Photovoltaic-embedded surface
First Claim
1. An integrated solar power system for providing electricity from a trafficable surface to external electrical devices, comprising:
- at least one roadway panel comprising a solar energy collector substantially across the width thereof;
a layer of translucent and protective material substantially across the width thereof and covering said solar energy collector, said material being sufficiently translucent to allow passage of light therethrough for absorption of light by said solar energy collector, being sufficiently protective to withstand the loads and the impact of pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and having a sufficient coefficient of friction to allow passage thereon of pedestrians and vehicles without slippage; and
an electrical conductor associated with said solar energy collector for extracting electrical power therefrom;
said at least one roadway panel being arranged with respect to each other to form a trafficable surface; and
said at least one roadway panel providing solar energy to at least one external electrical device or solar power storage member.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated solar power system that provides electricity to external electrical devices has a trafficable surface formed from a plurality of roadway panels arranged with respect to each other. Each roadway panel has a solar energy collector, a layer of translucent and protective material covering the solar energy collector, the material being sufficiently translucent to allow passage of light therethrough for absorption of light by said solar energy collector and sufficiently protective to withstand the loads and the impact of pedestrian and vehicular traffic and having a sufficient coefficient of friction to allow passage thereon of pedestrians and vehicles without slippage, and an electrical conductor for extracting electrical power from the solar energy collector. Each roadway panel may be modularly connected to others. The roadway panel provides solar energy to at least one external electrical device or solar power storage member.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. An integrated solar power system for providing electricity from a trafficable surface to external electrical devices, comprising:
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at least one roadway panel comprising a solar energy collector substantially across the width thereof;
a layer of translucent and protective material substantially across the width thereof and covering said solar energy collector, said material being sufficiently translucent to allow passage of light therethrough for absorption of light by said solar energy collector, being sufficiently protective to withstand the loads and the impact of pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and having a sufficient coefficient of friction to allow passage thereon of pedestrians and vehicles without slippage; and
an electrical conductor associated with said solar energy collector for extracting electrical power therefrom;
said at least one roadway panel being arranged with respect to each other to form a trafficable surface; and
said at least one roadway panel providing solar energy to at least one external electrical device or solar power storage member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 35)
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14. A method of collecting solar power in a trafficable surface and providing electricity to external electrical devices, comprising:
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providing at least one roadway panel comprising a solar energy collector substantially across the width thereof;
a layer of translucent and protective material substantially across the width thereof and covering said solar energy collector, said material being sufficiently translucent to allow passage of light therethrough for absorption of light by said solar energy collector, being sufficiently protective to withstand the loads and the impact of pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and having a sufficient coefficient of friction to allow passage thereon of pedestrians and vehicles without slippage; and
an electrical conductor associated with said solar energy collector for extracting electrical power therefrom;
arranging said at least one roadway panel with respect to each other to form a trafficable surface; and
providing solar energy from said at least one roadway panel to at least one external electrical device or solar power storage member. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 36)
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28. A roadway panel for use in providing electricity from a trafficable surface to an external electrical device, comprising:
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a solar energy collector substantially across the width thereof;
a layer of translucent and protective material substantially across the width thereof and covering said solar energy collector, said material being sufficiently translucent to allow passage of light therethrough for absorption of light by said solar energy collector, being sufficiently protective to withstand the loads and the impact of pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and having a sufficient coefficient of friction to allow passage thereon of pedestrians and vehicles without slippage; and
an electrical conductor associated with said solar energy collector for extracting electrical power therefrom and for providing said electrical power to an external device;
said roadway panel being adapted to be set with respect to other roadway panels or non-photovoltaic roadway panels to form a trafficable surface; and
said roadway panel providing solar energy to at least one external electrical device or solar power storage member. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 37)
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Specification