IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0538938
(2012-06-29)
|
등록번호 |
US-8697983
(2014-04-15)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Cashion, Steven A.
- Bowser, Michael R.
- Farrelly, Mark B.
- Hines, Braden E.
- Holmes, Howard C.
- Johnson, Jr., Richard L.
- Russell, Richard J.
- Turk, Michael F.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Suncore Photovoltaics, Inc.
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Mueting, Raasch & Gebhardt, P.A.
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
3 인용 특허 :
108 |
초록
▼
The present invention relates to photovoltaic power systems, photovoltaic concentrator modules, and related methods. In particular, the present invention features concentrator modules having interior points of attachment for an articulating mechanism and/or an articulating mechanism that has a uniqu
The present invention relates to photovoltaic power systems, photovoltaic concentrator modules, and related methods. In particular, the present invention features concentrator modules having interior points of attachment for an articulating mechanism and/or an articulating mechanism that has a unique arrangement of chassis members so as to isolate bending, etc. from being transferred among the chassis members. The present invention also features adjustable solar panel mounting features and/or mounting features with two or more degrees of freedom. The present invention also features a mechanical fastener for secondary optics in a concentrator module.
대표청구항
▼
1. A photovoltaic power system optimized for more power and less area comprising: a plurality of photovoltaic concentrator modules packed tightly in a two dimensional array in a manner to maximize reception of incident sunlight for each photovoltaic concentrator module with minimum shadow cast from
1. A photovoltaic power system optimized for more power and less area comprising: a plurality of photovoltaic concentrator modules packed tightly in a two dimensional array in a manner to maximize reception of incident sunlight for each photovoltaic concentrator module with minimum shadow cast from other photovoltaic concentrator modules, and wherein each photovoltaic concentrator module comprises: a base,a plurality of side walls connected to the base, wherein the base and the plurality of side walls define an interior region of a main body portion,two cavities on the side walls that extend into the interior region, wherein each cavity has an attachment point,a tip articulating mechanism coupled to the attachment point in each cavity such that the tip articulating mechanism can rotate the photovoltaic concentrator module about a first axis that is substantially parallel to a longest dimension of the photovoltaic concentrator module,a plurality of solar cells arranged in two rows and N columns and divided into two groups, wherein N is 2 or greater, wherein the solar cells in each of the two groups of solar cells are electrically wired in a zig-zag pattern within the two rows and the N columns so that in the event of a shadow cast on any photovoltaic concentrator module, the total photocurrent for the first group of solar cells wired in a zig-zag pattern is substantially the same as the total photocurrent for the second group of the solar cells wired in a zig-zag pattern, and wherein said two groups of solar cells are electrically wired with respect to each other resulting in at least two output wires, wherein the zig-zag pattern comprises an mth solar cell in the first row and mth column being wired to a (m+1)th cell in the second row and (m+1)th column, and a kth cell in the second row and a kth column being wired to a (k+1)th cell in the first row and (k+1)th column, where N, m and k are integers and both m and k are between 1 and N, andone or more apertures located opposite the base, each aperture comprising a plurality of lenses positioned in said each aperture in a manner such that each lens is capable of directing incident light to a focus on a respective solar cell within the interior region of the main body portion; anda tilt articulating mechanism configured to rotate the plurality of photovoltaic concentrator modules about a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis, so that the plurality of photovoltaic concentrator modules are aligned with the sun and track the sun during the course of a day so that the incident sunlight is directly focused on a respective solar cell by a respective lens. 2. The photovoltaic power system of claim 1, wherein the main body portion comprises an integrated molded plastic material. 3. The photovoltaic power system of claim 1, wherein the main body portion comprises one or more material selected from the group consisting of epoxy, sheet molding compound (SMC), and bulk molding compound (BMC). 4. The photovoltaic power system of claim 1, wherein each photovoltaic concentrator module further comprises a heat sink assembly on an exterior of the main body portion, the heat sink assembly comprising a heat sink and one or more structural braces positioned over the one or more apertures such that the one or more structural braces allow incident light to pass to the one or more apertures, and wherein the one or more structural braces contact an outer surface of the main body portion in a structurally supporting manner. 5. The photovoltaic power system of claim 1, wherein the tip articulating mechanism comprises at least three chassis members positioned adjacent to the base, wherein a first chassis member is physically coupled to one of the attachment points in a first cavity, a second chassis member is physically coupled to the other attachment point in a second cavity, and at least a third chassis member is physically coupled to the first and second chassis members in a manner to minimize shadows cast from the sun beam on the other photovoltaic concentrator modules. 6. The photovoltaic power system of claim 1, wherein the tilt articulating mechanism comprises a chassis, and a mounting plate coupled to the chassis via a movable joint configured to permit the mounting plate to move relative to the chassis in a manner to accommodate a plurality of mounting locations. 7. The photovoltaic power system of claim 6, wherein the one or more gooseneck members mate to the mounting plate at a pivot via the movable joint, and wherein the movable joint allows for a desirable range of rotation around the first axis with respect to the mounting plate to minimize shadows cast from the sun beam on the other photovoltaic concentrator modules. 8. The photovoltaic power system of claim 6, wherein the tilt articulating mechanism further comprises a cylindrical member positioned between the chassis and the mounting plate and having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is rigidly coupled to the chassis and the second end is movably coupled to the mounting plate via the movable joint. 9. The photovoltaic power system of claim 7, wherein the movable joint is a spherical bearing. 10. The photovoltaic power system of claim 1, wherein the main body portion further comprises one or more vent ports located in the interior region, and wherein at least one of the vent ports comprises a semi-permeable membrane that is permeable to gas such that the interior region can stabilize with the surrounding atmosphere. 11. The photovoltaic power system of claim 1, wherein the tip articulating mechanism includes one or more gooseneck members coupled to the attachment point in each cavity. 12. The photovoltaic power system of claim 1, wherein the solar cells of the first group are electrically wired in parallel with respect to each other and the solar cells of the second group are electrically wired in parallel with respect to each other. 13. The photovoltaic power system of claim 1, wherein said two groups of solar cells are electrically wired in series with respect to each other. 14. A photovoltaic power system optimized for more power and less area comprising: a plurality of photovoltaic concentrator modules packed tightly in a two dimensional array in a manner to maximize reception of incident sunlight for each photovoltaic concentrator module with minimum shadow cast from other photovoltaic concentrator modules, and wherein each photovoltaic concentrator module comprises: a base,a plurality of side walls connected to the base, wherein the base and the plurality of side walls define an interior region of a main body portion,a tip articulating mechanism coupled to the base such that the tip articulating mechanism can rotate the photovoltaic concentrator module about a first axis that is substantially parallel to a longest dimension of the photovoltaic concentrator module,a plurality of solar cells arranged in a plurality of rows and N columns and divided into adjacent groups, wherein N is 2 or greater, wherein the solar cells in each group of solar cells are electrically wired in a zig-zag pattern within two adjacent rows and the N columns so that in the event of a shadow cast on any photovoltaic concentrator module, the total photocurrent for the first group of solar cells wired in a zig-zag pattern is substantially the same as the total photocurrent for the second group of the solar cells wired in a zig-zag pattern, and wherein said two groups of solar cells are electrically wired with respect to each outer other resulting in at least two output wires, wherein the zig-zag pattern comprises an mth solar cell in a first row and mth column being wired to a (m+1)th cell in a second row and (m+1)th column, and a kth cell in the second row and a kth column being wired to a (k+1)th cell in the first row and (k+1)th column, where N, m and k are integers and both m and k are between 1 and N, andone or more apertures located opposite the base, each aperture comprising a plurality of lenses positioned in said each aperture in a manner such that each lens is capable of directing incident light to a focus on a respective solar cell within the interior region of the main body portion; anda tilt articulating mechanism configured to rotate the plurality of photovoltaic concentrator modules about a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis, so that the plurality of photovoltaic concentrator modules are aligned with the sun and track the sun during the course of a day so that the incident sunlight is directly focused on a respective solar cell by a respective lens. 15. The photovoltaic power system of claim 14, wherein the main body portion comprises an integrated molded plastic material. 16. The photovoltaic power system of claim 14, wherein the main body portion comprises one or more material selected from the group consisting of epoxy, sheet molding compound (SMC), and bulk molding compound (BMC). 17. The photovoltaic power system of claim 14, wherein each photovoltaic concentrator module further comprises a heat sink assembly on an exterior of the main body portion, the heat sink assembly comprising a heat sink and one or more structural braces positioned over the one or more apertures such that the one or more structural braces allow incident light to pass to the one or more apertures, and wherein the one or more structural braces contact an outer surface of the main body portion in a structurally supporting manner. 18. The photovoltaic power system of claim 14, wherein the tip articulating mechanism comprises at least three chassis members positioned adjacent to the base, wherein a first chassis member is physically coupled to a first attachment point in a first cavity, a second chassis member is physically coupled to a second attachment point in a second cavity, and at least a third chassis member is physically coupled to the first and second chassis members in a manner to minimize shadows cast from the sun beam on the other photovoltaic concentrator modules. 19. The photovoltaic power system of claim 14, wherein the tilt articulating mechanism comprises a chassis, and a mounting plate coupled to the chassis via a movable joint configured to permit the mounting plate to move relative to the chassis in a manner to accommodate a plurality of mounting locations. 20. The photovoltaic power system of claim 19, further comprising one or more gooseneck members mated to the mounting plate at a pivot via the movable joint, and wherein the movable joint allows for a desirable range of rotation around the first axis with respect to the mounting plate to minimize shadows cast from the sun beam on the other photovoltaic concentrator modules. 21. The photovoltaic power system of claim 19, wherein the tilt articulating mechanism further comprises a cylindrical member positioned between the chassis and the mounting plate and having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is rigidly coupled to the chassis and the second end is movably coupled to the mounting plate via the movable joint. 22. The photovoltaic power system of claim 21, wherein the movable joint is a spherical bearing. 23. The photovoltaic power system of claim 14, wherein the solar cells of the first group are electrically wired in parallel with respect to each other and the solar cells of the second group are electrically wired in parallel with respect to each other. 24. The photovoltaic power system of claim 14, wherein said two groups of solar cells are electrically wired in series with respect to each other.
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