Patent ID: 9088169
Filing Date: 2015-07-21
Classification: H01L,H02J,H02S,Y02E,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of providing a directly coupled, power conditioned photovoltaic system including a plurality of tiles for charging a smart-enabled electronic device via a Universal Serial Bus (“USB ”)port, the smart-enabled electronic device having at least one signal carrying data line for identifying the USB port type, comprising: identifying a charging voltage range to initiate a charging sequence and a charging current that can be accepted by the smart-enabled electronic device; selecting at least one solar cell, the at least one solar cell having an output voltage and a current per unit area; quantifying a minimum number of tiles formed from the at least one solar cell necessary to create an output voltage for the plurality of tiles that falls within the charging voltage range; using the current per unit area to calculate a desired surface area for each of the plurality of tiles such that each of the plurality of tiles generates a tile current that approximates the charging current; cutting the plurality of tiles from the at least one solar cell, each of the plurality of tiles having a tile surface area that approximates the desired surface area; stringing together the plurality of tiles to have the output voltage for the plurality of tiles that falls within the charging voltage range and an output current for the plurality of tiles that approximates the charging current; encapsulating the strung plurality of tiles between at least a first material layer and at least a second material layer; attaching an output connection to the strung plurality of tiles, the output connection including a USB connector suitable for directly connecting to the USB port of the smart-enabled electronic device; identifying at least one signal for the at least one signal carrying data line that permits the smart-enabled electronic device to accept the charging current; and providing the at least one signal to the at least one signal carrying data line.