Solar powered apparatus having a thermally decoupled solar panel for tracking a portable asset

• US 8,902,590 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2012
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnitracs LLC (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Omnitracs LLC (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tom, Steven M., Oeth, John P., Dumstorff, Clayton G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vortman, Anatoly
• Application Number:
  US13/371,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20130208423A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 361/690, 361/704, 361/709, 361/711, 361/715, 136/246, 136/259
• US Class Current: 361/704
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2013/005 Thermal joints
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/42 Cooling means cooling means directly associated or integrated with the PV cell H01L31/052
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

An apparatus for tracking a portable asset includes a solar panel, an electronics assembly integrated into an enclosure, and a heat spreading assembly adjacent the solar panel, the heat spreading assembly located to form an air gap separating the heat spreading assembly from the electronics assembly such that heat generated by the solar panel is dissipated in the air gap before reaching the electronics assembly.

Claims

1. An apparatus for tracking a portable asset, comprising:

a solar panel and an electronics assembly integrated into an enclosure; and

a heat spreading assembly adjacent the solar panel, the heat spreading assembly located to form an air gap separating the heat spreading assembly from the electronics assembly such that heat generated by the solar panel is dissipated in the air gap before reaching the electronics assembly,

wherein the air gap is defined by a first standoff type that locates the heat spreading assembly on the enclosure, and

wherein the heat spreading assembly is mounted to a second standoff type, the second standoff type having a grommet that receives the heat spreading assembly and isolates the heat spreading assembly from the enclosure.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a gasket and a cover over the solar panel, the gasket being located between the heat spreading assembly and the cover, the cover being secured to a third standoff type without contacting the heat spreading assembly.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein heat from the solar panel is conducted through the first and second standoff types.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the integrated enclosure is located on a portable asset.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the integrated enclosure provides position and location information relating to the portable asset.

6. A method for thermally decoupling a solar panel from an electronics assembly, comprising:

integrating a solar panel and an electronics assembly into an enclosure;

locating a heat spreading assembly adjacent to the solar panel, the heat spreading assembly located to form an air gap separating the heat spreading assembly from the electronics assembly such that heat generated by the solar panel is dissipated in the air gap before reaching the electronics assembly,

defining the air gap using a first standoff type that locates the heat spreading assembly on the enclosure; and

mounting the heat spreading assembly to a second standoff type, the second standoff type having a grommet that receives the heat spreading assembly and isolates the heat spreading assembly from the enclosure.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

locating a gasket and a cover over the solar panel, the gasket being located between the heat spreading assembly and the cover; and

securing the cover to a third standoff type without contacting the heat spreading assembly.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising conducting heat from the solar panel through the first and second standoff types.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising locating the integrated enclosure on a portable asset.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the integrated enclosure provides position and location information relating to the portable asset.

11. A communication device, comprising:

a solar panel and an electronics assembly integrated into an enclosure; and

a heat spreading assembly adjacent the solar panel, the heat spreading assembly located to form an air gap separating the heat spreading assembly from the electronics assembly such that heat generated by the solar panel is dissipated in the air gap before reaching the electronics assembly,

wherein the air gap is defined by a first standoff type that locates the heat spreading assembly on the enclosure, and

wherein the heat spreading assembly is mounted to a second standoff type, the second standoff type having a grommet that receives the heat spreading assembly and isolates the heat spreading assembly from the enclosure.

12. The communication device of claim 11, further comprising a gasket and a cover over the solar panel, the gasket being located between the heat spreading assembly and the cover, the cover being secured to a third standoff type without contacting the heat spreading assembly.

13. The communication device of claim 12, wherein heat from the solar panel is conducted through the first and second standoff types.

14. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the integrated enclosure is located on a portable asset.

15. The communication device of claim 14, wherein the integrated enclosure provides position and location information relating to the portable asset.