Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SOLAR POWER GENERATION,
DISTRIBUTION, AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
Inventor: Christopher A. Estes
BACKGROUND
CROSS-REFERNCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application
No. 14/484,488,
filed September 12, 2014. The present application is also a continuation-in-
part ("C-I-P") of
and claims the benefits of U.S. Patent Application No. 14/264,891, filed April
29, 2014,
which was a C-I-P of and claimed the benefits of International Application No.
PCT/U514/28723, filed March 14, 2014, which claimed the benefits of U.S.
Patent
Application No. 13/843,573, filed March 15, 2013, which claimed the benefits
of U.S.
Patent Application No. 61/719,140, filed October 26, 2012. The present
application is also a
C-I-P of and claims the benefits of International Application No.
PCT/U514/28723. The
present application is also a C-I-P of and claims the benefits of U.S. Patent
Application No.
13/843,573. The present application also claims priority to and the benefits
of U.S. Patent
Application No. 61/946,338, filed February 28, 2014, and U.S. Patent
Application No.
61/719,140 .
Field of Disclosure
[002] The present disclosure relates generally to solar power energy
generation,
delivery, allocation and communication devices and to related computer
software.
Related Art
[003] Conventional solar panel systems have evolved from dependency on the
collective conversion of solar energy to direct current ("DC") power to
reliance on other
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power sources when conditions limit the collection of solar energy required to
adequately
support the conventional systems. For example, conventional solar panel may
now provide
alternative current ("AC") power when conditions warrant from a connection to
an electric
utility grid. Conventional solar panel systems that are grid tied use the AC
power provided
by the utility grid to power when conditions limit the collection of solar
energy. Thus,
modern conventional solar panel systems are no longer exclusively dependent on
the DC
power collected from the conversion of solar energy to adequately sustain the
power needed.
[004] Conventional solar panel systems can also increase their output power
by daisy
chaining additional conventional solar panels together. Conventional daisy
chaining of
conventional solar panels increases the overall AC output power when connected
to the grid
and receiving the AC power from the grid. Conventional daisy chaining of
conventional
solar panels also increases the overall DC output power when the conventional
system is
isolated from the grid and not receiving the AC power from the grid. Each of
the principle
components of the conventional solar panel systems are separate entities and
not included
within a single housing. For example, a conventional solar panel system for a
house will
include conventional solar panels located on the roof of the house while the
conventional
battery system is located in the basement of the house, and the conventional
inverter is
located on the side of the house.
[005] Conventional solar panel systems are limited to generating AC output
power to
when the conventional system is connected to the grid and receiving the AC
power generated
by the grid. Conventional solar panel systems cannot generate AC power when
isolated from
the grid or cut off from the AC power generated by the grid. Conventional
solar panel
systems are limited to generating DC output power when isolated from the grid
or cut off
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from the AC power generated by the grid. The DC output power is limited to DC
power
stored in batteries or DC power converted from solar energy. Further, the DC
output power
is inaccessible DC power in that the DC output power cannot be accessed from
the
conventional solar panel systems. For example, the conventional solar panel
systems fail to
include a DC output power outlet in which the DC output can be accessed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES
[006] Embodiments of the present disclosure are described with reference to
the
accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals indicate
identical or
functionally similar elements. Additionally, the left most digit(s) of a
reference number
typically identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.
[007] FIG. 1 is a top-elevational view of an exemplary solar panel
according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[008] FIG. 2 is a top-elevational view of a solar panel configuration
according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[009] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary solar panel that may be
used in the
solar panel configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[010] FIG. 4A is a block diagram of an exemplary solar panel that may be
used in the
solar panel configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[011] FIG. 4B is a block diagram of an exemplary solar panel that may be used
in the solar
panel configuration according to one exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[012] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an exemplary solar panel that may be used
in the solar panel
configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
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[013] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an exemplary solar panel configuration
according to
an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[014] FIG. 7 illustrates a wireless solar panel configuration.
[015] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of exemplary operational steps of the solar
panel according
to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[016] FIG. 9 is a top-elevational view of a solar panel connector
configuration
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[017] FIG. 10 is a top-elevational view of a solar panel connector
configuration
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[018] FIG. 11 is a top-elevational view of a solar panel connector
configuration
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[019] FIG. 11A is a top-elevational view of a solar panel connector
configuration
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[020] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an example solar panel connector
according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[021] FIG. 12A is a perspective view of another example of a solar panel
connector
configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[022] FIG 12B is a perspective view of an exemplary solar panel connector
of the
present disclosure connecting a plurality of solar panels.
[023] FIG. 13 is a flowchart of exemplary operational steps of the solar
panel connector
configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[024] FIG. 14 illustrates an example a exemplary domestic embodiment of the
solar
panel of the present disclosure in a single family structure.
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[025] FIG. 15 illustrates an embodiment of a power controller of the
present disclosure.
[026] FIG. 16 illustrates another embodiment of a power controller of the
present
disclosure.
[027] FIG. 17 illustrates an embodiment of a power adapter of the present
disclosure.
[028] FIG. 18 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of solar panels of the
present
disclosure in a multi-family structure.
[029] FIG. 19 illustrates an example of the communication and control
functions of a
roof-top solar panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[030] FIG. 19A illustrates an example of a mobile solar panel according to
an
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[031] FIG. 20 is a flowchart of exemplary steps of the power allocation
functions of the
solar panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[032] The present disclosure will now be described with reference to the
accompanying
drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers generally indicate
identical, functionally
similar, and/or structurally similar elements. The drawings in which an
element first appears
is indicated by the leftmost digit(s) in the reference number.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE
[033] The following Detailed Description refers to accompanying drawings to
illustrate
exemplary embodiments consistent with the present disclosure. References in
the Detailed
Description to "one exemplary embodiment," "an exemplary embodiment," an
"example
exemplary embodiment," etc., indicate that the exemplary embodiment described
may
include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every
exemplary embodiment
may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or
characteristic. Moreover,
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such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same exemplary embodiment.
Further, when
a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be described in
connection with an
exemplary embodiment, it is within the knowledge of those skilled in the
art(s) to affect such
feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other exemplary
embodiments whether
or not explicitly described.
[034] The exemplary embodiments described herein are provided for
illustrative
purposes, and are not limiting. Other exemplary embodiments are possible,
and
modifications may be made to the exemplary embodiments within the spirit and
scope of the
present disclosure. Therefore, the Detailed Description is not meant to limit
the present
disclosure. Rather, the scope of the present disclosure is defined only in
accordance with the
following claims and their equivalents.
[035] Embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware,
firmware, software, or any combination thereof. Embodiments of the present
disclosure may
also be implemented as instructions supplied by a machine-readable medium,
which may be
read and executed by one or more processors. A machine-readable medium may
include any
mechanism for storing or transmitting information in a form readable by a
machine (e.g., a
computing device). For example, a machine-readable medium may include read
only
memory ("ROM"), random access memory ("RAM"), magnetic disk storage media,
optical
storage media, flash memory devices, electrical optical, acoustical or other
forms of
propagated signals (e.g., carrier waves, infrared signals, digital signals,
etc.), and others.
Further firmware, software routines, and instructions may be described herein
as performing
certain actions. However, it should be appreciated that such descriptions are
merely for
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convenience and that such actions in fact result from computing devices,
processors,
controllers, or other devices executing the firmware, software, routines,
instructions, etc.
[036] For purposes of this discussion, each of the various components
discussed may be
considered a module, and the term "module" shall be understood to include at
least one of
software, firmware, and hardware (such as one or more circuit, microchip, or
device, or any
combination thereof), and any combination thereof. In addition, it will be
understood that
each module may include one, or more than one, component within an actual
device, and
each component that forms a part of the described module may function either
cooperatively
or independently of any other component forming a part of the module.
Conversely, multiple
modules described herein may represent a single component within an actual
device.
Further, components within a module may be in a single device or distributed
among
multiple devices in a wired or wireless manner.
[037] The following Detailed Description of the exemplary embodiments will
so fully
reveal the general nature of the present disclosure that others can, by
applying knowledge of
those skilled in the relevant art(s), readily modify and/or adapt for various
applications such
exemplary embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from
the spirit
and scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, such adaptations and
modifications are
intended to be within the meaning and plurality of equivalents of the
exemplary
embodiments based upon the teaching and guidance presented herein. It is to be
understood
that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description
and not of
limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present
specification is to be
interpreted by those skilled in relevant art(s) in light of the teachings
herein.
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[038] FIG. 1 illustrates a top-elevational view of an exemplary solar panel
according to
an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The solar panel 100 is
configured to
collect energy 102 from a light source, such as the sun, and convert that
energy with an
inverter 104 into DC power and if desired, store that power in a battery 106
or other power
storage device. A solar panel 100 may additionally be a standalone AC power
generating
device by converting or inverting the DC power to AC power. However, the solar
panel 100
is not limited to generating output AC power 195 by passing through input AC
power 112
received from a utility grid into the output AC power 195 when the solar panel
100 is
coupled to the utility grid. Rather, the solar panel 100 may still generate
standalone output
AC power 195 when isolated from the utility grid, i.e., not grid tied.
[039] The solar panel 100 may also receive input AC power 112 that is
generated by an
electric utility grid when the solar panel 100 is coupled to the grid, i.e.
when it is grid tied.
In such cases, the solar panel 100 may parallel the AC output power 195
generated from the
inverted DC power provided by a DC battery 106 with the input AC power 112
when the
output AC power 195 is synchronized with the input AC power 112. The input AC
power
112 may also be generated by a second solar panel 100 when it is coupled to a
first solar
panel 100, by an AC power generator, an AC power inverter, a sinusoidal AC
power inverter,
and/or any other type of AC power source independent from the solar panel 100
that will be
apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) without departing from the
spirit and scope of
the disclosure.
[040] The solar panel 100 may generate the output AC power 195 that is in
parallel with the
input AC power 112 when the output AC power 195 is synchronized with the input
AC
power 112. The solar panel 100 may sense the input AC power 112 when the solar
panel 100
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is coupled to a power source. The solar panel 100 may also sense the input AC
power 112
when the solar panel 100 is coupled to the second solar panel and the second
solar panel is
providing the input AC power 112 to the solar panel 100.
[041] The solar panel 100 may determine whether the input AC power 112 is
synchronized
with the output AC power 195 based on the power signal characteristics of the
input AC
power 112 and the output AC power 195. The power signal characteristics are
characteristics
associated with the sinusoidal waveform included in the input AC power 112 and
the output
AC power 195. The solar panel 100 may generate the output AC power 195 that is
in
parallel with the input AC power 112 when the power signal characteristics of
the input AC
power 112 are within a threshold of the power signal characteristics of the
output AC power
195 so that the input AC power 112 and the output AC power 195 are
synchronized. The
solar panel 100 may refrain from generating the output AC power 195 that is in
parallel with
the input AC power 112 when the power signal characteristics of the input AC
power 112 are
outside the threshold of the power signal characteristics of the output AC
power 195 where
the input AC power 112 and the output AC power 195 are not synchronized.
[042] For example, the solar panel 100 determines whether the input AC power
112 and the
output AC power 195 are synchronized based on the frequency and the voltage of
the
sinusoidal waveform included in the input AC power 112 and the frequency and
the voltage
of the sinusoidal waveform included in the output AC power 195. The solar
panel 100
generates the output AC power 195 that is in parallel with the input AC power
112 when the
frequency and the voltage of the input AC power 112 are within the threshold
of 10% from
the frequency and the voltage of the output AC power 195 so that the input AC
power 112
and the output AC power 195 are synchronized. The solar panel 100 refrains
from
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generating the output AC power 195 that is in parallel with the input AC power
112 when the
frequency and the voltage of the input AC power 112 are outside the threshold
of 10% from
the frequency and the voltage of the output AC power 195 where the input AC
power 112
and the output AC power 195 are not synchronized. Rather, the solar panel 100
generates the
output AC power 195 that is generated from the DC source and refrains from
combining the
output AC power 195 with the input AC power 112.
[043] The power signal characteristics may include but are not limited to
frequency, phase,
amplitude, current, voltage and/or any other characteristic of a power signal
that will be
apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) without departing from the
spirit and scope of
the disclosure. The solar panel 100 may store the power signal characteristics
of the input
AC power 112. The threshold of the power signal characteristics associated
with the input
power as compared to the output power may be any threshold that prevents
damage from
occurring to the power converter 100 by combining the input AC power 112 and
the output
AC power 195 when the power signal characteristics of each significantly
differ resulting in
damage that will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) without
departing from the
spirit and scope of the disclosure.
[044]
[045] In short, the output AC power 195 generated by the solar panel 100
may be used
to power electronic devices external to the solar panel 100, such as a
hairdryer, for example.
The output AC power 195 may also be provided to another solar panel. The solar
panel 100
may also convert the input AC power 112 to DC power and store the DC power
within to the
solar panel 100. The solar panel 100 may continue to provide standalone output
AC power
195 even after it is no longer receiving AC input power 112. Thus the solar
panel 100 is not
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reliant on external sources to generate output AC power 195. For example, the
solar panel
100 may continue to provide standalone output AC power 195 after it is no
longer grid tied,
or after it is no longer receiving AC input power 112 from another solar
panel. For
example, the solar panel 100 continues to provide output AC power 195 that is
not in parallel
with the input AC power 112 after the power converter 100 is no longer coupled
to a power
source such that the solar panel 100 is no longer receiving the input AC power
112 from the
power source. In another example, the solar panel 100 continues to provide
output AC
power 195 that is not in parallel with the input AC power 112 after the solar
panel 100 is no
longer receiving the input AC power 112 from the second solar panel.
[046] The solar panel 100 will also sense when it is no longer receiving AC
input power
112. The solar panel 100 may then internally generate the standalone output AC
power 195
from the previously stored DC power. For example, the solar panel 100 may have
previously
stored DC power that was converted from the input AC power 112 or that was
converted
from the solar energy 102.
[047] The solar panel 100 may internally generate the output AC power 195 by
converting the
previously stored DC power into the output AC power 195. In one embodiment,
the solar
panel 100 may synchronize the power signal characteristics of the output AC
power 195 that
was converted from the previously stored DC power to be within the threshold
of the power
signal characteristics of the input AC power 112 despite no longer receiving
the input AC
power 112. For example, the solar panel 100 synchronizes the output AC power
195 that
was converted from the previously stored DC power to have frequency and
voltage that is
within a threshold of 10% from the input AC power 112 when the solar panel 100
was
receiving the input AC power 112. The solar panel 100 then provides the output
AC power
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195 when the solar panel 100 is no longer receiving the input AC power 112
while providing
such output AC power 195 with frequency and voltage that is within the
threshold of 10%
from the previously received input AC power 112.
[048] The solar panel 100 may be scalable in size and may be able to
provide
various levels of output power. For example, the solar panel 100 may be a
portable model
that may output approximately 250W. In another example, the solar panel 100
may be a
permanent rooftop model that may output 2.5kW.
[049] The solar panel 100 is also efficient in that it includes all of the
components
required to generate output AC power 195 within a single housing 108. For
example, as will
be discussed in more detail below, a solar power collector, a battery bank, a
DC to AC
converter, a controller, and other necessary components required to generate
output AC
power 195 are located within a single housing. This minimizes the amount of
cabling
required for the solar panel 100 so that transmission loss is minimized.
[050] The solar panel 100 is also user friendly in that an individual may
find that
operating it requires relatively minimal effort. For example, as will be
discussed in more
detail below, the individual simply plugs in an external electrical device
into the outlet
provided on the solar panel 100 to power the external electrical device. In
another example,
the individual simply plugs in an additional solar panel into the outlet
provided on the solar
panel 100 to daisy chain the additional solar panel together. In yet another
example, the solar
panel 100 that is daisy chained to additional solar panels automatically
establishes a master
slave relationship so that the individual is not required to manually
designate which is the
master and the slave.
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[051] FIG. 2 illustrates a top-elevational view of a solar panel
configuration according
to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The solar panel
configuration 200
represents a solar panel configuration that includes a plurality of solar
panels 100a through
100n that may be daisy chained together to form the solar panel configuration
200, where n is
an integer greater than or equal to two. Each solar panel 100a through 100n
that is added to
the solar panel configuration 200 may generate output AC power 195n that is in
parallel with
output AC power 195a, 195b. The solar panel configuration 200 shares many
similar
features with the solar panel 100 and as such, only the differences between
the solar panel
configuration 200 and the solar panel 100 will be discussed in further detail.
[052] As noted above, the solar panel 100a generates output AC power 195a.
However,
the solar panel 100a is limited to a maximum output power level for the output
AC power
195a. For example, the solar panel 100a may be limited to a maximum output
power 195a
level of 500 Watts ("W"). Hence, regardless of the AC input power 112a level,
the
maximum output AC power 195a will be 500W. Thus, if an individual desires, for
example,
to power a hair dryer that requires 1500W to operate, the solar panel 100a
will not be able to
power it.
[053] However, a user could daisy chain additional solar panels 100b
through 100n
together to parallel the output AC power 195a so that the overall output power
of the solar
panel configuration 200 is increased. In daisy chaining the plurality of solar
panels 100a
through 100n, each power input for each solar panel 100b through 100n is
coupled to a
power output of a solar panel 100b through 100n that is ahead of the solar
panel 100b
through 100n in the daisy chain configuration. For example, the power input of
the solar
panel 100b is coupled to the power output of the solar panel 100a so that the
input AC power
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195a received by the solar panel 100b is substantially equivalent to the
output AC power
195a of the solar panel 100a. The power input of the solar panel 100n is
coupled to the
power output of the solar panel 100b so that the input AC power 195b received
by the solar
panel 100n is substantially equivalent to the output AC power 195b of the
solar panel 100b.
[054] After daisy chaining each of the plurality of solar panels 100(a-n),
each output AC power
195(a-n) may be paralleled with each input AC power 112a, 112b, and/or 112n to
increase
the overall output AC power of the solar panel configuration 200. Each output
AC power
195(a-n) may be paralleled with each input AC power 112a, 112a, and 112n so
that the
overall output AC power of the solar panel configuration 200 may be used to
power the
external electronic device that the individual requests to operate, such as
the hair dryer. The
individual may access the overall output AC power by coupling the external
electronic
device that the individual requests to power, such as the hair dryer, into any
of the solar
panels 100(a-n). The individual is not limited to coupling the external
electronic device into
the final solar panel 100n in the solar panel configuration 200 in order to
access the overall
output AC power. Rather, the individual may access the overall output AC power
by
coupling the external electronic device to any of the solar panels 100(a-n) in
the solar panel
configuration 200.
[055] For example, if the maximum output AC power 195a for the solar panel
100a is 500W,
the maximum output power that can be generated by the solar panel 100b is also
500W. The
maximum output power that can be generated by the solar panel 100n is also
500W.
However, the solar panel 100b is daisy chained to the solar panel 100a and the
solar panel
100b is daisy chained to the solar panel 100n. As a result, the external input
AC power 112a,
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the output AC power
195a, 195b, and 195n for each of the solar panels 100(a-n).
[056] The output AC power 195a, 195b, and 195n for each of the solar panels
100(a-n) is
500W. The solar panel 100b generates the output AC power 195b of 500W in
parallel with
the input AC power 112b of 500W so that the output AC power 195b and/or the
output AC
power 195a is the paralleled AC output power of 1000W when the solar panel
100b is daisy
chained to the solar panel 100a. The solar panel 100n is then daisy chained to
the solar
panels 100a and 100b so that the output AC power 195a, the output AC power
195b and/or
the output AC power 195n is the paralleled AC output power of 1500W. Thus, the
maximum
output AC power for the solar panel configuration 200 is 1500W. The maximum
output AC
power of 1500W is now sufficient to power the hair dryer that requires 1500W
to operate.
[057] The individual may plug the hair dryer into any of the solar panels
100(a-n) in order to
access the maximum output AC power of 1500W generated by the solar panel
configuration
200 to power the hair dryer. The individual is not limited to plugging the
hair dryer into the
solar panel 100n simply because the solar panel 100n is the last solar panel
in the daisy chain
of the solar panel configuration 200. The daisy chaining of each of the
plurality of solar
panels 100(a-n) when the plurality of solar panels 100(a-n) are not coupled to
a power source
but generating paralleled output AC power may be considered a standalone solar
panel micro
grid.
[058]
[059]
[060] Each of the solar panels 100a through 100n included in the solar
panel
configuration 200 may operate in a master/slave relationship with each other.
The master is
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the originator of the standalone AC power for the solar panel configuration
200. The master
determines the power signal characteristics of the standalone AC power
originated by the
master in that each of the remaining slaves included in the solar panel
configuration 200 are
required to accordingly synchronize each of their own respective AC output
powers. Each
respective AC power output that is synchronized to the master standalone AC is
paralleled
with the master standalone AC power for the master. For example, the utility
grid is the
master of the solar panel configuration 200 when the utility grid is the
originator of the input
AC power 112a provided to solar panel 100a. The utility grid determines the
frequency,
phase, amplitude, voltage and current for the input AC power 112a. Each solar
panel 100a
through 100n then become slaves and synchronize each of their respective
output AC power
195a through 195n to have substantially equivalent frequency, phase,
amplitude, and current
as the input AC power 112a. Each output AC power 195a through 195n that is
synchronized
with input AC power 112a is paralleled with the input AC power 112a.
[061] Each of the solar panels 100a through 100n operates as a slave for
the solar panel
configuration 200 when each of the solar panels 100a through 100n is receiving
input AC
power. Each of the solar panels 100a through 100n operates as a master when
each of the
solar panels 100a through 100n no longer receives input AC power. For example,
each of the
solar panels 100a through 100n operate as the slave when the solar panel
configuration 200 is
grid tied so that the utility grid operates as the master for the solar panel
configuration 200.
Each solar panels 100a through 100n receives input AC power from either the
grid or its
adjacent panel. Solar panel 100a is receiving the input AC power 112a from the
grid making
solar panel 100a the slave while solar panel 100b receives the input AC power
195a from
solar panel 100a making solar panel 100b the slave, etc.
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[062] In another example, solar panel 100a operates as the master for the
solar panel
configuration 200 when the solar panel configuration 200 is no longer grid
tied and solar
panel 100a is generating standalone output AC power 195a. Each of the solar
panels 100b
through 100n then receives input AC power via the standalone output AC power
195a
internally generated by the master solar panel 100a. Solar panel 100b receives
input AC
power 195a from solar panel 100a and solar panel 100c receives the input AC
power 195b
from the solar panel 100b.
[063] The solar panel configuration 200 may automatically transition the
master/slave
designations between each of the solar panels 100a through 100n without user
intervention.
As noted above, any solar panel 100a through 100n may be designated as the
master of the
solar panel configuration 200 when it no longer receives input AC power. And
the master
solar panel will automatically transition to a slave when it senses input AC
power coming
into it. At that point, the master solar panel automatically terminate its
internal standalone
output AC power generation from its own previously stored DC power. That solar
panel then
automatically synchronizes to the power signal characteristics of the input AC
power it now
receives to parallel the output AC power provided by the new master solar
panel and begin
operating as a slave by generating output AC power it now receives it.
[064] For example, when solar panel 100b operates as a master, the solar
panel 100b is
not receiving input AC power but rather is internally generating its own
standalone output
AC power 195b from its own previously stored DC power. The solar panel 100b
continues
to operate as the master until the solar panel 100b senses that input AC power
195a is being
received by it from the solar panel 100a, which is generating the input AC
power 195a. The
solar panel 100b then automatically terminates internally generating its own
standalone
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output AC power 195b from its own previously stored DC power, and
automatically
synchronizes the standalone output AC power 195b to the frequency, phase,
amplitude, and
current of the input AC power 195a. In other words the solar panel 100b
transitions to being
a slave when the solar panel 100b generates the output AC power 195b from the
input AC
power 195a rather than from its own previously stored DC power.
[065] The solar panel configuration 200 may also automatically transition
the slave
solar panels 100a through 100n to being a master without user intervention. As
noted above,
solar panels 100a through 100n may be designated as slaves when they are
receiving input
AC power. However, they may automatically transition to being a master when
they no
longer sense input AC power coming into them. At that point, they
automatically begin
internally generating their own standalone output AC power from their own
previously
stored DC power. The solar panels 100a through 100n may also have stored the
power signal
characteristics of the input power previously received by them and may
automatically
synchronize their own standalone output AC power to these characteristics.
Again the solar
panel 100a through 100b transitions from a slave to a master when they begin
to internally
generate their own standalone output AC power from their own previously stored
DC power.
[066] After the master-slave relationship is established between each of the
master solar panels
100(a-n), the paralleled output AC power of the master solar panel
configuration 200 may be
maintained by the solar pane converter 100a and each of the slave solar panels
100(b-n). The
master solar panel 100a may maintain the voltage of the paralleled output AC
power while
the slave solar panels 100(b-n) provide the current to maintain the voltage of
the paralleled
output AC power at a reference voltage.
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[067] However, the voltage of the paralleled output AC power may decrease when
the external
electronic device the individual requests to power, such as the hair dryer, is
coupled to at
least one of the outputs for the solar panels 100(a-n). Each of the slave
solar panels 100(b-n)
may increase the current of the paralleled output AC power so that the voltage
of the
paralleled output AC power maintained by the master solar panel 100a is
increased back to
the reference voltage sufficient to generate the paralleled output AC power.
The reference
voltage of the paralleled output AC power is the voltage level that is to be
maintained to
generate the paralleled output AC power that is sufficient to power the
external electronic
device. The reference voltage may be specified to be any voltage that is
sufficient to
maintain the paralleled output AC power that will be apparent to those skilled
in the relevant
art(s) without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
[068] Each of the slave solar panels 100(b-n) may continue to generate current
sufficient to
maintain the voltage of the paralleled output AC power at the reference
voltage so that the
external electronic device is powered by the paralleled output AC power.
However,
eventually each of the slave solar panels 100(b-n) may have their DC sources
depleted to the
point where each of the slave solar panels 100(b-n) no longer have current
that is sufficient to
maintain the voltage of the paralleled output AC power at the reference
voltage sufficient to
generate the paralleled output AC power. At that point, the master solar panel
100a may
begin to provide current to maintain the voltage of the paralleled output AC
power at the
reference voltage sufficient to generate the paralleled output AC power.
[069] The solar panel configuration 200 may continue to generate output AC
power
even when a particular slave solar panel 100a through 100n may no longer be
functional. In
such cases, the dysfunctional slave solar panel 100a through 100n continues to
pass through
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the standalone output AC power generated by the master solar panel 100a
through 100n to
each of the other slave solar panels 100a through 100n. For example, when the
master solar
panel 100a acts as the master and the solar panels 100b and 100n act as the
slaves, if the
slave solar panel 100b fails and is no longer functional, it will continue to
pass through the
output standalone AC power 195a generated by the master solar panel 100a to
the functional
slave solar panel 100n so that the other functional slave solar panel 100n may
continue to
generate output AC power 195n from the standalone output AC power 195a.
[070] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another exemplary solar panel 300 that
may be used
in the solar panel configuration 200 according to an exemplary embodiment of
the present
disclosure. Although FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram of the solar panel 300,
FIG. 3 may also
depict a block diagram of one of the plurality of solar panels 100a through
100n used in the
solar panel configuration 200 depicted in FIG. 2 as well as the single solar
panel 100
depicted in FIG. 1. Solar panel 300 will also automatically transition to
internally generating
standalone output AC power 195 based on the stored DC power 355 provided by
the battery
bank 320 when the power signal sensor 340 no longer senses the received input
AC power
315. The solar panel 300 will also automatically transition to operating as a
master when the
power signal sensor 340 no longer senses the received input AC power 315.
Solar panel 300
will also automatically transition to operating as a slave when the power
signal sensor 340
begins to sense the received input AC power 315.
[071] Enclosed within a single housing 302 for solar panel 300 is a solar
power
collector 310, a battery bank 320, an AC inlet receptacle 330, a power signal
sensor 340, a
power signal synchronizer 350, a controller 360, a DC to AC converter 370, a
power signal
synchronizer 380, and an AC outlet receptacle 390.
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[072] The solar panel collector 310 captures the solar or other light
energy 102 from a
solar or light source, e.g., the sun. The solar panel collector 310 may
include a single and/or
multiple photovoltaic ("PV") solar panels or arrays that convert the solar
energy 102 into the
captured DC power 305. The solar panel collector 310 captures solar energy 102
when the
solar source is available and is radiating solar energy 102 in a sufficient
manner for the solar
panel collector 310 to capture. The solar panel collector 310 converts the
solar energy 102
into DC captured power 305 in a wide range of voltages and/or current
capacities. The solar
panel collector 310 may include photovoltaic solar panels categorized as, but
not limited to,
mono-crystalline silicon, poly-crystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, cadmium
telluride,
copper indium selenide, thin-film layers, organic dyes, organic polymers,
nanocrystals and/or
any other type of photovoltaic solar panels that will be apparent to those
skilled in the
relevant art(s) without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
The solar panel
collector 310 may also be any shape or size that is sufficient to capture the
solar energy 102
that will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) without
departing from the spirit
and scope of the disclosure.
[073] The battery bank 320 receives and stores the captured DC power 305.
The battery
bank 320 accumulates the captured DC power 305 as the captured DC power 305 is
generated. The battery bank 320 may accumulate the captured DC power 305 until
the
battery bank 320 is at capacity and can no longer store any more of the
captured DC power
305. The battery bank 320 may also store the AC input power 112 that is
converted to the
captured DC power 305 when the AC output receptacle 390 is not generating the
output AC
power 195. The battery bank 320 stores the captured DC power 305 until
requested to
provide the stored DC power 355. The stored DC power 355 provided by the
battery bank
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320 may include low-voltage but high energy DC power. The battery bank 320 may
include
one or more lithium ion phosphate (LiFePO4) and/or one or more lead acid
cells. However,
this example is not limiting, those skilled in the relevant art(s) may
implement the battery
bank 320 using other battery chemistries without departing from the scope and
spirit of the
present disclosure. One or more cells of the battery bank 320 convert chemical
energy into
electrical energy via an electromechanical reaction.
[074] As noted above, the solar panel 300 may automatically transition
between the
master and/or slave designations without user intervention. The solar panel
300 will operate
as a slave when the AC inlet receptacle 330 is receiving AC input power 112,
such as, AC
power that is generated by the grid. The AC inlet receptacle 330 may also
receive input AC
power 112 when the AC inlet receptacle 330 is grid tied, such as AC power
generated by a
second solar panel when two panels are coupled together. The input AC power
112 may also
be AC power generated by an AC power generator, an AC power inverter, or any
other type
of AC power source independent from the solar panel 300 that will be apparent
to those
skilled in the relevant art(s) without departing from the spirit and scope of
the disclosure.
[075] The AC inlet receptacle 330 may be in the form of a male
configuration or a
female configuration. A male AC inlet receptacle 330 prevents an individual
from
mistakenly plugging an electronic device into it with the intent to power the
electronic
device, as electronic devices typically have male plugs. The AC inlet
receptacle 330 may
also be fused protected. The AC inlet receptacle 330 may also be configured to
receive the
input AC power 112 in American, European, and/or any other power format that
will be
apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) without departing from the
spirit and scope of
the disclosure. The AC inlet receptacle 330 may further include an Edison
plug, any of the
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several International Electrotechnical Commission ("IEC") plugs, or any other
type of plug
that will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) without
departing from the spirit
and scope of the disclosure.
[076] The AC inlet receptacle 330 provides received input AC power 315 to a
power
signal sensor 340. The power signal sensor 340 senses whether the solar panel
300 is
receiving input AC power 112 through the AC inlet receptacle 330 based on
whether it
receives input AC power 315 from the AC inlet receptacle 330. Once the power
signal
sensor 340 senses the received input AC power 315, the power signal sensor 340
generates
an incoming AC power signal 325. The incoming AC power signal 325 provides
information regarding power signal characteristics of the input AC power 112
that the solar
panel 300 is receiving through the AC inlet receptacle 330. These power signal
characteristics may include, but are not limited to, frequency, phase,
amplitude, current,
voltage, and other like characteristics of power signals that will be apparent
to those skilled
in the relevant art(s) without departing from the spirit and scope of the
disclosure.
[077] The power signal sensor 340 provides the incoming AC power signal 325
to a
power signal synchronizer 350. The power signal synchronizer 350 determines
the power
signal characteristics of the input AC power 112 that are provided by the
incoming AC
power signal 325. For example, the power signal synchronizer 350 determines
the
frequency, phase, amplitude, voltage, and current of the input AC power 112.
The power
signal synchronizer 350 generates a synchronized input power signal 335 that
provides the
power signal characteristics of the input AC power 112 to a controller 360.
[078] The power signal synchronizer 350 also synchronizes the converted AC
power 367 that is
generated by the DC to AC converter 370 with the power signal characteristics
of the input
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AC power 112. The power signal synchronizer 350 determines whether the power
signal
characteristics of the input AC power 112 are within the threshold of the
power signal
characteristics of the converted AC power 367. The power signal synchronizer
350
synchronizes the input AC power 112 with the converted AC power 367 when the
power
signal characteristics of the input AC power 112 are within the threshold of
the power signal
characteristics of the converted AC power 367. The power signal synchronizer
350 refrains
from synchronizing the input AC power 112 with the converted AC power 367 when
the
power signal characteristics of input AC power 112 are outside the threshold
of the power
signal characteristics of the converted AC power 367.
[079] For example, the power signal synchronizer 350 determines whether the
frequency and
the voltage of the sinusoidal waveform included in the input AC power 112 are
within a
threshold of 10% from the frequency and the voltage of the sinusoidal waveform
included in
the converted AC power 367. The power signal synchronizer 350 synchronizes the
input AC
power 112 with the converted AC power 367 when the frequency and the voltage
of the input
AC power 112 are within the threshold of 10% from the frequency and the
voltage of the
converted AC power 367. The power signal synchronizer 350 refrains from
synchronizing
the input AC power 112 with the converted AC power 367 when the frequency and
the
voltage of the input AC power 112 are outside the threshold of 10% from the
frequency and
the voltage of the converted AC power 367.
[080] The output AC power 195 includes the input AC power 112 in parallel with
the converted
AC power 367 when the converted AC power 367 is synchronized with the input AC
power
112. For example, the power signal synchronizer 350 synchronizes the converted
AC power
367 to operate at within the threshold of 10% from the frequency and voltage
of the input AC
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power 112. In one embodiment, the input AC power 112 embodies a substantially
pure
sinusoidal waveform. The substantially pure sinusoidal waveform may represent
an analog
audio waveform with is substantially smooth and curved rather than a digital
audio waveform
that includes squared off edges. In such an embodiment, the power signal
synchronizer 350
synchronizes the converted AC power 367 to be within a threshold of the pure
sinusoidal
waveform embodied by the input AC power 112. After the power signal
synchronizer 350
synchronizes the converted AC power 367 to the power signal characteristics of
the input AC
power 112, the power signal synchronizer 350 notifies the controller 360 of
the
synchronization via the synchronized input power signal 335.
[081] The controller 360 receives the synchronized input power signal 335.
The
controller 360 determines the power signal characteristics of the input AC
power 112 and
then stores the power signal characteristics in a memory included in the
controller 360. For
example, the controller 360 stores the frequency, phase, amplitude, voltage,
and/or current of
the input AC power 112. After receiving the synchronized input power signal
335, the
controller 360 is aware that the input AC power 112 is coupled to the AC inlet
receptacle
330. In response to the input AC power 112 coupled to the AC inlet receptacle
330, the
controller 360 stops generating a reference clock for the solar panel 300.
[082] Also, in response to the input AC power 112 coupled to the AC inlet
receptacle
330, the controller 360 also generates a battery bank signal 345. The
controller 360 instructs
the battery bank 320 via the battery bank signal 345 to no longer provide
stored DC power
355 to the DC to AC inverter 370. The instruction by the controller 360 to the
battery bank
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320 to no longer provide stored DC power 355 to the DC to AC inverter 370 also
terminates
the standalone output AC power 195 that is generated from the stored DC power
355.
[083] Further, in response to the input AC power 112 coupled to the AC
inlet receptacle
330, the controller 360 confirms that the power signal synchronizer 350 has
synchronized the
converted AC power 367 to the power signal characteristics of the input AC
power 112.
After confirming that the power signal synchronizer 350 has synchronized the
converted AC
power 367 to the power signal characteristics of the input AC power 112, the
controller 360
links in parallel the input AC power 112 being received by the AC inlet
receptacle 330 with
the converted AC power 367 to the AC outlet receptacle 390 to generate
parallel AC power
395. The AC outlet receptacle 390 then outputs the output AC power 195 that
includes the
input AC power 112 in parallel with the converted AC power 367 with power
signal
characteristics that are substantially equivalent to the power signal
characteristics of the input
AC power 112. For example, the frequency, phase, amplitude, voltage, and/or
current of the
output AC power 195 may be substantially equivalent to the frequency, phase,
amplitude,
voltage, and/or current of the input AC power 112.
[084] The AC outlet receptacle 390 may be in the form of a male or a female
configuration. A female AC outlet receptacle 390 allows an individual to
directly plug an
electronic device it as electronic devices typically have male plugs.
[085] The AC outlet receptacle 390 may also be fused protected. The AC
outlet
receptacle 390 may be configured to provide the output AC power 390 in
American,
European, or any other power format that will be apparent to those skilled in
the relevant
art(s) without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. The AC
outlet receptacle
390 may also include an Edison plug, any of the IEC plugs, or any other type
of plug that
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will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) without departing
from the spirit and
scope of the disclosure.
[086] As noted above, the solar panel 300 will automatically transition
between the
master and/or slave designations without user intervention. The solar panel
300 will
automatically transition from operating as a slave to operating as a master
when the AC input
power signal 112 diminishes and is no longer received by the AC inlet
receptacle 330 such
that the controller 360 no longer receives the synchronized input power signal
335. At that
point, the controller 360 generates the battery bank signal 345 to instruct
the battery bank 320
to begin generating stored DC power 355. The controller 360 generates a power
conversion
signal 365 to instruct the DC to AC converter 370 to convert the stored DC
power 355 to
converted AC power 367. The converted AC power 367 is high-voltage AC output
power.
The DC to AC converter 370 may use high frequency modulation in converting the
stored
DC power 355 to the converted AC power 367.
[087] The controller 360 then provides a synchronized output power signal
385 to the
power signal synchronizer 380. The synchronized output power signal 385
provides the
power signal characteristics of the input AC power 112 when the input power
signal 112 is
coupled to the AC inlet receptacle 330 to the power signal synchronizer 380.
For example,
the synchronized output power signal 385 provides the frequency, phase,
amplitude, voltage,
and current of the input power signal 112 to the power signal synchronizer
380. The
synchronized output power signal 385 also provides the reference clock to the
power signal
synchronizer 380.
[088] The power signal synchronizer 380 then generates synchronized output AC
power 375 by
synchronizing the converted AC power 367 to the power signal characteristics
of the input
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AC power 112 and the reference clock provided by the synchronized output power
signal
385. In one embodiment, the input AC power 112 embodies a substantially pure
sinusoidal
waveform. In such an embodiment, the power signal synchronizer 380
synchronizes the
converted AC power 367 to be within the threshold of the pure sinusoidal
waveform
embodied by the input AC power 112. The synchronized output AC power 375
includes
power signal characteristics that are within the threshold of the power signal
characteristics
of the input AC power 112. For example, the synchronized output AC power 357
includes a
frequency and voltage that is within the threshold of the frequency and
voltage of the input
AC power 112. The AC outlet receptacle 390 then generates the output AC power
195 based
on the synchronized output power 375. Thus, the power converter 300 generates
the output
AC power 195 that is substantially similar to the input AC power 112 despite
not receiving
the input AC power 112 from other sources.
[089]
[090] FIG. 4A is a block diagram of another exemplary solar panel 400 that
may be
used in the solar panel configuration 200 according to an exemplary embodiment
of the
present disclosure. Although, FIG. 4 depicts a block diagram of the solar
panel 400, FIG. 4
may also depict a block diagram of one of the plurality of panels 100a through
100n used in
the solar panel configuration 200 depicted in FIG. 2 and also the single solar
panel 100
depicted in FIG. 1. The features depicted in the block diagram of the solar
panel 300 may
also be included in the solar panel 400 but have been omitted for simplicity.
[091] The solar panel 400 may automatically transition from operating as a
master and
operating as a slave without user intervention based on a relay configuration.
The solar panel
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400 may be implemented using the solar power collector 310, the battery bank
320, the AC
inlet receptacle 330, the controller 360, the DC to AC converter 370, the AC
outlet receptacle
390, a first relay 410 and a second relay 420 each of which are enclosed
within a housing for
the solar panel 400.
[092] As noted above, the solar panel 400 operates as a slave when the
controller 360
senses that the input AC power 112 is coupled to the AC inlet receptacle 330.
The controller
then terminates the generation of the standalone output AC power 195. The
solar panel 400
operates as a master when the controller 360 no longer senses that the input
AC power 112 is
coupled to the AC inlet receptacle 330. The controller 360 then instructs the
battery bank
320 and the DC to AC inverter 370 to begin generating the standalone output AC
power 195.
The relay configuration that includes a first relay 410 and a second relay 420
transitions the
solar panel 400 between the master and slave modes based on the logic provided
in Table 1.
Master Mode Relay 1 Open Relay 2 Closed
Slave Mode Relay 1 Closed Relay 2 Closed
Unit Power Off Relay 1 Closed Relay 2 Open
(Bypassed)
Table 1
[093] When automatically transitioning from the slave mode to the master
mode, the
controller 360 no longer senses the input AC power 112 coupled to the AC inlet
receptacle
330. At this point, the controller 360 generates a first relay signal 450 that
instructs the first
relay 410 transition to the open state (logic 0). The controller 360 also
generates a second
relay signal 460 that instructs the second relay 420 to transition to the
closed state (logic 1).
The controller 360 also generates battery bank signal 345 that instructs the
battery bank 320
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to begin providing the stored DC power 355 to the DC to AC converter 370 to
generate the
converted AC power 367. Because the second relay 420 is in the closed position
(logic 1),
the converted AC power 367 passes through the second relay 420 onto the AC
outlet
receptacle 390 so that the solar panel 400 provides the AC output power 195
generated from
the stored DC power 355 rather than the input AC power 112. The open state
(logic 0) of the
first relay 410 prevents any remaining input AC power 112 from reaching the AC
output
receptacle 390 when the solar panel 400 is generating the standalone AC output
power 195 as
operating as the master.
[094] Once the controller 360 senses the input AC power 112 coupled to the
AC inlet
receptacle 330, the controller 360 automatically generates the power
conversion signal 365 to
instruct the DC to AC converter 370 to no longer provide converted AC power
367 so that
the solar panel 400 no longer generates the standalone AC output power 195.
The controller
360 also automatically generates the second relay signal 460 to instruct the
second relay 420
to transition to the open state (logic 0). The controller 360 also generates
the first relay
signal 450 to instruct the first relay 410 to transition to the closed state
(logic 1). After the
second relay 420 transitions to the open state (logic 0) and the first relay
410 transitions to
the closed state (logic 1), any input AC power 112 coupled to the AC inlet
receptacle 330
passes through the solar panel 400 to the AC outlet receptacle 390 so that the
solar panel 400
generates the output AC power 195.
[095] The second relay 420 remains in the open state (logic 0), until the
controller 360
has successfully synchronized the solar panel 400 to the input AC power 112
coupled to the
AC inlet receptacle 330. After the controller 360 properly synchronizes solar
panel 400 to
the input AC power then the controller 360 then generates the second relay
signal 460 to
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instruct the second relay 420 to transition from the open state (logic 0) to
the closed state
(logic 1). After the second relay 420 transitions from the open state (logic
0) to the closed
state (logic 1), the solar panel 400 will generate output AC power 195 that
includes the
converted AC power 367 that is in parallel to the input AC power 112.
[096] The solar panel 400 also operates in a bypass mode. In the bypass
mode, the solar
panel 400 is powered off and is no longer functioning. In embodiment, the
controller 360
generates the first relay signal 450 and instructs the first relay 410 to
transition into the
closed state (logic 1). The controller 360 also generates the second relay
signal 460 and
instructs the second relay 420 to transition into the open state (logic 0). In
another
embodiment, the first relay 410 and the second relay 420 are spring loaded
relay switches.
When the solar panel 400 powers off, the electromagnetic coil of the first
relay 410 is no
longer energized so the spring pulls the contacts in the first relay 410 into
the up position.
The closing of the first relay 410 and the opening of the second relay 420
causes the solar
panel 400 to be a pass through where the input AC power 112 passes through the
solar panel
400 and onto a second solar panel daisy chained to the solar panel 400 and/or
to an electronic
device being powered by the input AC power 112. Thus, additional solar panels
and/or
electronic devices down the line from the dysfunctional solar panel 400
continue to operate
off of the input AC power 112. The first relay 410 and the second relay 420
may be
implemented in hardware, firmware, software, or any combination thereof that
will be
apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) without departing from the
spirit and scope of
the disclosure.
[097] FIG. 4B is a block diagram of another exemplary solar panel
configuration 500 according
to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Although, FIG. 4B
depicts a block
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diagram of the solar panel configuration 500, FIG. 4B may also depict a block
diagram of the
plurality of solar panels 100(a-n) used in the solar panel configuration 200
depicted in FIG.
2.
[098] The solar panel configuration 500 may be implemented using the master
solar panel 530a
and the slave solar panel 530b. The master solar panel 530a includes a master
AC inlet
receptacle 330a, a master AC outlet receptacle 390a, a master controller 360a,
and a master
DC to AC converter 370a. The slave solar panel 530b includes a slave AC inlet
receptacle
330b, a slave AC outlet receptacle 390b, a slave controller 360b, and a slave
DC to AC
converter 370b. The master solar panel 530a and the slave solar panel 530b are
coupled
together by the AC bus 550. The master solar panel 530a and the slave solar
panel 530b
share many similar features with the solar panel 100, the plurality of solar
panels 100(a-n),
the solar panel 300, and the solar panel 400; therefore, only the differences
between the solar
panel configuration 500 and the solar panel 100, the plurality of solar panels
100(a-n), the
solar panel 300, and the solar panel 400 will be discussed in further detail.
[099] As mentioned, the solar panel 530a operates as the master and the solar
panel 530b
operates as the slave. However, as discussed in detail above, the solar panels
530a and 530b
may operate as either the master or slave depending on whether input AC power
is applied to
the respective AC inlet receptacle of each. The master solar panel 530a may
apply a constant
voltage to an AC bus 550 that is the coupling the AC inlet receptacle 330a and
the AC outlet
receptacle 390a of the master solar panel 530a to the AC inlet receptacle 330b
and the AC
outlet receptacle 390b of the slave solar panel 530b to maintain the
paralleled output AC
power generated by the solar panel configuration 500. The slave solar panel
530b may
increase the current applied to the AC bus 550 when the voltage of the AC bus
550 decreases
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below the reference voltage due to an external electronic device being coupled
to the solar
panel configuration 500. The slave solar panel 530b may increase the current
applied to the
AC bus 550 so that the voltage of the AC bus 550 is increased back to the
reference voltage
so that the paralleled output AC power is maintained to adequately power the
external
electronic device.
[0100] After the master solar panel 530a has synchronized with the slave solar
panel 530b, the
external input AC power 112a is in parallel with the output AC power 195a and
the output
AC power 195b generating the paralleled output AC power. The paralleled output
AC power
may be accessed by coupling the external electronic device to the master AC
outlet
receptacle 390a and/or the slave AC outlet receptacle 390b. The AC bus 550 may
provide an
access point to the paralleled output AC power for the master controller 360a
and the slave
controller 360b to monitor.
[0101] The master controller 360a may initially instruct the master DC to AC
converter 370a
with a master power conversion signal 365a to provide a constant master
voltage 560a to the
AC bus 550 to maintain the paralleled output AC power at a specified level.
The specified
level may be the maximum output AC power that may be generated by the power
converter
configuration 500 with the external input AC power 112a in parallel with the
output AC
power 195a and the output AC power 195b. However, the specified level may be
lowered
based on the constant master voltage 560a supplied by the master DC to AC
converter 370a
to the AC bus 550. The specified level may be associated with the reference
voltage of the
paralleled output AC power. As noted above, the reference voltage of the
paralleled output
AC power is the voltage level that is to be maintained to generate the
paralleled output AC
power that is sufficient to power the external electronic device.
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[0102] After an external electronic device is coupled to the master AC outlet
receptacle 390a
and/or the slave AC outlet receptacle 390b, the paralleled output AC power may
temporarily
decrease due to the load applied to the AC bus 550 by the external electronic
device. The
slave controller 360b may monitor the AC bus 550 with a slave AC bus
monitoring signal
570b to monitor the voltage of the AC bus 550 to determine whether the voltage
has
decreased below the reference voltage of the AC bus 550 which in turn
indicates that the
paralleled output AC power has decreased below the specified level. The slave
controller
360b may then instruct the slave DC to AC converter 370b with a slave power
conversion
signal 365b to increase the slave current 580b that is provided to the AC bus
550 when the
slave controller 360b determines that the voltage of the AC bus 550 decreases
after the
external electronic device is coupled to the master AC outlet receptacle 390a
and/or the slave
AC outlet receptacle 390b. The slave current 580b may be increased to a level
sufficient to
increase the voltage of the AC bus 550 back to the reference voltage.
Increasing the voltage
of the AC bus 550 back to the reference voltage also increases the paralleled
output AC
power so that the paralleled output AC power is reinstated to the specified
level with a
minimal lapse in time. The maintaining of the paralleled output AC power at
the specified
level prevents a delay in the powering of the external electronic device.
[0103] The slave controller 360b may continue to monitor voltage of the AC bus
550 with the
slave AC bus monitoring signal 570b to ensure that the voltage of the AC bus
550 does not
decrease below the reference voltage. The slave controller 360b may continue
to instruct the
slave DC to AC converter 370b with the slave power conversion signal 365b to
increase or
decrease the slave current 580b accordingly based on the voltage of the AC bus
550 to
maintain the paralleled output AC power at the specified level.
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[0104] The slave DC to AC converter 370b may continue to provide the slave
current 580b to
the AC bus 550 until the slave DC to AC converter 370b no longer has the
capability to
provide the slave current 580b at the level necessary to maintain the voltage
of the AC bus
550 at the reference voltage. For example, the slave DC to AC converter 370b
may continue
to provide the slave current 580b to the AC bus 550 until the DC source of the
slave power
converter 530b is drained to the point where the slave DC to AC converter 370b
can no
longer provide the slave current 580b at the level sufficient to maintain the
voltage of the AC
buss 550 at the reference voltage.
[0105] The master controller 360b also monitors the AC bus 550 with a master
AC bus
monitoring signal 570a. The master controller 360b monitors the AC bus 550 to
determine
when the voltage of the AC bus 550 decreases below the reference voltage for a
period of
time and is not increased back to the reference voltage. At that point, the
master controller
360a may recognize that the slave DC to AC converter 370b is no longer
generating slave
current 580b at the level sufficient to maintain the voltage of the AC bus 550
at the reference
voltage. The master controller 360a may then instruct the master DC to AC
converter 370a
with the master power conversion signal 365a to increase the master current
580a to a level
sufficient to increase the voltage of the AC bus 550 back to the reference
voltage so that the
paralleled output AC power may be maintained at the specified level. As a
result, a delay in
the powering of the external electronic device may be minimized despite the
draining of the
DC source of the slave power converter 530b.
[0106] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of another exemplary solar panel 505 that
may be used
in the solar panel configuration 200 according to an exemplary embodiment of
the present
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disclosure. Although, FIG. 5 depicts a block diagram of the solar panel 505,
one of ordinary
skill in the art will recognize that FIG. 5 may also depict a block diagram of
one of the
plurality of panels 100a through 100n used in the solar panel configuration
200 depicted in
FIG. 2 as well as the solar panel 100 depicted in FIG. 1. The features
depicted in the block
diagram of the solar panel 300 and 400 may also be included in the solar panel
505 but have
been omitted for simplicity.
[0107] The solar panel 505 may be implemented using the solar power
collector 310, a
battery charge circuit 510, a current amplifier 512, the battery bank 320, a
battery balancer
protection circuit 520, a step up transformer 531, a location module 540, an
AC voltage step
down transformer DC output 551, a wireless data transmitter and receiver 561,
a thermal
protection module 575, an integrated light source module 585, an AC frequency
correction
and filter circuit 590, a protection circuit 515, a fused AC inlet receptacle
from grid power or
other unity solar panels 330, a micro controller central computer 360, the DC
to AC
converter circuit 370, a frequency, amplitude, phase detection synchronizer
and frequency
multiplexing transceiver 525, a 50 or 60 Hertz ("Hz") true sine wave generator
535, a cooling
fan 545, a protection circuit 565, an AC power coupling switch 555, and a
fused AC outlet
receptacle 390, each of which are enclosed within a housing for the solar
panel 505.
[0108] The battery charge circuit 510 may include passive and/or active
circuitry as well
as integrated circuits to control and/or regulate the charging of the battery
bank 320 included
within the solar panel 505. The battery charge circuit 510 may have
bidirectional
communication with a computing device, such as controller 360. The controller
360 may
also control the battery charge circuit 510. The current amplifier 512 may
increase the output
current of the solar panel and assist in charging the battery bank 320.
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[0109] The battery balancer protection circuit 520 is disposed within the
housing of the
solar panel 505. The battery balancer protection circuit 520 may include
passive and/or
active circuitry as well as integrated circuits that may be controlled by the
controller 360.
The battery balancer protection circuit 520 may be used to ensure safe
discharge and
recharge of the individual cells within the battery bank 320.
[0110] The solar panel 505 may further include a location module 540. The
location
module 540 may include one or several location sensors such as but not limited
to a global
positioning system ("GPS"), a compass, a gyroscope, an altitude, and/or any
other location
sensor digital media file that will be apparent to those skilled in the
relevant art(s) without
departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. The location module 540
may be used
to send data to the controller 360 through the wireless data transmitter and
receiver 561 to an
external personal computing device.
[0111] The AC voltage step down transformer 551 is included in the solar
panel 505.
The step down transformer 551 may be used to charge the battery bank 320 from
the AC
inlet receptacle 330 through the battery charge circuit 510. The step down
transformer 551
may include iron, steel, ferrite, or any other materials and fashioned
specifically to satisfy
power requirements for charging the battery bank 320. The step down
transformer 551 may
also have a filtered DC output.
[0112] As discussed above, the solar panel 505 includes a computing device
such as the
controller 360. The controller 360 may be used to control and/or monitor the
solar panel 505.
The controller 360 may be a single or multiple processor based and may be able
to receive
software and/or firmware updates wirelessly through the associated wireless
data transmitter
and receiver 561 or through a hardware connection such as the frequency
multiplexing
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transceiver 525. The controller 360 may be connected to any part of the solar
panel 505 for
central control, remote control, general monitoring, and/or data collection
purposes. The
wireless data transmitter and receiver 561 may use Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cellular,
and/or any
other acceptable radio frequency data transmissions and reception techniques
that will be
apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) without departing from the
spirit and scope of
the disclosure. The transmitter and receiver 561 may be used to transmit data
from the solar
panel 505 to one or more external personal computing devices.
[0113] The solar panel 505 includes a thermal protection module 575. The
thermal
protection module 575 includes one or more sensors positioned in one or more
locations
throughout any part of the solar panel 505 for the purpose of temperature
monitoring. The
thermal protection module 575 is connected to the controller 360 and may be
used to transmit
data from the solar panel 505 to external personal computing devices.
[0114] As shown, the solar panel 505 may include the integrated light
source 585. The
integrated light source 585 may include one or more integrated lights inside
or disposed on
an exterior surface of the housing of the solar panel 505 and may be used as a
light source.
The integrated lights may vary in color, intensity, color temperature size,
frequency, and/or
brightness. The integrated light source 585 may be coupled to the controller
360. The
integrated light source 585 may be used to transmit data from the solar panel
505 to external
personal computing devices.
[0115] The solar panel 505 further includes a grid frequency, amplitude,
power phase
detection synchronizer and frequency multiplexing transceiver 525, which may
synchronize
multiple AC power sources and transmit data between one or more solar panels
505 via a
standard AC power line.
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[0116] The solar panel 505 further includes a frequency generator, such as
a 50 Hz or 60
Hz true sine wave generator 535. The frequency generator may also be other
types of
generators configured to output a signal at a particular reference frequency.
The sine wave
generator 535 may provide a sine wave reference to the DC to AC converter 370.
The sine
wave generator 535 may be coupled to the controller 360 as well as the grid
frequency,
amplitude, power phase detection synchronizer and frequency multiplexing
transceiver 525.
Moreover, the sine wave generator 535 may include analog and/or digital
circuitry.
[0117] The solar panel 505 may further include a cooling fan 545 disposed
within the
housing of the solar panel 505. The cooling fan 545 may include one or more
cooling fans
arranged in a way that best ventilates an interior at least partially formed
by the housing of
the solar panel 505 in which one or more components are disposed. The cooling
fan 545 may
be coupled to the thermal protection module 575 and/or the controller 360.
[0118] Furthermore, the solar panel 505 includes an AC frequency
correction and filter
circuit 590. The frequency correction and filter circuit 590 may be controlled
by the
controller 360 through the 50 Hz or 60 Hz true sine wave generator 535. In
addition, the
frequency correction and filter circuit 590 may receive AC power from the step
up
transformer 531 and may output corrected and filtered AC power to a protection
circuit 515
of the solar panel 505. The protection circuit 515 provides surge and fuse
protection and
may be controlled and monitored by the controller 360.
[0119] Moreover, the solar panel 505 has an AC coupling switch 555 that is
configured
to couple the AC power from the AC inlet receptacle 330 with AC grid
equivalent power
generated by the solar panel 505 such that synchronized AC power from the AC
inlet
receptacle 330 and the solar panel 505 are coupled together for output from
the AC outlet
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receptacle 390. The AC coupling switch 555 may be controlled by the controller
360 in
conjunction with the grid frequency, amplitude, power phase detection
synchronizer and
frequency multiplexing transceiver 525.
[0120] FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of another exemplary solar panel
configuration
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The solar
panel
configuration 600 includes a plurality of solar panels 610a through 610n that
may be daisy
chained together and coupled to a grid-tie system 640 to form the solar panel
configuration
600, where n is an integer greater than or equal to one. The grid-tie system
640 monitors the
input AC power 112 that is generated by the grid to determine whether the
power grid
remains stable to generate the input AC power 112. The grid-tie system 640
instructs the
battery bank 620 to provide converted AC power 660 to the plurality of solar
panels 610a
through 610n when the grid tie system 640 determines that the power grid has
failed. Thus,
the grid system 640 provides back up power to the plurality of solar panels
610a through
610n when the grid fails.
[0121] The grid-tie system 640 includes the battery bank 620, a relay
switch 630, a DC to
AC converter 680, and a power signal sensor 650. The solar panel configuration
600 shares
many similar features with the solar panel 100, the plurality of solar panels
100a through
100n, the solar panel 300, the solar panel 400, the solar panel 500, and the
solar panel
configuration 200, and as such, only the differences between the solar panel
configuration
600 and the solar panel 100, the plurality of solar panels 100a through 100n,
the solar panel
300, the solar panel 400, the solar panel 500, and the solar panel
configuration 200 are to be
discussed in further detail.
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[0122] The plurality of solar panels 610a through 610n may include larger
solar panels
with larger capacities to capture solar energy and convert the captured solar
energy into DC
power that may be stored in the battery bank 620. The grid-tie system 640 may
automatically link the plurality of solar panels 610a through 610n to the
input AC power 112
when the grid-tie system 640 is grid tied. The grid-tie system 640 may also
automatically
provide the converted AC power 660 to the plurality of solar panels 610a
through 610n when
the grid-tie system 640 is no longer grid tied such that the input AC power
112 is no longer
available to the plurality of solar panels 610a through 610n.
[0123] Each of the plurality of solar panels 610a through 610n may be
updated as to the
status of the grid. For example, the plurality of solar panels 610a through
610n may be
updated when the grid fails via a signal that is transmitted through the AC
power line of the
grid.
[0124] In another embodiment, the grid-tie system 640 may control the
converted AC
power 660 so that the DC power stored in the battery bank 620 is not depleted
from the use
of the converted AC power 660. For example, the grid-tie system 640 may dial
back the use
of the converted AC power 660 from maximum capacity to conserve the DC power
stored in
the battery bank 620.
[0125] The grid-tie system 640 includes a relay switch 630. The relay
switch 630
transitions into an open state (logic 0) when the grid fails and is no longer
providing the input
AC power 112 to the grid-tie system 640 so that the grid-tie system 640 may be
substantially
disconnected from the grid. The grid-tie system 640 immediately instructs the
DC to AC
converter 680 to convert the DC power stored in the battery bank 620 to begin
providing the
converted AC power 660 to the plurality of solar panels 610a through 610n to
replace the
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input AC power 112 no longer supplied to the grid-tie system 640. The
converted AC power
660 may include power signal characteristics that have already been
synchronized with the
power signal characteristics included in the input AC power 112 before the
grid went down.
For example, the converted AC power 660 may include a frequency, phase,
amplitude,
voltage and/or current that is substantially similar to the frequency, phase,
amplitude, voltage
and/or current of the input AC power 112. As a result, the plurality of solar
panels 610a
through 610n fail to recognize that the grid has failed and is no longer
providing the input
AC power 112 to the grid tie system 640.
[0126] After the grid fails, the power signal sensor 650 continues to
sense the power
signal characteristics on the failed side of the relay switch 630. For
example, the power
signal sensor 650 continues to sense the voltage, current, frequency, and/or
phase on the
failed side of the relay switch 630. As the grid begins to come back up, the
power signal
sensor 650 recognizes that the power signal characteristics on the failed side
of the relay
switch 630 are beginning to show that the grid is coming back up. As the grid
stabilizes, the
grid tie system 640 begins to adjust the power signal characteristics of the
converted AC
power 660 to become substantially equivalent to the power signal
characteristics of the input
AC power 112 being sensed by the power signal sensor 650. For example, the
grid tie
system 640 synchronizes the converted AC power 660 so that the frequency,
phase,
amplitude, voltage, and current of the converted AC power 660 becomes
substantially
equivalent to the frequency, phase, amplitude, voltage, and current of the of
the input AC
power 112 being sensed by the power signal sensor 650.
[0127] After the power signal characteristics of the converted AC power
660 are
substantially equivalent to the power signal characteristics of the input AC
power 112, the
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grid tie system 640 transitions the relay switch 630 into a closed position
(logic 1). The
plurality of solar panels 610a through 610n are then no longer running off of
the converted
AC power 660 but are rather running off of the input AC power 112 provided by
the grid.
[0104] FIG. 7 shows an illustration of a wireless solar panel
configuration 700. The
wireless solar panel configuration 700 includes a client 710, a network 720,
and a solar panel
730.
[0105] One or more clients 710 may connect to one or more solar panels 730
via network
720. The client 710 may be a device that includes at least one processor, at
least one
memory, and at least one network interface. For example, the client may be
implemented on
a personal computer, a hand held computer, a personal digital assistant
("PDA"), a smart
phone, a mobile telephone, a game console, a set-top box, and the like.
[0106] The client 710 may communicate with the solar panel 730 via network
720.
Network 720 includes one or more networks, such as the Internet. In some
embodiments of
the present invention, network 720 may include one or more wide area networks
("WAN") or
local area networks ("LAN"). Network 720 may utilize one or more network
technologies
such as Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, virtual private network
("VPN"), remote
VPN access, a variant of IEEE 802.11 standard such as Wi-Fi, and the like.
Communication
over network 720 takes place using one or more network communication protocols
including
reliable streaming protocols such as transmission control protocol ("TCP").
These examples
are illustrative and not intended to limit the present invention.
[0107] The solar panel 730 includes the controller 360. The controller 360
may be any
type of processing (or computing device) as described above. For example, the
controller
360 may be a workstation, mobile device, computer, and cluster of computers,
set-top box, or
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other computing device. The multiple modules may also be implemented on the
same
computing device, which may include software, firmware, hardware, or a
combination
thereof. Software may include one or more application on an operating system.
Hardware
can include, but is not limited to, a processor, memory, and a graphical user
interface
("GUI") display.
[0108] The client 710 may communicate with the solar panel 730 via network
720 to
instruct the solar panel 730 as to the appropriate actions to take based on
the time of the day,
weather conditions, travel arrangements, energy prices, etc. For example, the
client 710 may
communicate with the solar panel 730 to instruct solar panel 730 to charge its
batteries via
the input AC power provided by the grid during times of the day in when the
sunlight is not
acceptable. In another example, the client 710 may communicate with the solar
panel 730
via network 720 to instruct the solar panel 730 to operate off of the DC power
provided by
the internal batteries included in the solar panel 730 during peak utility
hours. In such an
example, the client 710 may communicate with the solar panel 730 to charge its
internal
batteries from the solar energy captured by the solar panel 730 during off
peak hours while
the solar panel 730 relies on the input AC power provided by the grid. The
client 710 may
then communicate with the solar panel 730 to run off of its charged internal
batteries during
peak hours when the grid is stressed. In another embodiment, the client 710
may
communicate with the solar panel 730 via network 720 to receive status updates
of the solar
panel 730.
[0109] The solar panel 730 may also include a GPS. The client 710 may
communicate
with the solar panel 730 via network 720 to analyze the GPS coordinates of the
solar panel
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730 and adjust the solar panel 730 so that the solar panel 730 may face the
sun at an angle
that maximizes the solar energy captured.
[0110] The solar panel 730 may also include a tilt mechanism that is built
into its back
that has a stepper motor that adjusts the angle of solar panel 730 to maximize
its exposure to
solar energy.
[0111] The client 710 may also remotely control the output AC power of the
solar panel
730 via the network 720. Hence, the client 710 may dial back the output AC
power of the
solar panel 730 so that the DC power stored in the battery bank of the solar
panel 730 is not
depleted.
[0112] In one embodiment, the client 710 may obtain information regarding
the solar
panel 730 via the network 720 that may include but is not limited to energy
produced by the
solar panel 730, energy consumed by the solar panel 730, the tilt of the solar
panel 730, the
angle of the solar panel 730, the GPS coordinates of the solar panel 730, and
any other
information regarding the solar panel 730 that may be communicated to the
client 710 via the
network 720 that will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s)
without departing
from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
[0113] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of exemplary operational steps of the solar
panel according
to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The present disclosure
is not limited
to this operational description. Rather, other operational control flows may
also be within the
scope and spirit of the present disclosure. The following discussion describes
the steps in
FIG. 8.
[0114] At step 810, the protovoltaic solar power collector 310 collects
solar energy from
a solar source.
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[0115] At step 820, the collected solar energy is converted into captured
DC power 305.
[0116] At step 830, the captured DC power 305 is stored in a battery bank
320.
[0117] At step 840, the AC inlet receptacle 330 receives input AC power
112 generated
from an AC power source external to the solar panel, for example, by the
electric utility grid.
[0118] At step 850, the power signal sensor 340 detects when the input AC
power 112 is
coupled to the AC inlet receptacle 330.
[0119] At step 860, if the power signal sensor 340 detects input AC power
112, then
standalone output AC power 195 for the solar panel that is in parallel to the
input AC power
112 is automatically generated.
[0120] FIG. 9 illustrates a top-elevational view of a solar panel
connector configuration
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The solar
panel connector
configuration 900 represents a solar panel connector configuration that
includes a plurality of
solar panels 100(a-n) that may be daisy chained together to form the solar
panel connector
configuration 900, where n is an integer greater than or equal to two. Each
solar panel 100(a-
n) that is added to the solar panel connector configuration 900 may generate
the output AC
power 195n that is in parallel with the output AC power 195a and the output AC
power 195b
of the solar panel connector configuration 900. Each solar panel 100(a-n) may
be connected
to each other via a plurality of solar panel connectors 910(a-n) where n is an
integer greater
than or equal to one. Each solar panel connector 910(a-n) transitions the
output AC power
195(a-n) from the output of each respective solar panel 100(a-n) to the input
of each
respective solar panel 100(b-n). For example, the solar panel connector 910a
transitions the
output AC power 195a from the output of solar panel 100a to the input of solar
panel 100b
and the solar panel connector 910n transitions the output AC power 195b from
the output of
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solar panel 100b to the input of solar panel 100n. An end cable 920 receives
the output AC
power 195n from the final solar panel 100n in the solar panel connector
configuration 900.
[0121] Conventional solar panel configurations include solar panels that
are daisy
chained together by numerous conventional wires connecting each solar panel.
Numerous
conventional wires are required to properly daisy chain the power generated by
each solar
panel to provide output power. Numerous conventional wires are also required
for data
communication between each solar panel. The numerous conventional wires are
typically tie
wrapped and are positioned strategically between solar panels.
[0122] The amount of wires required to daisy chain solar panels together
in conventional
solar panel configurations add difficulty in the installation process. The
many wires must
be properly positioned to minimize the structural stress on the structure
supporting the
conventional solar panel configuration. Additional time is also required
during installation to
properly install the solar panels. Installers of the solar panels have to
properly position and
tie wrap the wires for each solar panel to minimize the risk of any damage
that may result.
The additional time spent to position the numerous conventional wires is
significant and adds
to the time required to complete the installation process using the numerous
conventional
wires.
[0123] The amount of wire is also a safety hazard. Structural failures can
occur when the
wires are not properly positioned. For example, the structure supporting the
daisy chain of
solar panels may fail causing damage and/or injury when the weight of the
wires is not
properly distributed. Electrical damage may also occur when the wires are not
properly
positioned. Structural stress on the wires and/or from improperly positioning
the wires may
also result in an electrical reaction between two or more wires.
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[0124] The many wires also hinders the overall efficiency of the
conventional daisy
chained solar panel configuration. The routing of power through the wires
decreases the
overall power efficiency because of power loss Many wires may also hinder
mobility in
moving the conventional daisy chained solar panel configuration. The
difficulty that results
from properly positioning many wires deters installers from disassembling the
solar panels
and then reassembling the solar panels in a conventional daisy chain
configuration in a
different location.
[0125] The solar panel connectors 910(a-n) eliminates the need for the
numerous
conventional wiring assembly. The solar panel connectors 910(a-n) simplify the
connection
of the solar panels 100(a-n) to a three conductor configuration. The solar
panel connectors
910(a-n) properly daisy chain the output AC power 195(a-n) to properly
parallel the output
power 195a and 195b to the output AC power 195n. The solar panel connectors
910(a-n)
may also provide data communication between each of the solar panels 100(a-n).
[0126] The simplification of the connection of the solar panels 100(a-n)
from numerous
conventional wires to a single three conductor configuration embodied in the
solar panel
connectors 910(a-n) eliminates the burden required in installing the solar
panels 100(a-n).
Rather than having to address the structural issues that result from
positioning a lot of wires,
a single solar panel connector 910(a-n) connects each solar panel 100(a-n)
eliminating the
need for numerous conventional wires. Eliminating these wires eliminates the
structural
issues associated with the conventional daisy chain configuration. The single
solar panel
connector 910(a-n) does not have a structural burden on the conventional daisy
chain
configuration. Further, the time required during installation using the three
conductor
configuration of the solar panel connectors 910(a-n) is also minimized. No
longer does the
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installer have to spend significant time properly positioning the wires and
tie wrapping them.
The simplicity of the single solar panel connector 910(a) used to connect two
solar panels
100a and 100b requires the installer to plug in the solar panel connector 910a
into the output
of the solar panel 100a and the input of the solar panel 100b.
[0127] The three conductor configuration of the solar panel connectors
910(a-n) also
improves the safety of the solar panel connector configuration 900. With the
need for the
numerous conventional wires eliminated, the risk associated with electrical
damage that may
occur with the improper positioning of the numerous conventional wires is
reduced. The
three conductor configuration of the solar panel connectors 910(a-n)
eliminates the electrical
damage that may have resulted from the structural damage caused by the
numerous
conventional wires. The three conductor configuration also eliminates the
electrical damage
that may have resulted from the improper positioning of the numerous
conventional wires.
[0128] The three conductor configuration of the solar panel connectors
910(a-n) also
improves the overall efficiency of the solar panel connector configuration
900. The
simplification of the numerous conventional wires to the three conductor
configuration of the
solar panel connectors 910(a-n) decreases the amount of wires required to
transfer power
from solar panel to solar panel which decreases the amount of power that is
lost during the
transfer. The power efficiency may be optimized with the three conductor
configuration of
the solar panel connector 910(a-n) due to the minimizing of the connection to
a three
conductor configuration provided by a single connector.
[0129] The three conductor configuration of the solar panel connectors
910(a-n) also
provides mobility to the solar panel connector configuration 900. Due to the
ease of simply
installing each solar panel connector 910(a-n) between each respective solar
panel 100(a-n),
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installers may be much more inclined to disassemble the solar panel connector
configuration
900 and move the solar panel connector configuration 900 to a different
location.
Reassembling the solar panel connector configuration 900 in the different
location simply
requires the installation of the solar panel connectors 910(a-n) between each
respective solar
panel 100(a-n) providing ease in mobility.
[0130] The three conductor configuration of the solar panel connectors
910(a-n) may be
compatible in connecting output AC power 195a from solar panel 100a to solar
panel 100b
and connecting output AC power 195b from solar panel 100b to solar panel 100n.
However,
the three conductor configuration of the solar panel connectors 910(a-n) may
also be capable
of connecting DC power to DC power without any additional modifications to the
solar panel
connectors 910(a-n). The three conductor configuration of the solar panel
connectors 910(a-
n) may also provide data communication between the solar panels 100(a-n). For
example,
the three conductor configuration may support power line modem technology
("PLM") data
communication between the solar panels 100(a-n). The three conductor
configuration may
support various forms of data communication between the solar panels 100(a-n)
without
departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. The compatibility of
the solar panel
connectors 910(a-n) with both AC power and DC power and also in supporting
data
communication provides additional simplicity in connecting solar panels.
[0131] As further shown in FIG. 9, the solar panel connectors 910(a-n)
properly daisy
chain the solar panels 100(a-n) to parallel the output AC power 195a and 195b
so that the
overall output AC power of the solar panel connector configuration 900 is
increased. In
daisy chaining the solar panels 100(a-n), the power input for the solar panel
100b is coupled
to the power output of the solar panel 100a via the solar panel connector 910a
so that the
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input power AC power 195a received by the solar panel 100b is substantially
equivalent to
the output AC power 195a of the solar panel 100a. Further, the power input for
the solar
panel 100n is coupled to a power output of the solar panel 100b via solar
panel connector
910n so that the input power AC power 195b received by the solar panel 100n is
substantially
equivalent to the output AC power 195b of the solar panel 100b.
[0132] After the solar panel connectors 910(a-n) have been properly
inserted to
electrically connect the solar panels 100(a-n), respectively, the three
conductors included in
each of the solar panel connectors 910(a-n) engage AC characteristics to
electrically connect
the AC power transferred between each of the solar panels 100(a-n). A first
conductor
becomes a hot connection, a second conductor becomes a ground connection, and
a third
conductor becomes a neutral connection so that the AC power is properly
transferred
between each of the solar panels 100(a-n). The hot connection, the ground
connection, and
the neutral connection enable the transfer of the AC power between each of the
solar panels
100(a-n) so that the AC power is not degraded and/or decreased during the
transfer between
the solar panels 100(a-n).
[0133] As noted above, each output AC power 195(a-n) may be paralleled to
increase the
overall output AC power of the solar panel connector configuration 900. The
end cable 920
may be positioned at the output of the final solar panel 100n in the solar
panel connector
configuration 900 to transfer the overall output AC power represented by the
output AC
power 195n to a second configuration that requires the overall output AC
power. The end
cable 920 includes a connector 930 similar to that of the solar panel
connectors 910(a-n).
The connector 930 includes a three conductor configuration that can accept the
output AC
power 195n from the solar panel 100n. Cable 940 may be coupled to the
connector 930 and
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also includes a three conductor configuration that can properly transfer the
output AC power
195n to a second configuration without any degradation and/or power loss in
the output AC
power 195n. For example, cable 940 may be coupled to an electric stove so that
the
paralleled output AC power 195n is properly transferred by the cable 940 to
the electric
stove. In another example, cable 940 is coupled to a breaker box so that the
solar panel
connector configuration 900 is grid tied. Although the solar panel connector
configuration
900 depicts three solar panels 100(a-n) that are connected by the solar panel
connectors
910(a-n), any quantity of solar panels 100(a-n) may be connected by any
quantity of solar
panel connectors 910(a-n) in a similar fashion as discussed in detail above
that will be
apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) without departing from the
spirit and scope of
the disclosure.
[0134] FIG. 10 illustrates a top-elevational view of a solar panel
connector configuration
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The solar
panel connector
configuration 1000 represents a solar panel connector configuration that
includes the
plurality of solar panels 100(a-n) that may be daisy chained together to form
the solar panel
connector configuration 1000, where n is an integer greater than or equal to
two. The solar
panel 100a receives input DC power 1070a. As a result, each subsequent solar
panel 100(b-
n) that is added to the solar panel connector configuration 1000 may generate
output DC
power 1050n that is in parallel with the output DC power 1050a and the output
DC power
1050b of the solar panel connector configuration 1000. Each solar panel 100(a-
n) may be
connected to each other via the plurality of solar panel connectors 910(a-n)
where n is an
integer greater than or equal to one. Each solar panel connector 910(a-b)
transitions the
output DC power 1050a and 1050b to the respective input of each respective
solar panel
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final solar panel
100n in the solar panel connector configuration 1000 and transfers the output
DC power
1050n to a DC/AC power inverter 1030.
[0135] FIG. 10 is an example implementation of using the solar panel
connectors 910(a-
n) in an application where the solar panel connectors 910(a-n) transfer output
DC power
1050(a-n) that is generated by the solar panels 100(a-n). In daisy chaining
the solar panels
100(a-n), the power input for the solar panel 100b is coupled to the power
output of the solar
panel 100a via the solar panel connector 910a so that the input DC power 1050a
received by
the solar panel 100b is substantially equivalent to the output DC power 1050a
of the solar
panel 100a. The power input of the solar panel 100n is coupled to the power
output of the
solar panel 100b via the solar panel connector 910b so that the input DC power
1050b
received by the solar panel 100n is substantially equivalent to the output DC
power 1050b of
the solar panel 100b.
[0136] After the solar panel connectors 910(a-b) have been properly
inserted to
electrically connect the solar panels 100(a-b) and the solar panels 100(b-n),
respectively, the
three conductors included in each of the solar panel connectors 910(a-b)
engage DC
characteristics to electrically connect the DC power transferred between each
of the solar
panels 100(a-n). A first conductor becomes a positive connection, a second
conductor
becomes a ground connection, and a third conductor becomes a negative
connection so that
the DC power is properly transferred between each of the solar panels 100(a-
n). The positive
connection, the ground connection, and the negative connection enable the
transfer of the DC
power between each of the solar panels 100(a-n) so that the DC power is not
degraded and/or
decreased during the transfer between the solar panels 100(a-n).
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[0137] As noted above, each output DC power 1050(a-n) may be paralleled to
increase
the overall output DC power of the solar panel connector configuration 1000.
The end cable
920 may be positioned at the output of the final solar panel 100n in the DC
solar panel
connector configuration 1000 to transfer the overall output DC power
represented by the
output DC power 1050n to the DC/AC power inverter 1030 that converts the
overall output
DC power to AC power. The cable 940 may be coupled to the solar panel
connector 910n
that transfers the output DC power 1050n to the DC/AC power inverter 1030. The
end cable
920 and the solar panel connector 910n can properly transfer the output DC
power 1050n to
the DC/AC inverter 1030 without any degradation and/or power loss in the
output DC power
1050n.
[0138] FIG. 11 illustrates a top-elevational view of a solar panel
connector configuration
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The solar
panel connector
configuration 1100 represents a solar panel connector configuration that
includes the
plurality of solar panels 100(a-n) that may be daisy chained together in a
plurality of rows to
form the solar panel connector configuration 1100, where n is an integer
greater than or equal
to two. The solar panels 100(a-d) are configured in a first row and the solar
panels 100(e-n)
are configured in a second row. A connect bridge 1120 daisy chains the first
row of solar
panels 100(a-d) to the second row of solar panels 100(e-n). As a result, the
connect bridge
1120 may be used to daisy chain any two rows of solar panels and multiple
connect bridges
may be used to daisy chain multiple rows together. As discussed in detail
above, the output
AC or DC power generated by each solar panel 100(a-n) may be daisy chained in
parallel
down the line until the output AC or DC power in the last solar panel 100(e)
of the solar
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panel connector configuration 1100 is outputted. An end cable 920 receives the
output AC or
DC power from the final solar panel 100n in the solar panel connector
configuration 1100.
[0139] FIG. 11 is an example implementation of using the connect bridge
1120 in an
application where the solar panels 100(a-n) are arranged in multiple rows such
as when the
solar panels 100(a-n) are positioned on the roof of a house. In daisy chaining
the solar panels
100(a-n) in multiple rows, the connect bridge 1120 provides the transition of
output AC or
DC power between each row of solar panels 100(a-n).
[0140] For example, the solar panel 100d receives input AC power and
becomes the
master in the solar panel connector configuration 1100. The AC power is then
paralleled
down the first row of solar panels 100(a-d) via solar panel connectors 910(a-
c). However,
after the output AC power is generated by the solar panel 100a, the solar
panel connector
1130a that is coupled to the output of the solar panel 100a and the cable 1140
of the connect
bridge 1120 transfers the output AC power to the solar panel connector 1130b.
The solar
panel connector 1130b is coupled to the cable 1140 of the connect bridge 1120
and the input
of the solar panel 100n. The solar panel connector 1130b then transfers the
output AC power
of the solar panel 100a to the solar panel 100n so that the output AC power
continues to be
paralleled through the second row of solar panels 100(e-n). The output AC
power generated
by the last solar panel 100e in the solar panel connector configuration 1100
is then
transferred to the solar panel connector 930 of the end cable 920 and then
transferred as
discussed in detail above. Further, as discussed in detail above, the connect
bridge 1120 may
also transfer output DC power when DC power is provided by the master solar
panel 100d.
[0141] FIG. 11A illustrates a top-elevational view of another embodiment
of a solar
panel connector configuration according to the present disclosure. The solar
panel connector
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configuration 1100a represents a solar panel connector configuration that
includes a plurality
of solar panels 1102(a-n) that may be daisy chained together in a plurality of
rows or other
arrangements to form the solar panel configuration 1100a, where (n) is an
integer greater
than or equal to 2. As illustrated in this exemplary embodiment, the solar
panels 1102(a-n)
are configured in a first row 1104 and a second row 1106. Each of the solar
panels 1102(a-n)
is further configured with a plurality of connector plug receptacles
positioned on the bottom
or side of the solar panel 1102(a-n) that is opposite the side of a panel that
is receiving solar
energy 1108(a-n). Additionally, on the backside 1108(a-n) of each of the solar
panels
1102(a-n) are positioned a plurality of receptacles for the connectors that
are located along
each of the sides of the solar panel 1102(a-n) in other words, in a generally
rectangular
shaped solar panel, there will be a set of at least four connector receptacles
1110 for
receiving the solar panel connector 1112(a-n). Each of the solar panel
connectors 1112(a-n)
are adapted to flush mount the solar panels 1102(a-n) by attaching to the
backsides 1108(a-
n). However, because the solar panels 1102(a-n) have receptacles 1110
positioned along
each of the edges of the panels, the panels can be connected in a variety of
fashions. In other
words, the panels may be connected in a general longitude fashion, along the
long sides of
each of the panels or on the short sides of the panels such as might be done
when connecting
a panel from one row 1104, to another row 1106. As shown, solar panel
connector 1112d
connects the panels together and thus connects the rows together.
Additionally, a like solar
panel connector bridge 1114 allows the solar panels to be connected to other
panels that may
not be directly collated to an existing panel such as a panel that might be on
the other side of
a roof peak as well as provides cognativity to the house or other structure or
device requiring
electricity through a cable 1116.
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[0142] FIG. 12 illustrates an example solar panel connector according to
an exemplary
embodiment of the present disclosure. The solar panel connector 1200 includes
a first
conductor enclosure 1210a, a second conductor enclosure 1210b, and a third
conductor
enclosure 1210c. The solar panel connector 1200 also includes a first
conductor enclosure
1220a, a second conductor enclosure 1220b, and a third conductor enclosure
1220c. A first
conductor 1230a is enclosed by the first conductor enclosures 1210a and 1220a.
A second
conductor 1230b is enclosed by the second conductor enclosures 1210b and
1220b. A third
conductor 1230c is enclosed by the third conductor enclosures 1210c and 1220c.
A center
section 1240 couples the first conductor enclosure 1210a to the first
conductor enclosure
1220a, the second conductor enclosure 1210b to the second conductor enclosure
1220b, and
the third conductor enclosure 1210c to the third conductor enclosure 1220c.
The solar panel
connector 1200 is an example embodiment of the solar panel connectors 910a
through 910n
and shares many similar featuresdiscussed in detail above.
[0143] As noted above, each of the three conductors 1230(a-c) may be
configured to act
as hot, neutral, and ground when engaged with AC power from a solar panel and
also be
configured to act as a positive, negative, and ground when engaged with DC
power from a
solar panel.
[0144] For example, each of the first conductor enclosure 1210a, the
second conductor
enclosure 1210b, and the third conductor enclosure 1210c may be coupled to a
solar panel
and receives AC power as discussed above from the solar panel. Upon receiving
the AC
power, the first conductor 1230a enclosed in the first conductor enclosure
1210a may act as
the hot, the second conductor 1230b enclosed in the second conductor enclosure
1210b may
act as the ground, and the third conductor 1230c enclosed in the third
conductor enclosure
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1210c may act as the neutral. The first conductor enclosure 1220a, the second
conductor
enclosure 1220b, and the third conductor enclosure 1220c may also be coupled
to a solar
panel and transfers AC power as discussed above to the solar panel. Any of the
first
conductor 1230a, the second conductor 1230b, and the third conductor 1230c may
act as the
hot, ground, and neutral when transferring AC power based which portion of the
AC power
is transferred from the output of the solar panel that the solar panel
connector 1200 is coupled
to that will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) without
departing from the spirit
and scope of the disclosure.
[0145] In another example, each of the first conductor enclosure 1210a,
the second
conductor enclosure 1210b, and the third conductor enclosure 1210c may be
coupled to a
solar panel and receive DC power as discussed above from the solar panel. Upon
receiving
the DC power, the first conductor 1230a enclosed in the first conductor
enclosure 1220a may
act as the positive, the second conductor 1230b enclosed in the second
conductor enclosure
1220b may act as the ground, and the third conductor 1230c enclosed in the
third conductor
enclosure 1220c may act as the negative. The first conductor enclosure 1220a,
the second
conductor enclosure 1220b, and the third conductor enclosure 1220c may also be
coupled to
a solar panel and transfers DC power as discussed above to the solar panel.
Any of the first
conductor 1230a, the second conductor 1230b, and the third conductor 1230c may
act as the
positive, negative, and ground when transferring DC power based which portion
of the DC
power is transferred from the output of the solar panel that the solar panel
connector 1200 is
coupled to that will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s)
without departing from
the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
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[0146] The center section 1240 may include a flexible material so that the
center section
1240 may flex and/or bend. For example, the center section 1240 may flex
and/or bend up to
90 degrees. The flexibility and/or bending characteristics of the center
section 1240 may
enable an installer that is assembling a daisy chain configuration of solar
panels, such as the
solar panel connector configuration 1100, additional flexibility when
assembling the daisy
chain configuration.
[0147] For example, the installer may not be limited to aligning the input
of a first solar
panel to an output of a second solar panel on the same plane to couple the two
solar panels
together with a connector. Rather, the flexibility of the center section 1240
enables the
installer to align the input of the first solar panel to the output of the
second solar panel at an
angle to couple the two solar panels together with the solar panel connector
1200. The
flexibility of the center section 1240 enables the solar panel connector 1200
to bend so that
the installer does not have to get onto the same plane as the two solar panels
to couple the
two solar panels together. Rather, the installer has the flexibility to remain
standing and
couple the two solar panels together at an angle before laying each solar
panel onto the same
plane.
[0148] FIG. 12A illustrates another example solar panel connector
according to an
alternative exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The solar panel
connector
1112(a-n) includes a first conductor enclosure 1204a, a second conductor
enclosure 1204b,
and a third conductor enclosure 1204c. The solar panel connector 1112(a-n)
also includes a
first conductor enclosure 1206a, a second conductor enclosure 1206b, and a
third conductor
enclosure 1208c. A first conductor 1208a is enclosed by the first conductor
enclosures 1204a
and 1206a. A second conductor 1208b is enclosed by the second conductor
enclosures
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conductor enclosures
1204c and 1206c. A center section 1212 couples the first conductor enclosure
1204a to the
first conductor enclosure 1206a, the second conductor enclosure 1204b to the
second
conductor enclosure 1206b, and the third conductor enclosure 1204c to the
third conductor
enclosure 1206c.
[0149] As noted above, each of the three conductors 1208(a-c) may be
configured to act
as hot, neutral, and ground when engaged with AC power from a solar panel and
also be
configured to act as a positive, negative, and ground when engaged with DC
power from a
solar panel.
[0150] For example, each of the first conductor enclosure 1204a, the
second conductor
enclosure 1204b, and the third conductor enclosure 1204c may be coupled to a
solar panel
and receives AC power as discussed above from the solar panel. Upon receiving
the AC
power, the first conductor 1208a enclosed in the first conductor enclosure
1204a may act as
the hot, the second conductor 1208b enclosed in the second conductor enclosure
1204b may
act as the ground, and the third conductor 1208c enclosed in the third
conductor enclosure
1204c may act as the neutral. The first conductor enclosure 1204a, the second
conductor
enclosure 1204b, and the third conductor enclosure 1204c may also be coupled
to a solar
panel and transfers AC power as discussed above to the solar panel. Any of the
first
conductor 1208a, the second conductor 1208b, and the third conductor 1208c may
act as the
hot, ground, and neutral when transferring AC power based which portion of the
AC power
is transferred from the output of the solar panel that the solar panel
connector 1202 is coupled
to that will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) without
departing from the spirit
and scope of the disclosure.
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[0151] In another example, each of the first conductor enclosure 1204a,
the second
conductor enclosure 1204b, and the third conductor enclosure 1204c may be
coupled to a
solar panel and receive DC power as discussed above from the solar panel. Upon
receiving
the DC power, the first conductor 1208a enclosed in the first conductor
enclosure 1206a may
act as the positive, the second conductor 1208b enclosed in the second
conductor enclosure
1206b may act as the ground, and the third conductor 1208c enclosed in the
third conductor
enclosure 1206c may act as the negative. The first conductor enclosure 1206a,
the second
conductor enclosure 1206b, and the third conductor enclosure 1206c may also be
coupled to
a solar panel and transfers DC power as discussed above to the solar panel.
Any of the first
conductor 1208a, the second conductor 1208b, and the third conductor 1208c may
act as the
positive, negative, and ground when transferring DC power based which portion
of the DC
power is transferred from the output of the solar panel that the solar panel
connector 1202 is
coupled to that will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s)
without departing from
the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
[0152] The center section 1212 may include a flexible material so that the
center section
1212 may flex and/or bend. For example, the center section 1212 may flex
and/or bend up to
allow for installation anomalies. In other words, the flexibility and/or
bending characteristics
of the center section 1212 may enable an installer that is assembling a daisy
chain
configuration of solar panels, additional flexibility when assembling the
daisy chain
configuration.
[0153] For example, the installer may not be limited to aligning the input
of a first solar
panel to an output of a second solar panel on the same plane to couple the two
solar panels
together with a connector. Rather, the flexibility of the center section 1212
enables the
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installer to align the input of the first solar panel to the output of the
second solar panel at an
angle to couple the two solar panels together with the solar panel connector
1212. The
flexibility of the center section 1212 enables the solar panel connector 1212
to bend so that
the installer does not have to get onto the same plane as the two solar panels
to couple the
two solar panels together. Rather, the installer has the flexibility to remain
standing and
couple the two solar panels together at an angle before laying each solar
panel onto the same
plane.
[0154] FIG. 12B is a perspective view showing the insulation of the solar
panel
connector 1202 in use with a typical solar panel 1102a. As shown, the solar
panel connectors
1112(a-n) may be arranged on multiple sides or as shown in FIG. 12B on
orthogonal sides.
In addition to providing the above-referenced electrical as well as data
communication
functionalities, the solar panel connector 1112(a-n) may also be configured to
provide a
mounting and/or bracing function with regard to the insulation of the solar
panel 1102(a-n) as
well. In other words, the solar panel connector 1112(a-n) could be
sufficiently rigid, at least
in the base portion 1212, as well as the connectors 1204(a-c) 1206(a-c) to
provide the means
whereby the solar panel 1102(a-n) is secured to the structure 1214 either
directly, or through
some intermediate framing system 1216. It should also be appreciated that
these solar panels
do not necessarily need to be arranged or orientated in like manner. In other
words, because
the solar panel 1102(a-n) has connectors on the distant side of the solar
arrays, each of the
panels could be positioned adjacent to one another as shown in FIGs. 11A, or
it could be
positioned in more of a "T" fashion where the shorter side of the rectangle is
attached to the
longer side of an adjacent panel. This provides an installer the flexibility
to position the
maximum number of solar panels given to a particular roof structure as well as
to account for
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any aesthetic or other roof features that may be of importance to the
installer. Again, the
solar panel connector 1202(a-n) could also be adapted such that the base 1212
allows for the
screws, nails, or other means of attaching it to the framing structure 1216 or
the roof itself
1214 without damaging or interfering with the cognativity of the connectors
1208(a-c) that
run through the center portion 1212 of the connector 1202(a-n). Again, use of
embodiment
of a solar panel connector 1202(a-n) as shown herein satisfies not only the
power transfer
component, the data transfer component, but also the framing and insulation
component of
the solar panel in a single user friendly, multi-function connector component.
[0155] FIG. 13 is a flowchart of exemplary operational steps of the solar
panel connector
configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
The present
disclosure is not limited to this operational description. Rather, it will be
apparent to persons
skilled in the relevant art(s) from the teachings herein that other
operational control flows are
within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. The following
discussion describes the
steps in FIG. 13.
[0156] At step 1310, a couples a first conductor 1230a with a first end to
an output of a
first solar panel 100a and a second end to an input of the second solar panel
100b. The first
conductor 1230a is enclosed by the first conductor enclosure 1210a at one end
and by the
first conductor enclosure 1220a at the other end.
[0157] At step 1320, a user couples a second conductor 1230b with a first
end to the
output of the first solar panel 100a and a second end to the input of the
second solar panel
100b. The second conductor 1230b is enclosed by the second conductor enclosure
1210b at
one end and by the second conductor enclosure 1220b at the other end.
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[0158] At step 1330, a user couples a third conductor 1230c with a first
end to the output
of the first solar panel 100a and a second end to the input of the second
solar panel 100b.
The third conductor 1230c is enclosed by the third conductor enclosure 1210c
at one end and
by the third conductor enclosure 1220c at the other end.
[0159] At step 1340, AC power 195a is transferred to the second solar
panel 100b from
the first solar panel 100a when the first solar panel generates AC power 195a.
[0160] At step 1350, DC power 1050a is transferring to the second solar
panel 100b
when the first solar panel 100a generates DC power 1050a.
[0161] FIG. 14 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention in a
residentialor
domestic configuration 1400. Again, a plurality of solar panels 100(a-n) are
positioned on a
rooftop 1402 of a home or other dwelling 1404 in such a way as to receive
light or solar
energy 102 from the sun or other like source. In alternative embodiments, some
or all of the
solar panels 100(a-n) could also be positioned on another part of the
structure 1404, for
example, the sides of the structure, or even detached from the structure 1404
all together.
For example, the solar panels 100(a-n) could be positioned in an array orchard
detached from
the structure 1404. As further shown, the structure 1404 is connected via a
standard power
line 1406 to a commercial electric utility grid 1408 via distribution and/or
sub-distribution to
power lines. While the illustration shows above ground distribution lines, one
of skill in the
art would appreciate that such connections to the electric utility grid 1408
could also be via
an underground power cables either from the home 1404 to the pole, or from the
home 1404
to an underground distribution system, or a combination of overhead and
underground power
cables.
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[0162] The power line 1406 is connected to the home 1404 at the electrical
utility meter
1412. The utility meter 1412 is in turn connected via a wire 1414 to the
electrical panel
1416, which may be located inside or outside of the home 1404. The electric
meter 1412
keeps track of the amount of power that is being drawn from the electric
utility grid 1408 into
and used within the structure of 1404.
[0163] As further illustrated, the solar panels 100(a-n) are connected to
the breaker box
1416 via a single wire or cable 940 however, in other embodiments, the cable
940 from the
solar panels 100(a-n) may directly feed a single device such as a clothes
dryer.
[0164] As further illustrated in FIG. 14, the electric panel 1416 has a
number of circuits
that power various aspects of the home, for example, it may have a line or
circuit 1418 that is
used to power an outside air conditioner unit 1420, another line circuit 1422
to specifically
power a home's washer machine 1424, and another circuit 1426 to power an
electric hot
water heater 1428. A typical home would also have a number of circuits 1430,
1432 which
may be used to power various rooms or sections of the home 1404.
[0165] FIG. 15 illustrates an embodiment of a power controller
configuration 1500 of the
present invention. More specifically, a plug or outlet power controller 1502
consists of a
standard three pronged male connection 1504 at one end that is adapted to mate
with a
standard wall outlet 1506. At the other end, the outlet controller 1502 has a
standard multi
pronged female receptacle, which is configured to receive a standard
electrical appliance
power cord 1510 with a male two or three pronged plug assembly 1510. One who
is skilled
in the art can appreciate that in various circumstances the orientation of the
plugs and prongs
could be reversed without detracting from the present invention.
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[0166] The power outlet controller 1502 is further configured with a
wireless
communication circuitry 1503 to enable it to connect and communicate
wirelessly via Wi-Fi,
Bluetooth, or other like communication protocols with the solar panel 100. In
other
embodiments, the outlet power controller 1502 may also wirelessly communicate
with a
central communication and control center or hub 1512, which in turn may
communicate
wirelessly with the solar panels 100(a-n).
[0167] In addition to containing communication circuitry, which allows the
central
communication hub 1512 to wirelessly communicate with the power controller
1502, it also
typically will contain communication circuitry to allow it to communicate
wirelessly with the
solar panel 100 as well as a users cell phone 1906. This allows a user to
remotely control
various aspects of power distribution within his or her home even when they
may be miles
away. Additionally, the central communication hub 1512 may contain motion
sensing and/or
audio sensing circuitry to allow it to determine automatically when a user may
or may not be
present in the home. In other words, in one embodiment, if the central
communication and
control center 1512 senses that there has been no motion in the room where it
is located for a
particular time, it may automatically power down any electronic devices, for
example, lights,
TV, audio equipment, and the like in that room. Similarly, it may also power
down other
aspects of the home by virtue of not hearing any activity in the home through
its audio
detection circuitry. Conversely, upon sensing, whether via audio indication,
or motion
indication, that there is activity again within the house or soon to be within
the house, for
example, sensing a garage door opening, a doorbell ringing, or any other like
motion and/or
audio inputs, it may power up certain aspects of the home. For example, it may
turn on lights
in a particular section of the home from which it senses an audio input. A
doorbell ringing or
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a knock on the door may trigger the illumination of that room or other rooms
within the
home. Obviously this has additional ramifications in addition to power
management, such as
safety and security of the home and deterrence of burglaries and the like.
[0168] FIG. 16 illustrates another embodiment of a power controller
configuration 1600
of the present invention. In this embodiment, the breaker box 1416 has a
remote control
circuit breaker 1602 which is in operable wireless communication with solar
panel 100 by
means of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or like communication protocols. The remote control
circuit
breaker 1602 will turn power on or off to a particular single device, or to
multiple devices
that are connected to that particular circuit. In other words, the remote
control circuit breaker
1602 might control power to a signal device such as a hot water heater 1428 or
it might
control the lights 1434 in one or more rooms such as illustrated by circuits
1430, 1432.
[0169] In an operation, the power controllers 1502,1602 sense when a
particular
electronic device such as a lamp 1434 is turned on and is requiring power. It
then wirelessly
communicates with the solar panel 100a, typically via central communication
hub 1512. The
solar panel 100a can then provide power to the home 1404 in the amount
required by the
particular device, for example the lamp 1434. A user can also wirelessly
communicate with
and control the power controllers, for example, via the central communication
1512 from a
smart phone 1906.
[0170] FIG. 17 illustrates another embodiment of a solar panel
configuration 1700
wherein the solar panels 100(a-n) directly supply power via a cable 940 to a
power adapter
1702. The power adapter 1702 is typically designed for a high voltage
appliance such as
might be found in a residential clothes dryer operating at 240 volts. In this
embodiment, the
solar panels 100(a-n) supply the power needed directly to the power or outlet
adapter 1702
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without routing the power through the breaker box 1416. Nevertheless, because
the outlet
that the power adapter 1702 is itself wired 1704 to the breaker box 1416,
power and
communication may still be routed through that line 1704. It should also be
noted that in
various embodiments, some lines 940 from a particular solar panel or panels
100(a-n) may be
connected directly to a power adapter 1702, while other lines from different
solar panels
100(a-n) may run directly to the breaker box 1416. In other words, one could
have the
configuration 1700 shown in Fig. 17 where in the solar panels 100(a-n)
directly power an
outlet or in the configuration 1400, as shown in Fig. 14 where the solar
panels 100(a-
n)directly power a breaker box, or a combination of these arrangements.
[0171] FIG. 18 illustrates a commercial embodiment or configuration 1800
of the present
invention where it is used in a structure 1802 that consists of a plurality of
apartments or
separately powered rooms 1804. As shown, a plurality of solar panels 100(a-n)
may be
arranged to provide power via a single cable 940 to a first breaker box 1426a
which is then
connected via cable 1806 to a second breaker box 1426b. The breaker boxes
1426a,1426b
are designed to then have a plurality of circuits 1808, 1810, 1812, 1814,
1816, and 1818 to
power various sections of the structure 1802. As illustrated, the first
breaker box 1426a
powers the lower level of the structure 1802 via circuits 1808, 1810, and 1812
whereas the
second breaker box 1426b powers the second floor of the structure 1802 via
circuits 1814,
1816, and 1818. It should further be appreciated that any number of breaker
boxes 1426a,
1426b could be added to the configuration 1800, as well as any number of
circuits. In other
words, in a six apartment structure 1802 one could have six breaker boxes, and
a plurality of
circuits running from each of those boxes. In alternative embodiments, a
plurality of solar
rays could be located on or near a structure such that could provide power
from one
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apartment building to another. In other words, the same solar panel or
multiple solar panels
on the rooftops of separate structures could provide power to a single office
or apartment
within a particular structure, as well as distribute that power to other units
as desired by the
apartment owner or manager.
[0172] FIG. 19 shows an illustration of a wireless solar panel
configuration 1900 of the
present invention. The wireless solar panel configuration 1900 further
illustrates the
communication and control aspects of one embodiment of the present invention.
As shown,
this particular embodiment can be configured with a single solar panel 100a or
a plurality of
solar panels 100a,100b. Within one or more of the solar panels is a Wi-Fi
hotspot 1902 that
is adapted to provide wireless communication to one or more computing devices
such as a
desktop computer 1904, a cell phone or smart phone 1906, a tablet device 1908,
or a laptop
or notebook computer 1910. While illustrated as a Wi-Fi hotspot 1902 other
relatively local
radio communication, Bluetooth, cellular, infrared, optical, or other like
communication
protocols may be used to communicate from the solar panel 100a to the
computing devices
shown. Likewise, other types of computing devices particularly those that have
a need to
connect to the Internet could also be in operable communication with the Wi-Fi
hotspot 1902
or like communication circuitry located within the solar panel 100a. For
example, a game
console, a personal digital assistant ("PDA"), WiiTM, data-bracelets, and
other like devices,
could also connect to the Wi-Fi hotspot 1902 or like communication circuitry.
[0173] The Wi-Fi hotspot 1902 located within the panel 100a may, in
different
embodiments, operably connects to the Internet 1912 in various methods. For
example, in
one embodiment, a hardwire connection 1914 such as an Ethernet cable or a
telephone line
with a modem, may be used to provide access to one or more intermediate
communication
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devices with an ultimate connection to the Internet. In another embodiment,
the
communication circuitry in the solar panel 100a may communicate to the
Internet 1912 via a
cellular network 1916. In other words, within the communication circuitry of
the solar panel
100a is a cellular radio transmitter that allows the panel to connect directly
with one or more
cell towers 1916. The cell towers in turn provide operable communication to
the Internet
1912.
[0174] In yet another embodiment, the solar panel 100a is in operable
communication
with the Internet 1912 via a satellite 1918 network. In other words, within
the solar panel
100a is a satellite phone transmitter that provides communication directly
from the panel
100a to one or more satellites 1918. The satellites are in turn in operable
communication
with the Internet 1912.
[0175] In still other embodiments, other forms of communication or data
transfer
protocols, e.g., laser, optical, etc., may be used to connect the panel 100a
to the Internet, and
within a single panel 100a, a plurality of protocols may be available.
[0176] It should also be appreciated that the connection from one solar
panel 100a to the
Internet 1912 does not need to be via a single interface. For example, one
skilled in the art
could appreciate that a plurality of methods might be used to ultimately
connect one solar
panel 100a to the Internet. Hence a combination of satellites, wired
connection, and/or
cellular towers, or other like communication antennas could be used to provide
the ultimate
path to get to the Internet 1912. For example, in one embodiment, one solar
panel 100a
could communicate to another solar panel 100b via Wi-Fi and then that panel
100b, could
communicate to the satellite 1918 or a cell tower 1916. In other words, in a
single
application a plurality of panels 100(a-n) are typically installed on a
rooftop 1402, one or
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more of those solar panels 100(a-n) may be shielded from a direct view of a
satellite 1912 by
surrounding trees, buildings, or other like obstructions. However, the panel
100(a-n) that
does have a clear view of the satellite 1918 may not be ideally positioned for
Wi-Fi
communication with various hand held computing devices. Hence, for the panel
100a that is
interfacing with the mobile computing devices to ultimately communicate to the
Internet, it
may need to relay its transmissions to other panels 100(a-n) to ultimately
gain a clear shot to
satellite 1918. This relaying could be done via wireless transmission of
information from the
Wi-Fi hotspot 1902, the wireless data transmitter and receiver 561, or other
like
communication circuitry. And communication from the one panel 100a to another
panel
100b to another panel 100n may also occur via a wired connection whether
through PML
technology data communication or other like hardwired connections. In other
words, this
communication may occur via the solar panel connector configuration 910a or
another like
wired connection.
[0177] It should further be appreciated that the communication from one
panel 100a to
another panel 100b is not necessarily confined to panels 100(a-n) located on a
single rooftop
1402. In other words, the panels may also communicate from one structure to
another
structure. Hence in a neighborhood or wherever the panels 100(a-n) are located
within range
of other panels 100(a-n), the panels 100(a-n) themselves may form their own
rooftop local
area network ("LAN") whereby data may be communicated from one rooftop to
another
rooftop for use within those particular structures, and/or for the purpose of
ultimately hop
scotching along to the Internet 1912. In other words, in a particular
neighborhood, the
location or position of one home, or its placement on a lot, may not allow
direct access to
the Internet via a satellite 1918 or to a cell tower 1916. However, by linking
and
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communicating from one rooftop to another, a house that might be, for example,
in a valley
or otherwise inaccessible to satellites 1918 or cell towers 1916, may be
linked to the Internet
1912 from one housetop to another up and down hills, etc., until it reaches a
house with a
roof panel 100a that does have a clear view of the satellite 1918 or a cell
tower 1916.
[0178] It should further be appreciated that while the positions of the
solar panels 100a,
100b has been discussed on the top of a structure, i.e. a rooftop 1402, these
panels 100a, 100b
could also be positioned elsewhere on, or apart from, a structure. For
example, panel 100a
could be located on the side 1902 of the structure 1404. In such a
configuration, panels
100(a-n) that were installed high up the side 1920 of the structure 1404 would
typically have
better reception and ability to connect with a satellite 1918 or a cell tower
1916 than panels
100(a-n) positioned lower on the side wall 1920. Additionally, the
illumination of each solar
panel 100(a-n) from a solar source 102 or other like energy or light source
may not
necessarily be coextensive with the communication path to either a satellite
1918 or a cell
tower 1916. In other words, a panel 100(a-n) might be a good solar collector
but a poor
communicator or a good communicator but a poor solar collector due to its
relative position
or location.
[0179] The solar panels 100(a-n) may also be positioned apart from the
structure 1404 all
together. In other words, a remote ranch house 1404 that may be located in a
valley, may
utilize one or more solar panels 100(a-n) located on top of a nearby ridge
line. These panels
100(a-n) may be relatively in a line of sight communication path with panels
100(a-n) on the
home 1404 thus allowing for relay communication to the Internet 1912. Hence,
while panels
100(a-n) located on the ranch house 1404, may be well positioned for power
generation from
a solar source 102, they will rely on detached and deployed panels 100(a-n)
for
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communication. One can further appreciate that if a relay of panels was
necessary to provide
cognativity ultimately to the ranch house 1404 from the solar panels 100(a-n)
placed on the
ridge, this could also be done via a hardwire connection 940 or a combination
of a hardwire
connection 940 and wireless transmissions. Hence, one could contemplate a
scenario where
a hardwire communication 940 might be desirable for communication from one
panel 100a
to another panel 100b when line of sight communication is obscured by trees,
terrain, other
structures, and the like. Conversely, once a particular panel 100(a-n) is
within line of sight of
another panel 100(a-n) or is otherwise in communication range, a wireless
transmission may
be preferable over placing hardwires in the ground or on poles or otherwise
connecting the
two panels 100(a-n).
[0180] Similarly, in yet another embodiment, the solar panel 100a acts as
a
communication repeater where its primary purpose is not to provide power to
something
external to it, but simply for using its own internally generated power to
power its
communication and circuitry 561. In other words, in a remote location, one
panel 100a may
again be strategically placed on top of a ridge or other like high points in
relation to the
surrounding terrain whereby it can relay data communication to other panels
100b located on
other rooftops 1402 in surrounding valleys. Hence the primary purpose of this
panel 100a
would be to provide a communication link to the Internet 1912 by connecting a
plurality of
solar panels 100(a-n) located on a plurality of roofs 1402 throughout a
particular geographic
area.
[0181] In short, the solar panel 100(a-n) and the communication circuitry
1902 located
therein is able to act as its own network whether located on a particular
structures rooftop
1402 or particular structures walls 1920 or in a standalone configuration.
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[0182] In addition to placing solar panels on either the roof of a
structure, the sides of a
structure, or even off the structure all together, such as standalone solar
panels on a hillside
or ridge top, the solar panels 100(a-n) of the present invention may also be
located on mobile
devices such as vehicles, trucks, trailers, boats, and the like. For example,
solar panels
100(a-n) could be positioned on a commercial tractor trailer for use in
providing electrical
power to the truck or trailer while in transit, such as might be the case in a
refrigerated
vehicle that is using electricity to cool its cargo, or other electrical
demands in the vehicle
itself, and/or in hybrid type vehicles to power the vehicle itself.
Additionally, such power
generation storage could be useful for when the vehicle stops, such as a
tractor trailer
stopping at night for a rest stop to then power its air conditioning or other
electrical needs
within the tractor trailer. This would obviate the need for the tractor
trailer to keep a engine
going or another type of electric generator going to power such items while it
is parked in the
rest-stop or other overnight parking areas.
[0183] In addition to providing for the electrical needs, the solar panels
100(a-n) of the
present invention in view of their communication capabilities could also
provide a mobile
data network as the trucks or other vehicles move along a highway. In other
words, much
like the concept of the solar panels on a rooftop providing its own local area
network or path
to hopscotch their way to the Internet, trucks on a highway would act as a
dynamic mobile
network wherein data and communication could be relayed, until one vehicle has
access to
the Internet or could simply provide that data to any user connected to this
mobile network.
[0184] FIG. 19 also illustrates the solar panels 100(a-n) being in
wireless
communication with one or more outlet or power controller 1502. The outlet
controller 1502
is configured to plug into a standard electrical outlet 1506 and receive a
plug 1510 from a
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standard electrical device, e.g., a lamp 1434. In an alternative embodiment,
the power
controller 1602 is in the form of a remote control circuit breaker 1602 could
be used.
[0185] It should also be appreciated that in addition to or in lieu of the
communication
circuitry 1902 being located within a solar panel 100, the communication
circuitry to
communicate to the internet via a satellite phone connection 1918, cellular
connection 1916,
or a hardwire connection 1914, could also be located within the central
communication hub
1512. In other words, the central communication hub 1512 could communicate
directly with
the various WiFi computing devices such as cell phone 1906, desktop computer
1904, a
cabin 1908, and/or a laptop computer 1910. The central communication hub 1512
could then
provide the WiFi hotspot 1902 as well as communicating to the internet 1912
and the solar
panels 100(a-n). And in yet another alternative embodiment, the central
communication hub
1512 provides a WiFi hotspot and it in turn is in operable communication with
one or more
solar panels 100(a-n) which are then in turn in communication with the
Internet via a satellite
1918 or a cell tower 1916.
[0186] FIG. 19A shows an alternative embodiment of a solar panel
configuration 1900a
of the present invention. As shown in this embodiment, a mobile solar panel
1901 is
illustrated as acting as a source of electrical generation from a solar source
102 while at the
same time providing an internal WiFi hotspot 1902 for use in providing an
access to the
Internet 1912 to various digital components such as a cell phone 1906, a
desktop computer
1904, a tablet 1908, or a laptop computer 1910. It should be appreciated that
the mobile solar
panel 1901, as illustrated in this figure, may have unique applicability in a
deployed,
camping, or other remote location that may not have access to a structure or
other
infrastructure such as might be available in a traditional domestic or other
commercial
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applications. It should further be appreciated that the solar panel 1901 may
be positioned,
tilted, or otherwise oriented and moved throughout the day to achieve the best
results from
the available solar energy 102. This may be done through use of automated tilt
or adjustment
mechanisms, or may be manually positioned by a user. A solar panel 1901 that
is equipped
with internal GPS or other position locating circuitry, as well as access to
the Internet 1912
via satellite phone or cellular connection, may use this data to optimize its
position and time
for collecting solar energy. It should further be appreciated that a remote
location with solar
panel 1901 may further be powered through the light and/or radiation that may
admit from a
campfire 1903. In other words, the solar 1901 is not necessarily confined to
generating
electricity for use in powering various devices in a remote location and or
providing power to
its own internal communication circuitry to only times when the sun 102 may be
shining.
[0187] FIG. 20 further illustrates the operational control and power
allocation flow chart
2000 by one or more or solar panels 100(a-n). More specifically the power
controllers 1502,
1602 continuously monitor the demand for power from the electrical devices
connected to
them [2002]. If there is no power demand ("PD"), e.g., the light switch is
never turned on,
the power controllers 1502, 1602 simply continue to monitor any demand for
power.
However, if there is a power demand [2004], the power controllers 1502, 1602
will send a
message directly to the solar panel 100, or in alternative embodiments to the
central hub
1512. [2006].
[0188] While the power controllers 1502, 1602 monitor the power demand,
the solar
panel 100, or in alternative embodiments, the central hub 1512, is also
simultaneously
monitoring not only whether the power controllers 1502, 1602 are sending any
request for
power to it [2006], but also, is monitoring whether the solar panel 100 is
generating any
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power as well as any other directives that may be programmed or supplied
dynamically by an
individual [2008]. If there is no generated power ("GP"), the solar panel 100,
or in
alternative embodiments, the central hub 1512 will simply continue to monitor
the solar
arrays or photovoltaic solar power collectors 310 to see if and when any power
might be
collected and generated [2010]. In order to maximize the efficiency of this
processing and
monitoring step, the solar panel micro controller central computer 360 may be
programmed
or set or otherwise directed to, as appropriate, actively monitor solar energy
production,
passively monitor solar energy production, or all together shut down the
monitoring
completely. For example, during periods when it is known there will be no
solar collections,
such as during the night, the micro controller central computer 360 may
instruct the solar
panel 100 to cease monitoring operations all together until such time as when
the sun will
rise or another condition will warrant the potential monitoring of energy
production. Other
factors such as weather, cloud cover, precipitation, solar eclipses, and the
like could all effect
the likelihood and amount of power that might be generated at any particular
time by the
solar panel 100.
[0189] If however, there is a presence of generated power from the solar
panel 100
[2010]then further inquiry is made as to whether there has been a request for
power [2012].
If there has been no request for power, in other words, neither the outlet
power controller
1502 nor the circuit breaker power controller 1602 has requested any power
from the solar
panel 100, the solar panel 100, or in alternative embodiments, the central hub
1512, then
determines whether its power storage 320 is full [2014]. If the solar panel
100 batteries 320
are completely full, and again there is no need, demand, or request for power,
then the solar
panel 100 must provide this excess power to the grid 1408 [2016].
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[0190] Providing power to the grid 1408 could be done in a number of ways.
For
example, it could be sold back to the local electric utility company grid
1408, or
alternatively, it could be provided to a more localized electric grid. In
other words, the
excess power that is generated from the solar arrays on one home might be
provided to
another home in the same neighborhood or even in the same housing complex. As
previously discussed, the present invention may be utilized not only on
residential or
domestic single family type units, but also on multifamily or other more
commercial
establishments. In such cases, one could contemplate that a landlord or
building manager
might be desirous of having power generated from one unit that is not being
used, be
provided to another unit for consumption and use on that property, as opposed
to selling that
excess electricity back to the power grid only to have to purchase power from
the power grid
to power a different unit.
[0191] If however, the battery bank 320 is not full [2014], the next
decision that the solar
panel 100, or in alternative embodiments, the central hub 1512, must evaluate
is whether to
store that power [2018]. If it is decided to store the power [2018],the solar
panel 100, or
central hub 1512, must continue to monitor the power storage capacity [2014].
For if that
becomes full [2014], then that power must be provided to the grid 1408 [2016].
[0192] The decision on whether to store power 2018 may be determined by
evaluating an
plurality of factors. For example, even though the battery 320 may not be
full, the time of
day, i.e. peak rates for power on the market, might dictate that it would be
economically
advantageous to sell power to the grid at that time. Likewise, even if the
battery 320 was not
full, but there was no anticipated need for power in the near term, it might
also be
advantageous to sell power to the grid 1408. In other words, if a particular
homeowner was
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on vacation and had no need to consume any power, even if the battery bank 320
was not
full, there would be no reason to store power when it could be sold for peak
dollar at
particular times. The micro controller central computer 360 might be
programmed or
otherwise set to resume storing power so that the battery bank 320 would be
fully charged
upon the return of the homeowner.
[0193] Turning back to decision block 2012, if the solar panel 100 determines
that there is a
request for power the next question that must be determined is whether to use
the generated
power to meet that need for requested power [2020]. If the decision is not to
use the
generated power to meet the requested power needed, the next question that the
solar panel
100, or central hub 1512, will again evaluate is whether the batter storage
320 is full [2014].
If it is not full, it must then determine whether to store that power [2018].
[0194] However, if the decision is to use the generated power 2014], the next
question that must
be evaluated is whether the requested power is less than or equal to the
amount of the
generated power. [2022]. If the answer here is yes, the solar panel 100 then
provides the
generated power to power whatever devices are connected to the power
controllers 1502,
1602 that have requested power. Also, to the extent the requested power is
less than the
generated power, the panel 100, or central hub 1512, will again need to
determine whether to
store the excess generated power [2018], or provided it to an outside utility
or like power grid
1408 [2016]. Again, the questions that will need to be evaluated is whether
the storage 320
of the solar panel 100 is full, i.e., whether the batteries 320 have any
additional capacity for
charging, and whether economic or other factors warrant the sale or otherwise
distribution of
any excess power.
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[0195] If however, the requested power is not less than or equal to the
generated power,
the solar panel 100 or central hub 1512, must then evaluate if there is any
stored power
[2026]. If that question is answered in the negative, i.e., that the solar
panel 100 does not
have any stored power, then the solar panel 100 will provide all its generated
power as well
as supplementing whatever additional power is needed to power the various
devices from the
power it pulls off the utility grid, otherwise known herein as utility power
("UP"). [2028].
[0196] If the solar panel 100 does have stored power [2026] the solar
panel 100 or central
hub 1512, must then determine whether to use that stored power [2030]. If it
determines to
not use that stored power, then the panel 100 will again provide the amount of
power being
generated it plus any additional power needed to meet the power demand from
the utility grid
[2028].
[0197] If however, the decision is to use the stored power the solar panel
100 or central
hub 1512 must determine whether the requested power is less than or equal to
the generated
power plus the stored power [2032]. If the requested power is less than or
equal to the
generated power plus the stored power [2032)], the solar panel 100 provides
the generated
power and the stored power to meet the request for power from the power
controllers [2034].
However, if the requested power is greater than the generated power plus the
stored power
[2032], the solar panel 100 will provide the generated power, the stored
power, and whatever
additional power is needed to meet the request for power from the commercial
utility power
grid [2036].
[0198] As mentioned, the solar panel 100, or in alternative embodiments,
the central hub
1512,continuously monitors the requests for power, the amount of power being
generated,
and any directives or instructions from a user [2008]. If again there is no
request for power
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[2038], the solar panel 100 simply continues to monitor any messages from the
power
controllers 1502, 1602. If however, there is a request for power [2038], the
solar panel 100
or central hub 1512 again asks whether there is any generated power
present[2040]. If there
is no generated power present, the solar panel 100 or central hub 1512
evaluates whether
there is any stored power present[2042]. If there is no stored power present
then the solar
panel 100 provides power from the utility to meet the request for power needs
from the
power controllers [2044].
[0199] However, if there is stored power present [2044], the solar panel
100 or central
hub 1512 then evaluates whether it should use that stored power [2046]. If the
decision is
made to not use the stored power [2046], the solar panel 100 provides utility
power to meet
the needs of the electrical devices connected to the power controllers 1502,
1602 [2044].
[0200] However, if the decision is made to use the stored power [2046],
the solar panel
100 or central hub 1512 then evaluates whether the request for power is less
than or equal to
the stored power. [2048]. If that question is answered in the affirmative, the
solar panel 100
provides the stored power to power the devices connected to the power
controllers 1502,1602
to meet the request for power[2050]. If however, the request for power is
greater than the
stored power then the solar panel provides the stored power and whatever extra
power from
the utility grid to meet the request for power grid [2052]. Of course, if the
request for power
is less than the stored power, the balance of the stored power will simply
remain stored in the
battery bank 320 or like storage devices and only be used as needed by future
requests for
power.
[0201] As mentioned, the micro controller central computer 360 of a
particular solar
panel 100 and/or in alternative embodiments, the central communication and
control hub
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1512 continuously monitors requests for power from the power controllers 1502,
1602, the
amount of power that is being generated from the photovoltaic solar power
collectors, as well
as any other directives or instructions[2008]. Those directives and
instructions, can be
preprogrammed, into the software and/or hardware configuration of the micro
controller
central computer 360, and/or may be dynamically provided by a user via a
wireless
communications protocol as discussed above. In other words, a user from a
smart phone, can
dynamically give instructions to use power from the solar panel 100 to power
certain circuits.
For example, an individual who is away on vacation may elect to completely
power off his or
her hot water heater 1428, but upon returning to home, may elect to instruct
the solar panel
100 or central hub 1512 to now provide power to his or her water heater 1428
from generated
solar power. The user can use an application on his or her smart phone or from
an Internet
website interface to monitor the amount of power that is being generated, the
amount of
power that is being consumed or requested, and allocate power accordingly.
Hence, a user
can optimize his power usage by determining when to sell power to the grid
1408, when to
store power, what devices in his home or other structure is using power and
from what source
to power those devices, i.e., whether from the utility grid 1408, stored
power, or power that
is being contemporaneously generated by the solar panels 100(a-n).
CONCLUSION
[0202] It is to be appreciated that the Detailed Description section, and
not the Abstract
section, is intended to be used to interpret the claims. The Abstract section
may set forth one
or more, but not all exemplary embodiments, of the present disclosure, and
thus, are not
intended to limit the present disclosure and the appended claims in any way.
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[0203] The present disclosure has been described above with the aid of
functional
building blocks illustrating the implementation of specified functions and
relationships
thereof. The boundaries of these functional building blocks have been
arbitrarily defined
herein for the convenience of the description. Alternate boundaries may be
defined so long
as the specified functions and relationships thereof are appropriately
performed.
[0204] It will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) that
various changes in
form and detail can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
present
disclosure. Thus the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the
above-described
exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the
following claims
and their equivalents.
