US 8,575,783 B2 · Solar panel as infrared signal receiver and processor

Abstract

This invention is to control and monitor a solar module by optical communication using solar cells in the solar module as a receiver of the incoming optical signal. The optical communication is by way of solar cells in a solar module as sensors and/or receivers, and busbars of the solar module as conduits to transfer the incoming signal to a control circuitry. Such control includes, but is not limited to, on/off control of power output from a solar module, and such monitoring includes, but is not limited to, reading, data keeping and displaying current operating performance status of the solar module. With this invention, solar modules can be turned off and on without physically disconnecting and reconnecting wires. Such control and monitoring enables more efficient and accurate operation and maintenance of a solar power system of any size.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A method of controlling and monitoring solar modules by optical communication comprising steps of:

transmitting an optical signal from a transmitter;
receiving said optical signal at at least one solar cell in a solar panel, said solar cell and solar panel concurrently electrically connected to provide electric current to a power sink;
propagating said received optical signal through busbars electrically engaged with said solar cell and said power sink to a processor;
and
processing said received optical signal to execute a command on said solar panel;
wherein said processor is powered by a battery, and if said command is received when said solar panel produces electrical current output insufficient for execution of said command, said processor stores said command in non-volatile memory, and said command is executed only when said solar panel produces sufficient electrical current output to execute said command.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Solar panel as infrared signal receiver and processor

Life of this patent

Solar panel as infrared signal receiver and processor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17