Solar power generation, distribution, and communication system

• US 9,312,724 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2014
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SolPad, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sunculture Solar, Inc.
• Inventors: Estes, Christopher A.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEBERADINIS, ROBERT L
• Application Number:
  US14/484,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20150001945A1
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 307/43
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/05 Electrical interconnection means between PV cells inside the PV module, e.g. series connection of PV cells electrodes H01L31/0224; electrical interconnection of thin film solar cells formed on a common substrate H01L31/046; particular structures for electrical interconnecting of adjacent thin film solar cells in the module H01L31/0465; electrical interconnection means specially adapted for electrically connecting two or more PV modules H02S40/36
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00024 by means of mobile telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/10 The network having a local or delimited stationary reach
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/40 Synchronising a generator for connection to a network or to another generator
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/062 for AC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/32 comprising DC/AC inverter means associated with the PV module itself, e.g. AC 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: H02S 40/38 Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/60 Planning or developing urban green infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/70 Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 : Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 : Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/70 : Smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the energy generation sector
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 : Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 : Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/123 : the energy generation units being or involving renewable energy sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/12 : Energy storage units, uninterruptible power supply [UPS] systems or standby or emergency generators, e.g. in the last power distribution stages
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/248 : UPS systems or standby or emergency generators
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 : using wireless data transmission

Abstract

A solar panel is disclosed that can be daisy-chained with other solar panels. The solar panel automatically generates output alternative current (AC) power that is in parallel with input AC power coming into the solar panel when the solar panel senses the input AC power so that the solar panel operates as a slave in this state. The solar panel automatically generates standalone AC output power when the solar panel fails to detect input AC power coming into the solar panel where the solar panel operates as a master in this state. The solar panel generates the standalone output AC power without any reliance on input AC power generated by a utility grid and/or other AC power sources external to the solar panel.

Claims

1. A solar panel, comprising:

a housing;

an electric power generator positioned within the housing, the generator configured to collect energy from a light source and to convert the energy into direct current (DC) power;

a current amplifier positioned within the housing and configured to amplify the DC power;

a battery positioned within the housing and configured to store the amplified DC power;

an alternating current (AC) inlet receptacle configured to receive input AC power generated from an AC power source external to the solar panel;

a power signal sensor configured to detect when the input AC power is coupled to the AC inlet receptacle;

a controller configured to automatically generate standalone output AC power for the solar panel when the input AC power is coupled to the AC inlet receptacle, wherein the standalone output AC power is output AC power generated from the DC power stored in the battery that is in parallel to the input AC power;

an AC outlet receptacle configured to provide the standalone output AC power to systems external to the solar panel; and

communication circuitry positioned within the housing for communication between;

the solar panel and the Internet,

the solar panel and a plurality of computing devices,

the solar panel and a plurality of power controllers, and the

solar panel and a second solar panel.

2. The solar panel of claim 1, wherein the communication circuitry provides for wireless communication.

3. The solar panel of claim 2, wherein the communication circuitry comprises a Wi-Fi hot spot.

4. The solar panel of claim 3, wherein the communication between the panel and the Internet is via a cellular phone network.

5. The solar panel of claim 4, wherein the communication between the panel and the Internet is via a satellite phone network.

6. A power distribution and communication system comprising:

a plurality of solar panels having

a housing, an electric power generator positioned within the housing, the generator configured to collect energy from a light source and to convert the energy into direct current (DC) power,

a current amplifier positioned within the housing and configured to amplify the DC power,

a battery positioned within the housing and configured to store the amplified DC power,

an alternating current (AC) inlet receptacle configured to receive input AC power generated from an AC power source external to the solar panel,

a power signal sensor configured to detect when the input AC power is coupled to the AC inlet receptacle,

a controller configured to automatically generate standalone output AC power for the solar panel when the input AC power is coupled to the AC inlet receptacle, wherein the standalone output AC power is output AC power generated from the DC power stored in the battery that is in parallel to the input AC power,

an AC outlet receptacle configured to provide the standalone output AC power to systems external to the solar panel, and

communication circuitry positioned within the housing for communication between the plurality of solar panels;

wherein each solar panel is positioned within wireless communication range of at least one other solar panel such that the panels form a communication network.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the communication network is a local area network.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the communication network is connected to the Internet.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the communication network is connected to the Internet via a cellular phone network.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the communication network is connected to the Internet via a satellite phone network.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the communication network provides for a plurality of Wi-Fi hot spots.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein power is allocated and distributed among the plurality of panels.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein power is distributed to an electric utility power grid.

14. A method of allocating power comprising:

providing a power controller adapted to provide an interface between an electric device and a source of electricity;

the power controller sensing the amount of power needed by the electric device;

providing a solar panel adapted to provide electricity;

the power controller communicating with the solar panel the amount of power needed by the electric device;

the solar panel providing the amount of power needed by the electric device to the electric device via the power controller;

wherein the power controller and the solar panel communicate wirelessly;

generating electrical power by the solar panel from a light source;

acquiring electrical power from an electric utility power grid; and

storing electrical power in a battery housed in the solar panel.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of determining the amount of power being generated by the solar panel.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of determining the amount of power stored in the solar panel.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of determining how much power from the electric utility grid will be provided to the electric device.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein there is a plurality of electric devices and a plurality of power controllers.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein there is a plurality of solar panels.