Solar Panel as Infrared Signal Receiver and Processor

Abstract

This invention is to control and monitor a solar module by optical communication using solar cells in the solar module as a receiver of the incoming optical signal. The optical communication is by way of solar cells in a solar module as sensors and/or receivers, and busbars of the solar module as conduits to transfer the incoming signal to a control circuitry. Such control includes, but is not limited to, on/off control of power output from a solar module, and such monitoring includes, but is not limited to, reading, data keeping and displaying current operating performance status of the solar module. With this invention, solar modules can be turned off and on without physically disconnecting and reconnecting wires. Such control and monitoring enables more efficient and accurate operation and maintenance of a solar power system of any size.

1 . A method of controlling and monitoring solar modules by optical communication comprising steps of:
 transmitting an optical signal from a transmitter;   receiving said optical signal at at least one solar cell in a solar panel, said solar cell and solar panel concurrently electrically connected to provide electric current to a power sink;   propagating said received optical signal through busbars electrically engaged with said solar cell and said power sink to a processor;   processing said received optical signal to execute a command on said solar panel.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said command is selected from the group consisting of powering on said solar panel, powering off said solar panel, and outputting status information related to said solar panel. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising steps of:
 recording, at a storage device electrically connected to said solar panel, power output of said solar panel;   determining, by way of said processor, an average power output over a period of time and storing said average power output to said storage device; and   outputting stored information from said steps of recording and determining to a display upon receiving a command from said transmitter.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein electric current from said busbars passes through a band pass filter before passing to circuitry adapted to decode said transmitted optical signal. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein a blocking capacitor is placed inline with said band pass filter, said blocking filter eliminating DC electric current received from said busbars. 
     
     
         6 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method of controlling and monitoring solar modules by infrared communication comprising steps of:
 transmitting an infrared signal from a transmitter;   receiving said infrared signal at, at least one solar cell in a solar panel, said solar cell and solar panel concurrently electrically connected to provide electric current to a power sink;   propagating said received infrared signal through busbars electrically engaged with said solar cell and said power sink to a processor;   processing said received infrared signal to execute a command on said solar panel.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said command is selected from the group consisting of powering on said solar panel, powering off said solar panel, and outputting status information related to said solar panel. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising steps of:
 recording, at a storage device electrically connected to said solar panel, power output of said solar panel;   determining, by way of said processor, an average power output over a period of time and storing said average power output to said storage device; and   outputting stored information from said steps of recording and determining to a display upon receiving a command from said transmitter.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein electric current from said busbars passes through a band pass filter before passing to circuitry adapted to decode said transmitted infrared signal. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said interval ceases when said solar panel has outputted a pre-defined wattage. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said infrared signal is transmitted remotely