Stowable tracking photovoltaic array

• US 8,933,660 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2012
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Inventors: Heumann, Michael C, Heumann, Stephan R
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAMADAN, RAMY O
• Application Number:
  US13/810,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20140028240A1
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101, 136/245
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/10 concerning gas-producing plants
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2016/003 solar power driven
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/55 made of flexible materials
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/012 Foldable support elements
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/00 Arrangement of stationary mountings or supports for solar heat collector modules
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/7862 mounted on a moving platform, e.g. space vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/044 including bypass diodes bypass diodes in the junction box H02S40/34
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 10/40 Mobile PV generator systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/30 Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 30/20 Collapsible or foldable PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/36 characterised by special electrical interconnection means between two or more PV modules, e.g. electrical module-to-module connection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/40 Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/90 Energy harvesting concepts as power supply for auxiliaries' energy consumption, e.g. photovoltaic sun-roof

Abstract

Technologies related to a photovoltaic array apparatus are generally described. In some examples, the apparatus may comprise a central hub, adjustable length struts, and a plurality of photovoltaic segments coupled to the central hub and struts. The photovoltaic segments may be selectively positioned between a stowed arrangement and a deployed arrangement by operation of the central hub and/or struts. In the stowed arrangement, the photovoltaic segments may be stacked, and in the deployed arrangement, the photovoltaic segments may be azimuthally displaced about the central hub. A control system coupled to the struts may be configured to control the struts to dynamically orient the photovoltaic segments so as to maximize, or otherwise adjust, power collected from incident radiation.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a central hub;

a plurality of photovoltaic segments coupled to the central hub, wherein the photovoltaic segments are selectively positioned between a stowed arrangement and a deployed arrangement by operation of the central hub, wherein;

in the stowed arrangement, the photovoltaic segments are stacked;

in the deployed arrangement, the photovoltaic segments are azimuthally displaced about the central hub, and each of the photovoltaic segments are interlocked with an adjacent two of the photovoltaic segments; and

the plurality of photovoltaic segments are configured to supply a potential difference across electrical terminals in response to exposure to incident radiation;

at least one adjustable length strut coupled to the plurality of photovoltaic segments; and

a control system coupled to the at least one adjustable length strut, wherein the control system is configured to control the at least one adjustable length strut to dynamically orient the photovoltaic segments so as to adjust power collected from incident radiation, and wherein the control system is configured to dynamically position the photovoltaic segments such that their normal vectors, weighted by their respective active areas, are on average parallel to the incident radiation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a motor located at the central hub and configured to azimuthally displace the photovoltaic segments between the stowed arrangement and the deployed arrangement, and wherein the control system is further configured to selectively position the photovoltaic segments between the stowed arrangement and the deployed arrangement by activation of the motor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a protective cowling, wherein:

the protective cowling is selectively configured in either a closed position or an open position;

in the stowed arrangement, the photovoltaic segments are stacked under the protective cowling, and the protective cowling is configured in the closed position;

in the deployed arrangement of the photovoltaic segments, the protective cowling is configured in the open position; and

the at least one adjustable length strut is coupled to the protective cowling and configured to dynamically configure the protective cowling in either the closed position or the open position.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the control system is operable to configure the protective cowling in either the closed position or the open position by selective operation of the at least one adjustable length strut.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the incident radiation corresponds to energy from sunlight.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a battery charger apparatus electrically coupled to one or more of the electrical terminals to enable one or more batteries to be charged.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising the one or more batteries electrically coupled to the battery charger apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is attachable above a motor vehicle, and wherein in the deployed arrangement, the photovoltaic segments comprise one or more dimensions approximately a size of one or more dimensions of the motor vehicle footprint.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one adjustable length strut comprises a hydraulic strut, a pneumatic strut, or a step-motor strut.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one adjustable length strut comprises two or more adjustable length struts and wherein the control system is configured to control the two or more adjustable length struts to dynamically orient the photovoltaic segments so as to adjust power collected from incident radiation.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the photovoltaic segments comprise a semi-rigid reinforced flexible photovoltaic material.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the photovoltaic segments are wedge-shaped and of varied lengths, such that a surface of the deployed photovoltaic segments comprises one or more dimensions approximately a size of one or more dimensions of a motor vehicle footprint.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the photovoltaic segments comprise edge structures configured to be interlocked to selectively engage with the adjacent two of the photovoltaic segments as the photovoltaic segments are azimuthally displaced.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein two or more of the photovoltaic segments each comprise one or more electrical terminals configured to electrically couple the two or more photovoltaic segments in series.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the photovoltaic segments comprise edge structures configured to be interlocked to engage with the adjacent two of the photovoltaic segments as the photovoltaic segments are azimuthally displaced, and wherein one or more of the interlocked edge structures is configured to electrically couple electrical terminals of the two or more photovoltaic segments in series.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further configured to apply radial tension between each of the photovoltaic segments effective to flex the deployed photovoltaic segments into a substantially concave shape.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to dynamically position the photovoltaic segments along at least two rotational axes to adjust an effective surface of the photovoltaic segments exposed to incident radiation.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more light sensors coupled to the control system, and wherein the control system is configured to receive effective surface measurements from the one or more light sensors.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a feedback structure between the photovoltaic segments and the control system, and wherein the control system is configured to receive effective surface measurements via the feedback structure.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to dynamically position the photovoltaic segments according to one or more of time of day, time of year, latitude, orientation, or tilt angle of the apparatus.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an extendable elevation support configured to raise the photovoltaic segments above a roof of a motor vehicle.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control system is further configured to automatically position the photovoltaic segments to the stowed arrangement in response to an input from one or more of a force sensor or a wind speed sensor.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control system is further configured to calculate a suggested orientation for the apparatus, and to provide the suggested orientation to a display.

24. A method, comprising:

operating a motor with a control system to turn a central hub effective to azimuthally displace photovoltaic segments between a stowed arrangement and a deployed arrangement, wherein;

in the stowed arrangement, the photovoltaic segments are stacked;

in the deployed arrangement, the photovoltaic segments are azimuthally displaced about the central hub, and each of the photovoltaic segments are interlocked with an adjacent two of the photovoltaic segments; and

the plurality of photovoltaic segments are configured to supply a potential difference across electrical terminals in response to exposure to incident radiation; and

operating at least one adjustable length strut with the control system to dynamically position the photovoltaic segments to adjust an effective surface of the photovoltaic segments exposed to the incident radiation, such that normal vectors of the photovoltaic segments, weighted by their respective active areas, are on average parallel to the incident radiation.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising operating the at least one adjustable length strut with the control system to selectively position a protective cowling between a closed position and an open position, wherein:

in the stowed arrangement, the photovoltaic segments are stacked under the protective cowling in the closed position; and

when the photovoltaic segments are in the deployed arrangement, the protective cowling is in the open position.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising applying a radial tension between the photovoltaic segments to add structural stiffness to the photovoltaic segments at least in part by flexure of the deployed photovoltaic segments into a concave shape.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising operating an extendable elevation support to raise the photovoltaic segments above a roof of a motor vehicle.

28. A control system, comprising:

a user interface coupled to the control system, wherein the user interface is configured to receive a user activation;

a deployment control coupled to the control system and configured to operate a motor in response to the user activation received at the user interface, wherein the motor is configured to azimuthally displace photovoltaic segments between a stowed arrangement and a deployed arrangement, and wherein;

in the stowed arrangement, the photovoltaic segments are stacked;

in the deployed arrangement, the photovoltaic segments are azimuthally displaced about the central hub, and each of the photovoltaic segments are interlocked with an adjacent two of the photovoltaic segments; and

the plurality of photovoltaic segments are configured to supply a potential difference across electrical terminals in response to exposure to incident radiation; and

a position control coupled to the control system and configured to control at least one adjustable length strut coupled to the plurality of photovoltaic segments to dynamically position the deployed photovoltaic segments to adjust an effective surface of the photovoltaic segments exposed to the incident radiation, such that normal vectors of the photovoltaic segments, weighted by their respective active areas, are on average parallel to the incident radiation.

29. The control system of claim 28, wherein the control system is configured within a vehicle.

30. The control system of claim 28, further comprising a safety control coupled to the control system and configured to automatically position the photovoltaic segments to the stowed arrangement in response to an input from one or more of a force sensor, an accelerometer, or a wind speed sensor.

31. The control system of claim 28, wherein the control system is further configured to calculate a suggested orientation for the photovoltaic segments, and provide the suggested orientation to a display.