POOL SOLAR POWER GENERATOR

• US 20140166076A1
• Filed: 12/16/2013
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Masimo Semiconductor Inc. (Masimo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Masimo Semiconductor Inc. (Masimo Corporation)
• Inventors: Kiani, Massi Joe E., Wojtczuk, Steven J., Siskavich, Brad M.
• Application Number:
  US14/107,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20140166076A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/246
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/08 Coverings consisting of rigid elements , e.g. coverings composed of separate or connected elements
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/14 Parts, details or accessories not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 10/10 the working fluids forming pools or ponds
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 10/17 using covers or floating solar absorbing elements
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/02 for swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/79 with spaced and opposed interacting reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 90/00 Solar heat systems not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/32 specially adapted for solar tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 30/20 Collapsible or foldable PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/22 Light-reflecting or light-concentrating means directly associated with the PV cell or integrated with the PV cell H01L31/054
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/425 using a gaseous or a liquid coolant, e.g. air flow ventilation, water circulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/40 Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators

Abstract

Solar panels located on residential roofs can be unsightly in some cases. A swimming pool solar power generator can locate solar panels in or around the sides and/or bottoms of a swimming pool in a manner so as to create electricity from the sun without creating an eyesore. In an embodiment, a pool solar power generator includes a solar cell module disposed in a portion of a swimming pool. The solar cell module can include solar cells and be submerged under water held by the swimming pool. The solar cell module can convert sunlight incident on the solar cells to electricity and transmit the electricity for use at a location external to the swimming pool.

Claims

1. A pool solar power generator comprising:

a solar cell module disposed in a portion of a swimming pool and configured to be submerged under water held by the swimming pool, the solar cell module comprising solar cells and configured to convert sunlight incident on the solar cells to electricity and transmit the electricity for use at a location external to the swimming pool.

2. The pool solar power generator of claim 1, wherein the solar cell module is configured to be unseen during routine use of the swimming pool.

3. The pool solar power generator of claim 1, wherein the solar cell module is configured to be inactive during routine use of the swimming pool.

4. The pool solar power generator of claim 1, wherein the solar cell module is located on a bottom wall of the swimming pool.

5. The pool solar power generator of claim 4, wherein the solar cell module is located in a recess of the bottom wall.

6. The pool solar power generator of claim 1, wherein the solar cell module is located on a side wall of the swimming pool.

7. The pool solar power generator of claim 6, wherein the solar cell module is located in a recess of the side wall.

8. The pool solar power generator of claim 1, further comprising a cover configured to move between a position where the cover covers the solar cell module and a position where the solar cell module is exposed.

9. The pool solar power generator of claim 8, wherein the cover comprises a rigid structure configured to hide and protect the solar cell module when the cover covers the solar cell module.

10. The pool solar power generator of claim 1, further comprising an electrically-switchable film layer over the solar cell module, the electrically-switchable film layer configured to be transparent in an operational mode and opaque in an idle mode.

11. The pool solar power generator of claim 1, further comprising one or more plano convex lenses configured to focus the sunlight on the solar cells.

12. The pool solar power generator of claim 1, wherein the solar cell module is configured to tilt to adjust an angle of the solar cell module relative to the sun.

13. A pool solar power generator comprising:

a solar cell module disposed in a wall of a swimming pool, the solar cell module comprising solar cells and configured to convert sunlight incident on the solar cells to electricity and transmit the electricity to an electrical grid providing usable energy to a location external to the swimming pool; and

a first plurality of mirrors configured to direct and focus the sunlight incident on the first plurality of mirrors on the solar cell module.

14. The pool solar power generator of claim 13, wherein the first plurality of mirrors are positioned on back sides of transparent tiles of a bottom wall of the swimming pool.

15. The pool solar power generator of claim 13, further comprising a second plurality of mirrors disposed beneath the swimming pool, the second plurality of mirrors configured to redirect the sunlight from the first plurality of mirrors down a plurality of channels to the solar cell module, the first plurality of mirrors being positioned along the bottom wall of the swimming pool.

16. The pool solar power generator of claim 13, further comprising a cooler configured to cool the solar cell module using water from the swimming pool.

17. The pool solar power generator of claim 16, wherein the cooler comprises a micro-channel cooler.

18. The pool solar power generator of claim 13, in combination with the swimming pool, wherein the swimming pool is generally oriented in a north-south direction, a north end of the swimming pool being wider and shallower than a south end of the swimming pool.