Solar panel configuration for vehicles

• US 20070158978A1
• Filed: 01/06/2006
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Blake, Tyler, Woodhouse, David, Thomas, Freeman
• Granted Patent: US 7,445,275 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/210
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/00 Electric propulsion with power supply from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/06 Fixed roofs non-fixed roofs or like shelters B60J7/00; roof liners B60R13/02; insulating elements B60R13/08
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/048 Encapsulation of modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/20 Supporting structures directly fixed to an immovable object H02S20/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/30 Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 30/10 Frame structures
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/291 Applications

Abstract

A vehicle sunroof including a sunroof frame mounted to a vehicle roof opening and having opposing lateral sides. The sunroof frame has an outer edge adjacent to the outer surface of the vehicle roof and an inner edge located within the vehicle cabin. The vehicle sunroof also includes a number of solar panels. Each solar panel includes a solar collection surface for collecting sunlight for producing solar energy. The solar panels extend between and are connected to the opposing lateral sides of the sunroof frame.

Claims

1. A vehicle sunroof comprising:

a sunroof frame mounted to a vehicle roof opening and having opposing lateral sides, the sunroof frame having an outer edge adjacent to the outer surface of the vehicle roof and an opposing inner edge; and

a number of solar panels, each having a solar collection surface for collecting sunlight for producing solar energy, the number of solar panels extending between and connected to the opposing lateral sides.

2. The vehicle sunroof of claim 1 wherein the number of solar panels are tiltably connected to the opposing lateral sides such that the number of solar panels are tiltable.

3. The vehicle sunroof of claim 2 wherein each of the number of solar panels has a tilt angle.

4. The vehicle sunroof of claim 3 wherein the tilt angle of each solar panel is substantially equal.

5. The vehicle sunroof of claim 3 wherein the tilt angle of each solar panel is about 0 degrees such that the number of solar panels lie in a common plane.

6. The vehicle sunroof of claim 2 wherein the tilt angle of each solar panel is greater than 0 degrees and less than 180 degrees such that the number of solar panels are spaced apart to create a passageway between each pair of solar panels for allowing the flow of air.

7. The vehicle sunroof of claim 6 further comprising a venting baffle attached to the inner edge of the sunroof frame for regulating the flow of air passing through the one or more passageways.

8. The vehicle sunroof of claim 7 further comprising a venting panel attached to the venting baffle, and one or more switches for distributing air from the venting baffle to one or more locations within the vehicle cabin.

9. The vehicle sunroof of claim 8 wherein the one or more switches are one or more slide switches.

10. The vehicle sunroof of claim 1 further comprising a panel connected to the outer edge of the sunroof frame.

11. The vehicle sunroof of claim 10 wherein the panel is releasably or hingeably connected to the other edge of the sunroof frame.

12. The vehicle sunroof of claim 10 wherein the panel is a transparent panel.

13. A vehicle solar collection system, the system comprising:

one or more sunroof solar panels mounted within a sunroof frame;

a pair of front sunroof solar panels, wherein one of the front sunroof solar panels is adjacent to the left headlight and the other is adjacent to the right headlight;

a pair of rear sunroof solar panels, wherein one of the rear sunroof solar panels is adjacent to the left taillight and the other is adjacent to the right taillight,

wherein the one or more sunroof solar panels, the pair of front sunroof solar panels, and the pair of rear sunroof solar panels are capable of collecting sunlight for conversion into solar energy.

14. The vehicle solar collection system of claim 13, further comprising a converter for converting the collected sunlight into energy.

15. The vehicle solar collection system of claim 14, wherein the converter is a photovoltaic cell.

16. The vehicle solar collection system of claim 14, wherein the converter is a heat exchanger for heating a fluid for use in operation of an engine.

17. A vehicle sunroof comprising:

a sunroof frame mounted to a vehicle roof opening and having opposing lateral sides, the sunroof frame having an outer edge adjacent to the outer surface of the vehicle roof and an opposing inner edge; and

a number of solar panels, each having a solar collection surface for collecting sunlight for producing solar energy, the number of solar panels extending between and connected to the opposing lateral sides,

wherein the number of solar panels are tiltably connected to the opposing lateral sides such that the number of solar panels are tiltable.

18. The vehicle sunroof of claim 17, wherein the tilt angle of each solar panel is substantially equal.

19. The vehicle sunroof of claim 17 wherein the tilt angle of each solar panel is about 0 degrees such that the number of solar panels lie in a common plane.

20. The vehicle sunroof of claim 17 wherein the tilt angle of each solar panel is greater than 0 degrees and less than 180 degrees such that the number of solar panels are spaced apart to create a passageway between each pair of solar panels for allowing the flow of air.