Solar converter

• US 4,075,034 A
• Filed: 02/08/1977
• Issued: 02/21/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David M. Butler
• Original Assignee: David M. Butler
• Inventors: Butler, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sebastian, Leland A.
• Application Number:
  US05/766,576
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• Field of Search: 136/89 PC, 136/89 AC, 250/203 R, 350/293
• US Class Current: 136/246
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 30/452 Vertical primary axis
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/02021 for solar cells electrical connection means, e.g. junction boxes, specially adapted for structural association with photovoltaic modules H02S40/34
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/042 PV modules or arrays of single PV cells supporting structures for PV modules H02S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0547 comprising light concentrating means of the reflecting type, e.g. parabolic mirrors, concentrators using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 11/00 Power conversion systems not covered by the preceding groups
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/291 Applications

Abstract

A solar energy converter for producing variable amplitude alternating current waveforms directly from solar energy including a photo-voltaic cell bank array, formed of a plurality of weighted photo-voltaic segments, a multi-sided, high speed, rotating, light concentrating, concave mirror and a servo means for tracking the sun. Rotation of the mirror past the weighted segments of the photo-voltaic bank produces instantaneous outputs which are proportional to the number of cells scanned in each segment. By suitable arrangement of the photo-voltaic segments, a simulated AC waveform is produced.

Claims

1. A solar energy converter for producing variable amplitude energy waveforms directly from solar energy comprising

a solar bank having an array of photo-voltaic segments, each segment including a variable number of photo-voltaic cells and being adapted to produce a weighted voltage output proportional to the number of photo-voltaic cells when activated by solar energy;

means for reflecting concentrated solar light onto said solar bank;

means for scanning said reflecting means across said solar bank; and

circuit means for connecting the output of said solar bank to a load.

2. The solar energy converter of claim 1 further including switching means for changing the polarity of the output of said solar converter.

3. The solar energy converter of claim 1 further including means for tracking the sun in order to position the converter facing the sun.

4. The solar energy converter of claim 1 further including an auxiliary solar bank to provide power to said solar converter.

5. The solar energy converter of claim 4 including a motor drive means to drive said scanning means, said motor drive means being powered by said auxiliary solar bank.

6. The solar energy converter of claim 2 including a second switching means connected in said output circuit to control the polarity of said waveforms.

7. The solar energy converter of claim 1 further including a battery power bank connected to said auxiliary solar bank.

8. The solar energy converter of claim 2 wherein said switching means is defined as a multi-tier switch comprising a plurality of slip ring connections.

9. The solar energy converter of claim 8 wherein said slip ring connections are formed of alternately conducting and insulating segments.

10. The solar bank of claim 1 wherein said segments are weighted in ascending and descending numbers of individual photo-voltaic cells to produce variable outputs.

11. The solar converter of claim 1 wherein said reflecting means comprises a multi-sided reflecting mirror having concave reflecting surfaces to produce a linear high energy light pulse.

12. The solar converter of claim 11 wherein said reflecting means is a four-side configuration and is concave with respect to its vertical axis to produce a vertical energy pulse and said solar bank segments are vertically disposed on said solar bank in order that the vertical energy pulse sequentially energize each of said solar bank segments.