Solar power generation, distribution, and communication system
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A solar panel, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A power distribution and communication system, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for providing a communications connection between an internet source and a plurality of solar panels, comprising:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of allocating power, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification