Patent Application
20190237905
The present application is directed to panels and, more particularly, to panels equipped with connectors to electrically couple with one or more adjacent structures.
Panels with electrical connectivity can be used in a wide variety of contexts. Panels include but are not limited to solar panels, wall panels, glass panels (e.g., windows, doors), ceiling panels, and internal building panels constructed from a variety of materials such as sheetrock, plywood, and fiberglass. The panels can include electrical connectors along an outer side to electrically connect with other structures, such as other panels or support members.
The electrical connectors along the outer side require that the panels be oriented in a specific orientation to electrically connect to the other structures. By way of example, if the panel includes electrical connectors along a single side, that side must be oriented towards the structure to which the panel is to be electrically connected. The panel cannot be oriented with that side facing away from the structure as this would prevent the electrical connection.
Panels with limited electrical connectors can be more difficult to use. These types of panels have more limited applicability as they should be attached in a particular orientation. Further, these panels can be more difficult to install and/or more likely to be installed incorrectly. A worker that is installing the panel is required to properly orient the panel. If the worker is not paying attention, the panel will be installed without electrical connectivity.
The present application is directed to panels that include at least two sides with mirrored arrangements of electrical connectors.
One aspect is directed to a panel that includes a body with a top surface, an opposing bottom surface, and outer sides that extend between the top and bottom surfaces. A mirrored arrangement of electrical connectors is positioned on at least two of the outer sides. Each of the outer sides includes a mirror line positioned at a center of the outer side, a first arrangement of the electrical connectors on a first side of the mirror line, and a second arrangement of the electrical connectors on an opposing second side of the mirror line. Each of the first and second arrangements includes a common number, electrical attribute, and spacing of the electrical connectors.
In another aspect, each of the first and second arrangements of the electrical connectors include at least one ground connector, at least one positive electrical connector, and at least one negative electrical connector.
In another aspect, each of the first and second arrangements of the electrical connectors share a single connector that is positioned on the mirror line.
In another aspect, the mirrored arrangement of electrical connectors is positioned on each of the outer sides of the body.
In another aspect, the mirror lines of two of the outer sides of the body are co-linear.
In another aspect, the mirrored arrangement of a first one of the outer sides is different than the mirror arrangement of a second one of the outer sides.
In another aspect, each of the electrical connectors includes an arm attached to the body and an electrical contact.
In another aspect, each of the electrical connectors is electrically connected to an electrical bus that is attached to the body.
Another aspect is directed to a panel that includes a body with a top surface, an opposing bottom surface, a first outer side, and a second outer side. A mirrored arrangement of electrical connectors is positioned on each of the first and second outer sides. Each of the mirrored arrangements includes: a mirror line; a first pair of connectors with first and second connectors that each have a first electrical attribute and with the first connector positioned a first distance away from the mirror line on a first side of the mirror line and the second connector positioned the first distance away from the mirror line on a second side of the mirror line; a second pair of connectors with third and fourth connectors that each have a different second electrical attribute with the third connector spaced away from the first connector and positioned a second distance away from the mirror line on the first side of the mirror line and the fourth connector spaced away from the second connector and positioned the second distance away from the mirror line on the second side of the mirror line.
In another aspect, each mirrored arrangement includes a fifth connector with a third electrical attribute and with the fifth connector positioned at the mirror line.
In another aspect, the fifth connector is a ground connector.
In another aspect, the panel also includes a third pair of connectors with fifth and sixth connectors. The fifth connector is spaced away from the first and third connectors and positioned a third distance away from the mirror line on the first side of the mirror line and the sixth connector is spaced away from the second and fourth connectors and positioned the third distance away from the mirror line on the second side of the mirror line.
In another aspect, one of the first and second pairs of electrical connectors has a negative polarity and the other of the first and second pairs of electrical connectors has a positive polarity.
In another aspect, each of the electrical connectors includes an arm attached to the body and an electrical contact that is exposed on the arm.
In another aspect, each of the mirrored arrangements includes at least one ground connector, at least one positive electrical connector, and at least one negative electrical connector.
In another aspect, the panel also includes an electrical bus connected to the body and being electrically connected to each of the electrical connectors.
In another aspect, the mirror lines of the first and second outer sides of the body are co-linear.
In another aspect, the first and second outer sides include no additional electrical connectors.
Another aspect is directed to a method of electrically connecting a panel to an adjacent structure. The method includes positioning a first side of the panel towards the structure. The method includes aligning a first set of electrical connectors on the first side of the panel with corresponding electrical connectors on the structure with the first set of electrical connectors aligned along first and second sections positioned on opposing sides of a mirror line and having identical spacing and type of connectors. The method includes positioning a second set of electrical connectors on a second side of the panel away from the structure with the second set of electrical connectors having the identical spacing and type of connectors as the first set of electrical connectors. The method includes electrically connecting the first set of electrical connectors with the corresponding electrical connectors on the structure and positioning the second set of electrical connectors away from the structure.
In another aspect, the method also includes: disconnecting the first set of electrical connectors from the corresponding electrical connectors on the structure; positioning the second side of the panel towards the structure; and electrically connecting the second set of electrical connectors with the corresponding electrical connectors on the structure and positioning the first set of electrical connectors away from the structure.
The various aspects of the various embodiments may be used alone or in any combination, as is desired.
The present application is directed to panels configured to electrically connect with one or more adjacent structures. The panels include a body with outer sides. Electrical connectors are positioned along at least first and second sides. Each of these sides is divided about a mirror line into two different sections. The electrical connectors positioned along each of the sections are positioned in a mirrored arrangement. The mirror arrangement provides for the panel to be electrically connected to the adjacent structures when the panel is in different orientations.
A mirrored arrangement of electrical connectors 40 along two or more of the outer sides 21 of the panel body 20 is illustrated in
Mirror lines 29 divide each of the sides 21a, 21b into first and second sections 26, 27. The electrical connectors 40 are arranged in a common, mirrored arrangement about the lines 29 on each of the two sides 21a, 21b. As illustrated in
The mirrored arrangement provides for the panel 20 to be electrically connected to an adjacent structure when in two different orientations. The first side 21a provides for a first connection orientation, and the second side 21b provides for a second connection orientation.
The panel body 20 can include a variety of different shapes and sizes.
With each of the panels 20, two or more of the outer sides 21 of the panel body 20 include electrical connectors 40 in a mirrored arrangement about a mirror line 29. The mirror line 29 is positioned at a center of the side 21 and equally distanced from the corners of the panel body 20. The connectors 40 are spaced relative to mirror line 29 at the center of the side 21. The sides 21 can be arranged such that a single co-linear mirror line 29 divides two of the sides 21 as illustrated in
The electrical connectors 40 are arranged in a mirrored arrangement in the sections 26, 27 on each side of the mirror line 29. This can include each of the connectors 40 being spaced away from the mirror line 29 as illustrated in
As illustrated in
A mirrored panel 10 includes at least two sides 21 with mirror connectors 40 to provide for connections in at least two different orientations. The panel 10 can include each of the sides 21 including mirror connectors 40 (e.g.,
The sides 21 of the mirrored panel 10 can include different lengths than the panel 10 to which it is being connected.
The mirrored panels 10 can also be connected to adjacent support members 110 simultaneously along two or more of the sides 21.
In the various designs, the connectors 40 can be positioned along a side 21 in a common plane. Other designs include the connectors 40 positioned in different planes.
Mirrored electrical connectors 40 can be used on a variety of different panel bodies 20. These include but are not limited to solar panels, wall panels, glass panels (e.g., windows, doors), ceiling panels, and internal building panels constructed from a variety of materials such as sheetrock, plywood, and fiberglass. One aspect includes a solar panel 10 configured to obtain usable solar power through photovoltaics. The panel 10 includes a top surface 22 with solar cells that absorb and convert sunlight into electricity.
As illustrated in
The electrical connectors 40 are configured to engage with the adjacent structure and provide an electrical connection. As illustrated in
The connectors 40 can be magnetically controlled to be selectively positioned between connected and unconnected positions. A tool can be used with the panel to provide a magnetic flux to move the connectors 40 between the positions. Magnetically controlled connectors and tools are disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 15/864,614 filed on Jan. 8, 2018 and which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The electrical contacts 42 extend along at least a portion of the arms 41. The electrical contacts 42 can extend outward beyond the exposed ends of the arms 41 and/or can be exposed along a surface of the arms 41.
The electrical connectors 40 can be electrically connected to one or more electrical buses 30 as illustrated in
Examples of panels with electrical connectors and electrical capability are disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 15/401,868 filed on Jan. 9, 2017, Ser. No. 15/471,664 filed on Mar. 28, 2017, Ser. No. 15/665,751 filed on Aug. 1, 2017, and Ser. No. 15/665,767 filed Aug. 1, 2017. Each of these applications is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The panels 10 can be configured to provide for electrical connection with adjacent structures, such as adjacent panels 10 and/or support members 100. This can occur when the panels 10 are part of a larger array 100 as illustrated in
The first and second sides 21a, 21b include mirrored arrangements of connectors 40. Thus, the panel 10 can be attached to the support members 110 in at least two orientations. In one design, the electrical contacts 42 are movable relative to the panel body 20. The contacts 42 are movable between an extended position that are inserted within the slots 112, and a retracted position positioned out of the slots 112.
The electrical connectors 40 can include other configurations to engage with the support members 110.
With the panel 10 electrically connected, electricity from the panel 10 moves along the electrical connector 40 to the electrical contact 113 in the support member 110. This can include along the electrical bus 30, and electrical contacts 41, 42. In this design, the electrical connectors 40 provide for transferring the electrical power from the panels 10 out of the support member 110 to a remote entity.
The connectors 40 are configured to also provide for panel-to-panel connections. Thus, the buses 30 of the panels can be electrically and/or communicatively connected together. This provides a continuous grid system with connectivity amongst multiple panels 10. This provides for a panel 10 to communicate through the grid to one or more other panels 10. This also provides for communications and/or electrical power to move through the grid by moving through multiple panels 10 in the grid.
In one design, the panel 10 is a solar panel that includes a series of interconnected solar cells. The solar cells use light energy from the sun to generate electricity through the photovoltaic effect. The solar cells may include various structures, including but not limited to wafer-based crystalline silicon cells or thin-film cells based on cadmium, telluride or silicon. The solar panels 10 may include a variety of different shapes and sizes. The buses 30 and electrical connectors 40 can be used to transmit the power from the panel 10 to an adjacent structure.
The mirrored arrangement on a first side of the panel body 20 can be different than the mirrored arrangement on a second side of the panel body 20. The difference can include but is not limited to number of electrical connectors 40, spacing, and polarity.
Spatially relative terms such as “under”, “below”, “lower”, “over”, “upper”, and the like, are used for ease of description to explain the positioning of one element relative to a second element. These terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to different orientations than those depicted in the figures. Further, terms such as “first”, “second”, and the like, are also used to describe various elements, regions, sections, etc. and are also not intended to be limiting. Like terms refer to like elements throughout the description.
As used herein, the terms “having”, “containing”, “including”, “comprising” and the like are open ended terms that indicate the presence of stated elements or features, but do not preclude additional elements or features. The articles “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural as well as the singular, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
The present invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the scope and essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.
