Solar energy systems

• US 10,533,717 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2016
• Issued: 01/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James A. Meringer
• Original Assignee: James A. Meringer
• Inventors: Meringer, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pacheco, Alexis B
• Application Number:
  US15/294,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20170028863A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,185 Days
• Field of Search: 320101, 320108, 320109, 320107, 136243, 136244
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/31 Charging columns specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/36 by positioning the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/37 using optical position determination, e.g. using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/085 of high-built type, e.g. street light
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/035 the solar unit being integrated within the support for the lighting unit, e.g. within or on a pole
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/00 Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/103 of streets or roads
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2020/16 Preventing shading effects
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2030/16 Hinged elements; Pin connections
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/10 extending in directions away from a supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/632 Side connectors; Base connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 30/422 Vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/10 Supporting structures directly fixed to the ground H02S20/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/20 Supporting structures directly fixed to an immovable object H02S20/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/38 Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/72 in street lighting
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
• 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 90/12 : Electric charging stations

Abstract

A drone landing system includes a solar collector to charge the drone at a landing cite of the drone landing system. The solar collector may include a solar collector mounting assembly, preferably comprises a bi-facial solar active component mounted with its solar active face(s) orthogonal to the ground/horizon, at or near its perimeter frame.

Claims

1. A drone charging station comprising:

a post;

at least one solar collector coupled to the post;

a docking station, providing a landing target for a drone, the docking station coupled to the post, wherein the at least one solar collector is configured to charge a battery of the drone through solar power collected by the at least one solar collector wherein the solar collector and the docking station are both supported solely by the post, such that the post carries the entire weight of both the solar collector and docking station, and wherein the solar collector is a bi-facial solar active panel having front and back solar active faces.

2. The drone charging station of claim 1, wherein the post further supports an illumination source.

3. The drone charging station of claim 1, wherein the drone comprises a camera system.

4. The drone charging station of claim 1, further comprising a controller system configured to control landing, and charging of the drone.

5. The drone charging station of claim 4, wherein the controller system comprises a processor at the post, and a remote host in communication with the processor.

6. The drone charging station of claim 1, the charging station further comprising an alternate power source for charging the battery of the drone.

7. The drone charging station of claim 1, further comprising a storage battery configured to store power collected by the at least one solar collector, and charge the battery of the drone at the docking station.

8. The drone charging station of claim 1, the at least one solar collector having a flat planar body including i) a first planar face and a second planar face opposite the first planar face, ii) a perimeter frame surrounding the first and second planar faces;

wherein the at least one solar collector is coupled to the post at a portion of the perimeter frame of the at least one solar collector wherein the at least one solar collector is coupled such that an axis parallel to its planar faces is also parallel to a major axis of the post.

9. The drone charging station of claim 1, wherein the docking station is above the at least one solar collector.

10. The drone charging station of claim 1, wherein the drone is used for delivery.

11. A drone charging station for a package delivery drone, comprising:

a solar collector system comprising at least one solar panel;

a docking station providing a landing target for the package delivery drone, wherein the solar collector system provides solar power collected at the charging station to charge a battery of the drone; and

an illumination source,

wherein the solar panel, docking station, and illumination source are coupled to and entirely supported by a single post.

12. The drone charging station of claim 11, wherein the solar collector serves as a sole power generating source for the drone charging station at the single post.

13. The drone charging station of claim 11, wherein the drone comprises a camera system.

14. The drone charging station of claim 11, further comprising a controller system configured to control landing, and charging of the drone.

15. The drone charging station of claim 14, wherein the controller system comprises a processor at the charging station, and a remote host in communication with the processor.

16. The drone charging station of claim 11, further comprising a storage battery configured to store power collected by the at least one solar collector, and charge the battery of the drone at the docking station.

17. The drone charging station of claim 11, the at least one solar collector having a flat planar body including i) a first planar face and a second planar face opposite the first planar face, ii) a perimeter frame surrounding the first and second planar faces;

wherein the at least one solar collector is coupled to the post at a portion of the perimeter frame of the at least one solar collector wherein the first and second planar faces are both solar active and wherein the perimeter frame is in line with a major axis of the post.

18. The drone charging station of claim 11, wherein the single post is 16-21 ft high.

19. A drone charging station comprising:

a post;

at least one solar collector coupled to the post;

a docking station, providing a landing target for a drone, the docking station coupled to the post, wherein the at least one solar collector is configured to charge a battery of the drone through solar power collected by the at least one solar collector wherein the solar collector is a bi-facial panel having front and back solar active faces.

20. The drone charging station of claim 19, further comprising an illumination source, wherein the post singly supports the docking station, and wherein the drone is a package delivery drone.