Solar Collection Device and Method

Abstract

A mobile solar collecting device, system and method is disclosed. The system includes an adjustable solar collecting device, an electronic storage unit to store electric energy collected by the mobile solar collecting device, a first power connecter to electrically engage with a second power connector affixed to a structure to feed electricity to an electric power grid, a transport unit to move the mobile solar collecting device, a controller. The controller directs the transport unit to move the adjustable solar collecting device to optimum solar collecting locations, to adjust an orientation of the adjustable solar collecting device to obtain maximum energy from a sun to store in the electronic storage unit, and to direct the transport unit to move the mobile solar collecting device to a location where the first power connector electrically engages with the second power connector to off load energy in the electronic storage unit to the power grid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mobile solar collecting device comprising:
 an adjustable solar collecting device;   an electronic storage unit to store electric energy collected by the adjustable solar collecting device;   a first power connecter to electrically engage with a second power connector affixed to a structure to feed electricity to an electric power grid;   a transport unit to move the adjustable solar collecting device; and   a controller to direct the transport unit to move the adjustable solar collecting device to one of a plurality of optimum solar collecting locations, to adjust an orientation of the adjustable solar collecting device to obtain maximum energy from a sun to store in the electronic storage unit, and to direct the transport unit to move the adjustable solar collecting device to a location where the first power connector electrically engages with the second power connector to off load energy in the electronic storage unit to the electric power grid,   
     
     
         2 . The mobile solar collecting device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the electric power grid is disposed within a building, 
     
     
         3 . The mobile solar collecting device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the transport unit has motorized wheels or a half track. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile solar collecting device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to provide an indication to the transport unit to move the adjustable solar collecting device away from the structure to one of a plurality of predetermined optimum solar collecting locations in a yard of a home or an office. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile solar collecting device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein controller directs the transport unit to move the adjustable solar collecting device to the optimum solar collecting locations that are free from obstructions between the adjustable solar collecting device and a sun. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile solar collecting device as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a light sensor to detect one or more shadows on or adjacent to the adjustable solar collecting device, and to feed a signal to the controller to direct the transport unit to move the adjustable solar collecting device to another of the plurality of optimum solar collecting locations in response to detecting the one or more shadows. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile solar collecting device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the controller is operative to adjust the orientation of the adjustable solar collecting device by changing an angular orientation of the adjustable solar collection device with respect to a horizon. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile solar collecting device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the controller directs the transport unit to move the adjustable solar collecting device to a location where the first power connector electrically engages with the second power connector to off load energy in the electronic storage unit to the power grid in response to determining the electrical storage unit has collected a predetermined amount of energy. A method for collecting and storing solar energy with a mobile solar collection device that includes an adjustable solar collecting device, an electronic storage unit, a first power connecter, a transport unit, and a controller, the method comprising:
 collecting energy provided by a sun with the adjustable solar collecting device;   storing electric energy collected by the mobile solar collecting device with the electronic storage unit;   directing the transport unit with the controller to move the adjustable solar collecting device to one of a plurality of predetermined optimum solar collecting locations;   adjusting an orientation of the adjustable solar collecting device to obtain maximum energy from a sun to store in the electronic storage unit;   directing the transport unit to move the mobile solar collecting device to a location where the power connector electrically engages with a power connector affixed to a structure to off load energy in the electronic storage unit to the power grid; and   electrically engaging the first power connecter to with a second power connector affixed to a structure to feed electricity to a power grid within a building.   
     
     
         10 . The method for collecting and storing solar energy as recited in claim  9 , wherein directing the transport unit with the controller to move the adjustable solar collecting device to one of a plurality of optimum solar collecting locations includes directing the transport unit with the controller to move the adjustable solar collecting device away from the structure to one of a plurality of predetermined optimum solar collecting locations in a yard of a home or office. 
     
     
         11 . The method for collecting and storing solar energy as recited in claim  9 , wherein directing the transport unit with the controller to move the adjustable solar collecting device to one of a plurality of predetermined optimum solar collecting locations includes:
 directing the transport unit with the controller to move the adjustable solar collecting device to one of a plurality of predetermined optimum solar collecting locations that are free from obstructions between the solar collecting device and a sun.   
     
     
         12 . The method for collecting and storing solar energy as recited in claim  9 , further comprising detecting with a light sensor one or more shadows on or adjacent to the adjustable solar collecting device, and directing the transport unit to move the mobile adjustable collecting device to another of a plurality of optimum solar collecting locations in response to detecting the one or more shadows. 
     
     
         13 . The method for collecting and storing solar energy as recited in claim  9 , wherein adjusting an orientation of the adjustable solar collecting device includes changing an angular orientation of the adjustable solar collection device with respect to a horizon. 
     
     
         14 . The method for collecting and storing solar energy as recited in claim  9 , wherein directing the transport unit to move the adjustable solar collecting device to a location where the first power connector electrically engages with the second power connector affixed to a structure to off load energy in the electronic storage unit to the power grid includes:
 directing the transport unit to move the adjustable solar collecting device to a location where the first power connector electrically engages with the second power connector affixed to a structure to off load energy in the electronic storage unit to the power grid in response to the controller determining the solar collection device has collected predetermined amount of energy.   
     
     
         15 . The method for collecting and storing solar energy as recited in claim  9  further comprising electrically engaging the first power connector with the second power connector to off load energy in the electronic storage unit to the power grid. 
     
     
         16 . A system for collecting and storing solar energy comprising:
 a building including an in internal power grid;   a building power connector affixed to a structure to feed electricity to the internal power grid;   a first mobile solar collecting device including:   an adjustable solar panel;   an electronic storage unit to store electric energy collected by the adjustable solar panel;   a first power connecter to electrically engage with the building power connector to feed electricity to the power grid;   a motorized transport unit to move the adjustable solar panel; and   a controller to direct the transport unit to move the first mobile solar collecting device away from the structure to one of a plurality of predetermined optimum solar collecting locations free from obstructions between the adjustable solar panel and the sun, to adjust an orientation of the adjustable solar panel to direct the transport unit to move the first mobile solar collecting device to a location where the first power connector electrically engages with the second power connector to off load energy in the electronic storage unit to the power grid.   
     
     
         17 . The system as recited in  claim 16  wherein the controller adjusts the angular orientation of the adjustable solar pan& with respect to the horizon to obtain maximum energy from a sun to store in the electronic storage unit in response to the controller determining the electronic storage unit has stored a predetermined amount of energy. 
     
     
         18 . The system as recited in  claim 16  wherein the controller changes the angular orientation of the adjustable solar panel with respect to the horizon to obtain maximum energy from a sun to store in the electronic storage unit, in response to at least one of command from operator, weather, sunlight or time of day. 
     
     
         19 . The system as recited in  claim 16  further comprising a light sensor to detect one or more shadows on or adjacent to the adjustable solar panel, and to provide an indication signal to the controller to direct the transport unit to move the adjustable solar pan& to another of a plurality of optimum solar collecting locations in response to the light sensor detecting the one or more shadows. 
     
     
         20 . The system as recited in  claim 16  further comprising a second mobile solar collecting device having a second adjustable solar panel, an electronic storage unit, a power connecter, a transport unit, and a second controller, the second controller in electronic communication with the controller of the first mobile solar collecting device to direct the transport unit of the second mobile solar collecting device to move the second mobile solar collecting device away from the first mobile solar collecting device to another one of the plurality of predetermined optimum solar collecting locations free from obstructions between an adjustable solar panel of the second mobile solar collection device and the sun.