Vehicular body panel energy generator system

• US 8,997,901 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2006
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Shaffer, Aric, Patterson, Joseph, Miller, Ronald, Macneille, Perry
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Hau
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEYER, JACOB B
• Application Number:
  US11/433,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20070261896A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,253 Days
• Field of Search: 180/2.1, 180/2.2, 136243-265, 257/E25.009
• US Class Current: 180/2.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/12 of exhaust
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• 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

A vehicular body panel energy generator system is disclosed. An illustrative embodiment of the system includes a vehicle body and a plurality of body panels forming the vehicle body. At least one of the body panels comprises a vehicular solar panel. A method of generating and utilizing electrical power in a vehicle is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A vehicular body panel energy generator system, comprising:

a vehicle body;

a plurality of body panels forming said vehicle body;

wherein at least one of said plurality of body panels is a vehicular solar panel; and

,

wherein said vehicular solar panel comprises a solar fabric panel within said at least one body panel, said solar fabric panel corresponding to a shape of substantially an entirety of said at least one body panel, said vehicular solar panel comprising a composite material within which a weave of solar fibers is embedded, said weave of solar fibers disposed upon an electrode layer, said electrode layer comprising an electrically conductive sheet of material.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said vehicular solar panel comprises a hood panel.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said vehicular solar panel comprises a roof panel.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said vehicular solar panel comprises a trunk panel.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said vehicular solar panel comprises a rear cabin panel.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said vehicular solar panel comprises a dashboard panel.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said vehicular solar panel comprises at least one side panel.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said solar fabric panel further comprises a conductive polymer layer provided upon said weave of solar fibers.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said solar fabric layer comprises titanium dioxide powder particles.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein said conductive layer comprises a conductive polymer.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising a battery connected to said vehicular solar panel.

12. A vehicular body panel energy generator system, comprising:

a vehicle body;

a plurality of body panels forming said vehicle body and imparting shape to said vehicle body;

wherein each of said plurality of body panels is a vehicular solar panel; and

,

wherein said vehicular solar panel comprises a solar fabric panel within a respective body panel, said solar fabric panel corresponding to a shape of substantially an entirety of said respective body panel, said vehicular solar panel comprising a composite material within which a weave of solar fibers is embedded, said weave of solar fibers disposed upon an electrode layer, said electrode layer comprising an electrically conductive sheet of material.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said plurality of body panels comprises a hood panel, a roof panel, a trunk panel and a plurality of side panels.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein said solar fabric panel further comprises conductive polymer layer provided upon said weave of solar fibers.

15. A method of generating and utilizing electrical power in a vehicle, comprising:

providing a plurality of vehicular body panels, wherein at least one of said plurality of vehicular body panels is a vehicular solar panel;

forming a vehicle body using said plurality of vehicular body panels, said vehicular solar panel comprising a solar fabric panel within said at least one body panel, said solar fabric panel shaped into a shape corresponding to substantially an entirety of said at least one body panel, said vehicular solar panel comprising a composite material within which a weave of solar fibers is embedded, said weave of fibers disposed upon an electrode layer, said electrode layer comprising an electrically conductive sheet of material; and

converting solar energy into electrical energy using said vehicular solar panel.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising using said electrical energy in functioning of said vehicle.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said solar fabric panel further comprises a conductive polymer layer provided upon said weave of solar fibers.