Multi-use electric tile modules
OwnerMark P. Banisterinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multiuse electric tile module for walling, flooring, or roofing applications having a photovoltaic cell, thermovoltaic cell, electroluminescent material, or a combination of these disposed over a rigid substrate, such as ceramic. Each tile is electrically connectable through a male-to-female connecter to at least one adjacent tile without external wiring. Preferably, a sealing layer is disposed over the electrical elements and rigid substrate to seal and protect each tile. Optionally, each tile may further include an inverter to convert direct current to alternating current or a battery to store electricity. The electroluminescent material provides light for architectural accents or nighttime visibility.
Claims51
A multi-use electric tile module, comprising:
- (a) a rigid ceramic substrate having a top side and at least two side edges,
- (b) at least one male connector and at least one female connector integrated respectively into said side edges of said rigid substrate for electrically connecting said rigid substrate to adjoining tile modules;
- and
- (c) at least one electrical element disposed over the top side of said rigid substrate and electrically connected to said at least two connectors.
An electric roof tile module, comprising:
- (a) a rigid substrate having a top side, a bottom side, and four side edges connecting said top and bottom sides,
- (b) a tab extending outwardly from the bottom side,
- (c) at least one male connector and at least one female connector for electrically connecting said rigid substrate to another rigid substrate, wherein one of said male and female connectors is housed in said tab and the other of said male and female connectors extends from a front side edge of said tile;
- and
- (d) at least one electrical element disposed over the top side of said rigid substrate and electrically connected to said at least one male and one female connectors.
A multi-use electric tile module, comprising:
- (a) a rigid substrate having a top side and at least one side edge,
- (b) at least two connectors integrated into said side edge of said rigid substrate for electrically connecting said rigid substrate to adjoining tile modules;
- and
- (c) at least one electrical element disposed over the top side of said rigid substrate and electrically connected to said at least two connectors, wherein said electrical element comprises a thermovoltaic cell or an electroluminescent material.
A multi-use electric tile module, comprising:
- (a) a rigid substrate formed of a ceramic having a top side and at least one side edge,
- (b) at least two connectors integrated into said side edge of said rigid substrate for electrically connecting said rigid substrate to adjoining tile modules;
- and
- (c) at least one electrical element disposed over the top side of said rigid substrate and electrically connecting to said at least two connectors.
A multi-use electric tile module, comprising:
- (a) a rigid substrate having a top side and at least one side edge,
- (b) at least two connectors integrated into said side edge of said rigid substrate for electrically connecting said rigid substrate to adjoining tile modules;
- (c) at least one electrical element comprising a thin film photovoltaic cell disposed over the top side of said rigid substrate and electrically connected to said at least two connectors;
- and
- (d) a sealing layer disposed over said at least one electrical element, thereby sealing said electrical element to said rigid substrate, wherein sand sealing layer is selected from the group consisting of a fired ceramic glaze, a liquid glaze, a sol gel, a thick film, a polymer coating, glass and a combination thereof.
A floor made up of a plurality of electric tile modules, each module comprising:
- (a) a rigid substrate having a top side and at least one side edge,
- (b) at least two connectors integrated into said side edge of said rigid substrate for electrically connecting said rigid substrate to adjoining tile modules;
- and
- (c) at least one electrical element disposed over the top side of said rigid substrate and electrically connected to said at least two connectors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.