Self-powered systems and methods using auxiliary solar cells
First Claim
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1. A photovoltaic power system, comprising:
- a) a component that articulates and tracks the sun; and
b) a source of electrical power comprising;
1) a first, fixed photovoltaic solar cell having a face oriented in a first direction;
2) a second, fixed, photovoltaic solar cell having a face oriented in a second direction, wherein the second direction is different from the first direction;
wherein the source of electrical power is electrically coupled to the component in a manner effective such that light that is incident upon one or more of said faces is converted into an electrical output used to provide power to articulate the component.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to technology for providing independent electrical power to a wide variety of electronic and/or mechanical systems, especially systems incorporating sensors and corresponding components that are used to take action based upon sensed information.
135 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A photovoltaic power system, comprising:
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a) a component that articulates and tracks the sun; and
b) a source of electrical power comprising;
1) a first, fixed photovoltaic solar cell having a face oriented in a first direction;
2) a second, fixed, photovoltaic solar cell having a face oriented in a second direction, wherein the second direction is different from the first direction;
wherein the source of electrical power is electrically coupled to the component in a manner effective such that light that is incident upon one or more of said faces is converted into an electrical output used to provide power to articulate the component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A photovoltaic power system comprising:
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a) an articulating, photovoltaic concentrator module supported upon a frame, said module providing an electrical power output from the system; and
b) a plurality of fixed, photovoltaic cells coupled to the system in a manner effective to provide electrical power internally to one or more components of the power system, said cells being positioned at a plurality of locations and being oriented in a plurality of directions in a manner effective to capture incident sunlight as the sun moves. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of providing electrical power to a system, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a plurality of fixed solar cells mounted on the system and oriented in a plurality of directions to capture incident sunlight as the sun moves, said cells converting the incident sunlight into electrical power;
b) causing the fixed solar cells to be electrically coupled to at least one component of the system that uses electrical power; and
c) causing the electrical component to use the electrical power provided by the fixed cells. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A method of providing electrical power, comprising the steps of:
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a) causing a plurality of fixed solar cells affixed to a photovoltaic power system to provide electrical power for internal use by the photovoltaic power system, said fixed solar cells being oriented in a plurality of directions to capture incident sunlight as the sun moves; and
b) causing a plurality of articulating solar cells of the power system to provide electrical power for a use external to the system.
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26. A photovoltaic power system comprising a photovoltaic cell provided on a fixed wedge, wherein the photovoltaic cell is electrically coupled to an articulating component of the photovoltaic power system.
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27. A photovoltaic power system, comprising:
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a) a plurality of individually moveable photovoltaic concentrator modules or module groups, wherein each concentrator module of the plurality includes;
i) at least one photovoltaic cell physically coupled to the module; and
ii) a solar concentrator that helps to concentrate incident light upon at least one corresponding photovoltaic cell;
b) a self-powered tracking system being electrically coupled the photovoltaic power system, wherein the self-powered tracking system comprises one or more fixed and tilted photovoltaic cells that capture incident light and convert it to an electrical power output, wherein the self-powered tracking system photovoltaic cells are separate from the photovoltaic cells of the concentrator modules;
c) at least one sensor that uses the electrical power output to generate information indicative of a sensed position of a light source;
d) actuating componentry that uses the electrical power output to move the photovoltaic concentrator modules in a range of motion including one or more desired photovoltaic concentrator module positions; and
e) a control system that uses the electrical power output and the sensed information to cause the actuating componentry to move the photovoltaic concentrator modules to one or more desired positions.
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- 28. A system comprising at least one sub-system that performs one or more functions using electrical power, said sub-system being electrically coupled to at least one fixed, tilted photovoltaic cell string, wherein the cell string comprises at least one photovoltaic cell.
Specification