Powerlight Corporation

Sunpower Corporation, Systems

Other

Thomas L Dinwoodie

Daniel S Shugar

Jefferson G Shingleton

Gianluigi Mascolo

Steven T Slavsky

Jonathan D Botkin

Elise R Brewster

Adam D Jackaway

Jeffrey H Ansley

Timothy M Mueller

David E Neff

Colleen O'Brien

A modular shade system with solar tracking panels includes a series of generally North-South oriented, spaced apart torque tubes, each torque tube having an axis, a series of panels mounted to at least some of the torque tubes to create spaced-apart rows of panels along the torque tubes, at least some of the panels being solar collector panels. The system also includes a shade structure, positioned at a selected location between selected ones of the torque tubes and above the support surface so to provide an enhanced shaded region thereunder, and a support structure. The support structure includes a first mounting assembly mounting each torque tube above the support surface for rotation about the axis of each torque tube and a second mounting assembly supporting the shade structure at the selected location. The system further comprises a tilting assembly selectively rotating each torque tube about its axis.

Modular shade system with solar tracking panels

A modular shade system comprises a support structure supporting modular panels. The support structure defines a first area having a length and a width. The modular panels have upper, exposed surfaces and lower surfaces and are mounted to and supported by the support structure. The modular panels cover at least about 80% of the first area. The modular panels comprise PV panels and supplemental panels, the supplemental panels providing a feature other than shading and optionally providing shading. Protective panels may be mounted opposite the lower surfaces of the PV modules. A protective panel may so be used when the PV module is part of an installation other than a modular shade structure.

Modular shade system

A barrier, such as a PV module, is secured to a base by a support to create a shingle assembly with a venting region defined between the barrier and base for temperature regulation. Water resistant junctions may be formed between the bases of adjacent shingle assemblies of an array of shingle assemblies. The base may include an insulation layer underlying a water barrier. The base may also include a waterproofing element; the width and height of the barrier may be shorter than the width and height of the waterproofing element.

Shingle system

A barrier, such as a PV module, is secured to a base by a support to create a shingle assembly with a venting region defined between the barrier and base for temperature regulation. The first edge of one base may be interengageable with the second edge of an adjacent base to be capable of resisting first and second disengaging forces oriented perpendicular to the edges and along planes oriented parallel to and perpendicular to the base. A deflector may be used to help reduce wind uplift forces.

Shingle assembly

A photovoltaic roofing assembly comprises a roofing membrane (), a plurality of photovoltaic modules () disposed as a layer on top of the roofing membrane (), and a plurality of pre-formed spacers, pedestals or supports () which are respectively disposed below the plurality of photovoltaic modules () and integral therewith, or fixed thereto. Spacers () are disposed on top of roofing membrane (). Membrane () is supported on conventional roof framing, and attached thereto by conventional methods. In an alternative embodiment, the roofing assembly may have insulation block () below the spacers ('). The geometry of the pre-formed spacers (&#x2032;) is such that wind tunnel testing has shown its maximum effectiveness in reducing net forces of wind uplift on the overall assembly. Such construction results in a simple, lightweight, self-ballasting, readily assembled roofing assembly which resists the forces of wind uplift using no roofing penetrations.

Lightweight, self-ballasting photovoltaic roofing assembly

Photovoltaic shade system

Inclined photovoltaic assembly

A barrier, such as a PV module, is secured to a base by a support to create a shingle assembly with a venting region defined between the barrier and base for temperature regulation. The bottom edges of the barriers of one row may overlap the top edges of the barriers of another row. The shingle assemblies may be mounted by first mounting the bases to an inclined surface; the barriers may be then secured to the bases using the supports to create rows of shingle assemblies defining venting regions between the barriers and the bases for temperature regulation.

Shingle system and method

A PV assembly comprises a base, having a length L, an upwardly extending PV module, having a length H, and a downwardly extending deflector. The PV module and the deflector are preferably secured to the base so that they are placeable at shipping and inclined-use angles. The module may be connected to the base by a living hinge. The deflector may comprise an outer surface having a solar reflectivity of at least about 0.2, and more preferably of at least about 0.7, whereby solar radiation contacting the outer surface may be redirected to an adjacent PV module to increase the power output of the adjacent PV module. The inclined-use angle of the PV module may be about 2&deg; to 15&deg; and a ground cover ratio of H/L may be about 0.6 to about 0.8 for increased power output.

Each PV assembly of an array of PV assemblies comprises a base, a PV module and a support assembly securing the PV module to a position overlying the upper surface of the base. Vents are formed through the base. A pressure equalization path extends from the outer surface of the PV module, past the PV module, to and through at least one of the vents, and to the lower surface of the base to help reduce wind uplift forces on the PV assembly. The PV assemblies may be interengaged, such as by interengaging the bases of adjacent PV assemblies. The base may include a main portion and a cover and the bases of adjacent PV assemblies may be interengaged by securing the covers of adjacent bases together.

Pressure-equalizing PV assembly and method

A PV roof assembly ( ) includes a roof ( ) mountable to an electric vehicle ( ), and a PV assembly ( ) at the upper part of the roof. The PV assembly may be mounted to a separate roof surface ( ) or the PV assembly may itself constitute all or part of the roof. The vehicle may include a secondary PV assembly ( ) coupled to a display unit ( ) to provide an independent indication of the intensity of solar irradiation. The roof may have mounting element recesses ( ) to accommodate mounting elements ( ) of the PV assembly, the mounting elements configured so as not to shade the PV panel ( ). The roof may also be configured to accommodate a global positioning device ( ). The roof preferably includes a peripheral gutter ( ). The roof body preferably includes hand-hold recesses ( ) housing hand-hold elements ( ) at positions to provide a horizontal setback ( ) from the lateral sides ( ) of the roof body.

Electric vehicle roof

A flexible solar power assembly ( ) includes a flexible photovoltaic device ( ) attached to a flexible thermal solar collector ( ). The solar power assembly can be rolled up for transport and then unrolled for installation on a surface, such as the roof ( ) or side wall of a building or other structure, by use of adhesive and/or other types of fasteners ( ).

PV/thermal solar power assembly

Electric vehicle with photovoltaic roof assembly

Each PV assembly of an array of PV assemblies comprises a base, a PV module and a support assembly securing the PV module to a position overlying the upper surface of the base. Vents are formed through the base. A pressure equalization path extends from the outer surface of the PV module, past the peripheral edge of the PV module, to and through at least one of the vents, and to the lower surface of the base to help reduce wind uplift forces on the PV assembly. The PV assemblies may be interengaged, such as by interengaging the bases of adjacent PV assemblies. The base may include a main portion and a cover and the bases of adjacent PV assemblies may be interengaged by securing the covers of adjacent bases together.

Growing community of inventors

Piedmont, CA, United States of America

Thomas L Dinwoodie