Patents by Inventor John A. Crain

John A. Crain 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).

  • Methods, systems, and computer readable media for controlling orientation of a photovoltaic collection system to track apparent movement of the sun
    Patent number: 8178775
    Abstract: The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable media for controlling orientation of a photovoltaic collection system to track apparent movement of the sun. According to one aspect, a method for controlling orientation of a photovoltaic collection system to track apparent movement of the sun using a photovoltaic-collection-system-derived tracking algorithm is provided. The method includes determining an initial orientation of a photovoltaic collection system. The method further includes automatically deriving, using output from the photovoltaic collection system as it tracks apparent movement of the sun across the sky caused by spinning of the earth on its axis and its orbit around the sun, a tracking algorithm for controlling orientation of the photovoltaic collection system to track the apparent movement of the sun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Megawatt Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell M. Taylor, II, Charles R. Evans, II, John A. Crain
  • METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR CONTROLLING ORIENTATION OF A PHOTOVOLTAIC COLLECTION SYSTEM TO TRACK APPARENT MOVEMENT OF THE SUN
    Publication number: 20090126774
    Abstract: The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable media for controlling orientation of a photovoltaic collection system to track apparent movement of the sun. According to one aspect, a method for controlling orientation of a photovoltaic collection system to track apparent movement of the sun using a photovoltaic-collection-system-derived tracking algorithm is provided. The method includes determining an initial orientation of a photovoltaic collection system. The method further includes automatically deriving, using output from the photovoltaic collection system as it tracks apparent movement of the sun across the sky caused by spinning of the earth on its axis and its orbit around the sun, a tracking algorithm for controlling orientation of the photovoltaic collection system to track the apparent movement of the sun.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Russell M. Taylor, II, Charles R. Evans, II, John A. Crain