Roller shade with solar cells

• Main Authors: Severinski, Paul S, Townley, Lisa, Kocher, Larry Francis, Peterson, Travis, Hans, Michael
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 01.03.2022
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER; ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT OR PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLEDVEHICLES; ELECTRIC SOLID STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES, IN GENERAL; GENERATION; GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRA-REDRADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, E.G. USINGPHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL

A solar collector includes a roller rotatably attached to a vehicle. A carrier fabric panel is attached on one end to the roller. Side guides are attached the sides of the carrier fabric panel. Solar cells are connected in series and are attached to the carrier fabric panel. The solar cells are connected to an electrical power storage system. Electrical leads are attached to the carrier fabric and electrically coupled to the solar cells. Electrical conductors are attached to the carrier fabric between the solar cells and the right and left guides or are provided with retainer strips. A slip ring connector is disposed on the roller for electrically coupling the electrical conductors to an electrical power storage system. The solar energy collected may be used to power actuatable accessories or passive systems that may draw power when the vehicle is not being operated.