Abstract:
A solar panel assembly according to an example of the present disclosure includes a light-permeable panel, an opaque or solid region on the panel that at least partially blocks light from penetration through the panel, at least one solar array adjacent the panel, and at least one mirror situated such that at least some light permeating through the panel reflects off of the at least one mirror and onto the at least one solar array.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/318,285, filed Apr. 5, 2016. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Solar panels frequently include sizeable surface areas that are visible to the public. Typically solar panels require unobstructed access to light in order to generate electricity. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    A solar panel assembly according to an example of the present disclosure includes a light-permeable panel, an opaque or solid region on the panel that at least partially blocks light from penetration through the panel, at least one solar array adjacent the panel, and at least one mirror situated such that at least some light permeating through the panel reflects off of the at least one mirror and onto the at least one solar array. 
         [0004]    In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the at least one solar array is configured to convert light into usable energy. 
         [0005]    In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the usable energy is electric current. 
         [0006]    In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the at least one mirror is non-flat. 
         [0007]    In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the at least one mirror has at least one of a convex and a concave region. 
         [0008]    In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the opaque or solid regions form a design. 
         [0009]    In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the at least one solar array is on a solar panel arranged behind a back side of the panel. 
         [0010]    In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, at least some light permeates through the panel directly to the at least one solar array. 
         [0011]    In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the at least one mirror is arranged on the back side of the panel and is facing towards the solar panel. 
         [0012]    In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the at least one mirror is laterally aligned with the opaque or solid region. 
         [0013]    In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the opaque or solid region shields a portion of the solar panel, and the portion of the solar panel is free from the at least one solar array. 
         [0014]    In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the at least one solar array is on a back side of the panel. 
         [0015]    In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the at least one solar array is laterally aligned with the opaque or solid region. 
         [0016]    In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the at least one mirror is arranged on a backing situated behind a back side of the panel and is facing towards the panel. 
         [0017]    A solar energy collecting system according to an example of the present disclosure includes a solar panel assembly. The solar panel assembly has a light-permeable panel, an opaque or solid region on the panel that at least partially blocks light from penetration through the panel, at least one solar array adjacent the panel, and at least one mirror situated such that at least some light permeating through the light-permeable panel impinges off of the mirror and reflects onto the solar array, and a control system configured to control the solar panel assembly. 
         [0018]    A further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments include a communications system configured to receive signals and communicate the signals to the control system. 
         [0019]    A further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments include an energy storage device configured to store energy collected by the solar panel assembly. 
         [0020]    A further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments include an actuator configured to move the solar panel assembly. 
         [0021]    In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the actuator is controlled by the control system. 
         [0022]    In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the actuator is controlled by the control system to move the solar panel assembly to maximize the amount of energy collected by the solar panel assembly. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]      FIG. 1A  schematically illustrates a solar panel advertising assembly. 
           [0024]      FIG. 1B  schematically illustrates a side view of the solar panel design assembly of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0025]      FIG. 1C  schematically illustrates a more detailed side view of the solar panel design assembly of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  schematically illustrates a solar panel. 
           [0027]      FIG. 3A  schematically illustrates a design panel. 
           [0028]      FIG. 3B  schematically illustrates a detail view of the design panel of  FIG. 3A . 
           [0029]      FIG. 3C  schematically illustrates another detail side view of the design panel of  FIG. 3A . 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  schematically illustrates the solar panel design assembly of  FIG. 1A  with an observer. 
           [0031]      FIG. 5  schematically illustrates a solar energy collecting system. 
           [0032]      FIG. 6  schematically illustrates an alternate solar panel design assembly. 
       
    
    
       [0033]    The various features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0034]    A typical solar panel includes an array of photovoltaic cells that require unobstructed access to light in order to generate electric current. Under such a paradigm, the use of a non-solar panel or other structure in front of the solar panel would only serve to reduce the efficiency and value of the solar panel. However, as will be described herein below, there is a specially designed panel that provides value to the system while minimizing efficiency loss. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 1A-C  illustrate an example solar panel design assembly  8 . The assembly  8  includes a solar panel  10  and a design or light-permeable panel  12  (hereafter “design panel  12 ”). The design panel  12  is arranged outward from the solar panel or array  10 , i.e., the light-receiving functional side of the solar panel  10 . In one example, the design panel  12  is spaced from the solar panel  10 . The solar panel  10 , shown in isolation in  FIG. 2 , includes a plurality of solar arrays  14 . For example, the solar arrays  14  include one or more photovoltaic cells arranged in a pattern. 
         [0036]    The design panel  12  is shown in detail in  FIGS. 3A-3C . The design panel  12  is glass, in one example, but other light-permeable materials can be used in other examples. The design panel  12  has a front outward facing surface  21  ( FIG. 1C ) and a back inward facing surface  20  with respect to a light (photon) source, e.g., the sun. A portion  18  of the design panel  12  is opaque or solid. In one example, the opaque or solid portion  18  makes up a design, such as an advertisement. In the example shown, the design  18  comprises lettering. However, in other examples, the design  18  includes any type of artwork, pattern, or drawing in one or more colors. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 1C , light photons (generally “16”) permeate or travel through areas of the design panel  12  that are not covered by the design  18  and hit the surface of a solar panel  10 . A portion of the photons, designated as  16   a,  are absorbed by the solar panel  10  into the solar array  14  and converted into usable energy such as electric current. Another portion of the photons, designated at  16   b,  are reflected off of the solar panel  10 . A third portion of the photons, designated as  16   c,  are reflected off the design  18  on the design panel  12 . When these photons  16   c  are perceived by an observer, the observer can see the design  18 . Photons  16  can impinge on the design panel  12  straight on or at an angle with respect to the design panel  12 . 
         [0038]    In some examples, the design  18  is applied to the design panel  12  by painting, coating, or other deposition techniques such as chemical vapor deposition or sputtering. More particularly, the design  18  can be applied to the design panel  12  by sacrificial printing followed by vapor deposition of a pigment, paint, or coating. Then, the sacrifice can be washed out, leaving the design  18  behind. In another example, the design  18  is embedded into the material of the design panel. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 3C , at least a portion of an inward facing side  20  of the design panel  12  comprises a mirrored surface, generally  22 . As shown in  FIG. 3C , the mirrored surface  22  can be non-flat. For instance, the mirrored surface  22  can be concave ( 22   a ) or convex/dome-shaped ( 22   b ). The mirrored surface  22  reflects photons  16   b  back onto or toward the solar panel  10 . This helps counteract loss of efficiency of the solar panel  10  due to the reflection of some photons  16   c  by the design panel  12  that do not reach the solar panel  10 . Specifically, the mirrored surface  22  increases overall photon incidence on the solar panel  10  and increases the amount of photons that are absorbed into the solar array  14 . 
         [0040]    In the example of  FIG. 1C , mirrored surface  22  is only present in areas of the design panel  12  that have portions of the design  18  on the opposite side. That is, the mirrored surface  22  is only located on the portions of the inward facing surface  20  of the design panel  12  that correspond to the portion of the outward facing surface  21  of the design panel  12  covered by the design  18 . However, in other examples the mirrored surface  22  is present in other areas of the design panel  12 . 
         [0041]    In one example, illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the solar arrays  14  are only present in areas of the solar panel  10  not covered by the design  18  from the perspective of an observer (O) observing the solar panel design assembly  8  straight-on. That is, from the perspective of the observer (O), there is an area  25  of the solar panel  10  that is aligned with the design  18  with respect to an observer (O) to the assembly  8 . Thus, the area  25  is shielded from some photons  16  by the design  18 , and is free from solar arrays  14 . Since photons  16  are blocked from reaching area  25  by the design  18 , this arrangement reduces cost of the solar panel design assembly  8  without reducing its efficiency. Though the observer (O) is shown in  FIG. 4  viewing the design panel  12  straight on, in other examples, the observer is positioned at an angle with respect to the design panel  12 , changing the definition of the area  25 . For instance, the solar panel design assembly  8  can be situation on the roof of a building, and the observer is located at ground level. 
         [0042]      FIG. 5  shows an example solar energy collecting system. The system includes the solar panel design assembly  8 , a communications system  23 , a control system  24 , an actuator  26 , and an energy storage device  28 . The communications system  23  receives signals, for example, from an operator, and communicates the signals to the control system  24 . The control system  24  controls the actuator  26 , which moves the solar panel design assembly  8 . In one example, the control system  24  controls the actuator  26  in response to signals communicated from the communications system  23 . For instance, signals cause the actuator  26  to position the solar panel design assembly  8  in such a way as to maximize photon absorption and thus energy conversion. Finally, energy collected by the solar panel design assembly  8  is stored in energy storage device  28 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 6  shows an alternate solar panel design assembly  80 . In this example, the design  18  is on an outward side  21  of the design panel  12 , while solar arrays  14  are on the inward side  20  of the design panel  12 . A backing  30  is arranged inward of the design panel  12 . Photons  16   d  travel through the design panel  12  in areas of the design panel  12  not covered by the design  18 , as described above. At least part of the backing  30  is a mirrored surface  22  to reflect these photons  16   d  towards the solar arrays  14 . Other photons  16   c  reflect off of the design  18 , as described above. Though the example of  FIG. 6  shows the mirrored surface  22  as dome-shaped/convex, concave or angled surfaces can be used instead of or in addition to dome-shaped/convex surfaces. 
         [0044]    In the example of  FIG. 6 , solar arrays  14  are only present in areas of the design panel  12  that have portions of the design  18  on the opposite side. That is, the solar arrays  14  are only located on the portions of the inward facing surface  20  of the design panel  12  that correspond to portions of the outward facing surface  21  of the design panel  12  covered by the design  18 . Said another way, the design  18  and solar arrays  14  are aligned with respect to an observer (O) to the assembly  80  as shown in  FIG. 4 . However, in other examples solar arrays  14  are present in other areas of the design panel  12 . 
         [0045]    Although a combination of features is shown in the illustrated examples, not all of them need to be combined to realize the benefits of various embodiments of this disclosure. In other words, a system designed according to an embodiment of this disclosure will not necessarily include all of the features shown in any one of the figures or all of the portions schematically shown in the figures. Moreover, selected features of one example embodiment may be combined with selected features of other example embodiments. 
         [0046]    The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from this disclosure. The scope of legal protection given to this disclosure can only be determined by studying the following claims.