Patents Assigned to PowerLight Corporation
-
Publication number: 20040007260Abstract: A PV assembly comprises a base, having a length L, an upwardly extending PV module, having a length H, and a downwardly extending deflector. The PV module and the deflector are preferably secured to the base so that they are placeable at shipping and inclined-use angles. The module may be connected to the base by a living hinge. The deflector may comprise an outer surface having a solar reflectivity of at least about 0.2, and more preferably of at least about 0.7, whereby solar radiation contacting the outer surface may be redirected to an adjacent PV module to increase the power output of the adjacent PV module. The inclined-use angle of the PV module may be about 2° to 15° and a ground cover ratio of H/L may be about 0.6 to about 0.8 for increased power output.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2002Publication date: January 15, 2004Applicant: PowerLight CorporationInventor: Thomas L. Dinwoodie
-
Patent number: 6675580Abstract: A flexible solar power assembly (2) includes a flexible photovoltaic device (16) attached to a flexible thermal solar collector (4). The solar power assembly can be rolled up for transport and then unrolled for installation on a surface, such as the roof (20, 25) or side wall of a building or other structure, by use of adhesive and/or other types of fasteners (23).Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2001Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Assignee: Powerlight CorporationInventors: Jeffrey H. Ansley, Jonathan D. Botkin, Thomas L. Dinwoodie
-
Publication number: 20030222479Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2003Publication date: December 4, 2003Applicant: PowerLight Corporation, a California corporationInventors: Daniel S. Shugar, Thomas L. Dinwoodie
-
Publication number: 20030164187Abstract: Each PV assembly of an array of PV assemblies comprises a base, a PV module and a support assembly securing the PV module to a position overlying the upper surface of the base. Vents are formed through the base. A pressure equalization path extends from the outer surface of the PV module, past the PV module, to and through at least one of the vents, and to the lower surface of the base to help reduce wind uplift forces on the PV assembly. The PV assemblies may be interengaged, such as by interengaging the bases of adjacent PV assemblies. The base may include a main portion and a cover and the bases of adjacent PV assemblies may be interengaged by securing the covers of adjacent bases together.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2003Publication date: September 4, 2003Applicant: PowerLight CorporationInventor: Thomas L. Dinwoodie
-
Patent number: 6586668Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 16, 2001Date of Patent: July 1, 2003Assignee: Powerlight CorporationInventors: Daniel S. Shugar, Thomas L. Dinwoodie, Steven T. Slavsky
-
Patent number: 6570084Abstract: Each PV assembly of an array of PV assemblies comprises a base, a PV module and a support assembly securing the PV module to a position overlying the upper surface of the base. Vents are formed through the base. A pressure equalization path extends from the outer surface of the PV module, past the peripheral edge of the PV module, to and through at least one of the vents, and to the lower surface of the base to help reduce wind uplift forces on the PV assembly. The PV assemblies may be interengaged, such as by interengaging the bases of adjacent PV assemblies. The base may include a main portion and a cover and the bases of adjacent PV assemblies may be interengaged by securing the covers of adjacent bases together.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2001Date of Patent: May 27, 2003Assignee: PowerLight CorporationInventor: Thomas L. Dinwoodie
-
Patent number: 6534703Abstract: The invention is directed to a PV assembly, for use on a support surface, comprising a base, a PV module, a multi-position module support assembly, securing the module to the base at shipping and inclined-use angles, a deflector, a multi-position deflector support securing the deflector to the base at deflector shipping and deflector inclined-use angles, the module and deflector having opposed edges defining a gap therebetween. The invention permits transport of the PV assemblies in a relatively compact form, thus lowering shipping costs, while facilitating installation of the PV assemblies with the PV module at the proper inclination.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2001Date of Patent: March 18, 2003Assignee: Powerlight CorporationInventor: Thomas L. Dinwoodie
-
Publication number: 20030010374Abstract: The invention is directed to an array of photovoltaic (PV) assemblies mountable to a support surface. Each PV assembly comprises a base, a PV module and a support assembly securing the PV module to a position overlying the upper surface of the base. The base comprises a main member and a cover defining the upper surface of the base; the cover comprises an electrical conductor. An electrical ground connector may be made between the covers of different PV assemblies. The cover may comprise sheet metal and may have an electrically-insulating surface layer. The main member may be a thermal insulator and the cover may comprise a low-emissivity layer. The covers of adjacent PV assemblies may be interengaged so that wind uplift forces on one of the PV assemblies tend to transfer to adjacent the assemblies so to help counteract the wind uplift forces.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2001Publication date: January 16, 2003Applicant: PowerLight CorporationInventor: Thomas L. Dinwoodie
-
Publication number: 20030010372Abstract: The invention is directed to a PV assembly, for use on a support surface, comprising a base, a PV module, a multi-position module support assembly, securing the module to the base at shipping and inclined-use angles, a deflector, a multi-position deflector support securing the deflector to the base at deflector shipping and deflector inclined-use angles, the module and deflector having opposed edges defining a gap therebetween. The invention permits transport of the PV assemblies in a relatively compact form, thus lowering shipping costs, while facilitating installation of the PV assemblies with the PV module at the proper inclination.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2001Publication date: January 16, 2003Applicant: PowerLight CorporationInventor: Thomas L. Dinwoodie
-
Publication number: 20030010375Abstract: Each PV assembly of an array of PV assemblies comprises a base, a PV module and a support assembly securing the PV module to a position overlying the upper surface of the base. Vents are formed through the base. A pressure equalization path extends from the outer surface of the PV module, past the peripheral edge of the PV module, to and through at least one of the vents, and to the lower surface of the base to help reduce wind uplift forces on the PV assembly. The PV assemblies may be interengaged, such as by interengaging the bases of adjacent PV assemblies. The base may include a main portion and a cover and the bases of adjacent PV assemblies may be interengaged by securing the covers of adjacent bases together.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2001Publication date: January 16, 2003Applicant: PowerLight CorporationInventor: Thomas L. Dinwoodie
-
Patent number: 6501013Abstract: The invention is directed to an array of photovoltaic (PV) assemblies mountable to a support surface. Each PV assembly comprises a base, a PV module and a support assembly securing the PV module to a position overlying the upper surface of the base. The base comprises a main member and a cover defining the upper surface of the base; the cover comprises an electrical conductor. An electrical ground connector may be made between the covers of different PV assemblies. The cover may comprise sheet metal and may have an electrically-insulating surface layer. The main member may be a thermal insulator and the cover may comprise a low-emissivity layer. The covers of adjacent PV assemblies may be interengaged so that wind uplift forces on one of the PV assemblies tend to transfer to adjacent the assemblies so to help counteract the wind uplift forces.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2001Date of Patent: December 31, 2002Assignee: PowerLight CorporationInventor: Thomas L. Dinwoodie
-
Patent number: 6495750Abstract: A stabilized PV system comprises an array of photovoltaic (PV) assemblies mounted to a support surface. Each PV assembly comprises a PV module and a support assembly securing the PV module to a position overlying the support surface. The array of modules is circumscribed by a continuous, belt-like perimeter assembly. Cross strapping, extending above, below or through the array, or some combination of above, below and through the array, secures a first position along the perimeter assembly to at least a second position along the perimeter assembly thereby stabilizing the array against wind uplift forces. The first and second positions may be on opposite sides on the array.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2001Date of Patent: December 17, 2002Assignee: PowerLight CorporationInventor: Thomas L. Dinwoodie
-
Publication number: 20020174889Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2002Publication date: November 28, 2002Applicant: PowerLight CorporationInventors: Daniel S. Shugar, Thomas L. Dinwoodie
-
Patent number: 6313394Abstract: A PV roof assembly (6) includes a roof (12) mountable to an electric car (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 PV assembly may include a monolithic PV panel (14) with a plurality of PV cells (20). The roof may define a storage region (32) accessible through a closable access opening (44). The roof may include a circumferential lip (24) which extends around and above the PV assembly to help prevent damage to the PV panel. The roof may include a protective, at least semi-transparent top layer (60), an at least semi-transparent bottom layer (62) and a semi-transparent PV layer (64) secured between and in contact with the top and bottom layers to create a roof which is itself semi-transparent. The ratio of PV cells to the number of battery cells may be chosen to create a self-regulating design.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: PowerLight CorporationInventors: Daniel S. Shugar, Thomas L. Dinwoodie
-
Patent number: D453727Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2001Date of Patent: February 19, 2002Assignee: PowerLight CorporationInventors: Daniel S. Shugar, Thomas L. Dinwoodie, Steven T. Slavsky
-
Patent number: D468684Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2001Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: PowerLight CorporationInventor: Daniel S. Shugar
-
Patent number: D469057Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2001Date of Patent: January 21, 2003Assignee: PowerLight CorporationInventor: Daniel S. Shugar
-
Patent number: D469058Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2001Date of Patent: January 21, 2003Assignee: PowerLight CorporationInventor: Daniel S. Shugar
-
Patent number: D469399Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2001Date of Patent: January 28, 2003Assignee: PowerLight CorporationInventor: Daniel S. Shugar
-
Patent number: D471855Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2001Date of Patent: March 18, 2003Assignee: Powerlight CorporationInventors: Daniel S. Shugar, Thomas L. Dinwoodie, Steven T. Slavsky