Intelligent solar energy collection system

• US 8,044,539 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2009
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yang Pan
• Original Assignee: Yang Pan
• Inventors: Pan, Yang
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie; Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fauth; Justen
• Application Number:
  US12/558,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20110062787A1
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 307/86
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/17 Operational modes, e.g. switching from manual to automatic mode or prohibiting specific operations
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/72 in street lighting
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/70 Smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the energy generation sector
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/123 the energy generation units being or involving renewable energy sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/246 the system involving the remote operation of lamps or lighting equipment

Abstract

A street-lighting and solar energy collection system is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of lighting/solar energy collecting units, an AC and DC power transmission means and a control unit. The system operates in one of the two operation modes. In the first operation mode as the street-lighting system, the units receive AC power from the power grid for lighting. In the second operation mode as the solar energy collecting system, the units transmit generated DC electricity to a centralized DC to AC converter in the control unit. The control unit further provides a means for switching the system in between two modes. When the system is operated as the solar energy collection system, it is disconnected from the power grid. The generated DC electricity from each unit is converted by the AC to DC converter in the control unit and is subsequently injected into the power grid. Communication devices in the units and in the control unit form an ad hoc communication network. Instructions for operations can be sent from the control unit to the units. Further, the operation status from each unit can be collected and be sent to the control unit.

Claims

1. A street-lighting and solar energy collection apparatus connected to a centralized DC to AC converter for injecting converted AC power to a power grid, the system comprising:

a. a lighting unit;

b. a solar energy collection unit;

c. a control unit;

d. a switch controlled by the control unit for switching operations of the apparatus in between providing lighting and collecting solar energy;

e. a communication device for communicating with a similar device in a similar apparatus located within a predetermined distance from the apparatus and/or for communicating with an external control station; and

f. a power supply for powering the control unit, the switch and the communication device,

wherein said centralized DC to AC converter may be shared by a plurality of similar apparatus located in different locations.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said communication device further comprising a transceiver conforming to a standard or a combination of standards from the following group:

a. ZigBee;

b. Bluetooth; and

c. Wi-Fi.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said communication device may be a node of an ad hoc communication network formed by a plurality of similar communication devices included in a plurality of similar apparatus.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said control unit further comprising a data processor pertaining to control operations of the apparatus based upon at least partially instructions received by the communication device from said external control station.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said apparatus may be installed as a part of a street-lighting system.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said power supply further comprising a battery, wherein the battery may be rechargeable by the solar energy collecting unit.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said solar energy collection unit further comprising a solar panel or a plurality of solar panels.

8. A street-lighting and solar energy collection system including at least one centralized DC to AC converter connectable to a power grid, the system comprising:

a. a plurality of lighting/solar energy collection units, wherein said system provides a means for street lighting by the lighting units in first operation mode, and said system provides a means for collecting solar energy by the solar energy collection units in second operation mode;

b. a transmission means further comprising AC power lines for transmitting AC power from the power gird to the lighting units in said first operation mode, and DC power lines for transmitting DC power generated by the solar energy collection units to said centralized DC to AC converter in said second operation mode, wherein said DC power lines may comprise said AC power lines;

c. a control unit providing a means of switching the system in between the first and the second operation modes.

9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein said each lighting and solar energy collection unit further comprising:

a. a switch for switching of the unit'"'"'s operation in between providing lighting and collecting solar energy;

b. a controller providing a means of controlling the switching operation of the switch;

c. a communication device for communicating with similar communication devices in other lighting and solar energy collection units; and

d. a power supply unit including a battery.

10. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein said communication device further comprising a transceiver conforming to a standard or a combination of standards from the following group:

a. ZigBee;

b. Bluetooth; and

c. Wi-Fi.

11. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein said battery may be chargeable by the solar energy collection unit.

12. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein said control unit further comprising:

a. a controller for controlling operation of the control unit;

b. a switch for connecting or disconnecting said system from the power grid; and

c. a communication device for communicating at least to one communication device in one lighting and solar energy collection unit.

13. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said communication device in said control unit comprising at least a communication means conforming to the same communication standard as the communication devices in the lighting and solar energy collection units.

14. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein said transmission means comprising existing power transmission lines of an existing street lighting system.