Automotive roof rack with integral solar cell array

• US 9,300,169 B1
• Filed: 06/26/2013
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cameron M.D. Bardy
• Original Assignee: Cameron M.D. Bardy
• Inventors: Bardy, Cameron M. D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Parihar, Suchin
• Application Number:
  US13/928,297
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 16/00 Arrangements in connection with power supply of propulsion units in vehicles from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind electric propulsion with power supply from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind B60L8/00; marine propulsion by wind motors driving water-engaging propulsive elements B63H13/00; wind motors specially adapted for installation on vehicles F03D9/32
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2016/003 solar power driven
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/00 Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/00 Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles
• 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 40/22 Light-reflecting or light-concentrating means directly associated with the PV cell or integrated with the PV cell H01L31/054
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A solar power assembly is provided. The assembly includes means for nonplanar generation of solar power, wherein the solar power comprises sunlight converted into electrical energy; means for transmission of the solar power to a means for storage of electrical energy in a vehicle; and means for attachment of the means for nonplanar generation of solar power to a sunlight-exposed surface the vehicle. The assembly is capable of capturing sunlight from multiple angles and producing solar power for the vehicle'"'"'s use.

Claims

1. A rack-integrated solar power assembly,

comprising:

at least one nonplanar solar cell that is configured to generate solar power and is further configured to provide the solar power to an electrical energy storage in a vehicle via an electrical connection, wherein the solar power comprises sunlight converted into electrical energy;

at least one planar solar cell electrically connected with the at least one nonplanar solar cell into an array; and

a rack shaped to attach to the at least one nonplanar solar cell and to a sunlight-exposed surface of the vehicle.

2. A solar power assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:

a controller of the at least one nonplanar solar cell.

3. A solar power assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:

a moving mechanism of the at least one nonplanar solar cell, the moving mechanism comprised in the rack.

4. A solar power assembly according to claim 1, wherein

the sunlight-exposed surface comprises the vehicle'"'"'s roof.

5. A solar power assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one reflector for reflection of the sunlight at the at least one nonplanar solar cell.

6. A solar power assembly according to claim 1, the at least one nonplanar solar cell comprising a cylindrical solar cell.

7. A solar power assembly, comprising:

means for nonplanar generation of solar power, wherein the solar power comprises sunlight converted into electrical energy, the means for the non-planar generation of the solar power configured to provide the solar power to an electrical energy storage in a vehicle via an electrical connection;

at least one planar solar cell electrically connected with the nonplanar solar power generation means into an array; and

means for attachment of the nonplanar solar power generation means to a sunlight-exposed surface of the vehicle.

8. A solar power assembly according to claim 7, further comprising:

a controller of the at least one nonplanar solar power generation means.

9. A solar power assembly according to claim 7, further comprising:

a moving mechanism of the at least one nonplanar solar power generation means.

10. A solar power assembly according to claim 7, wherein the sunlight-exposed surface comprises the vehicle'"'"'s roof.

11. A solar power assembly according to claim 8, further comprising:

at least one reflector for reflection of the sunlight at the at least one nonplanar solar power generation means.