Integrated solar panel

• US 9,444,397 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• 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:
  US13/843,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20140116492A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 307/43
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/02021 for solar cells electrical connection means, e.g. junction boxes, specially adapted for structural association with photovoltaic modules H02S40/34
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• 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 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/30 Electrical components
• 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: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

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 solar power collector configured to collect solar energy from a solar source and to convert the solar energy into direct current (DC) power;

a current amplifier configured to amplify the DC power;

a battery bank 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 parallel output AC power for the solar panel when the input AC power is coupled to the AC inlet receptacle, wherein the parallel output AC power is generated from the input AC power and the DC power stored in the battery bank that is converted to AC power so that the converted AC power is in parallel to the input AC power; and

an AC outlet receptacle configured to provide the parallel output AC power to systems external to the solar panel.

2. The solar panel of claim 1, wherein the parallel output AC power is synchronized with the input AC power.

3. The solar panel of claim 2, wherein a plurality of power characteristics associated with the parallel output AC power is substantially equivalent to a plurality of power characteristics associated with the input AC power.

4. The solar panel of claim 2, wherein the parallel output AC power includes a sinusoidal wave that is substantially equivalent to the sinusoidal wave included in the input AC power.

5. The solar panel of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to automatically transition the parallel output AC power generated by the solar panel to standalone output AC power when the power signal sensor detects the input AC power coupled to the AC inlet receptacle.

6. The solar panel of claim 5, wherein the AC outlet receptacle is further configured to provide the standalone output AC power to the systems external to the solar panel when the power signal sensor no longer detects the input AC power coupled to the AC inlet receptacle, wherein the standalone output AC power is converted from the DC power stored in the battery bank of the solar panel.

7. The solar panel of claim 6, wherein the AC outlet receptacle is further configured to provide the standalone output AC power to systems external to the solar panel.

8. A method for generating parallel output alternating current (AC) power from a solar panel, comprising:

(a) collecting solar energy from a solar source;

(b) converting the solar energy into direct current (DC) power;

(c) amplifying the DC power;

(d) storing the amplified DC power;

(e) receiving input AC power generated from an AC power source external to the solar panel;

(f) detecting when the input AC power is coupled to the AC inlet receptacle;

(g) automatically generating parallel output AC power for the solar panel when the input AC power is coupled to the AC inlet receptacle, wherein the parallel output AC power is generated from the input AC power and the DC power stored in the battery bank that is converted to AC power so that the converted AC power is in parallel to the input AC power; and

(h) providing the parallel output AC power to systems external to the solar panel.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the parallel output AC power is synchronized with the input AC power.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a plurality of power characteristics associated with the parallel output AC power is substantially equivalent to a plurality of power characteristics associated with the input AC power.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the parallel output AC power includes a sinusoidal wave that is substantially equivalent to the sinusoidal wave included in the input AC power.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

automatically transitioning the parallel output AC power generated by the solar panel to standalone output AC power when the power signal sensor detects the input AC power coupled to the AC inlet receptacle.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

providing the standalone output AC power to the systems external to the solar panel when the power signal sensor no longer detects the input AC power coupled to the AC inlet receptacle, wherein the standalone output AC power is converted from the DC power stored in the battery bank of the solar panel.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing the standalone output AC power to systems external to the solar panel.

15. A solar panel configuration, comprising:

a plurality of solar panels configured to collect solar energy from a solar source and to convert the solar energy into direct current (DC) power;

a first solar panel included in the plurality of solar panels configured to;

automatically generate first standalone output AC power for the first solar panel when the first solar panel fails to detect first input AC power coupled to the first solar panel, wherein the first standalone output AC power is output AC power generated from the DC power of the first solar panel, and

act as a master solar panel when the first solar panel fails to detect the first input AC power coupled to the first solar panel, wherein the master solar panel automatically provides the first standalone output AC power to a slave solar panel included in the plurality of solar panels; and

a second solar panel included in the plurality of solar panels configured to;

automatically transition into generating second parallel output AC power, wherein the second parallel output AC power is second standalone output power generated by the second solar panel that is in parallel with the first standalone output AC power generated by the first solar panel, and

act as a slave solar panel when the second solar panel detects the first standalone output AC power provided by the first solar panel.

16. The solar panel configuration of claim 15, wherein the first standalone output AC power is synchronized with the second standalone output AC power.

17. The solar panel configuration of claim 16, wherein a plurality of power characteristics associated with the first standalone output AC power is substantially equivalent to a plurality of power characteristics associated with the input AC power.

18. The solar panel configuration of claim 16, wherein the first standalone output AC power includes a sinusoidal wave that is substantially equivalent to the sinusoidal wave included in the second standalone output AC power.

19. The solar panel configuration of claim 15, wherein the first solar panel is further configured to:

automatically transition to generating the first parallel output AC, wherein the first parallel output AC power is the first standalone output AC power generated by the first solar panel that is in parallel with the second input AC power when the first solar panel detects the second input AC power coupled to the first solar panel; and

act as the slave solar panel when the first solar panel detects the second input AC power coupled to the first solar panel.

20. The solar panel configuration of claim 15, wherein the second solar panel is further configured to:

automatically generate the second standalone output AC power for the second solar panel when the second solar panel fails to detect the first input AC power coupled to the second solar panel; and

act as a master solar panel when the second solar panel fails to detect the first input AC power coupled to the second solar panel, wherein the master solar panel automatically provides the second standalone output AC power to the slave solar panel included in the plurality of solar panels.