Solar power generation, distribution, and communication system

• US 9,948,139 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2016
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SolPad, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SolPad, Inc.
• Inventors: Estes, Christopher A.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEBERADINIS, ROBERT L
• Application Number:
  US15/095,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20160226305A1
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 307 43
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00 Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00022 using wireless data transmission
• 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 2310/10 The network having a local or delimited stationary reach
• 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 10/70 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 40/70 Smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the energy generation sector
• 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

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:

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

a DC source configured to store the DC power;

a controller configured to automatically generate parallel output AC power for the solar panel when an input AC power is coupled to the solar panel via an AC inlet receptacle, wherein the parallel output AC power is generated from the input AC power and the DC power stored in the DC source that is converted to AC power so the converted AC power is in parallel to the input AC power;

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

communication circuitry configured to provide a communications connection between an internet source and at least one computing device and at least one additional solar panel.

2. The solar panel of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to automatically generate standalone output AC power for the solar panel when there is no input AC power coupled to the solar panel via an AC inlet receptacle, wherein the DC power stored in the DC source is converted to AC power;

and

wherein the an AC outlet receptacle is further configured to provide the standalone output AC power to systems external to the solar panel.

3. The solar panel of claim 1, wherein the communication circuitry is further configured to provide wireless communication via the communications connection between the internet source and the at least one computing device and the at least one additional solar panel.

4. The solar panel of claim 1, wherein the communication circuitry is further configured to provide a Wi-Fi hot spot via the communications connection between the internet source and the at least one computing device and the at least one additional solar panel.

5. The solar panel of claim 4, wherein the communication circuitry is further configured to provide the Wi-Fi hot spot to the at least one computing device via the at least one additional solar panel when the at least one computing device is outside a range of the solar panel and within a range of the at least one additional solar panel to establish the communication connection with the internet source.

6. A power distribution and communication system, comprising:

a plurality of solar panels with each solar panel configured to automatically generate parallel output AC power when input AC power is coupled to each solar panel via an AC inlet receptacle of each solar panel, wherein the parallel output AC power is an output AC power generated from DC power stored in a DC source of each solar power that is converted to AC power so that the converted AC power is in parallel to the input AC power; and

a first solar panel from the plurality of solar panels configured to provide a communications connection between an internet source and at least one other solar panel from the plurality of solar panels.

7. The power distribution and communication system of claim 6, wherein the first solar panel is further configured to provide wireless communication via the communications connection between the internet source and the at least one other solar panel from the plurality of solar panels.

8. The power distribution and communication system of claim 7, wherein the first solar panel is further configured to provide a Wi-Fi hot spot via the communications connection between the internet source and the at least one other solar panel from the plurality of solar panels.

9. The power distribution and communication system of claim 8, wherein the first solar panel is further configured to provide a communications connection between the internet source and at least one computing device.

10. The power distribution and communication system of claim 9, wherein the first solar panel is further configured to provide the Wi-Fi hot spot via the communications connection to the at least one other solar panel when the at least one other solar panel is unable to establish the communications connection directly with the internet source.

11. The power distribution and communication system of claim 10, wherein at least two solar panels included in the plurality of solar panels are configured to provide the Wi-Fi hot spot generating a plurality of Wi-Fi hot spots within the power distribution and communication system.

12. A method for providing a communications connection between an internet source and a plurality of solar panels, comprising:

(a) transmitting a first communication signal from a first solar panel included in the plurality of solar panels by communication circuitry included in the first solar panel to an internet source;

(b) establishing a communications connection between the first solar panel and the internet source;

(c) transmitting a second communication signal from the first solar panel to at least one other solar panel included in the plurality of solar panels; and

(d) establishing a communications connection between the at least one other solar panel and the internet via the communication circuitry of the first solar panel.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

establishing by the communication circuitry of the first solar panel wireless communication via the communications connection between the internet source and the first solar panel and the at least one other solar panel.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

establishing by the communication circuitry of the first solar panel a Wi-Fi hot spot between the internet source and the first solar panel and the at least one other solar panel via the first solar panel.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

establishing by the communication circuitry of the first solar panel a communications connection between the internet source and at least one computing device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

establishing by the communication circuitry of the first solar panel the Wi-Fi hot spot to the at least one computing device via the at least one other solar panel when the at least one computing device is outside a range of the first solar panel and within a range of the at least one other solar panel to establish the communication connection with the internet source.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

establishing by the communication circuitry of at least two solar panels included in the plurality of solar panels the Wi-Fi hot spot generating a plurality of Wi-Fi hot spots within a communication network established by the plurality of solar panels.

18. A method of allocating power, comprising:

providing, by a power controller, an interface between an electric device and a source of electricity;

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

providing, by a solar panel;

electricity;

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

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

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the power controller and the solar panel communicate wirelessly.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

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

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

acquiring electrical power from an electric utility grid.