Concentrating photovoltaic solar panel
First Claim
1. A photovoltaic concentrator module comprising a main body portion having:
- a. a base;
b. one or more side walls connected to the base, wherein the base and the one or more side walls help define an interior region of the main body portion;
c. one or more attachment points positioned in the interior region of the main body portion, wherein the one or more attachment points can couple the main body portion to a tip articulating mechanism such that the tip articulating mechanism can articulate the photovoltaic concentrator module substantially about the center of gravity of the photovoltaic concentrator module; and
d. one or more apertures located opposite the base.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to photovoltaic power systems., photovoltaic concentrator modules, and related methods. In particular, the present invention features concentrator modules having interior points of attachment for an articulating mechanism and/or an articulating mechanism that has a unique arrangement of chassis members so as to isolate bending, etc. from being transferred among the chassis members. The present invention also features adjustable solar panel mounting features and/or mounting features with two or more degrees of freedom. The present invention also features a mechanical fastener for secondary optics in a concentrator module.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A photovoltaic concentrator module comprising a main body portion having:
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a. a base; b. one or more side walls connected to the base, wherein the base and the one or more side walls help define an interior region of the main body portion; c. one or more attachment points positioned in the interior region of the main body portion, wherein the one or more attachment points can couple the main body portion to a tip articulating mechanism such that the tip articulating mechanism can articulate the photovoltaic concentrator module substantially about the center of gravity of the photovoltaic concentrator module; and d. one or more apertures located opposite the base. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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9. A photovoltaic power system comprising:
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a. a tip articulating mechanism b. a plurality of photovoltaic concentrator modules, wherein each photovoltaic concentrator module comprises a main body portion having; i. a base; ii. one or more side walls connected to the base, wherein the base and the one or more side walls help define an interior region of the main body portion; and iii. one or more attachment points positioned in the interior region of the main body portion, wherein the one or more attachment points are coupled to the tip articulating mechanism such that the tip articulating mechanism can articulate the photovoltaic concentrator module substantially about the center of gravity of the photovoltaic concentrator module; and iv. one or more apertures located opposite the base. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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27. A photovoltaic power system comprising:
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a. a tip articulation mechanism; and b. a plurality of photovoltaic concentrator modules, wherein the plurality of photovoltaic concentrator modules are positioned adjacent to each other in a linear manner, wherein the plurality of photovoltaic concentrator modules define an inboard region, wherein each photovoltaic concentrator module comprises one or more attachment points positioned in the inboard region, wherein the one or more attachment points are each coupled to the tip articulating mechanism such that the tip articulating mechanism can articulate each photovoltaic concentrator module substantially about the center of gravity of the photovoltaic concentrator module.
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28. A photovoltaic concentrator module comprising:
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a. an inboard region; and b. one or more attachment points positioned in the inboard region, wherein the one or more attachment points can be coupled to a tip articulating mechanism such that the tip articulating mechanism can articulate the photovoltaic concentrator module substantially about the center of gravity of the photovoltaic concentrator module.
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29. A photovoltaic power system comprising:
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a. a plurality of articulating photovoltaic concentrator modules positioned so as to define a panel of photovoltaic concentrator modules, wherein the panel defines a footprint having a first dimension and a second dimension; and b. an articulating mechanism coupled to each photovoltaic concentrator module, wherein the articulating mechanism comprises at least three chassis members, wherein each chassis member is substantially parallel to the other chassis members and each chassis member extends along the first dimension of the panel footprint, wherein at least two chassis members are physically coupled to each photovoltaic concentrator modules in an articulating manner, and wherein each of said two chassis members are rigidly, physically coupled to the third chassis member at two or more points. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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33. A photovoltaic power system comprising:
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a. a plurality of articulating photovoltaic concentrator modules positioned so as to define a panel of photovoltaic concentrator modules, wherein the panel has a first end and a second end; and b. an articulating mechanism coupled to the panel of photovoltaic concentrator modules in a manner so as to articulate the panel at least in a tilting manner, wherein at the first end of the panel the articulating mechanism comprises; i. a chassis; and ii. a mounting plate coupled to the chassis via a movable joint that permits the mounting plate to move relative to the chassis so as to accommodate a plurality of mounting locations. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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37. A photovoltaic power system comprising:
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a. a plurality of articulating photovoltaic concentrator modules positioned so as to define a panel of photovoltaic concentrator modules, wherein the panel has a first end and a second end; and b. an articulating mechanism coupled to the panel of photovoltaic concentrator modules in a manner so as to articulate the panel at least in a tilting manner, wherein at the first end of the panel the articulating mechanism comprises; i. a chassis; and ii. a mounting plate coupled to the chassis via a pivotable joint that permits the mounting plate to pivot relative to the chassis. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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40. A heat sink assembly comprising:
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a. a heat sink; b. a photovoltaic cell attached directly or indirectly to the heat sink; c. a concentrating optic positioned over the photovoltaic cell and optically coupled to the photovoltaic cell, wherein the concentrating optic has an outer surface; and d. one or more structural braces wherein the one or more structural braces are positioned over the concentrating optic such that the one or more structural braces allow incident light to pass to the concentrating optic, wherein the one or more structural braces are attached directly or indirectly to the heat sink, and wherein the one or more structural braces contact the outer surface of the concentrating optic in a structurally supporting manner.
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41. A method of making the main body portion of a photovoltaic concentrator module, the method comprising:
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a. providing a moldable composition comprising one or more thermosetting polymers; b. providing a mold having a form corresponding to the main body portion of a photovoltaic concentrator module; c. molding the moldable composition to the form of the mold; and d. optionally, curing the molded composition.
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Specification