Pool solar power generator

Abstract

Solar panels located on residential roofs can be unsightly in some cases. A swimming pool solar power generator can locate solar panels in or around the sides and/or bottoms of a swimming pool in a manner so as to create electricity from the sun without creating an eyesore. In an embodiment, a pool solar power generator includes a solar cell module disposed in a portion of a swimming pool. The solar cell module can include solar cells and be submerged under water held by the swimming pool. The solar cell module can convert sunlight incident on the solar cells to electricity and transmit the electricity for use at a location external to the swimming pool.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pool solar power generator comprising:
 a solar cell module disposed in a portion of a swimming pool and configured to be submerged under water held by the swimming pool, the solar cell module comprising solar cells and configured to convert sunlight incident on the solar cells to electricity and transmit the electricity for use at a location external to the swimming pool.   
     
     
         2 . The pool solar power generator of  claim 1 , wherein the solar cell module is configured to be unseen during routine use of the swimming pool. 
     
     
         3 . The pool solar power generator of  claim 1 , wherein the solar cell module is configured to be inactive during routine use of the swimming pool. 
     
     
         4 . The pool solar power generator of  claim 1 , wherein the solar cell module is located on a bottom wall of the swimming pool. 
     
     
         5 . The pool solar power generator of  claim 4 , wherein the solar cell module is located in a recess of the bottom wall. 
     
     
         6 . The pool solar power generator of  claim 1 , wherein the solar cell module is located on a side wall of the swimming pool. 
     
     
         7 . The pool solar power generator of  claim 6 , wherein the solar cell module is located in a recess of the side wall. 
     
     
         8 . The pool solar power generator of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover configured to move between a position where the cover covers the solar cell module and a position where the solar cell module is exposed. 
     
     
         9 . The pool solar power generator of  claim 8 , wherein the cover comprises a rigid structure configured to hide and protect the solar cell module when the cover covers the solar cell module. 
     
     
         10 . The pool solar power generator of  claim 1 , further comprising an electrically-switchable film layer over the solar cell module, the electrically-switchable film layer configured to be transparent in an operational mode and opaque in an idle mode. 
     
     
         11 . The pool solar power generator of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more plano convex lenses configured to focus the sunlight on the solar cells. 
     
     
         12 . The pool solar power generator of  claim 1 , wherein the solar cell module is configured to tilt to adjust an angle of the solar cell module relative to the sun. 
     
     
         13 . A pool solar power generator comprising:
 a solar cell module disposed in a wall of a swimming pool, the solar cell module comprising solar cells and configured to convert sunlight incident on the solar cells to electricity and transmit the electricity to an electrical grid providing usable energy to a location external to the swimming pool; and   a first plurality of mirrors configured to direct and focus the sunlight incident on the first plurality of mirrors on the solar cell module.   
     
     
         14 . The pool solar power generator of  claim 13 , wherein the first plurality of mirrors are positioned on back sides of transparent tiles of a bottom wall of the swimming pool. 
     
     
         15 . The pool solar power generator of  claim 13 , further comprising a second plurality of mirrors disposed beneath the swimming pool, the second plurality of mirrors configured to redirect the sunlight from the first plurality of mirrors down a plurality of channels to the solar cell module, the first plurality of mirrors being positioned along the bottom wall of the swimming pool. 
     
     
         16 . The pool solar power generator of  claim 13 , further comprising a cooler configured to cool the solar cell module using water from the swimming pool. 
     
     
         17 . The pool solar power generator of  claim 16 , wherein the cooler comprises a micro-channel cooler. 
     
     
         18 . The pool solar power generator of  claim 13 , in combination with the swimming pool, wherein the swimming pool is generally oriented in a north-south direction, a north end of the swimming pool being wider and shallower than a south end of the swimming pool.