Solar generator

Abstract

A solar generator includes a base and a cover. The cover is disposed atop the base to define an enclosure and rotates relative to the base. A motor is disposed inside of the enclosure to rotate the cover. A solar panel is disposed atop the cover such that the solar panel is angled with respect to a horizontal plane. The solar panel includes a plurality of series of solar cell sections. Each series includes a plurality of solar cell segments arranged in a line. A reflector is disposed between adjacent series of solar cell sections. The reflector is angled to reflect inbound solar radiation onto a surface of the series of solar cell sections adjacent to the reflector. Each of the series of solar cell sections is arranged to receive both reflected solar radiation from the reflector and direct solar radiation from a sun.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A solar generator, comprising:
 a base;   a cover disposed atop the base such that the cover rotates relative to the base, wherein the base and cover together define an enclosure;   a motor disposed inside of the enclosure such that the motor rotates the cover relative to the base; and   a solar panel disposed atop the cover such that the solar panel is angled with respect to a horizontal plane,   wherein the solar panel comprises a plurality of series of solar cell sections, each series of solar cell sections comprising a plurality of solar cell segments arranged in a line,   wherein a reflector is disposed between adjacent series of solar cell sections, the reflector being angled to reflect inbound solar radiation onto a surface of the series of solar cell sections adjacent to the reflector, and   wherein each of the series of solar cell sections is arranged to receive both reflected solar radiation from the reflector and direct solar radiation from a sun.   
     
     
         2 . The solar generator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a photosensor disposed atop the cover such that the photosensor rotates with the cover, the photosensor comprising:
 a photosensor base portion; 
 a T-shaped wall portion extending upward from the photosensor base portion in a vertical plane such that the T-shaped wall portion forms an oblique angle with respect to the solar panel; 
 a first light sensor disposed adjacent to a stem of the T-shaped wall portion on a first side thereof; and 
 a second light sensor disposed adjacent to the stem of the T-shaped wall portion on a second side thereof that is opposite the first side. 
   
     
     
         3 . The solar generator of  claim 1 , further comprising a rotary plate disposed inside of the enclosure, wherein the rotary plate rotate relative to the base synchronously with the cover. 
     
     
         4 . The solar generator of  claim 1 , wherein the motor engages the base via a gear wheel secured to the motor and the gear wheel engages a track defined in the base. 
     
     
         5 . The solar generator of  claim 1 , further comprising a slip ring provided to the enclosure, wherein the slip ring is configured to pass electrical power though the enclosure while allowing the cover to rotate through an unlimited number of complete revolutions relative to the base. 
     
     
         6 . The solar generator of  claim 1 , wherein the solar panel forms an angle of twelve degrees with respect to the horizontal plane. 
     
     
         7 . The solar generator of  claim 1 , further comprising a motor controller disposed inside of the enclosure and a power source disposed inside of the enclosure, the motor controller coupled to the motor and to the power source. 
     
     
         8 . The solar generator of  claim 7 , wherein the motor controller is configured to automatically rotate the solar panel via actuation of the motor such that the solar panel is optimally aligned with the sun as the sun moves across the sky. 
     
     
         9 . The solar generator of  claim 8 , wherein the motor controller is configured to compare a solar radiation value from the first light sensor with a solar radiation value from the second light sensor and rotate the solar panel so that the solar radiation values of the first and second light sensors differ by less than a preset deviation amount. 
     
     
         10 . The solar generator of  claim 8 , wherein the motor controller is configured to automatically not rotate the solar panel when a power reading provided to the motor controller is below a preset value and to automatically begin rotating the rotary plate to optimally align the solar panel with the sun when the power reading provided to the motor controller is above the preset value. 
     
     
         11 . The solar generator of  claim 8 , wherein the motor controller is configured to determine optimal alignment of the solar panel based upon a location determined by a global positioning system decoder. 
     
     
         12 . The solar generator of  claim 1 , further comprising an elevation motor coupled to the solar panel such that actuation of the elevation motor changes the elevation angle of the solar panel. 
     
     
         13 . The solar generator of  claim 1 , wherein the reflector is disposed adjacent to an edge of at least one of the plurality of series of solar cell sections. 
     
     
         14 . The solar generator of  claim 1 , wherein the reflector defines an angle of 38 degrees or 40 degrees from a line normal to a surface of the solar segments. 
     
     
         15 . The solar generator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a battery disposed entirely within the enclosure;   a motor control unit disposed entirely within the enclosure that is coupled to the battery and to the motor; and   wherein a portion of electrical power generated by the plurality of solar cell segments is directed to the battery when needed to recharge the battery.   
     
     
         16 . A method of increasing solar energy generated by a solar panel, the method comprising:
 angling a solar panel with respect to a horizontal plane such that the solar panel receives solar radiation directly from the sun;   rotating the solar panel automatically via a motor to maintain an alignment of the solar panel with respect to the sun as the sun moves across the sky; and   disposing a reflector between two adjacent series of solar cell sections, the reflector being angled to reflect inbound solar radiation that contacts the reflector onto a surface of each of the adjacent series of solar cell sections adjacent to the reflector.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising automatically adjusting an elevation angle of the solar panel. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising deciding a global positioning system signal to determine a location of the solar panel. 
     
     
         19 . A solar generator, comprising:
 a base;   a cover disposed atop the base such that the cover rotates relative to the base, wherein the base and cover together define an enclosure;   a motor disposed inside of the enclosure such that the motor can rotate the cover relative to the base; and   a solar panel disposed atop the cover such that the solar panel is angled in a fixed position with respect to a horizontal plane,   wherein the solar panel comprises a plurality of series of solar cell sections, each series of solar cell sections comprising a plurality of solar cell segments arranged in a line,   wherein a plurality of reflectors are provided to the solar panel such that there is at least one reflector disposed adjacent to each series of solar cell sections, the reflector being angled to reflect inbound solar radiation onto a surface of the series of solar cell sections adjacent to the reflector.   
     
     
         20 . The solar generator of  claim 19 , further comprising a slip ring provided to the enclosure, wherein the slip ring is configured to pass electrical power though the enclosure while allowing the cover to rotate through an unlimited number of complete revolutions relative to the base.