Concentrating photovoltaic solar panel
First Claim
1. A photovoltaic power system optimized for more power and less area comprising:
- a plurality of photovoltaic concentrator modules packed tightly in a two dimensional array in a manner to maximize reception of incident sunlight for each photovoltaic concentrator module with minimum shadow cast from other photovoltaic concentrator modules, and wherein each photovoltaic concentrator module comprises a main body portion having;
a base,a plurality of side walls connected to the base, wherein the base and the plurality of side walls define an interior region of the main body portion,two cavities on the side walls that extend into the interior region, wherein each cavity has an attachment point,a tip articulating mechanism including one or more gooseneck members coupled to the attachment point in each cavity such that the tip articulating mechanism can articulate the photovoltaic concentrator module about a first axis that is substantially parallel to longest dimension of the photovoltaic concentrator module, wherein the tip articulating mechanism, the cavities and the attachment points are configured to minimize shadows cast from the incident sunlight on the other photovoltaic concentrator modules, andone or more apertures located opposite the base, each aperture comprising a plurality of lenses positioned in said each aperture in a manner such that each lens is capable of directing incident light to a focus on a solar cell within the interior region of the main body portion; and
a tilt articulating mechanism configured to articulate the plurality of photovoltaic concentrator modules about a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis, so that the plurality of photovoltaic concentrator modules are aligned with the sun and track the sun during the course of a day so that the incident sunlight is directly focused on a respective solar cell by a respective lens, wherein the tilt articulating mechanism comprises a chassis, and a mounting plate coupled to the chassis via a movable joint configured to permit the mounting plate to move relative to the chassis in a manner to accommodate a plurality of mounting locations, wherein the one or more gooseneck members mate to the mounting plate at a pivot via the movable joint, and wherein the movable joint allows for a desirable range of articulation around the first axis with respect to the mounting plate to minimize shadows cast from the incident sunlight on the other photovoltaic concentrator modules.
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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
11 Claims
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1. A photovoltaic power system optimized for more power and less area comprising:
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a plurality of photovoltaic concentrator modules packed tightly in a two dimensional array in a manner to maximize reception of incident sunlight for each photovoltaic concentrator module with minimum shadow cast from other photovoltaic concentrator modules, and wherein each photovoltaic concentrator module comprises a main body portion having; a base, a plurality of side walls connected to the base, wherein the base and the plurality of side walls define an interior region of the main body portion, two cavities on the side walls that extend into the interior region, wherein each cavity has an attachment point, a tip articulating mechanism including one or more gooseneck members coupled to the attachment point in each cavity such that the tip articulating mechanism can articulate the photovoltaic concentrator module about a first axis that is substantially parallel to longest dimension of the photovoltaic concentrator module, wherein the tip articulating mechanism, the cavities and the attachment points are configured to minimize shadows cast from the incident sunlight on the other photovoltaic concentrator modules, and one or more apertures located opposite the base, each aperture comprising a plurality of lenses positioned in said each aperture in a manner such that each lens is capable of directing incident light to a focus on a solar cell within the interior region of the main body portion; and a tilt articulating mechanism configured to articulate the plurality of photovoltaic concentrator modules about a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis, so that the plurality of photovoltaic concentrator modules are aligned with the sun and track the sun during the course of a day so that the incident sunlight is directly focused on a respective solar cell by a respective lens, wherein the tilt articulating mechanism comprises a chassis, and a mounting plate coupled to the chassis via a movable joint configured to permit the mounting plate to move relative to the chassis in a manner to accommodate a plurality of mounting locations, wherein the one or more gooseneck members mate to the mounting plate at a pivot via the movable joint, and wherein the movable joint allows for a desirable range of articulation around the first axis with respect to the mounting plate to minimize shadows cast from the incident sunlight on the other photovoltaic concentrator modules. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification