Solar roof shingles and underlayment with wireless power transfer
First Claim
1. A solar collection system for installation on the roof of a structure to convert sunlight to electrical energy and distribute the electrical energy to a remote location, the solar collection system comprising:
- an underlayment for installation on an area of the roof to be used for collecting sunlight;
a plurality of resonant devices incorporated into the underlayment in a predetermined pattern;
a plurality of solar collectors configured to be installed in an array on the roof overlying the underlayment;
at least some of the solar collectors carrying a wireless resonator;
the wireless resonators of the solar collectors aligning in a predetermined relationship with the resonant devices of the underlayment when the solar collectors are installed over the underlayment to transfer electrical power generated by the solar collectors to the resonant devices without physical connection.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system of solar roof shingles and underlayment with wireless power transfer between the solar roof shingles and the underlayment is disclosed. Each roof shingle has a solar collector array coupled to a wireless resonator. The solar collector array establishes a voltage in response to exposure to sunlight and the wireless resonator converts the voltage to a transmittable electromagnetic signal. The signal is transmitted to resonant devices embedded in the underlayment beneath the shingles The resonant devices may be resonant capture devices that convert the received electromagnetic signal back to a usable voltage, or they may be wireless repeaters that retransmit the electromagnetic signal to remote resonant capture devices, which then convert it to a voltage. This voltage is placed on an electrical grid and made available at a remote location for use, storage, or placement on the public electrical grid.
86 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A solar collection system for installation on the roof of a structure to convert sunlight to electrical energy and distribute the electrical energy to a remote location, the solar collection system comprising:
-
an underlayment for installation on an area of the roof to be used for collecting sunlight; a plurality of resonant devices incorporated into the underlayment in a predetermined pattern; a plurality of solar collectors configured to be installed in an array on the roof overlying the underlayment; at least some of the solar collectors carrying a wireless resonator; the wireless resonators of the solar collectors aligning in a predetermined relationship with the resonant devices of the underlayment when the solar collectors are installed over the underlayment to transfer electrical power generated by the solar collectors to the resonant devices without physical connection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method comprising:
-
(a) allowing a solar collector on the roof of a building to be exposed to sunlight to establish a voltage; (b) converting the voltage to a wirelessly transmittable electromagnetic signal; (c) transmitting the electromagnetic signal wirelessly; (d) receiving the transmitted electromagnetic signal through a resonant device incorporated into an underlayment beneath the solar collector; (e) converting the received electromagnetic signal to a voltage; and (f) conveying the converted voltage to a remote location for use. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
-
Specification