INTEGRATED SOLAR PANEL

• US 20140116492A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 05/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SolPad, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Christopher Estes
• Inventors: Estes, Christopher A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,444,397 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/244
• 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 generates standalone alternative current (AC) output power where the standalone output AC power is generated from direct current (DC) power stored in a battery bank included in the solar panel. The solar panel generates the standalone output AC power without reliance on input AC power generated by a utility grid and/or other AC power sources external to the solar panel. The solar panel automatically generates the 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 automatically terminates the generation of the standalone AC power when the solar panel detects input AC power coming into the solar panel where the solar panel operates as a slave in this state.

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 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 bank that is in parallel to the input AC power; and

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

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

3. The solar panel of claim 2, wherein the standalone output AC power is substantially equivalent to the input AC power.

4. The solar panel of claim 2, wherein the standalone 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 terminate the standalone output AC power for the solar panel when the power signal sensor detects the input AC power coupled to the AC inlet receptacle.

6. The solar panel of claim 2, wherein the AC outlet receptacle is further configured to provide dependent output AC power to the systems external to the solar panel when the power signal sensor detects the input AC power coupled to the AC inlet receptacle, wherein the dependent output AC power is generated from the input AC power provided by the AC power source external to the solar panel.

7. The solar panel of claim 1, wherein the AC outlet receptacle is further configured to provide the dependent output AC power at an output AC power level that is in parallel to the input AC power level of the input AC power.

8. A method for generating standalone 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;

(c) storing the amplified DC power;

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

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

(f) automatically generating 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 bank that is in parallel to the input AC power; and

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

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

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the standalone output AC power is substantially equivalent to the input AC power.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the standalone 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 terminating the standalone output AC power for the solar panel when the power signal sensor detects the input AC power coupled to the AC inlet receptacle.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

providing dependent output AC power to the systems external to the solar panel when the power signal sensor detects the input AC power coupled to the AC inlet receptacle, wherein the dependent output AC power is generated from the input AC power provided by the AC power source external to the solar panel.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

providing the dependent output AC power at an output AC power level that is in parallel to the input AC power level of the input AC power.

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 input AC power coupled to the first solar panel, wherein the standalone output AC power is output AC power generated from the DC power, and

act as a master solar panel when the first solar panel fails to detect 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 terminate second standalone output AC power for the second solar panel when the second solar panel detects the first standalone output AC power provided 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, wherein the slave solar panel automatically receives the first standalone output AC power from the master 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 the first standalone output AC power is substantially equivalent to 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 terminate the first standalone output AC power for the first solar panel when the first solar panel detects the input AC power coupled to the first solar panel; and

act as the slave solar panel when the first solar panel detects the input AC power coupled to the first solar panel, wherein the slave solar panel automatically receives the input AC power.

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 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 second standalone 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.