Solar powered boat fender positioning system with removable solar panel and low- power standby mode

Abstract

A solar powered boat fender positioning system with low-power standby mode comprising a power unit, a line, and a boat fender wherein the power unit comprises a motor, a spool, a microcontroller, a voltage boost converter, a removable solar power component, and an electrically-controllable switch. The microcontroller controls positioning of the boat fender on the line by spooling and unspooling of the line on the spool and disconnection of power to the motor during periods of non-use. The removable solar power component is configured to allow easy replacement of solar panels in the event of failure, and solar panels of the removable solar power component are configured to provide voltage lower than that required by the motor, wherein the voltage is increased to the voltage required by the motor by the voltage boost converter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A power unit for a boat fender positioning system comprising:
 a motor with a nominal operating voltage at a first voltage;   a solar panel having a nominal output voltage at a second voltage, the second voltage being lower than the first voltage of the motor; and   a voltage boost converter configured to increase the voltage from the second voltage of the solar panel to the first voltage of the motor.   
     
     
         2 . The power unit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a motor shaft of the motor;   a spool attached to the motor shaft; and   a microcontroller comprising a memory, a processor, and a plurality of programming instructions stored in the memory which, when operating on the processor, causes the microcontroller to:
 operate the motor in a first direction to reel in a line by winding it around the spool; and 
 operate the motor in a second direction to let out the line by unwinding it from the spool. 
   
     
     
         3 . The power unit of  claim 2  further comprising:
 an electrically-controllable switch connected between the motor and the battery; and 
 a second plurality of programming instructions stored in the memory which, when operating on the processor, causes the microcontroller to:
 switch the electrically-controllable switch on when operation of the motor is needed; and 
 switch the electrically-controllable switch off when operation of the motor is not needed. 
 
 
     
     
         4 . The power unit of  claim 2  further comprising: a removable solar power component comprising:
 a solar panel housing configured for insertion and removal of the solar panel or the solar panel inserted into a solar panel module; and 
 one or more tabs configured to hold the solar panel or solar panel module in the housing after insertion. 
 
     
     
         5 . A power unit for a boat fender positioning system comprising:
 a motor; and   a removable solar power component comprising:
 a solar panel housing configured for insertion and removal of a solar panel or solar panel module; 
 one or more tabs configured to hold the solar panel or solar panel module in the housing after insertion; and 
 a solar panel. 
   
     
     
         6 . The power unit of  claim 5 , wherein the solar panel housing configured for tool-free insertion and removal of a solar panel or solar panel module. 
     
     
         7 . The power unit of  claim 6 , wherein the removable solar power component further comprises:
 a cavity for insertion and retention of the solar panel, the cavity having a recessed ledge to hold the outer edge of the solar panel;   a finger slot for tool-free removal of the solar panel;   an opening through which wires from the solar panel may be passed into an electronics enclosure;   a raised lip around the opening to prevent water intrusion into the electronics enclosure; and   drainage holes on the bottom of the solar panel housing to allow any water inside the solar panel housing to escape.   
     
     
         8 . The power unit of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a motor shaft of the motor;   a spool attached to the motor shaft; and   a microcontroller comprising a memory, a processor, and a plurality of programming instructions stored in the memory which, when operating on the processor, causes the microcontroller to:
 operate the motor in a first direction to reel in a line by winding it around the spool; and 
 operate the motor in a second direction to let out the line by unwinding it from the spool. 
   
     
     
         9 . The power unit of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 an electrically-controllable switch connected between the motor and the solar power component; and   a second plurality of programming instructions stored in the memory which, when operating on the processor, causes the microcontroller to:
 switch the electrically-controllable switch on when operation of the motor is needed; and 
 switch the electrically-controllable switch off when operation of the motor is not needed. 
   
     
     
         10 . The power unit of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the motor has a nominal operating voltage at a first voltage;   the solar panel has a nominal output voltage at a second voltage, the second voltage being lower than the first voltage of the motor; and   a voltage boost converter configured to increase the voltage from the second voltage of the solar panel to the first voltage of the motor.   
     
     
         11 . A power unit for a boat fender positioning system comprising:
 a motor;   a battery of sufficient nominal voltage to operate the motor;   an electrically-controllable switch connected between the motor and the battery; and   a microcontroller comprising a memory, a processor, and a plurality of programming instructions stored in the memory which, when operating on the processor, causes the microcontroller to:
 switch the electrically-controllable switch on when operation of the motor is needed; and 
 switch the electrically-controllable switch off when operation of the motor is not needed. 
   
     
     
         12 . The power unit of  claim 11 , wherein the electrically-controllable switch is one of a PN junction diode, a bipolar junction transistor (BJT), an NPN transistor, a PNP transistor, a field-effect transistor (FET), a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR), an insulated bipolar transistor (IGBT), a gate turn-off thyristors (GTO), a diode for AC (DIAC), a triode for alternating current (TRIAC), an electrically-controlled dual inline package (DIP) switch, and an electromechanical relay. 
     
     
         13 . The power unit of  claim 12 , wherein the electrically-controllable switch is a field effect transistor (FET). 
     
     
         14 . The power unit of  claim 13 , wherein the FET is a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET). 
     
     
         15 . The power unit of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a motor shaft of the motor;   a spool attached to the motor shaft; and   additional programming instructions stored in the memory which, when operating on the processor, causes the microcontroller to:
 operate the motor in a first direction to reel in a line by winding it around the spool; and 
 operate the motor in a second direction to let out the line by unwinding it from the spool. 
   
     
     
         16 . The power unit of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the motor has a nominal operating voltage at a first voltage;   the power unit further comprises a solar panel having a nominal output voltage at a second voltage, the second voltage being lower than the first voltage of the motor; and   the power unit further comprises a voltage boost converter configured to increase the voltage from the second voltage of the solar panel to the first voltage of the motor.   
     
     
         17 . The power unit of  claim 11 , further comprising: a removable solar power component comprising:
 a solar panel housing configured for insertion and removal of a solar panel or solar panel module; and   one or more tabs configured to hold the solar panel or solar panel module in the housing after insertion.