Patents Assigned to PowerLight Corporation, a California corporation
  • Publication number: 20060266405
    Abstract: A fire resistant PV shingle assembly includes a PV assembly, including PV body, a fire shield and a connection member connecting the fire shield below the PV body, and a support and inter-engagement assembly. The support and inter-engagement assembly is mounted to the PV assembly and comprises a vertical support element, supporting the PV assembly above a support surface, an upper interlock element, positioned towards the upper PV edge, and a lower interlock element, positioned towards the lower PV edge. The upper interlock element of one PV shingle assembly is inter-engageable with the lower interlock element of an adjacent PV shingle assembly. In some embodiments the PV shingle assembly may comprise a ventilation path below the PV body. The PV body may be slidably mounted to the connection member to facilitate removal of the PV body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Applicant: PowerLight Corporation, a California corporation
    Inventor: Carl Lenox
  • Publication number: 20060000178
    Abstract: A shingle system, mountable to a support surface, includes overlapping shingle assemblies. Each shingle assembly comprises a support bracket, having upper and lower ends, secured to a shingle body. The upper end has an upper support portion, extending away from the shingle body, and an upper support-surface-engaging part, engageable with a support surface so that the upper edge of the shingle body is positionable at a first distance from the support surface to create a first gap therebetween. The lower end has a lower support portion extending away from the lower surface. The support brackets create: (1) a second gap between shingle bodies of the first and second shingle assemblies, and (2) an open region beneath the first shingle assembly fluidly coupling the first and second gaps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Publication date: January 5, 2006
    Applicant: PowerLight Corporation, a California corporation
    Inventor: Charles Almy
  • Publication number: 20040238025
    Abstract: A tracking solar collector assembly includes Southside supports, North side supports and support structures. Each support structure has pivotal support points defining a tilt axis and has at least one solar collector mounted thereto. First support points of first and second support structures are pivotally connected to first and second Southside supports. A second support point of the first support structure is pivotally connected to first and second North side supports. A second support point of the second support structure is pivotally connected to second and third North side supports. The assembly further includes a tilting assembly causing the solar collector support structures and the solar collectors therewith to tilt in unison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Applicant: PowerLight Corporation, a California Corporation
    Inventor: Jefferson G. Shingleton
  • Publication number: 20030222479
    Abstract: A PV roof assembly (6) includes a roof (12) mountable to an electric vehicle (4), and a PV assembly (10) at the upper part of the roof. The PV assembly may be mounted to a separate roof surface (34) or the PV assembly may itself constitute all or part of the roof. The vehicle may include a secondary PV assembly (96) coupled to a display unit (92) to provide an independent indication of the intensity of solar irradiation. The roof may have mounting element recesses (68) to accommodate mounting elements (70) of the PV assembly, the mounting elements configured so as not to shade the PV panel (14). The roof may also be configured to accommodate a global positioning device (80). The roof preferably includes a peripheral gutter (88). The roof body preferably includes hand-hold recesses (90) housing hand-hold elements (42) at positions to provide a horizontal setback (92) from the lateral sides (93) of the roof body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Applicant: PowerLight Corporation, a California corporation
    Inventors: Daniel S. Shugar, Thomas L. Dinwoodie