TITLE

"BRICK WITH PHOTOVOLTAIC CELL"

Technical field

This invention relates to a brick. In particular, this invention relates to a brick for building concrete and glass walls and producing lighting points for pathways.

Background art

Prior art concrete and glass bricks are made of transparent material, for example glass.

Bricks for walls are made in one piece, or alternatively, by coupling two half-shells.

Prior art bricks have the shape of a parallelepiped and are fixed to each other to build walls. The bricks are connected to each other using special bonding materials. Moreover, when building a wall steel rods may be used for reinforcement.

To apply the bricks as lighting points on pedestrian/vehicle routes, there are prior art bricks which comprise a single half-shell made in one piece inside which there is a light source.

In particular, there are prior art bricks comprising a half-shell consisting of half of a parallelepiped with planar faces.

The light source is fixed on one planar surface which is the cover fixed inside the brick itself.

The cover is needed to isolate or at least protect the electrical components.

The light source is connected to power cables which come out of the cover and are connected to the domestic mains.

However, prior art bricks used as lighting points have significant disadvantages.

A first disadvantage is the fact that the prior art bricks, needing a connection to the domestic mains, require a large amount of work for installation and .any maintenance which might be necessary.

Disclosure of the invention

With regard to that, a first aim of this invention is to provide a brick which allows a reduction of the environmental impact of buildings, increasing their energy efficiency.

Another important aim is that of providing a concrete and glass brick, which can be used as a light source, that does not have the disadvantages of the prior art and which is easy and practical to install and use.

Another aim is to provide a concrete and glass brick, which can be used as a light source, that has a high level of energy efficiency.

Yet another aim of this invention is to provide a brick having a geometrical shape such that it is possible to maximise the energy efficiency in terms of luminosity emitted and quantity of energy accumulated inside the brick. The aims indicated are substantially achieved by a brick comprising the technical features described in one or more of the appended claims.

Further features and advantages of this invention are more apparent in the non-limiting description below, with reference to a preferred, non-limiting, embodiment of a brick as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a brick according to this invention;

Figure 1A is a perspective cutaway view, according to a vertical plane, of the brick of Figure 1 ;

Figure 1B is a front view of the brick of Figure 1A showing the solar radiation and the artificial radiation;

Figures 2 to 4 are three perspective views of three different embodiments of the brick according to this invention;

Figure 5 is a side view of a further embodiment of the brick according to this invention;

- Figures 6 and 7 schematically shows an artificial lighting apparatus comprising a plurality of bricks according to this invention and according to two embodiments;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the brick of Figure 1 in a different operating condition.

In particular, below in this description reference will be made to a brick for producing lighting points, for example which can be used on pedestrian routes (Figures 1-5), vehicles routes or walls or for building concrete and glass walls "P" (Figure 8), without the different use resulting in technical variations in the brick.

The brick 1 comprises a main body 2 made at least partly of transparent material. The material is preferably glass.

The main body 2 has a base wall 3, an upper wall 4 and a lateral wall 5 comprising a plurality of flat panels 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d placed side by side to follow a polygonal base profile (with a rectangular shape in the embodiments illustrated).

In this configuration, inside the main body 2 there is a cavity 6 which is accessible at the base wall 3, in particular through an opening "A" which is hermetically reclosable.

Preferably, the base wall 3, the upper wall 4 and the lateral wall 5 (the latter extending preferably along the entire perimeter of the polygonal base) constitute a single-block element made of the transparent material. In an embodiment not illustrated, the lateral wall 5 is cylindrical with a circular base and it is formed by a single cylindrical panel.

Advantageously, the brick 1 according to this invention comprises at least one photoelectric cell 7 (more than one can be used) located inside the cavity 6 and designed for generating electricity when struck by solar radiation.

More preferably, the brick 1 comprises a supporting element 8, for example a panel, applied to the base wall 3 and designed to support the photovoltaic cell 7.

Preferably, the panel forming the supporting element 8 may constitute an element for closing the opening "A" for access to the cavity 6 made on the base wall 3.

This closure preferably has a hermetic seal so as to make the cavity 6 sealed and impermeable relative to the outside.

The supporting element 8 may be made of opaque or transparent material, depending on the application of the brick 1 , in a wall or on the ground. The brick 1 according to this invention also comprises connecting means (not illustrated in the accompanying drawings) which are connected to the photovoltaic cell 7 for electrically connecting the photovoltaic cell 7 to at least one electric user device. In other words, the connecting means transfer the electricity produced by the photovoltaic cell 7 to a user device which consumes or stores the power.

Moreover, the connecting means are connected to the photovoltaic cell 7 for electrically connecting the brick 1 to at least one other brick for reasons explained in detail below.

In that way, in a concrete and glass wall made using a plurality of bricks 1 according to this invention, all the bricks 1 can be connected to each other in series for collecting the electricity produced and transferring it to the above-mentioned user device.

For example, the connecting means may comprise terminals, cables, plugs or other items.

Advantageously, a brick 1 according to this first embodiment may also comprise one or more light sources 9 (for example of the LED type) connected electrically to the photovoltaic cell 7, preferably by interposing an electricity accumulation device 10.

This embodiment allows complete isolation of the cavity 6. In fact, all active components (photovoltaic cell 7, connecting cables and light sources 9) are positioned inside the cavity 6 and, therefore, isolated from the outside environment.

In an embodiment, the electricity accumulator device 10 comprises one or more rechargeable batteries.

In a different embodiment, the electricity accumulator device 0 comprises a condenser.

To optimise operation of the brick 1 according to this invention, the inner surface of the cavity 6 of the main body 2 may be metallised, for example by painting.

That optimises both the light flow "I" entering the photovoltaic cell 7 (for example sunlight) and the light flow "U" exiting the light source 9. The flows entering "I" and exiting "U" are illustrated in Figure 1 B.

To further optimise the efficiency of the brick 1 according to this invention, the main body 2 may comprise a sunlight collector "R" with which it is possible to convey and collect sunlight T entering the surface of the brick 1 in an optimised way. In particular, with the above-mentioned collector "R" (for example, consisting of a suitably convexity of the outer surface of the upper wall 4) it is possible to collect not just the rays of sunlight "I" which are perpendicular to the cell 7, but also a ray with an incidence range of approximately 180°.

The presence of the collector "R" gives a significant improvement in brick 1 performance, since the photovoltaic cell 7 is not just powered during daylight hours when the sun is perfectly perpendicular to the cell 7, but also during those hours when the sun is low (for example morning and evening, or during the winter months).

Certain embodiments of the sunlight collector "R", made by suitable shaping of the upper wall 4, are now described.

In more detail, the upper wall 4 has a convex extension outwards. In other words, the upper wall 4 is tapered from the outside inwards, that is, its surface area increases from the outside inwards with the maximum point at the plane of generation 12 of the upper wall 4.

In a first embodiment, illustrated in Figures 1 and 1A, the upper wall 4 has a rounded extension with a cylindrical cross section.

In a second embodiment, illustrated in Figure 2, the upper wall 4 has a prismatic extension and more specifically a truncated cone extension. It is understood that the extension can also adopt a conical extension. In a third embodiment, illustrated in Figure 3, the upper wall 4 has a prismatic extension and more specifically a polygonal base.

In a forth embodiment, illustrated in Figure 4, the upper wall 4 has a prismatic extension and more specifically a polygonal base. It is understood that the extension can also adopt a pyramidal extension.

Preferably, in combination with the collector "R", and for one or more of the above-mentioned four embodiments, the brick 1 also comprises a device "C" for concentrating the sunlight, positioned inside the cavity 6. The function of the sunlight concentrating device "C" is to receive the rays of sunlight collected by the collector "R" and concentrate them on the active surface of the photovoltaic cell 7.

Preferably, as shown in Figure 1A, the sunlight concentrating device "C" comprises a curved panel having the convexity facing the upper wall 4. Alternatively, the sunlight concentrating device "C" can be made from mirrors or other equivalent means with the function of concentrating the rays on the active surface of the photovoltaic cell 7.

Whatever the specific embodiment of the collector "R" and of the concentrator "C", they are preferably defined by two optics distinct from each other.

Figure 5 shows a preferred embodiment of a brick 1 according to this invention.

The brick 1 comprises a surface 11 , on which the photovoltaic cell 7 faces, and having an oblique direction of extension relative to the plane of generation 12 of the upper wall 4.

Advantageously, the photovoltaic cell 7 is not positioned in contact with the above-mentioned surface 11 but there is an air gap between the latter and the photovoltaic cell 7.

More specifically, the facing surface 11 of the photovoltaic cell 7 comprises two ends 13, 14 opposite each other and positioned in such a way as to have a respective distance "D" and "F" from the upper wall 4. That is to say, having the distance "D" relative to the end 13 less than the corresponding distance "F" relative to the end 14; both the distances with respect to the upper wall 4.

Using this embodiment it is possible to optimise the absorption of the rays of sunlight by installing the brick 1 according to the boundary conditions (for example, wall or floor mounting) and the main trajectory of the sun. For example, the brick 1 can be installed on the floor by positioning the end 14 facing south.

In the event of installing vertically on a vertical, the end 14 faces upwards. In this regard, a brick 1 according to this invention can also comprise a bushing integrated in the main body 2 for an easier orientation during installation by the user.

In the embodiment wherein the photovoltaic cell 7 is fixed to the surface 11 , this connection is achieved by means of suitable binders preferably having the same refraction index as the upper wall 4 of the brick 1.

Advantageously, moreover, the brick 1 can comprise a portion 15 with an anti-theft function, that is, a protrusion protruding relative to the lateral wall 5 so as to make the removal of the brick 1 difficult once it has been installed on the floor or wall.

According to an embodiment not illustrated, the circuitry of the brick 1 (for example, in the cavity 6) can be equipped with a Bluetooth emitter/receiver and/or a Wi-Fi apparatus and/or a remote command controller and/or a plurality of multi-coloured LED sources. These embodiments allow the remote switching ON/OFF of the LED lighting sources 9 and/or the activation and/or deactivation of the connection between the photovoltaic cell 7 and the accumulator device 10 (for example, remotely using Bluetooth technology or the remote command controller), the use of timer devices, the change of colour of the light emitted by the LEDs.

In a preferred embodiment, the brick also comprises an ON/OFF device (not illustrated since it can be integrated in any fashion in the internal circuitry of the single brick, for example on the supporting element 8), operating intermittently at a frequency greater than 25 Hz and preferably equal to approximately 50 Hz and acting between the accumulator device 10 and the light sources 9 for powering the light sources 9 intermittently with an effect that cannot be perceived by the human eye.

With this ON/OFF device it is therefore possible to considerably reduce the energy absorbed by the LED light sources without altering the sensation of luminous continuity perceived by the human eye. More specifically, the Applicant has shown that using an ON/OFF frequency of approximately 50 Hz the energy accumulated on average in 3 hours of exposure to sunlight is sufficient to power the LED light sources 9 for 9 hours. The effect of optimising the energy consumption and the increase in the time of artificial lighting which can be obtained as well as the increase in the useful life of the LEDs is therefore evident.

In a preferred embodiment, the brick 1 can be used in an artificial lighting apparatus 100 comprising at least two of the bricks 1 operatively connected with each other, as illustrated in Figure 6.

In the apparatus 100, a first brick 101 constitutes a main brick ("master") and it is substantially made according to this invention, with the addition of a control device housed inside the cavity 6 and designed to control the operation of the first brick 0 .

The second brick 102 constitutes a secondary brick ("slave"), which is also substantially made according to this invention and it is without the above- mentioned control device.

Advantageously, the control device is operatively connectable to the secondary brick 102 and it is designed in such a way as to also control the operation of the secondary brick 102.

In more detail, the control device is designed in such a way as to control at least a transfer of electricity from the accumulator device 10 of the main brick 101 to the LED light source 9 of the main brick 101 and at least a transfer of electricity from the accumulator device 10 of the secondary brick 102 to the LED light source 9 of the secondary brick 102.

As shown in Figure 6, the apparatus 100 can comprise a plurality of secondary bricks 102 operatively connected to a single main brick 101. In this configuration, the control device of the main brick 101 is designed in such a way as to control, for each secondary brick 102, at least a transfer of electricity from the respective accumulator device 10 to the respective LED light source 9.

For example, the two bricks 101 , 102 can be connected together by the above-mentioned connecting means (for example, special connectors and/or connection cables having respective terminals which can be inserted in special sockets made on the bricks 101 , 102).

The invention achieves the preset aims and brings important advantages. In fact, the use of a brick according to this invention allows the production of walls, building or flooring structures which can intercept a portion of light and convert it into electricity thanks to the photovoltaic cells.

In other words, the brick described above allows recovery of a portion of energy for generating electricity that would otherwise be dissipated. In this way, the energy requirement of the building or building structure in general is reduced and, consequently, the environmental impact of the building is lessened.

Moreover, using one or more light sources positioned directly inside the main body of the brick and powered by the photovoltaic cell (or by the battery pack, if present) allows a lighting brick to be obtained which is completely isolated from outside agents, and which also does not need to be connected to the domestic electricity mains, thus providing improved efficiency and easier installation than the prior art.

No less importantly, the collecting and conveying profiles and the metallisation of the surfaces of the main body allow an increase in the light flow entering the photovoltaic cell, further increasing the energy efficiency of the brick according to this invention.