Portable solar-powered devices

1. A collapsible solar-powered lighting device comprising:

a housing including a first wall, a second wall opposite the first wall, and one or more side walls extending between the first wall and the second wall, the one or more side walls including one or more folds extending parallel to the first wall and the second wall to collapse the first wall toward the second wall;

at least one solar panel integrated into at least one of the first wall and the second wall, thereby defining the at least one of the first wall and the second wall that includes the at least one solar panel as an electronics wall of the housing;

a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) integrated into the electronics wall of the housing, the plurality of LEDs facing an interior of the housing;

a rechargeable battery integrated into the electronics wall, the rechargeable battery being electrically connected between the at least one solar panel and the plurality of LEDs, such that the rechargeable battery is configured to supply current generated by the at least one solar panel to the plurality of LEDs;

a universal serial bus (USB) connector integrated into the electronics wall, the USB connector being in communication with the rechargeable battery and configured to transfer power between the rechargeable battery and an external electronic device, wherein the USB connector is covered by a moveable cover providing a seal with the electronics wall;

an interface integrated into one or more of the first wall, the second wall, and the one or more side walls, the interface configured to enable user control of an operating mode of the plurality of LEDs;

a microprocessor integrated into the electronics wall and electrically connected to the interface, the rechargeable battery, and the plurality of LEDs; and

a current regulator operably coupled to the rechargeable battery and the microprocessor, the current regulator regulating current delivered to the plurality of LEDs as controlled by the microprocessor;

wherein the microprocessor is configured to control the operating mode of the LEDs via input from the interface.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the first wall and the second wall is substantially square and planar, and wherein the housing is expandable to convert the housing from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration by unfolding the one or more side walls.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the housing comprises thermoplastic polyurethane.

4. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor, wherein data collected by the sensor controls at least one operating mode of the device.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect light, sound, motion, moisture, or a combination thereof.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor is configured to control a plurality of operating modes of the LEDs, the plurality of operating modes includes changing the intensity of light emitted from the housing by adjusting an intensity of at least a portion of the LEDs to simulate flickering light.

7. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a display coupled to the battery for indicating an amount of power remaining in the battery.

8. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a flexible handle coupled to an outer surface of at least one of the first wall or the second wall, wherein the handle includes a removable connection.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the handle is attached to and movable relative to the electronics wall, the handle being configured to extend outwardly from the electronics wall when in a first position and positioned against the electronics wall when in a second position.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of LEDs are configured to emit at least eight different colors of visible light, one of the colors of light being white light.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the rechargeable battery is a lithium-ion polymer battery having a capacity of up to about 2000 mAh.

12. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a flexible handle coupled to the outside surface of the electronics wall, the handle including a first end and a second end each coupled to a portion of the outside surface adjacent to the at least one solar panel, such that a middle portion of the handle between the first and second ends curves above the electronics wall.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the flexible handle is fixedly attached to the housing.

14. The device of claim 1 , wherein the housing is watertight.

15. The device of claim 1 , wherein the electronics wall is rigid and comprises a plastic material.

16. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a transistor to control the current delivered to the plurality of LEDs.

17. The device of claim 1 , wherein the side walls of the housing are translucent.

18. The device of claim 1 , wherein the USB connector is a micro-USB connector.

19. The device of claim 1 , wherein the operating mode includes changing a wavelength of light emitted from the housing such that a first selection of the interface causes the plurality of LEDs to emit a first color of light, a second selection of the interface causes the plurality of LEDs to emit a second color of light, a third selection of the interface causes the plurality of LEDs to emit a third color of light, a fourth selection of the interface causes the plurality of LEDs to emit a fourth color of light, a fifth selection of the interface causes the plurality of LEDs to emit a fifth color of light, a sixth selection of the interface causes the plurality of LEDs to emit a sixth color of light, and an nth selection of the interface causes the plurality of LEDs to initiate a sequence, the sequence causing the plurality of LEDs to gradually cycle between different colors.

20. The device of claim 1 , wherein the housing is cylindrical.

21. The device of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a spring-load mechanism to expand and collapse the housing.

22. An expandable solar-powered lighting device comprising:

a housing including a first wall, a second wall opposite the first wall, and one or more side walls extending between the first wall and the second wall, the one or more side walls including a plurality of folds extending along a width of the housing, wherein the first wall, second wall, and one or more side walls define an airtight, watertight, or airtight and watertight housing, wherein the housing is configured to collapse the one or more side walls along the plurality of folds;

at least one solar panel integrated into at least one of the first wall or the second wall;

a plurality of at least six light-emitting diodes (LEDs) integrated into at least one of the first wall and the second wall, the plurality of LEDs facing an interior of the housing defined by the first wall, second wall, and one or more side walls;

a rechargeable battery integrated into the at least one of the first wall or the second wall, the rechargeable battery being electrically connected between the at least one solar panel and the plurality of LEDs, such that the rechargeable battery is configured to supply current generated by the at least one solar panel to the plurality of LEDs;

an electronic connector in communication with the rechargeable battery and the solar panel, the electronic connector being configured to transfer power from at least one of the rechargeable battery or the solar panel to an external electronic device;

a moveable cover coupled to the first wall or the second wall adjacent to the at least one solar panel and covering the electronic connector, wherein the movable cover provides a removable seal with the at least one of the first wall or the second wall;

an interface integrated into one or more of the first wall or the second wall that includes the at least one solar panel to enable control of an operating mode of the plurality of LEDs;

a microprocessor integrated into the at least one of the first wall and the second wall and electrically connected to the interface, the battery, and the plurality of LEDs; and

a current regulator operably coupled to the rechargeable battery and the microprocessor, the current regulator regulating current delivered to the plurality of LEDs as controlled by the microprocessor;

wherein the microprocessor is configured to control a plurality of operating modes of the LEDs via input from the interface.

23. The device of claim 22 , wherein the electronic connector is a USB-A connector, a USB-B connector, a micro-USB connector, or a Lightning connector.

24. A collapsible solar-powered lighting device comprising:

a housing including a first wall, a second wall opposite the first wall, and one or more side walls extending between the first wall and the second wall, the one or more side walls being configured to collapse the housing along one or more folded portions between the first wall and the second wall;

a solar panel integrated into the first wall or the second wall, the solar panel defining the first wall or the second wall as an electronics wall of the housing, wherein the electronics wall includes a moveable cover;

a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) integrated into the electronics wall of the housing, the plurality of LEDs facing an interior of the housing;

a rechargeable battery integrated into the electronics wall of the housing, the rechargeable battery being electrically connected to the solar panel and the plurality of LEDs, such that the rechargeable battery is configured to supply current generated by the solar panel to the plurality of LEDs;

a universal serial bus (USB) connector in communication with the rechargeable battery and the solar panel, the USB connector being configured to transfer power from at least one of the rechargeable battery or the solar panel to an external electronic device, wherein the USB connector is covered by the movable cover;

an interface controllable by a user to control an operating mode of the plurality of LEDs; and

a microprocessor integrated into the electronics wall of the housing, the microprocessor being electrically connected to the interface, the battery, and the plurality of LEDs.