communication and other power-intensive functions. The fluorescence collector 110 can be provided cheaply and be adapted for example by the information of a smartphone app external boundary conditions. Furthermore, the fluorescence collector 110 be sold ready-made. Compared to an additional, second photovoltaic surface, it is with sensors 115 using fluorescence concentrators 110 are coupled, not necessary, electrical contacts to the sensor 115 or to provide the application.

Furthermore, an area of the fluorescence collector 115 be shaped by an end user without any reduction in performance.

The photovoltaic collector 115 can also be attached to shaded areas. For example, the collector 115 in a complete writing or meeting table area 505 be integrated as follows from 5 described. In this case, shading by a telephone or other commodity objects in contrast to a conventional thin-film photovoltaic module made of amorphous silicon or copper indium gallium diselenide (CIS) causes no disproportionate yield loss.

2 shows a schematic representation of an electronic module 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In contrast to 1 is the photovoltaic cell 105 in 2 significantly smaller. Further, the photovoltaic cell 105 and the light guide 110 not one above the other but next to each other on the surface of the sensor element 115 arranged. Here is one of the photovoltaic cell 105 facing edge of the light guide 110 as non-reflective light exit edge 200 educated. The light exit edge 200 is adjacent to an edge of the photovoltaic cell 105 arranged. Thus, that is through the light guide 110 captured light over the light exit edge 200 in the photovoltaic cell 105 directed.

3 shows a schematic representation of an electronic module 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In 3 is a plan view of the electronic module 100 shown. In contrast to 1 is the electronic module 100 in 3 with a fixing device 300 executed. The fixing device 300 includes two rails 305 which are each on opposite edge regions of the photovoltaic cell 105 are arranged parallel to each other. This corresponds a mutual distance of the rails 305 essentially a width of the light-guiding element 110 , The light guide 110 is in the rails 305 slidably arranged. The rails 305 are formed to the non-reflective surface 120 of the light-guiding element 110 on the surface of the photovoltaic cell 105 releasably fixable.

To create a scalable power supply for stand-alone applications, one in a sensor 100 or any self-sufficient application built-in photovoltaic unit 105 according to an embodiment of the present invention with a fluorescence collector 110 and a suitable device 300 for coupling the fluorescence collector 110 combined. By a variable design of a surface of the collector 110 is still possible in places of least irradiation operation.

In the device 300 For example, it is a Einschieberack for small fluorescence collectors 110 , The rack 300 is from a for receiving the collector 110 made of suitable material such as plastic or metal and formed around the collector 110 so to fix that a reflection-free surface 120 directly on or on a photovoltaic module 105 lies and thus can be extended as desired. Optionally, the device 300 comprise a clamp closure or a cup-shaped insertion device.

The fluorescence collector 110 can be variably cut to size. For example, the fluorescence collector 110 designed as a rigid plate, mold or foil. Thus, an end user may choose a size and shape of the fluorescence collector 110 adapt yourself to local conditions.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the fluorescence concentrator 110 with an organic photovoltaic cell 105 be coupled. This combination is particularly beneficial in the interior area.

The fluorescence collector 110 can at one or more edges of a sub-area with the photovoltaic cell 105 be coupled. Thus, the light energy of a relatively larger area is captured and targeted to the smaller photovoltaic cell 105 guided. This can be an application of the application or the sensor 100 be expanded at low cost.

Furthermore, the product can be manufactured as a kit with individually adjustable dimensions.

The dimensions can be, for example, several meters. Thus, the fluorescence collector 110 Also used as a decorative element on slices, also called Power Stripe, so that on the one hand a decorative effect is achieved and on the other hand, the collected light in the sensor 100 as electrical energy is used.

For example, these Power Stripes can be coupled with a billboard or escape route sign and used as a lighting element.

In the fluorescence collector 110 Optionally, at least one additional light source 310 such as an integrated LED. The light source 310 is designed to couple light in the dark. Thus, flat geometries such as stripes or surfaces can be lit up and used during the day as an energy harvester and at night as a display.

The electronic module 100 For example, it can be implemented as a component of Internet of Things applications, such as sensor networks.

4 shows a schematic representation of a light-guiding element 110 for use in an electronic module according to an embodiment of the present invention. The light guide 110 is realized as a fluorescence collector. The light guide 110 includes a collector plate 405 as well as a mirror 410 , The collector plate 405 is rectangular. For example, the collector plate 405 made of Plexiglas. Here is the mirror 410 on one side edge of the collector plate 405 arranged. At one of the mirrors 410 opposite side edge of the collector plate 405 is a photovoltaic cell 105 arranged. The photovoltaic cell 105 is for electrical contacting example with two contact terminals 420 executed.

In the collector plate 405 are molecules embedded in the action of light, especially solar radiation 425 , fluoresce. Total reflection causes most of the emitted light to reach the side edges of the collector plate 405 directed. Here the light comes out concentrated. Thus, the concentrated light can increase the performance of the collector plate 405 attached photovoltaic cell 105 be used. This prevents the mirror 410 that concentrated radiation 425 unused from the light guide 110 escapes.

5 shows a schematic representation of a table 500 with a table surface 505 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The table surface 505 has the electronic module 100 on. Here is the light guide 110 in the table area 505 embedded. Similar to in 2 is the photovoltaic cell 105 adjacent to the light exit edge 200 of the light-guiding element 110 arranged. This can also be the photovoltaic cell 105 in the table area 505 be integrated.

Depending on a site of the table 500 can the table surface 505 be lit by daylight and / or by an interior lighting. This light is in the light guide 110 concentrated and over the light exit edge 200 on the surface of the photovoltaic cell 105 directed. Thus, the electronic module 100 powered.

A surface of the light-guiding element 110 corresponds for example to one third or one half of the table surface 505 , Optional are the table surface 505 and the light guide 110 the same size.

It can also be two or more light-guiding elements 110 in the table area 505 be integrated.

6 shows a flowchart of a method 600 for creating an electronic module according to an embodiment of the present invention. The procedure 600 includes a step 605 reading a brightness signal, wherein the brightness signal represents a brightness of an outside environment of the light guide element. Furthermore, the method comprises 600 one step 610 determining a size and / or a shape of the light-guiding element using the brightness signal.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, in step 605 reading in the brightness signal is read in by means of an interface of a brightness sensor of a mobile terminal.

The determined size or shape can for example be used by a person to tailor the light guide appropriately.

7 shows a schematic representation of an arrangement 700 for determining a brightness of an environment of an electronic module 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The order 700 is located for example in an interior. The order 700 includes a light source 705 , which represents the lighting conditions of the interior, a mobile terminal 710 as well as the electronic module 100 ,

The electronic module 100 includes an interface 715 and a device 720 to run an application. the interface 715 is with the device 720 and the photovoltaic cell 105 connected. The photovoltaic cell 105 is with the light guide 110 coupled. Further, the photovoltaic cell 105 and the light guide 110 in 7 by way of example outside the electronic module 100 arranged.

The mobile device 710 includes a brightness sensor configured to be one of the light source 705 dependent brightness of the environment of the light guide 110 capture. Here is the mobile device 710 configured to use the brightness of a size and / or a shape of the light guide 110 to investigate. The size and / or shape of the light guide 110 For example, on a screen 725 of the mobile terminal 710 are displayed. This may be the size and / or shape of the light guide 110 to those on the screen 725 displayed size and / or shape to be adapted to an energy efficiency of the electronic module 100 to improve.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a sizing calculation of the collector 110 done using a smartphone app. In this case, an external radiation is measured by means of a brightness sensor of a smartphone camera. This then becomes a necessary length and / or area of the collector 110 calculated.

8th shows a block diagram of a device 800 for operating an electronic module according to an embodiment of the present invention. The device 800 includes a unit 805 for reading in a brightness signal, wherein the brightness signal represents a brightness of an external environment of the light guide element. The unit 805 is with one unit 810 which is configured to determine a size and / or a shape of the light guide using the luminance signal.

The embodiments described and shown in the figures are chosen only by way of example. Different embodiments may be combined together or in relation to individual features. Also, an embodiment can be supplemented by features of another embodiment.

Furthermore, the method steps presented here can be repeated as well as executed in a sequence other than that described.

If an exemplary embodiment comprises a "and / or" link between a first feature and a second feature, then this is to be read so that the embodiment according to one embodiment, both the first feature and the second feature and according to another embodiment either only first feature or only the second feature.

Claims (13)

Electronic module ( 100 ) having the following features: at least one photovoltaic cell ( 105 ) with an interface ( 715 ) to at least one electronic component ( 115 . 720 ) connected to the photovoltaic cell ( 105 ) is electrically conductively connected or connectable in order to conduct light to the photovoltaic cell ( 105 ) to be supplied with electrical energy; and at least one light-guiding element ( 110 ) comprising a fluorescent material, wherein a light exit area ( 120 ) of the light guide element ( 110 ) adjacent to a surface of the photovoltaic cell ( 105 ) is arranged or can be arranged to light on the surface of the photovoltaic cell ( 105 ). Electronic module ( 100 ) according to claim 1, wherein the light-guiding element ( 110 ) is adapted to be changed in size and / or shape. Electronic module ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, with at least one fixing device ( 300 ) which is adapted to the light exit area ( 120 ) of the light guide element ( 110 ) detachable at the surface of the photovoltaic cell ( 105 ) to fix. Electronic module ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, in which a surface of the light-guiding element ( 110 ) at least one hundred times a surface of the photovoltaic cell ( 105 ) corresponds. Electronic module ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the light-guiding element ( 110 ) has at least one further light exit region, wherein the further light exit region adjoins at least one further surface of the photovoltaic cell ( 105 ) is arranged or can be arranged in order to light on the further surface of the photovoltaic cell ( 105 ). Electronic module ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the light-guiding element ( 110 ) comprises a luminous surface which is designed to be conductive when light is passed through the light-guiding element ( 110 ) to shine. Electronic module ( 100 ) according to claim 6, wherein the luminous surface at least one luminous element ( 310 ) for illuminating the luminous surface. Electronic module ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, with which at least one electronic component ( 115 . 720 ), wherein the electronic component ( 115 . 720 ) as a sensor element ( 115 ) is realized. Table surface ( 505 ) with an electronic module ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the light-guiding element ( 110 ) at least partially into the table surface ( 505 ) is integrated and wherein an extension of the light-guiding element ( 110 ) at least one third of an extension of the table surface ( 505 ) corresponds. Procedure ( 600 ) for creating an electronic module ( 100 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method ( 600 ) includes the following steps: reading in ( 605 ) of a luminance signal, wherein the luminance signal is a brightness of an outside environment of the light guide element (FIG. 110 represents; and determining ( 610 ) a size and / or a shape of the light guide element ( 110 ) suitable for operating the electronic module ( 100 ) required light on the surface of the photovoltaic cell ( 105 ), using the brightness signal. Procedure ( 600 ) according to claim 10, wherein in the reading step ( 605 ) the brightness signal by means of an interface of a brightness sensor of a mobile terminal ( 710 ) is read. Contraption ( 800 ), which is adapted to the steps ( 605 . 610 ) of a process ( 600 ) according to claim 10 or 11 in corresponding facilities ( 805 . 810 ). Computer program product with program code for carrying out the method ( 600 ) according to claim 10 or 11, when the computer program product is stored on a device ( 800 ) is performed.

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