Adaptable recharging and lighting station and methods of using the same

Abstract

The present invention includes self-contained, rechargeable power systems for areas having unreliable electrical grids or no electrical grid at all, and methods related thereto. The system may include one or more solar panels of various sizes to provide an off-grid power generation source, battery receivers for receiving batteries of various chemistries, and a control circuitry that is operable to detect the voltage and/or current output of the batteries that are installed in the system to determine their specific battery chemistry and then adjust the charge algorithm of the batteries to optimize both the charge capacity and the cycle life of the batteries. The control circuitry may also be operable to switch configurations of the solar panels and/or the batteries to optimize performance of the system. The system may be operable to power one or more light emitters and/or external electronic devices connected through the system by a charge port.

1 - 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . A method of charging a battery, comprising:
 a. electrically connecting at least one battery to an electronic charging system;   b. taking at least one measurement of a voltage output of said at least one battery;   c. identifying a battery chemistry of said at least one battery based on the at least one measurement of voltage output taken from said at least one battery;   d. selecting a charge algorithm from a plurality of charge algorithms for charging said at least one battery based on said battery chemistry of said at least one battery, wherein said electronic system includes a processing unit having an internal memory in which said plurality of charge algorithms are stored and from which said plurality of charge algorithms are retrievable; and   e. charging said at least one battery according to said charge algorithm.   
     
     
         48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein said electronic system is operable to apply balanced charging to said at least one battery. 
     
     
         52 - 91 . (canceled) 
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising a power source controller circuitry operable to receive power from a plurality of power sources. 
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 92 , wherein said processing unit is operable to measure an electrical characteristic of said plurality of power sources and direct said power source controller circuitry to switch between parallel and series connections between said plurality of power sources during a charging process of said at least one battery based upon at least one of said electrical characteristic of said plurality of power sources, a variable voltage level required for charging said at least one battery, and variable load voltage resulting from the connection of one or more additional devices in electrical communication with said at least one battery. 
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 92 , wherein said plurality of power sources comprises a plurality of power sources that each produce a variable amount of power. 
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 92 , wherein said processing unit monitors electrical characteristics at a plurality of points in the power source controller circuitry, including said voltages produced by said plurality of power sources. 
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 47  wherein said electronic system is operable to connect primary and secondary batteries. 
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 92 , wherein said electronic system is operable to determine the battery chemistry of primary and secondary batteries. 
     
     
         98 . A method for applying battery charging parameters, comprising:
 a. determining a battery chemistry of at least one battery connected to an electronic system operable to charge batteries of varying chemistries;   b. selecting a charge algorithm from a plurality of charge algorithms for charging said plurality of batteries based on said battery chemistry of said plurality of batteries, wherein said electronic system includes a processing unit operable to access said charge algorithm from said plurality of charge algorithms stored in an internal memory of said electronic system; and   c. charging said battery according to said charge algorithm.   
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 98 , determining the battery chemistry of battery includes measuring at least one electrical characteristic of said battery. 
     
     
         100 . The method of  claim 98 , wherein said electronic system is operable to apply balanced charging to said at least one battery. 
     
     
         101 . The method of  claim 98 , wherein said electronic system is operable to draw power from primary and secondary batteries. 
     
     
         102 . The method of  claim 98 , wherein said electronic system is operable to simultaneously accept a combination of primary and secondary batteries in a receiver, and draw current from said batteries without damage to said batteries or said system. 
     
     
         103 . The method of  claim 98 , further comprising a power source controller circuitry operable to receive power from a plurality of power sources. 
     
     
         104 . The method of  claim 103 , wherein said processing unit is operable to measure an electrical characteristic of said plurality of power sources and direct said power source controller circuitry to switch between parallel and series connections between said plurality of power sources during a charging process of said at least one battery based upon at least one of said electrical characteristic of said plurality of power sources, a variable voltage level required for charging said at least one battery, and variable load voltage resulting from the connection of one or more additional devices in electrical communication with said at least one battery. 
     
     
         105 . The method of  claim 103 , wherein said plurality of power sources comprises a plurality of power sources that each produce a variable amount of power. 
     
     
         106 . A method of determining and applying battery charging parameters, comprising:
 a. taking measurements of at least one electrical characteristic of at least one battery;   b. identifying the battery chemistry of said at least one battery, wherein said system includes a processing unit operable to compare said measurements of said at least on electrical characteristic and identify a battery chemistry based on the measurements; and   c. said processing unit selecting a charge algorithm for charging said at least one battery from a plurality of charge algorithms in a memory in electronic communication with said processing unit based on said battery chemistry of said at least one battery.   
     
     
         107 . The method of  claim 106 , further comprising charging said at least one battery according to said charge algorithm. 
     
     
         108 . The method of  claim 106 , wherein said electronic system is operable to determine the battery chemistry of primary and secondary batteries. 
     
     
         109 . The method of  claim 98 , further comprising a power source controller circuitry operable to receive power from a plurality of power sources, wherein said processing unit is operable to measure an electrical characteristic of said plurality of power sources and direct said power source controller circuitry to switch between parallel and series connections between said plurality of power sources during a charging process of said at least one battery based upon at least one of said electrical characteristic of said plurality of power sources, a variable voltage level required for charging said at least one battery, and variable load voltage resulting from the connection of one or more additional devices in electrical communication with said at least one battery.