Solar-Powered Flameless Candle

1 . A flameless candle comprising:

a circuit comprising:

at least one light source;

at least one electrochemical cell in electrical communication with the at least one light source; and

at least one photovoltaic cell including a light-receiving face, wherein the at least one photovoltaic cell is in electrical communication with the at least one electrochemical cell; and

a candle shell substantially enclosing the light-receiving face of the at least one photovoltaic cell, wherein:

the candle shell comprises a translucent material; and

substantially all light originating from locations external to the candle shell does not directly strike the light-receiving face of the at least one photovoltaic cell.

2 . The flameless candle of claim 1 , wherein the candle shell fully encloses the light-receiving face of the at least one photovoltaic cell.

3 . The flameless candle of claim 1 , wherein the translucent material comprises wax.

4 . The flameless candle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrochemical cell is rechargeable.

5 . The flameless candle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source is controlled to intermittently illuminate to provide a flame-like flickering effect.

6 . The flameless candle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source comprises a first light source and a second light source.

7 . The flameless candle of claim 6 , wherein the first light source is controlled to intermittently illuminate to provide a flame-like flickering effect.

8 . The flameless candle of claim 7 , wherein the second light source is controlled to change colors.

9 . The flameless candle of claim 1 , wherein:

the candle shell has an interior; and

the light-receiving face of the at least one photovoltaic cell is located in a lower region of the interior of the candle shell.

10 . The flameless candle of claim 1 , wherein the candle shell substantially encloses the at least one light source.

11 . The flameless candle of claim 1 , wherein the candle shell does not enclose at least a portion of the at least one light source.

12 . The flameless candle of claim 1 , wherein:

the candle shell has an interior; and

the at least one light source is located in an upper region of the interior of the candle shell.

13 . The flameless candle of claim 1 , further comprising a light shield located in an interior of the candle shell,

wherein the light shield at least partially separates a lower region of the interior of the candle shell from an upper region of the interior of the candle shell.

14 . The flameless candle of claim 13 , wherein:

the at least one light source comprises a first light source and a second light source;

the first light source is located in the upper region of the interior of the candle shell; and

the second light source is located in the lower region of the interior of the candle shell.

15 . The flameless candle of claim 14 , wherein the first light source is controlled to intermittently illuminate to provide a flame-like flickering effect.

16 . The flameless candle of claim 15 , wherein the second light source is controlled to change colors.

17 . The flameless candle of claim 13 , wherein the light shield comprises the at least one photovoltaic cell.

18 . The flameless candle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one photovoltaic cell comprises a curved shape.

19 . The flameless candle of claim 18 , wherein the at least one photovoltaic cell comprises a circular shape.

20 . The flameless candle of claim 19 , wherein the at least one photovoltaic cell comprises a toroid shape.

21 . The flameless candle of claim 1 , wherein:

a riser extends from a base of the flameless candle into the interior of the candle shell; and

the at least one photovoltaic cell extends around the riser.