Li Zhiyu, a security guard at a residential community in Hefei city, recently received four national patent certificates for solar powered heaters.

The 46-year-old has been inventing things since childhood and has more than 50 previous inventions, five of which have been granted patents. He said his dream is to become like Thomas Edison.

Li's first patent came in 1994 for a fruit tree pollination machine that he invented while working in an orchard in his hometown in Dangshan county.

He said he still has more than 10 inventions on which he would like to apply for patents, but currently lacks required funds for application fees and charges.

(Source: China Daily)