Abstract:
The present invention is solar collection data device having a main housing with means to measure and record the sun&#39;s radiance over a period of time encased in the housing. The main housing is mounted to a platform. The platform has means to attach to a variety of surfaces, including a roof. A photovoltaic cell and a photo sensor are integrally formed in the cover of the main housing. The output of the photovoltaic cell and the photo sensor will be logged and used in determining the amount of sunlight reaching the unit.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an improved solar data collection device mountable to a rooftop or other structures. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     The increased potential for the use of solar energy as a renewable source of energy is well known. The present device provides a low cost alternative to record the amount of sunlight received throughout the day to ascertain the availability of solar power savings in a given location. 
     It is an object of the device to measure and record the sun&#39;s radiance over a long period of time, preferably a year, with reasonable accuracy at a low unit cost. It uses two sensors to measure the sun&#39;s radiance; a photodetector and a monocrystalline solar cell. The unit temperature is also measured and saved, as a solar cell&#39;s efficiency changes with temperature. The photodetector, solar cell and temperature are periodically measured and saved along with the date and time into a flash RAM storage component. 
     The photodetector output provides a representation of the amount of sunlight the unit is receiving, but has a smaller collection area than the solar cell. The photodetector output is measured and saved and its secondary function is to indicate a minimum sunlight level with minimal power overhead. To preserve power, measurements are only taken while the sunlight is above the minimum output. The unit&#39;s solar cell provides a near identical representation of the solar panels that will ultimately be used by the customer, and can power the device&#39;s main circuitry, including the microcontroller. 
     It is an additional object of the invention to use a USB interface for transferring data to and from the unit to the user PC. The collected sun radiance data and other run-time data is retrieved from the unit. Control parameters, such as the location&#39;s date and time, are updated in the device through the USB interface. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a variety of mounting means to secure to target locations. Means to secure to angled roofs, curved roofing tiles and flat roofs and windows are provided. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved solar data collection device. 
     The device has a main housing comprising a cover affixed to a base. A circuit board is positioned in the base. The main housing is mounted to a platform. The platform has means to attach to a variety of surfaces, including a roof. 
     A photovoltaic cell and a photo sensor are integrally formed in the cover of the main housing. The output of the photovoltaic cell and the photo sensor will be logged and used in determining the amount of sunlight reaching the unit. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the first embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of a cover of a housing of the first embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of a base of the housing of the first embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of a circuit board of the first embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of a platform of the first embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a view of the device hi use mounted on an asphalt shingle roof. 
         FIG. 8  is a second version of the platform. 
         FIG. 9  is a third version of the platform. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of second embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded view of the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is a block diagram illustrating functional aspects of the circuit board. 
         FIG. 13  is a flow chart. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings  FIGS. 1 to 7 , generally, a first embodiment of the present invention will now be described in greater detail. A housing  12  is comprised of a cover  14  and a base  20 . The cover  14  has an upper planer wall  16 , side walls and end walls. The cover  14  is generally rectangular in shape. A photovoltaic cell  60  and a photo sensor  70  are integrally formed in the cover  14  of the housing  12 . 
     The base  20  has a main body  22  with an upper surface and a lower surface, and front and rear extension mounting guides  24 . A battery containment compartment  26  is integrally formed on the upper surface of the base  20 . The base  20  further has a defined circuit board bay  28  for mounting a circuit board  40 . A plurality of posts  30  with inwardly threaded bores extend upwardly from an upper surface of the bay  28 . The circuit board is affixed to the posts  30  using attachment screws  32 . 
     The battery containment compartment  26  is of predetermined size to accept batteries  34 . The batteries  34  provide a power source for the device  10 . Battery contacts are affixed on an inner surface of the compartment  26  and in electrical communication with the circuit board  40 . 
     The cover  14  is securely mounted to the base  20 . The housing  12  further has an open passage defined therein as a USB (universal serial bus) port  36 . Battery replacement is accomplished by removing the cover  14 . 
     Components of the circuit board  40  providing multi-function features, electronic components, and a programmable integrated circuit, are illustrated in  FIG. 5 . A photodetector connector  42 , solar cell power circuitry  44 , a solar cell connector  46 , real time clock means  48 , flash RAM (random access memory) means  50  for flash storage, and a digital-to-analog convertor (DAC)  54  are disposed on an upper surface of the circuit board  40 . A backup batteries connector  52  is electronically coupled with the batteries  34 . A microcontroller  54  is disposed on the upper surface of the circuit board  40 . A USB connector  58 , to align with the USB port  36  of the housing  12 , is provided. 
     As illustrated in the block diagram set forth in  FIG. 12 , the microcontroller  54  is in communication with the photo sensor  70 , power circuitry, USB interface means, time clock means and real-time calendar means. 
     The photo sensor  70 , in communication with the circuit board  40  through the connector  42 , provides an output of the amount of sunlight the device  10  is receiving. The output is measured and saved. A secondary function is to indicate a minimum sunlight level with minimal power overhead. To preserve power, measurements are only taken when the sunlight is above the photo sensor  70 . 
     A solar power interface is provided by the photovoltaic cell  60 . The photovoltaic cell provides a nearly identical approximation of the solar panels that would ultimately be used by a customer. To gain an accurate measurement, the cell  60  requires a finding of its maximum power output. The maximum power output varies with the sunlight level. The voltage level at alternate current loads is measured to find the maximum product of the voltage and current, and establish the maximum power point (MPP). The device  10  is continuously calculating the maximum power point and will maintain a running average of the MPP. At regular intervals the MPP average value is saved to the flash RAM storage  50 . 
     The photovoltaic cell  60  also powers the device&#39;s main circuitry, including the microcontroller  54 . If the cell  60  output is insufficient to power the main circuitry, then the batteries  34  provide the necessary power. When the output of the cell is at a low level (e.g. at dusk or dawn), and the batteries are utilized, the microcontroller performs fewer MPP cycles to conserve battery power. If the sunlight level drops to near zero (e.g. at night) and the photo sensor output is below the minimum level, the device  10  is put into sleep/low-power mode. The real time clock  48  maintains the current date and time even when the device  10  is shutdown or in sleep mode. 
     The USB connector  58  provides a USB interface for transferring data to and from a personal computer (PC) of a user, or with a USB flash drive. The collected sun radiance data and other run-time data is retrieved. Control parameters, such as the location&#39;s date and time, are updated though the USB interface. 
     The housing  12  is detachably secured to a platform  80  (illustrated in  FIG. 6 ). The platform  80  has an upper surface and lower surface with a pair of rods  82  of the base affixed to the lower surface. The platform  80  has a guide  84  and a clamp  86  affixed at opposed ends of the upper surface as means to secure the base  20 . The front and rear extension mounting guides  24  of the base  20  are secured to the guide  84  and the clamp  86 , respectively. The rods  82  slide under roof asphalt shingles to mount the device  10  on an angled roof. Adhesive may be applied to the lower surface of the platform  80  to assist with securing the device  10 . 
     A second version of a platform  90  is illustrated in  FIG. 8 . The platform  90  has an upper wall  92 , side walls  94  and a curvilinear shaped base wall  96 . An outer surface of the base wall  96  is configured to complement standard curved roofing tiles, and includes removable adhesive the adheres the platform  90  to the tiles. On an outer surface of the upper walls the platform  90  has a guide  98  and a clamp  100  affixed at opposed ends of the upper surface as means to secure the base  20 . The front and rear extension mounting guides  24  of the base  20  are secured to the guide  98  and the clamp  100 , respectively. 
     A third version of a platform  110  is illustrated in  FIG. 9 . Platform  110  has an upper panel  112  and a lower panel  114  with a first end of the upper panel  112  attached to a first end of the lower panel  114  via hinge means  116 . A sliding angle adjustment means  118  affixed to second ends of the upper panel  112  and lower panel  114 , permit the positioning of the upper panel  112  to an angle of up to 60 degrees from the lower panel  114 . The lower panel  114  may be secured to roof or wall surfaces using nails, screws or applicable adhesives. The upper panel  112  of the platform  110  has a guide  120  and a clamp  122  affixed at opposed ends of an upper surface. The front and rear extension mounting guides  24  of the base  20  are secured to the guide  120  and the clamp  122 , respectively. 
     An alternative embodiment of the invention  10  is illustrated in  FIGS. 10-11 . The housing  130  has a cover  132 , a base  134  and a detachable cap  136 . The cover  132  has a passage formed therethrough. A circuit board  140  has a USB connector  142 , a microcontroller  144 , a photo detector  146 , a MicroSD socket  148  and removable microSD card  150  providing means to record sun radiance data, affixed thereto. Rechargeable batteries  152  provide power. The circuit board  140  is mounted in the base  134 . The photo detector  146  is positioned through the passage of the cover  132 . The photo detector  146  provides a representation of sunlight received. The device is powered by the batteries  152 . 
     The USB connector  142  provides a means to recharge the batteries  150 . The cover  132 , base  134  and cap  136  connect to each other, and when disconnected from each other, the microSD  150  (having collected sun radiance data) is removeable. The USB interface may be functional and the microSD card  150  is replaced with non-removeable flash RAM. 
     The housing  130  is composed of lightweight material and is mountable to a desired surface using an adhesive (e.g. double sided tape). 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawing are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to falling within the scope of the invention.