Photovoltaic cell accessory for a battery powered device
A power management system includes a battery circuit element connected in parallel with a load and including a non-rechargeable battery and a first diode connected in series with the non-rechargeable battery, a capacitor circuit element connected in parallel with the battery circuit element and including a capacitor connected in series with a second diode, and a photovoltaic cell circuit element connected in parallel with the capacitor circuit element and including a photovoltaic cell connected in series with a third diode. The first and second diodes are configured such that when a voltage of the non-rechargeable battery exceeds a voltage of the capacitor, the non-rechargeable battery supplies current to the load to power the load, and when the voltage of the capacitor exceeds the voltage of the non-rechargeable battery, the capacitor supplies current to the load to power the load.
1. In combination, a battery powered dispenser including a first electrical connector and an attachable photovoltaic cell accessory including a second electrical connector connectable with the first electrical connector;
the battery powered dispenser comprising:
a housing;
a reservoir carried by the housing for storing a fluid;
a dispensing mechanism disposed in the housing and operable to dispense fluid from the reservoir; and
a battery circuit element connected with the dispensing mechanism and partially defined by the first electrical connector, the battery circuit element including a non-rechargeable battery;
the photovoltaic cell accessory comprising:
a mounting structure for attaching the photovoltaic cell accessory to the housing of the dispenser; and
a photovoltaic cell module secured to the mounting structure and including a first module circuit element at least partially defined by the second electrical connector, a second module circuit element connected with the first module circuit element and including a capacitor, and a third module circuit element connected in parallel with the second module circuit element and including a photovoltaic cell that charges the capacitor;
wherein the first module circuit element includes a diode that is connected in series with the non-rechargeable battery when the second electrical connector is connected with the first electrical connector, to prevent current backflow from the capacitor into the non-rechargeable battery; and
wherein the second module circuit element includes a diode connected in series with the capacitor to prevent current flow from the non-rechargeable battery to the capacitor when the second electrical connector is connected with the first electrical connector, wherein the diodes of the first and second module circuit elements are configured such that when the second electrical connector is connected with the first electrical connector and a voltage of the non-rechargeable battery exceeds a voltage of the capacitor, the non-rechargeable battery supplies current to the dispensing mechanism to power the dispensing mechanism, and when the voltage of the capacitor exceeds the voltage of the non-rechargeable battery, the capacitor supplies current to the dispensing mechanism to power the dispensing mechanism.
2. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the first electrical connector comprises a female connector and the second electrical connector comprises a male connector.
3. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the second module circuit element includes a diode connected in series with the capacitor to prevent current flow from the non-rechargeable battery to the capacitor when the second electrical connector is connected with the first electrical connector.
4. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the third module circuit element includes a diode connected in series with the photovoltaic cell to prevent current flow from the capacitor to the photovoltaic cell.
5. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the dispenser housing includes a wall mountable rear surface, and the mounting structure includes a panel configured to be at least partially disposed between the dispenser housing and an external wall surface when the rear surface of the dispenser housing is mounted to the external wall surface.
6. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the first electrical connector is disposed on a top wall of the dispenser housing.
7. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises a pump disposed within the housing, a motor disposed within the housing and operable to actuate the pump to dispense fluid from the reservoir, and a user actuated sensor configured to initiate operation of the motor.
8. The combination of claim 7 , wherein the battery circuit element includes a DC-DC converter connected in series with the battery to provide a lower supply voltage from the battery to the dispensing mechanism, and to permit a lower voltage output from the capacitor to power the dispensing mechanism.
9. The power management system of claim 8 , wherein the DC-DC convertor is operable to have an adjustable output voltage to provide a first voltage to operate the sensor and a second voltage greater than the first voltage to operate the motor.