AU2020102692A4

AU2020102692A4 - Smart solar tile

Info

Publication number: AU2020102692A4
Application number: AU2020102692A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Pareshkumar Chandravadan Dave; Abhilash Kumar Jha
Original assignee: Dave Pareshkumar Chandravadan Dr
Current assignee: Dave Pareshkumar Chandravadan Dr
Priority date: 2020-10-13
Filing date: 2020-10-13
Publication date: 2021-01-07
Anticipated expiration: 2028-10-13

Abstract

Atty. doc. No. Paresh-Abhilash-October2020 Title: SMART SOLAR TILE ABSTRACT 5 The invention discloses a smart solar tile 101 for generating electricity with a higher efficiency without wasting the installing space of a solar panel 305, said tile 101 comprises a tile chamber 301. The tile chamber 301 further comprises the solar panel 305, a support 303, a sun detecting sensor 307, a plurality of motors 304, an internal battery 302, and a PCB circuit 308. The memory stores processor 10 instructions, which, on execution, causes the processor to: identify direction of sun throughout daytime; rotate said solar panel 305 continuously, which is installed inside said tile chamber 301, based on identified direction of sun; receive sun light through said tile chamber 301; and store generated power of said solar panel 305 in said battery bank through said inverter to use against at least one of household items or 15 other purposes. 20 25 30 16 of 16 ::3 03 Z:7) 90 03 ND CD 2r 7z 03

Description

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IN THE AUSTRALIAN PATENT OFFICE APPLICATION FOR AN INNOVATION PATENT APPLICATION FOR

Title: SMART SOLAR TILE

(A) Inventor: Dr. Pareshkumar C. Dave Inventor: Abhilash Kumar Jha

(1) FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the solar electricity generator. The invention particularly relates to a smart solar tile comprising a tile chamber and solar panel, in which the solar panel rotates according to the direction of the sun. Further, the main advantage of the smart solar tile is that this can be fitted on the roof of building which helps to use the unused roof space.

(2) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A Photovoltaic cell is generally a semiconductor that converts sun light into the direct current. It is nothing but a P N junction of a semiconductor. The major source of power in the industrialized world is fossil fuel combustion. The supply of fossil fuels is finite, and furthermore, the burning of fossil fuels is believed to contribute greatly to environmental pollution and global warming. Nuclear power is also used for electricity generation but nuclear power stations are potentially extremely dangerous if the reactors are not closely monitored, and the fission process generates highly dangerous waste. Consequently, a global need to develop new ways of generating power has been recognized. Therefore, so-called 'renewable energy sources' have become the focus of much attention. These

renewable sources include wave, wind and solar power. All of these sources of power are effectively infinite.

The higher efficiency smart solar tile can be used in all the roof of buildings in our society. This will decrease the electricity bill for the consumer and it will be a

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onetime investment for the consumer. When we are using inclined solar panels to the direction of sun in the roof at a certain height the space of the roof gets wasted. So, this tile can be utilized on the roof, it will give higher efficiency as well as the space of the roof can be utilized for different purposes. Consumers who are 'environmentally aware will welcome products and services that do not negatively impact the environment.

A number of different types of the tools and methods for solar tiles available in the prior art:

Prior art document US20070227583A1, the invention consists of a solar thermal tile. The tile comprises a transparent portion for permitting the entry of sunlight into a heating space below the tile, and a chassis formed separately from the transparent portion on which the transparent portion is mounted. The chassis has at least one protrusion for forming an overlapping relationship with a neighboring tile. The chassis may be formed from plastic or sheet metal. The transparent portion may be formed from a polycarbonate laminate. The reference does not appear to disclose the process rotating the tile due to which the efficiency of tile decreases.

Another Prior art document US8476523B2 discloses a roofing tile solar power generation system includes an array of solar panel ready tiles installed upon the roof of a house and that delivers power to a central control unit and that may be controlled either locally by a computing system or remotely via a server. The solar panel ready tiles include a solar panel ready tile body having a cavity to receive a solar panel and electrical connects to service same. The solar panel ready tile includes communication pathway connection plugs. The cavity receives a solar panel. A cover may protect the solar panel or the cavity prior to installation of the solar panel. However, this prior art document does not appear to discuss about the outer transparent block which permit the entry of sunlight in the heating space.

Another Prior art document US20100139738A1: An apparatus is provided that comprises photovoltaic cells provided on a first rotatable member, an electric motor having an axial shaft, and a second rotatable member provided with an

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impeller. The photovoltaic cells capture and convert the solar energy into electrical energy. The electric motor is connected to and is in electric communication with the photovoltaic cells for powering the electric motor. The electric motor converts the electrical energy into mechanical energy for rotating the photovoltaic cells in a first direction about a central axis and for rotating the axial shaft connected to an impeller in a second direction about the central axis. The rotating axial shaft rotates the impeller at high revolutions per minute which generates a flow of air that is directed to the rotating photovoltaic cells on the first rotatable member. However, this prior art document does not appear to discuss about the assembly of the panel in a tile block which can be used as a tile in the rooftop of the building.

Another Prior art document JPH09243354A discloses a sun position detecting sensor comprises a sunlight incident hole provided in the top panel of a casing, a position detecting element provided on the inner surface of the bottom panel of the casing so that sunlight incident on the inside of the casing through the incident hole is split and taken from electrodes placed on both sides of the surface layer of the element to detect the incident position of the sunlight according to its output and a signal processing circuit for discriminating the center of gravity of the incident sunlight detected by the position detecting element. However, this prior art document does not appear to use the sensor to rotate the solar panel in enclosed in tile frame.

Another Prior art document US6960717B2 discloses a nonrotating adjustable solar panel for optimizing cell charging of a portable message sign, comprising a movable, a message sign, a solar panel, a support post attached to the underside of the solar panel by a universal joint, and a mechanism for adjusting the angle and position of the solar panel comprising a pair of outwardly extending arms, a pair of threaded support rods, each rod extending through an aperture in the arm, and a handle for turning the rod. Each rod is coupled to the underside of the solar panel by a ball or universal joint. As each rod is turned, it raises or lowers a portion of the solar panel, providing tilting and pivoting, but not rotating motion for

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adjustment of the solar panel angle. The reference does not appear to disclose the rotation of the panel using sun sensor, also the prior art document does not appear to use the technology as a tile which will not waste the space.

However, above mentioned references and many other similar references has one or more of the following shortcomings: (a) Cannot be used as tile (b) Rotation of the solar panel is absent; (c) Does not rotate according to the direction of sun using sun sensor; (d) unable to adjust the solar panel in the direction of maximum intensity of sun; (e) Transparent tile chamber is absent; (f) Solar implementing space cannot be used as household purposes; and (g) Less efficiency.

The present application addresses the above-mentioned concerns and short comings with regard to providing a smart solar tile for generating better efficiency using photo voltaic cell.

There remains a constant need in society for a continuous flow of new and innovative novelty of smart solar tile. It is in this context, that the subject invention is useful, not only to provide a higher efficiency solar tile but also a solar tile which does not waste more space.

In the view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of smart solar tile now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved smart solar tile. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved smart solar tile which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

(3) SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

There are many types of solar tiles are available in the market, but the main problem is, the solar panels or the PV cells are not receiving direct sunlight or receives for a small amount of time due to which the efficiency of solar panel decreases. In the view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of solar tile and solar panel now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved smart solar tile. As such, the general purpose of the present

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invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved smart solar tile which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

It is an object of the present invention is to provide a smart solar tile 101 for generating electricity with a higher efficiency without wasting the installing space of a solar panel 305, said tile 101 comprising a tile chamber 301. The tile chamber 301 further comprises the solar panel 305, a support 303, a sun detecting sensor 307, a plurality of motors 304, and an internal battery 302, and a PCB circuit 308.

The PCB circuit 308 further comprises a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, and wherein the memory stores processor instructions, which, on execution, causes the processor to: identify, by said sun detecting sensor 307, direction of sun throughout daytime; rotate said solar panel 305 continuously, which is installed inside said tile chamber 301, based on identified direction of sun, wherein rotation is accomplished using said plurality of motors 304; receive, by the solar panel 305, sun light through said tile chamber 301, wherein said tile chamber 301 may be in a rectangular box made up of at least one of a high refractive index material, a material with aspheric lens, solar concentrator parabolic dish or a heat absorbing material; and store generated power of said solar panel 305 in said battery bank through said inverter to use against at least one of the household items or other purposes.

It is another object of the present invention is that the smart solar tile 101 is installed in a smart solar system 100 comprising an inverter, a battery bank, and household items.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a high refractive index material which is assembled to achieve total internal reflection phenomenon, inside said tile chamber 301, to increase efficiency of said solar panel.

Yet another object of the present invention is that the said material with aspheric lens and solar concentrator parabolic dish is used for concentrating sunlight on photovoltaic cell to achieve higher efficiency.

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Yet another object of the present invention to that the heat absorbing material provides heat to photovoltaic cell of said solar panel 305 after sunset to generate power.

Yet another object of the present invention to provide a sun detecting sensor 307 which identifies direction of sun continuously and accordingly direction of said solar panel 305 inside said tile chamber 301 rotates to receive maximum intensity of sunlight.

Yet another object of the present invention is that the internal battery 302 provides power to said sun detecting sensor 307, said plurality of motors 304, and said PCB circuit 308.

Yet another object of the present invention is that the tile chamber 301 is of plurality of shape and size based on size of said solar panel 305 and place of installation.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

(4) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 depicts an exemplary view of the installation of the smart solar tiles in the roof top of a building, according to an embodiment herein.

Fig. 2 depicts an internal view of each components of the smart solar tile, according to an embodiment herein. (5) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that the embodiments may be combined, or that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural and

logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. The higher efficiency smart solar tile can be used in all the roof of buildings in our society. This will decrease the electricity bill for the consumer and it will be a onetime investment for the consumer. When we are using inclined solar panels to the direction of sun in the roof at a certain height the space of the roof gets wasted. So, this tile can be utilized on the roof, it will give higher efficiency as well as the space of the roof can be utilized for different purposes. References will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Before describing the detailed embodiments that are in accordance with the present disclosure, it should be observed that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations arrangement of the system according to an embodiment herein and as exemplified in FIG 1 - FIG 2.

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Fig. 1 depicts an exemplary view of the installation of a smart solar system 100 in the roof of a building 102, according to an embodiment herein. The plurality of the tile chamber 301 may be installed on any flat space (for example- roof of a building 102, walls of a building, roads, railway tracks, or the like) where sunlight may fall directly. Moreover, the tile chamber 301 when installed on the roof of a building 102, it may save the roof of the building 102 from the raining water, sunlight, dust, or the like, which may increase the life of the building. There may be an internal wiring for the connection of each of the plurality of tile chambers for transferring the generated electricity to the battery. The smart solar tile 101 may be a substitute of general tiles which may generate power as well as looks beautiful than the tiles. The smart solar tile 101 may be of different shape and size for the installation of the tile chamber 301 in different shape of the buildings or spaces. However, different sizes of the tile chamber 301 may generate different units of electricity. As will be appreciated, each of the plurality of tile chamber 301 may be connected with the neighbor tile chamber 301 in both horizontal and vertical direction. It should be noted that the tile chamber 301 may be installed in such a way that shadow should not come on the arranged tile chamber. The smart solar system 100 may be installed in both horizontal place (for example- roof of building 102) and vertical place (for example- walls of building) where sunlight may fall directly.

Fig. 2 depicts an internal view of each components inside the smart solar tile 101, according to an embodiment herein. The components inside the tile chamber 301 may include the solar panel 305, a support 303, a sun detecting sensor 307, a plurality of motors 304, a PCB circuit 308 and an internal battery 302. The upper side 301a and the side wall 301b of the tile chamber 301 may be transparent to allow the sunlight inside the tile chamber 301, so that the solar panel 305 may receive photons from the sunlight for the generation of electricity. However, the lower side 301c of the tile chamber 301 may be opaque which needs to be fixed on the space of installation (for example- roof of a building 102). In the tile chamber 301, the support 303 may be used to make stand the solar panel 305 in the middle of the tile chamber 301. Moreover, the support 303

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may provide a height to the solar panel 305 which may facilitate the solar panel 305 for rotation according to the direction of sun.

The sun detecting sensor 307 may be communicatively coupled with the microcontroller of the PCB circuit 308. The sun detecting sensor 307 may detect the direction of the maximum intensity sunlight continuously and provide the output to the microcontroller. Further, the microcontroller may process and rotate the solar panel 305 accordingly using the plurality of motors 304. As will be appreciated, using the maximum intensity of sunlight throughout the day, the solar panel 305 may generate maximum electricity.

The rotation of the solar panel 305 may be accomplished using the plurality of motors 304 which may be attached with a tile frame 508 or the support 303. It should be noted that the tile frame 508 may be used with the support 303 for better support and rotation of the solar panel 305. The plurality of motors 304 may receive power from the internal battery 302 through the PCB circuit which may control the amount of current to the plurality of motors 304.

By the way of an example, there may be two motors used in the tile chamber 301 to rotate the solar panel 305. One of the motors may be used to rotate the solar panel 305 through the length and the other motor may be used to rotate the solar panel 305 through the breadth. In the tile chamber 301, each of the motors may be used to rotate the solar panel 305 in the direction of maximum intensity of sunlight as detected by the sun detecting sensor 307. Also, the internal battery 302 may be used inside the tile chamber 301 as a power source for both the motors. The output of the solar panel 305 may be connected to the internal battery 302 and after charging the battery, the output may be connected to the inverter. Hence, working of the different components may be:

(a) The tile chamber 301: The upper side 301a and the side walls 301b of the tile chamber 301 may be transparent for permitting the sunlight inside the tile chamber 301. Whereas, the lower side 301c of the tile chamber 301 may be opaque but strong and compatible enough to be fixed with cement on the

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installation space (for example- roof of the building 102). The transparent part of the tile chamber 301 should be strong enough so that people can walk over the tile chamber 301 and the roof can be used for domestic works. Also, the transparent par may be waterproof, so that water may not affect or damage the

solar panel 305 in the rainy season. It should be noted that polycarbonate laminated glass or Light transmitting cement-based material (LTCM) may be used for making the side walls 301b transparent as well as strong. Moreover, the tile chamber 301 may be in rectangular shape of different sizes, but the solar panel 305 used inside the tile chamber 301 may be smaller in length and breadth than the tile chamber 301 to facilitate the rotating process of the solar panel305.

In an embodiment, a high refractive index material may be assembled in the upper part 301a of the tile chamber 301 to achieve total internal reflection phenomenon, inside said tile chamber 301, to increase efficiency of said solar panel 305. Hence, when a ray of sunlight may enter in the tile chamber 301, it may refract back in the tile chamber 301 again and again until it crosses inside the tile chamber 301 because the upper side 301a of the tile chamber 301 may be of higher refractive index. Due to the total internal reflection phenomenon inside the tile chamber 301 the ray of sunlight may be received by a plurality of PV cells of the solar panel 305. Moreover, the temperature inside the tile chamber 301 may be increases. Hence, efficiency of the solar panel 305 may be increases and more current may be generated by the solar panel 305.

In another embodiments, in the upper side 301a of the tile chamber 301, a plurality of aspheric lens and solar concentrator parabolic dish may be used. It should be noted that the aspheric lens and solar concentrator parabolic dish may be used in the upper side 301a in such a way that, the concentrated sunlight from each of the plurality of aspheric lens and solar concentrator parabolic dish may be synchronized with each of the plurality of photovoltaic cell in the solar panel 305. Each of the material with aspheric lens and solar

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concentrator parabolic dish may be used for concentrating sunlight on photovoltaic cell to achieve higher efficiency. Hence, each of the plurality of photovoltaic cell in the solar panel 305, may receive more photons to generate more electricity. In another embodiment, the material used in the tile chamber 301, may be a heat absorbing material. Moreover, in the tile chamber 301, the solar panel 305 may be out of contact with the environmental air. Hence, the temperature inside the tile chamber 301 may be increases which may increase the efficiency of the smart solar tile 101. Moreover, when the sun sets in the evening time, the heat absorbing materials of the tile chamber 301 may provide heat to the solar panel 305. Hence, the smart solar tile 101 may generate electricity even after the sunset, which increases the efficiency. The solar panel 305: The solar panel 305 inside the tile chamber 301 may be used in different shape and size. Moreover, the solar panel 305 inside the tile chamber 301 may be of different capacity according to the need and installation space. According to the weight and size of the solar panel 305, different design of tile frame, the support 303, and the plurality of motors 304 may be used in the smart solar tile 101. Inside the tile chamber 301, the solar panel 305 may rotate in all direction with the help of the plurality of motors 304, so that the PV cell of the solar panel 305 may receive maximum number of photons from the sunlight. The solar panel 305 may rotate continuously according to the direction of maximum intensity of sunlight identified by the sun detecting sensor 307. Hence, the solar panel 305 may generate maximum current and the efficiency may increases. The support 303: The support 303 in the tile chamber 301 may be used to make the rotation of the solar panel 305 inside the tile chamber 301 possible. It helps to support the solar panel 305 at a certain height from the lower side 301c of the tile chamber 301. The length and breadth of the support 303 may vary according to the weight of the solar panel 305 inside the tile chamber 301. To support a heavy solar panel, a tile frame may be attached with the

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support 303. One side of the support 303 may be fixed with the lower side 301c of tile chamber 301 and the other side of the support may be fixed with the solar panel 305 with screw to give a certain height to the solar panel 305 in the tile chamber 301. The sun detecting sensor 307 and the PCB circuit 308: The sun detecting sensor 307 may be used inside the tile chamber 301 to identify the direction of maximum intensity of sunlight. So, the sun detecting sensor 307 may be used inside the tile chamber 301 in such a place that the sunlight may fall in the sun detecting sensor 307 whole the day. Moreover, the sun detecting sensor 307 may be communicatively coupled with the PCB circuit 308. After identifying the direction of sunlight, the sun detecting sensor 307 may send it to the PCB circuit 308. In the PCB circuit 308, the microprocessor may process and rotate the solar panel 305 towards the maximum intensity of sunlight using the plurality of motors 304. When the PV cell of the solar panel 305 may face towards the maximum intensity of sunlight whole the day, it may generate maximum current and the efficiency of the smart solar tile 101 may increases. It should be noted that the PCB circuit 308 may also control the voltage required by the plurality of motors 304. The plurality of motors 304 and the internal battery 302: The plurality of motors 304 may be assembled inside the tile chamber 301 to rotate the solar panel 305. The plurality of motors 304 may be of different power ranges based on the weight and dimension of the solar panel 305 that the plurality of motors 304 needs to be rotate. The plurality of motors 304 may receive power from the internal battery 302. Moreover, the plurality of motors 304 may receive a controlled voltage to rotate the solar panel 305 from the microprocessor. Hence, the plurality of motors 304 may not need an external power source to work, but it may receive power from the internal battery 302 charged by solar panel 305. It should be noted that internal battery 302 provides power to said sun detecting sensor 307, said plurality of motors 304, and said PCB circuit 308.

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The benefits and advantages which may be provided by the present invention have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. These benefits and advantages, and any elements or limitations that may cause them

to occur or to become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features of any or all of the embodiments. While the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it should be understood that the embodiments are illustrative and that the scope of the invention is not limited to these embodiments. Many variations, modifications, additions and improvements to the embodiments described above are possible.

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Claims

Atty. doc. No. Paresh-Abhilash-October2020

6) CLAIMS

What is claimed is:

1. A smart solar tile 101 for generating electricity with a higher efficiency without wasting the installing space of a solar panel 305, said tile 100 comprising: a tile chamber 301, wherein said tile chamber 301 further comprises the solar panel 305, a support 303, a sun detecting sensor 307, a plurality of motors 304, an internal battery 302, and a PCB circuit 308; and wherein said PCB circuit 308 further comprises a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, and wherein the memory stores processor instructions, which, on execution, causes the processor to: identify, by said sun detecting sensor 307, direction of sun throughout daytime; rotate said solar panel 305 continuously, which is installed inside said tile chamber 301, based on identified direction of sun, wherein rotation is accomplished using said plurality of motors 304; receive, by the solar panel 305, sun light through said tile chamber 301, wherein said tile chamber 301 is a rectangular box made up of at least one of a high refractive index material, a material with aspheric lens, solar concentrator parabolic dish or a heat absorbing material; and store generated power of said solar panel 305 in said battery bank through said inverter to use against at least one of household items or other purposes.

2. The smart solar tile 101 as claimed in claim 1, wherein said high refractive index material is assembled to achieve total internal reflection phenomenon, inside said tile chamber 301, to increase efficiency of said solar panel 305.

3. The smart solar tile 101 as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said material with aspheric lens and solar concentrator parabolic dish is used for concentrating sunlight on photovoltaic cell to achieve higher efficiency.

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4. The smart solar tile 101 as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sun detecting sensor 307 identifies direction of sun continuously and accordingly direction of said solar panel 305 inside said tile chamber 301 rotates to receive maximum intensity of sunlight.

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Applicant: Dr. Pareshkumar C. Dave & Abhilash Kumar Jha Sheet 1 of 2 100 FIG. 1 13 Oct 2020 2020102692

Applicant: Dr. Pareshkumar C. Dave & Abhilash Kumar Jha Sheet 2 of 2 200 305 301a 304 301b 304 308 302 307 303 301c FIG. 2 13 Oct 2020 2020102692