Patents by Inventor Allison Perna

Allison Perna has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Orientation of photovoltaic modules to minimize intercepted radiation in photovoltaic aglectric systems
    Patent number: 11646693
    Abstract: A photovoltaic system for generating electrical power on farmland while minimizing reduction of solar radiation incident on ground due to shadowing, including a photovoltaic module having a first photovoltaic face defining a first plane, a normal axis extending from the first plane, a first pivot axis extending through the photovoltaic module, a second pivot axis extending through the photovoltaic module, at least one motor operationally connected to pivot the photovoltaic module about at least one pivot axis, and an electronic controller operationally connected to at least one motor. An incident solar ray strikes the photovoltaic module at an angle of incidence defined as an intersection of the incident solar ray and the normal axis. The electronic controller sends signals to the at least one motor to maintain the angle of incidence as close as possible to ninety degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Rakesh Agrawal, Peter Andrew Bermel, Allison Perna
  • ORIENTATION OF PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES TO MINIMIZE INTERCEPTED RADIATION IN PHOTOVOLTAIC AGLECTRIC SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20210067087
    Abstract: A photovoltaic system for generating electrical power on farmland while minimizing reduction of solar radiation incident on ground due to shadowing, including a photovoltaic module having a first photovoltaic face defining a first plane, a normal axis extending from the first plane, a first pivot axis extending through the photovoltaic module, a second pivot axis extending through the photovoltaic module, at least one motor operationally connected to pivot the photovoltaic module about at least one pivot axis, and an electronic controller operationally connected to at least one motor. An incident solar ray strikes the photovoltaic module at an angle of incidence defined as an intersection of the incident solar ray and the normal axis. The electronic controller sends signals to the at least one motor to maintain the angle of incidence as close as possible to ninety degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Rakesh Agrawal, Peter Andrew Bermel, Allison Perna