Did You Know...
...that Charles Goodyear performed some of his experiments on rubber while in debtor's prison? He was there so often he referred to it as his "hotel". Chronically in debt because of poor business sense and ill health, Goodyear depended on the generosity of friends and family. Even after he unlocked the secret to vulcanizing rubber, he was unable to improve his financial situation. When he died, his estate was $200,000 in debt.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 4164698 | Battery charging circuit A circuit for use in charging a battery from a current source, such as a solar cell, includes a Zener diode, a current limiting resistor in series with the Zener diode, and a switch which shunts the resistor. In periods of high current output from the sol... | 08/14/1979 |
| 4161657 | Hydrogen supply and utility systems and components thereof An energy system that is responsive to and converts radiant energy into direct current electricity at a pair of output connectors which are maintained at a potential difference. The hydrogen and oxygen-generating electrodes of an electrolysis cell are cou... | 07/17/1979 |
| 4160816 | Process for storing solar energy in the form of an electrochemically generated compound A process for storing energy from solar radiation whereby solar radiation is converted into electrical current which is supplied to an electrochemical cell in combination with water and carbon dioxide gas to produce formic acid as an electrochemical stora... | 07/10/1979 |
| 4141425 | Means for generating electrical energy for vehicle Apparatus for generating electrical energy useful for powering of the electrical apparatuses associated with the operations of a vehicle, boat, residence, or other structure, including a bank of batteries associated with one of said structures and provide... | 02/27/1979 |
| 4136309 | Power output control circuit for solar-powered cathodic protection system Metallic structures located in an electrolyte, such as soil or water, for example, tend to corrode. In order to prevent metal loss from the structure due to corrosion, a D.C. current flow is created in the metal structure. This current flow causes a hydro... | 01/23/1979 |
| 4134057 | Device for enabling an accumulator to be recharged from a source of electrical energy A device for enabling an accumulator to be recharged from a source of electrical energy, such as photo-cells. The device includes a converter circuit and a diode, the converter circuit being capable of adapting the current and voltage supplied by said sou... | 01/09/1979 |
| 4122396 | Stable solar power source for portable electrical devices The stable solar power source consists of solar cells for converting sunlight into electrical energy and a large capacitor for providing a current reserve to satisfy peak current demands and offset the effects of sunlight variations. The solar cells are m... | 10/24/1978 |
| 4118621 | Photo electric biased photo diode operational amplifier A circuit useful in replicating the current produced in a photo diode operated as a current source at zero bias. A second scaled area photo diode is used to bias the circuit to maintain the zero bias over a wide range of illumination levels. The circuit o... | 10/03/1978 |
| 4108405 | Light assembly and flasher circuit Generally speaking the present invention contemplates a kit-type railroad crossing signal device having four red, double lens lights attached to prewired arms, a module for flasher control, a battery box, an automatic controlled battery charger, switching... | 08/22/1978 |
| 4100427 | Device for converting solar energy A device is described for converting solar energy into electric power for a load, which device is provided with photocells and electric accumulators. Switching means are provided which at least during starting of the load connect this load to the output t... | 07/11/1978 |
| 4095217 | Combined liquid crystal display and photovoltaic converter By replacing the passive reflector in a liquid crystal display with a photovoltaic converter, the dual results of light reflection for display visibility and electrical energy generation for operation of the display and associated circuitry, such as elect... | 06/13/1978 |
| 4090577 | Solar celled hybrid vehicle A front wheel driven, gas powered vehicle is converted to include a rear differential connected for power input to a first and second electrical motor, or a single electric motor if desired. When first and second electrical motors are used they are connec... | 05/23/1978 |
| 4087960 | Solar battery wristwatch A solar-battery wristwatch makes use of a flexible printed-circuit board for connecting the cells of the battery in series and for connecting said battery with a storage battery. The arrangement eliminates the need for connecting wires and extraneous supp... | 05/09/1978 |
| 4080221 | Solar cell electric and heating system A system for converting solar energy into electric energy at reduced cost makes use of an array of light sensitive, voltage producing solar cells of the flat disc silicon type. To increase power, while using fewer costly cells, each cell of the array has ... | 03/21/1978 |
| 4075034 | Solar converter A solar energy converter for producing variable amplitude alternating current waveforms directly from solar energy including a photo-voltaic cell bank array, formed of a plurality of weighted photo-voltaic segments, a multi-sided, high speed, rotating, li... | 02/21/1978 |
| 4074143 | Optoelectronic device with optical feedback An optoelectronic device comprising a light-sensitive device which produces or modifies an electric current in dependence upon the intensity of light incident thereon, and a light-emitting device arranged to emit light in response to said electric current... | 02/14/1978 |
| 4062371 | Walking cane This disclosure pertains to a walking cane, for use by the blind, having a portion of the shank thereof adapted with a solar cell. The current produced by the cell recharges a battery stored within the hollow interior portions of the cane. A lamp is selec... | 12/13/1977 |
| 4040867 | Solar cell shingle A solar cell shingle may be made of an array of solar cells on a lower portion of a substantially rectangular shingle substrate made of fiberglass cloth or the like. The solar cells may be encapsulated in flourinated ethylene propylene (FEP) or some other... | 08/09/1977 |
| 4039808 | Solid state ionization chamber of silicon PN-junction type An N/P type silicon solar cell is doped with copper and encased in an aluminum sheath to form a probe. A heavy metal foil means is inserted in the probe to accomplish a solid state ionization chamber of silicon PN-junction type.... | 08/02/1977 |
| 4038104 | Solar battery A solar battery is manufactured by forming individual cells in a wafer, mounting the wafer on a substrate and separating the cells by the use of a thin saw. The channel thus formed between the cells is filled with an insulating material to prevent the acc... | 07/26/1977 |
| 4031385 | Solar tracking device A solar tracking system is disclosed, utilizing a photovoltaic device, for following the changing solar position. When the sun ceases to be the brightest object in the sky, such as during periods of partial cloud cover, and the system seeks to acquire the... | 06/21/1977 |
| 4026267 | Solar energy apparatus A solar energy apparatus for gathering and transmitting solar radiation to an energy storage area. Wide-angle lens apparatus is used to focus solar radiation on an end of an optical fiber bundle. The other end of the optical fiber bundle is placed in the ... | 05/31/1977 |
| 4017725 | Solar powered portable calculator A portable calculator utilizing a solar panel array which can be either slidably moved within the calculator's housing or pivotly connected to it and which when exposed to incident light provide power for the calculator.... | 04/12/1977 |
| 4009535 | Illuminated house number sign A self contained house number sign which charges an internal battery from photo-voltaic cells during daylight. The battery is connected to a lamp via a phototransistor for energizing the lamp at night. The lamp edge lights a plastic template having cutout... | 03/01/1977 |
| 4009051 | Solar power pack apparatus Solar power pack apparatus adaptable for powering emergency equipment at remote locations includes a solar cell array, a rechargeable battery pack, a long shelf-life primary battery pack and switching circuitry interconnecting these elements to provide up... | 02/22/1977 |
| 4006583 | Electronic display device for timepiece and the like Disclosed is a light emitting diode display system powered by ambient light. This solid state electronic display device comprises an ambient irradiated photovoltaic battery energizing through an electronic adapter circuit light emitting diodes selectively... | 02/08/1977 |
| 4001704 | Laser solar cell apparatus A highly doped optical amplifier in the form of a thin layer or fiber wherein the pump light is directed transversely to the surface of the layer or fiber. A transparent substrate is provided underneath the layer or fiber and a solar cell is provided in l... | 01/04/1977 |
| 3999061 | Radiant energy integrating meter A radiant energy integrating meter having one or more parallel connected reversed biased radiant energy sensor cells connected to an integrating circuit having an integrating capacitor. A trigger circuit having a differential amplifier, connected to the i... | 12/21/1976 |
| 3999060 | Device for receiver for optical signals A device is provided for controlling the sensitivity of a receiver of the type comprising a photosensitive element operative to convert radiant energy into electric signals and having an amplifier connected to the output of the photosensitive element and ... | 12/21/1976 |
| 3987616 | Digital watch time setting system In digital watches including a timing circuit driven by a crystal controlled oscillator. The timing circuit provides drive signals for powering a digital time display. An updating and time setting circuit is provided to vary or adjust the time displayed b... | 10/26/1976 |
| 3980996 | Self-sustaining alarm transmitter device An alarm transmitter device includes a storage element which stores electrical charge and which energizes an output transmitting circuit upon the occurrence of an alarm condition. To maintain the storage element at full charge or in ready standby mode, a ... | 09/14/1976 |
| 3979656 | Battery charging circuit A battery charging circuit for effecting efficient charging of a battery by a solar energy source is provided. A voltage detecting circuit is coupled in parallel with a battery for detecting each state of charge of same, the detecting circuit including a ... | 09/07/1976 |
| 3971454 | System for generating electrical energy to supply power to propel vehicles Solar radiant energy and high-intensity light are converted to electrical energy to supply electrical power for propelling vehicles in a safe, economical and efficient manner. The radiant energy can be beamed from outer space by the use of satellites with... | 07/27/1976 |
| 3950862 | Solar cell detector array for engagement simulation This invention relates to a multi-solar cell detection arrangement for detection of pulsed laser radiation inside a military helmet. Each solar cell is coupled to a ferrite core which allows operation in full sunlight without the need of optical filters. ... | 04/20/1976 |
| 3943726 | Solar cooling system for an automobile A solar energy cell system is used as an electric supply source to operate an air conditioner or a fan ventilation system contained within the interior chamber of an automobile. The electrical circuit comprises a series circuit consisting of: the solar en... | 03/16/1976 |
