JP2009032806A - Power supply case for electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power supply case for an electronic device, capable of protecting the electronic device housed inside and efficiently supplying power by photovoltaic generation. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic device case 1 includes: a case body 2 provided with an opening 5 on one end part and capable of housing the electronic device in the inside; a power generation panel 3 attached turnably through a hinge 11 to the other end part of the case body 2; a lid part 4 provided on the power generation panel 3 for closing the opening 5 of the case body 2 when putting the power generation panel along the case body 2; a single crystal or polycrystal solar cell 10 arranged on the power generation panel 3; and a current supply part 14 for supplying a current from the solar cell 10 to the housed electronic device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention accommodates portable electronic devices such as portable audio devices, cellular phones, portable personal computers, and portable GPS, and has the function of supplying power generated by solar cells to the accommodated electronic devices. The power supply case.

  A portable electronic device such as a portable audio device, a cellular phone, a portable personal computer, or a portable GPS may become unusable due to the use of a built-in battery. For this reason, the user must always use it while paying attention to the battery life.

  Also, it is rare to carry a charger for charging these portable electronic devices, and even if they are carried, they cannot be charged outdoors. For this reason, once leaving the house, there are few opportunities to charge until returning home, and there is a problem that it cannot be used for a long time when going out.

As a conventional technique for solving such a problem, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique of providing a solar cell on the surface of a mobile phone and supplying power to the mobile phone by power generation of the solar cell. Patent Document 2 discloses a case for a portable wireless terminal in which a solar cell is attached to the outer surface.
JP 2002-359676 A JP 2000-175720 A

  However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, a solar cell is provided on the surface of a mobile phone. However, mobile electronic devices such as a mobile phone are not only used under relatively severe conditions such as outdoors, but are also portable. As a result of being exposed to a strong external force such as colliding with other articles inside, the solar cell may be damaged.

  In addition, the solar cell constituting the solar cell as the power supply source is fragile and easily broken, and it is actually difficult to arrange it on the outer surface of the mobile phone or the case. In addition, even if it can be arranged, there is a problem that there are large design restrictions.

  A film deposition type solar cell using a plastic film, stainless steel, or aluminum sheet as a deposition base can be arranged as described above, but its power generation efficiency is greatly inferior to that of a crystalline solar cell. Therefore, there is a problem that sufficient power cannot be supplied to an electronic device such as a mobile phone that consumes a large amount of power.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a power supply case for an electronic device that has a function of efficiently supplying power by solar power generation while protecting the electronic device housed therein. And

  The electronic device power supply case of the present invention has an opening at one end, a case main body that can accommodate the electronic device therein, and a pivotally attached to the other end of the case main body via a hinge. A power generation panel, a lid provided on the power generation panel and closing the opening of the case body when the power generation panel is placed along the case body, and a crystalline solar disposed on the power generation panel A cell and a current supply unit for supplying current from the solar cell to an electronic device are provided.

  According to the electrode supply case for an electronic device of the present invention, the electric power efficiently generated by the single crystal or polycrystalline crystal solar cell of the power generation panel is transferred to the electronic device accommodated in the case body through the power supply unit. Supplied.

  The power generation panel has a substrate in which a top surface is formed in a curved surface and a solar cell installation surface including a flat surface on the bottom surface, a sealing resin layer that seals the solar cell disposed on the substrate from the bottom surface side, The solar cell may be sealed in the sealing resin layer in a state of being in close contact with the solar cell installation surface. In this case, it is possible to configure a power supply case that does not easily damage the solar cell.

  The current supply unit may include a secondary battery that stores current from the solar cell, and a control unit that controls an amount of current between the solar cell, the secondary battery, and the electronic device. In this case, electric power can be supplied to the electronic device while accumulating current from the solar cell in the secondary battery depending on the situation.

  The current supply unit may include a connector connected to the electronic device, and the connector may be disposed on an inner surface of the case body on the opening side. In this case, the power can be supplied by connecting the connector regardless of the connector installation position of the electronic device.

  The current supply unit may include a converter that converts an alternating current into a direct current and supplies the direct current to the electronic device. In this case, in addition to the power generated by the solar cell, a commercial AC power source can also be used as a power supply source.

  According to the power supply case for an electronic device of the present invention, it is possible to protect the electronic device housed inside and efficiently supply power to the electronic device by solar power generation.

  The first embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an electronic device case (electronic device power supply case) 1 of the present embodiment. The electronic device case 1 is an electronic device case that accommodates various portable electronic devices such as portable audio devices, cellular phones, portable personal computers, and portable GPS.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic device case 1 includes a main body (case main body) 2, a power generation panel 3 disposed on the upper surface of the main body 2, and a lid portion 4 provided at one end of the power generation panel 3. It is configured.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the power generation panel 3 of the electronic device case 1 is opened. The main body 2 is a substantially rectangular box-shaped member. As shown in FIG. 2, the main body 2 has an opening 5 at one end, and can accommodate the above-described various portable electronic devices. The main body 2 is configured by forming a metal such as stainless steel or titanium or plastic in a box shape.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the main body 2 excluding the power generation panel 3. The inner surface of the main body 2 is entirely covered with an inner surface member 6 having waterproofness and flexibility such as neoprene or ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). That is, the main body 2 has a structure having a certain waterproof property as a whole.

  On the inner surface near the opening 5 of the main body 2, a connector 7 for connecting to a portable electronic device to be accommodated is disposed. The cord 7A connected to the connector 7 is partially accommodated between the main body 2 and the inner surface member 6, and is configured to be able to expand and contract within a predetermined range.

  A tubular direction changing member 7B for changing the direction of the cord 6A is rotatably attached to the inner surface member 6 at a portion where the cord 7A extends through the inner surface member 6 and extends into the main body 2. Yes. The cord 7 </ b> A extends through the direction change member 7 </ b> B into the main body 2. Therefore, by adjusting the direction and length of the cord 7A, the connector 7 can be connected to the portable electronic device and housed in the main body 2 regardless of the installation position of the connector on the portable electronic device side.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the electronic device case 1. A mini-USB connector 8 is provided at the rear end of the main body 2 and is connected to a USB port of a personal computer or the like via a cable (not shown) so that a battery or a portable electronic device inside the electronic device case will be described later. It is comprised so that it can charge.
Instead of the mini USB connector 8, a known AC input terminal or the like may be provided so that a battery or the like can be directly charged from an outlet.

  FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the electronic device case 1. An attachment member 9 having a notch 9A and a hole 9B is fixed to the bottom surface of the main body 2 by fixing means such as a screw. The electronic device case 1 can be easily carried by passing a belt or a string through the notch 9A or the hole 9B of the attachment member.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the power generation panel 3. The power generation panel 3 includes a plurality of solar cells 10, and one end is attached to the end opposite to the opening 5 of the main body via a hinge 11. As shown in FIG. 2, the power generation panel 3 can be fixed at an arbitrary angle of up to about 60 degrees with respect to the main body with the hinge 11 as a rotation center, and the angle between the solar cell 10 and the sun. It is configured so that power generation can be performed efficiently. The arrangement mode and structure of the solar cell 10 in the power generation panel 3 will be described later.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the lid 4 is attached to the end of the power generation panel 3 opposite to the hinge 11. As shown in FIG. 1, the lid 4 is configured in a position and shape so as to close the opening 5 of the main body 2 when the power generation panel 3 covers the upper surface of the main body 2. The lid 4 is formed of a cover member 4A made of a transparent resin or the like, and includes a display 12 that indicates various states of the electronic device case 1 and a battery (secondary battery) that stores electricity generated by the solar cell 10. ) 13 (not shown) and a power supply unit 14 for supplying electricity generated by the solar cell 10 to the portable electronic device housed in the main body 2 are stored. The configuration of the power supply unit 14 will be described later.

The display unit 12 of the lid 4 is provided with a plurality of first LEDs 12A aligned, and one second LED 12B is installed in the center of the region where the first LEDs 12A are aligned.
The first LED 12A displays the amount of charge of the solar cell 10 by the speed of flashing, and all the first LEDs 12A emit light by an operation input means such as a button (not shown) provided on the outer surface of the lid portion 4 so as to be used as a flashlight. Function.

  As will be described later, the second LED 12B is directly connected to the solar cell 10 and emits light when a voltage higher than a predetermined value is applied. Therefore, the user can easily confirm whether or not power generation is performed in the solar cell 10 by observing the light emission state of the second LED 12B.

  The configuration and structure of the power generation panel 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the power generation panel 3. The power generation panel 3 includes a panel cover 15 that forms the outer surface of the electronic device case 1, a power generation board 17 on which the solar cells 10 are disposed, and a buffer member 16 that is interposed between the panel cover 15 and the power generation board 17. It is configured with.

The panel cover 15 is made of a transparent resin such as polycarbonate. The upper surface of the panel cover 15 is formed in a curved shape, and protects the power generation board 17 and the portable electronic device accommodated in the main body 2 from external impacts.
The buffer member 16 is a substantially rectangular frame-shaped member made of a resilient material such as polyurethane elastomer or rubber, and absorbs the impact applied to the panel cover 15 to generate the power generation substrate 17 and It has a function of making it difficult to be transmitted to a portable electronic device or the like housed in the main body 2.

  FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the power generation board 17. The power generation substrate 17 includes a solar tray 18 disposed on the panel cover 15 side, a solar cell 10 disposed on the lower surface of the solar tray 18, a sealing resin layer 19 that seals the solar cell 10 from the lower surface side, and a seal. The sheet member 20 is disposed on the lower surface of the stop resin layer 19 and a coating layer 21 that covers the sheet member 20 from below.

  The solar tray 18 is made of a transparent resin such as polycarbonate. The first surface 18 </ b> A disposed on the panel cover 15 side of the solar tray 18 is formed in a curved surface along the panel cover 15. On the other hand, the second surface 18B opposite to the first surface 18A is formed by aligning a plurality of rectangular flat surfaces 18C at a predetermined angle in the width direction.

  The solar cell 10 is a substantially strip-shaped solar cell such as a single crystal type or a polycrystalline type. In order to secure a sufficient amount of power generation for charging the portable electronic device, it is preferable to use a single crystal solar cell. One solar cell 10 is arranged on each plane 18C of the second surface 18B of the solar tray 18, and the arranged solar cells 10 are configured to form a substantially curved surface as a whole. Each solar cell 10 is connected in series by a conducting wire 22, and is configured so that the power generation board 17 as a whole can generate power of about DC 5 V and 800 mA.

  As the sealing resin layer 19, transparent epoxy or silicon-based curable resin is used, and the gap between the solar cells 10 arranged on the second surface 18B of the solar tray 18 is filled to flatten the lower portion of the solar cells 10. Is formed. The sheet member 20 is made of a material having elasticity such as rubber and absorbs an impact applied to the solar cell 10.

  The covering layer 21 is made of resin or metal, and the power generation substrate 17 is completely sealed inside the power generation panel 3 to protect the solar cell 10. The covering layer 21 may be formed by pouring a liquid material in the same manner as the sealing resin layer 19 or may be formed by fixing a plate-like member.

A method for manufacturing the power generation substrate 17 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 13.
First, the solar tray 18 is installed with the second surface 18B facing upward as shown in FIG. Next, as shown in FIG. 10, the solar cells 10 are arranged on the respective planes 18 </ b> C of the second surface 18 </ b> B and connected in series by the conductive wires 22.

  Subsequently, a transparent epoxy or silicon-based curable resin is poured from above the solar cell 10 to form a sealing resin layer 19 as shown in FIG. At this time, since each solar cell 10 is on the plane 18C, the solar tray 18 and the lower surface of the solar cell 10 are in close contact with each other. Therefore, resin does not flow into the interface between the solar cell 10 and the solar tray 18, and the state where the transparency of the lower surface of the solar cell 10 in FIG. 11 (the upper surface when placed in the electronic device case 1) is kept high. The

  After the sealing resin layer 19 is formed, the sheet member 20 is fixed to the upper surface of the sealing resin layer 19 as shown in FIG. Fixing may be performed by a method such as adhesion, or may be fixed by a covering layer 21 as described later.

  As shown in FIG. 13, when the upper surface of the sheet member 20 is sealed with the covering layer 21, the power generation substrate 17 is completed. In the state where the first surface 18A of the solar tray 18 is faced up, when the buffer member 16 is interposed between the panel cover 15 and the power generation substrate 17 and is fixed integrally with a fixing means such as a screw, this embodiment The power generation panel 3 is obtained.

  FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the power supply unit 14. As shown in FIG. 14, the power supply unit 14 includes a drive / charge circuit 23 that switches between power supply to the portable electronic device housed in the main body 2 and charging of the battery 13, and the drive / charge circuit 23. And a switching circuit 24 for switching the power supply source. The drive / charge circuit 23 and the switching circuit 24 constitute a control unit 25 that controls the amount of current between the solar cell 10, the battery 13, and the portable electronic device housed in the main body 2. An I / O circuit 26 for adjusting input / output is interposed between the drive / charge circuit 23 and the connector 7.

An operation when the electronic device case 1 configured as described above is used will be described.
When the power generation panel 3 is directed to sunlight or room light, the solar cell 10 generates power. At this time, since the solar cell 10 and the second LED 12B of the display unit 12 are directly connected as shown in FIG. 14, the second LED 12B emits light when a voltage of a predetermined value or more is applied to the second LED 12B by the power generation of the solar cell 10. To do. The current generated by the solar cell 10 is sent to the switching circuit 24 of the control unit 25 provided inside the lid unit 4.
On the other hand, when the mini USB connector 8 is connected to a USB port of a personal computer or the like that is powered on, current from the USB port is sent to the switching circuit 24.

When the current is output from the mini USB connector 8, the switching circuit 24 outputs the current to the drive / charge circuit 23. When the output of the mini USB connector 8 is 0, the output of the solar cell 10 is output to the drive / charge circuit. To 23.
As described above, when an AC input terminal is provided in place of the mini USB connector 8, the converter 27 that converts the 100-volt commercial power source into a DC voltage by stepping down and rectifying it is converted into the AC input as shown in FIG. It arrange | positions between a terminal and the switching circuit 24. FIG.

  The drive / charge circuit 23 charges the battery 13 by the output of the switching circuit 24 and applies the output voltage of the battery 13 to the first LED 12A of the display unit and the connector 7 via the I / O circuit 26.

The user connects the connection terminal of the portable electronic device and the connector 7 and accommodates them inside the main body 2. Then, the output voltage of the battery 13 is applied to the portable electronic device from the connector 7 via the drive / charge circuit 23 and the I / O circuit 26, and the battery of the portable electronic device is charged with the output voltage of the battery 13.
The first LED 12A is turned on according to the output voltage value of the battery 13, the voltage value of the portable electronic device, and the like, and the battery 13 is charged with the state of charge of the battery of the portable electronic device (remaining amount) by switching by the operation of a button (not shown). Information such as whether there is an abnormality and whether the portable electronic device is being charged is displayed in a plurality of light emission patterns with different colors and blinking states.

  According to the electronic device case 1 of the present embodiment, when the portable electronic device is connected to the connector 7 and accommodated in the main body 2, the battery in the portable electronic device is automatically charged by the power of the battery 13. The battery 13 is automatically charged by the power generated by the solar cell 10 as long as the electronic device case 1 is under sunlight or room light. It is automatically charged by inserting the USB connector 8 into the USB port. As a result, the user of the portable electronic device can use the portable electronic device with little concern about the consumption of the internal battery.

Further, since charging can be performed while the portable electronic device is housed inside the main body, there is no troublesomeness such as a cord as compared with a conventional charger.
Further, the connector 7 is provided near the opening of the main body, and the length and direction of the cord 7A of the connector 7 can be freely changed within a certain range via the direction changing member 7B. Wherever the connector of the portable electronic device is provided, the connector 7 can be securely accommodated in the main body 2 in a connected state.

  Further, in the power generation substrate 17 of the power generation panel 3, the solar cell 10 is installed on the second surface 18B of the solar tray 18 composed of a plurality of planes. Therefore, even a single crystal solar cell that is brittle and easily broken can be easily obtained. It can arrange | position in a substantially curved surface form, while improving the electric power generation efficiency of the electric power generation panel 3, it can respond also to the request | requirement on a design.

  Moreover, since the circumference | surroundings of the solar cell 10 are sealed with the sealing resin layer 19, the solar cell 10 is suitably protected in the electric power generation board 17, and damage is suppressed. Further, since the solar cell 10 is sealed in close contact with the second surface 18B of the solar tray 18, the surface of the solar cell 10 on which the light is incident is kept highly transparent, and efficient power generation is performed. Is called.

Further, since the solar cell 10 of the power generation board 17 is installed on the panel cover 15 in a state of being sandwiched between the buffer member 16 and the sheet member 20 of the power generation board 17, the impact from the outside of the electronic device case 1 is It is well absorbed by the member. Therefore, an electronic device case in which the solar cell 10 is reliably protected can be configured.
And since the electric power generation panel 3 excellent in impact resistance covers the upper surface of the main body 2 as described above, the portable electronic device housed in the main body 2 can be suitably protected from impact or the like.

Furthermore, since the power generation panel 3 and the lid portion 4 that closes the opening 5 of the main body 2 are provided integrally, the structure is simple and ensures impact resistance.
In addition, the first LED 12A provided in the display unit 12 allows the user to easily grasp various information such as the charging status of the battery 13 and the charging status of the portable electronic device. And since the solar cell 10 and 2nd LED12B are directly connected, the user can confirm the electric power generation condition of the solar cell 10 easily, when the electric power generation is not fully performed etc., the electric power generation panel 3 and the main body 2 It is possible to take necessary measures such as adjusting the angle between the two and changing the installation location of the electronic device case 1.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, without providing the battery 13 as a secondary battery, the power generated by the solar cell 10 may be directly supplied to the mobile electronic device in which it is housed, or without the mini USB connector 8 being provided. It is good also as a structure which uses only the solar cell 10 as an electric power supply source. The present invention is not limited by the above description, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

It is a perspective view which shows the electronic device case of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the state which opened the electric power generation panel cover of the electronic device case. It is a perspective view which shows the main body of the same electronic device case except a power generation panel. It is a rear view of the same electronic device case. It is a bottom view of the same electronic device case. It is a perspective view which shows the electric power generation panel of the electronic device case. It is a figure which decomposes | disassembles and shows the power generation panel. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows the electric power generation board of the same electric power generation panel. It is a figure which shows the manufacturing process of the power generation panel. It is a figure which shows the manufacturing process of the power generation panel. It is a figure which shows the manufacturing process of the power generation panel. It is a figure which shows the manufacturing process of the power generation panel. It is a figure which shows the manufacturing process of the power generation panel. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the electronic device case.

Explanation of symbols

1 Electronic equipment case (Power supply case for electronic equipment)
2 Body (Case body)
3 Power Generation Panel 4 Lid 5 Opening 7 Connector 10 Solar Cell 11 Hinge 13 Battery (Secondary Battery)
14 Power supply unit 18 Solar tray (substrate)
19 Sealing resin layer 21 Covering layer 25 Control unit 27 Converter

Claims (5)

A case body having an opening at one end and accommodating an electronic device inside;
A power generation panel rotatably attached to the other end of the case body via a hinge;
A lid that is provided on the power generation panel and closes the opening of the case body when the power generation panel is placed along the case body;
A crystalline solar cell disposed on the power generation panel;
A current supply unit for supplying current from the solar cell to the electronic device;
A power supply case for electronic equipment, comprising: The power generation panel is
A substrate in which the upper surface is formed into a curved surface and a solar cell installation surface including a plane is formed on the lower surface;
A sealing resin layer for sealing the solar cell disposed on the substrate from the lower surface side;
A coating layer provided on the lower surface of the sealing resin layer,
2. The power supply case for an electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the solar cell is sealed in the sealing resin layer in a state of being in close contact with the solar cell installation surface.   The current supply unit includes a secondary battery that stores current from the solar cell, and a control unit that controls an amount of current between the solar cell, the secondary battery, and the electronic device. Item 3. A power supply case for electronic equipment according to Item 1 or 2.   The said current supply part has a connector connected with the said electronic device, The said connector is arrange | positioned at the inner surface by the side of the opening part of the said case main body, The any one of Claim 1 to 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. A power supply case for electronic equipment as described in 1.   5. The electric power supply case for an electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the current supply unit includes a converter that converts an alternating current into a direct current and supplies the converted electric current to the electronic device.

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