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US 8,710,351 B2Granted
Solar power system with communication network utilizing magnetic fields
OwnerSteven Andrew Robbinsinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A solar power system with a communications network for reporting the performance status of each solar module in the array. The network includes short range peer-to-peer wireless links between adjacent solar modules along the rows and columns of the array, resulting in a matrix network topology. The wireless links are implemented with modulated magnetic fields.
Claims20
A solar power system, comprising:
- a plurality of solar power modules arranged into a solar power array, wherein each solar power module comprises:
- a plurality of photovoltaic cells for converting light into electricity,
- a transceiver circuit coupled to at least one magnetic loop for communicating via a modulated magnetic field,
- a digital processing unit for acquiring parametric data related to the conversion of light into electricity and communicating with adjacent solar power modules via the transceiver circuit, and
- a power supply circuit receiving power from at least one of the photovoltaic cells and supplying power to the transceiver circuit and digital processing unit;
- a computer for receiving the parametric data from the solar power modules;
- and
- a gateway device coupling the computer to one of the solar power modules.
5 more elements
A solar power module, comprising:
- at least one segment, each segment consisting of a plurality of photovoltaic cells connected in series for converting light into electricity;
- a transceiver circuit coupled to at least one magnetic loop for communicating via a modulated magnetic field;
- a digital processing unit for acquiring parametric data related to the conversion of light into electricity, supplying data to the transceiver circuit, and processing data received by the transceiver circuit;
- and
- a power supply circuit receiving power from at least one of the photovoltaic cells and supplying power to the transceiver circuit and digital processing unit.
2 more elements
A communication apparatus for solar power modules, comprising:
- an interface for receiving power from a plurality of photovoltaic cells;
- a transceiver circuit coupled to at least one magnetic loop for communicating via a modulated magnetic field;
- a digital processing unit for acquiring parametric data related to power produced by the photovoltaic cells, supplying data to the transceiver circuit, and processing data received by the transceiver circuit;
- and
- a power supply circuit receiving power from at least one of the photovoltaic cells, and supplying power to the transceiver circuit and digital processing unit.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.