Controlling device having an energy harvesting feature
A controlling device has at least a light-based energy harvesting system disposed within the controlling device housing. The light-based energy harvesting system is operative to supply power to at least one of a processing device and a transmitter of the controlling device. The light-based energy harvesting system includes s a substrate having a photovoltaic (PV) active area, a lens disposed over the PV active area, and a mask associated with the lens. The mask provides a finishing to a surface of the lens that functions to allow light to reach the PV active area through the mask while blending the light-based energy harvesting system into the housing.
1. A controlling device, comprising:
a housing;
a processing device;
a user input coupled to the processing device;
a transmitter coupled to the processing device wherein the processing device causes the transmitter to send commands responsive to select user interactions with the user input; and
at least a light-based energy harvesting system disposed within the housing, the light-based energy harvesting system operative to supply power to at least one of the processing device and the transmitter;
wherein the light-based energy harvesting system comprises a substrate having a photovoltaic (PV) active area, a lens, separate from the substrate, comprising a plurality of reverse pyramids disposed over the PV active area, and a mask associated with the lens, the mask providing a finishing to a surface of the lens that functions to allow light to reach the PV active area through the mask while blending the light-based energy harvesting system into the housing.
2. The controlling device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the mask is directly applied to the surface of the lens.
3. The controlling device as recited in claim 2 , wherein the mask comprises a half-tone pattern printed upon the surface of the lens.
4. The controlling device as recited in claim 3 , wherein the half-tone pattern covers an entirety of the PV active area.
5. The controlling device as recited in claim 3 , wherein the half-tone pattern covers only edge portions of the PV active area.
6. The controlling device as recited in claim 2 , wherein the mask comprises a tinting provided upon the surface of the lens.
7. The controlling device as recited in claim 2 , wherein the mask comprises a one-way mirroring provided upon the surface of the lens.
8. The controlling device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the mask is provided to a masking substrate that is overlayed upon the surface of the surface of the lens.
9. The controlling device as recited in claim 8 , wherein the mask comprises a half-tone pattern printed upon the masking substrate.
10. The controlling device as recited in claim 9 , wherein the half-tone pattern covers an entirety of the PV active area.
11. The controlling device as recited in claim 9 , wherein the half-tone pattern covers only edge portions of the PV active area.
12. The controlling device as recited in claim 8 , wherein the mask comprises a tinting provided upon the masking substrate.
13. The controlling device as recited in claim 8 , wherein the mask comprises a one-way mirroring provided upon the masking substrate.
14. A controlling device, comprising:
a housing;
a processing device;
a user input coupled to the processing device;
a transmitter coupled to the processing device wherein the processing device causes the transmitter to send commands responsive to select user interactions with the user input; and
at least a light-based energy harvesting system disposed within the housing, the light-based energy harvesting system operative to supply power to at least one of the processing device and the transmitter;
wherein the light-based energy harvesting system comprises a substrate having a photovoltaic (PV) active area, a lens, separate from the substrate, comprising a plurality of reverse cones disposed over the PV active area, and a mask associated with the lens, the mask providing a finishing to a surface of the lens that functions to allow light to reach the PV active area through the mask while blending the light-based energy harvesting system into the housing.
15. The controlling device as recited in claim 14 , wherein the mask is directly applied to the surface of the lens.
16. The controlling device as recited in claim 15 , wherein the mask comprises a half-tone pattern printed upon the surface of the lens.
17. The controlling device as recited in claim 16 , wherein the half-tone pattern covers an entirety of the PV active area.
18. The controlling device as recited in claim 16 , wherein the half-tone pattern covers only edge portions of the PV active area.
19. The controlling device as recited in claim 15 , wherein the mask comprises a tinting provided upon the surface of the lens.
20. The controlling device as recited in claim 15 , wherein the mask comprises a one-way mirroring provided upon the surface of the lens.
21. The controlling device as recited in claim 14 , wherein the mask is provided to a masking substrate that is overlayed upon the surface of the surface of the lens.
22. The controlling device as recited in claim 21 , wherein the mask comprises a half-tone pattern printed upon the masking substrate.
23. The controlling device as recited in claim 22 , wherein the half-tone pattern covers an entirety of the PV active area.
24. The controlling device as recited in claim 22 , wherein the half-tone pattern covers only edge portions of the PV active area.
25. The controlling device as recited in claim 21 , wherein the mask comprises a tinting provided upon the masking substrate.
26. The controlling device as recited in claim 21 , wherein the mask comprises a one-way mirroring provided upon the masking substrate.
27. A controlling device, comprising:
a housing;
a processing device;
a user input coupled to the processing device;
a transmitter coupled to the processing device wherein the processing device causes the transmitter to send commands responsive to select user interactions with the user input; and
at least a light-based energy harvesting system disposed within the housing, the light-based energy harvesting system operative to supply power to at least one of the processing device and the transmitter;
wherein the light-based energy harvesting system comprises a substrate having a photovoltaic (PV) active area, a lens, separate from the substrate, disposed over the PV active area, and a mask comprising a one-way mirroring provided upon the surface of the lens, the mask providing a finishing to a surface of the lens that functions to allow light to reach the PV active area through the mask while blending the light-based energy harvesting system into the housing.