Abstract:
A detector is used on a solar panel to detect the strength of the wind blowing at it. A height-adjustable support decreases the height of the solar panel, based on the wind strength detection, for protecting the solar panel from potential damages caused by strong winds.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is based on, and claims priority from Taiwan Application Serial Number 096138764, filed Oct. 17, 2007, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to a strong wind protection system for protecting a solar panel from being damaged by strong winds. 
       BACKGROUND 
     FIG.  1  Prior Art 
       [0003]    A traditional solar panel  10  is mounted on the top of a stationary post  11 , the stationary post  11  is fixed in a pedestal  12  which is anchored in the ground  100 . The drawback of the prior art system is that the stationary post  11  has a specific height which is not adjustable. The high-rising solar panel  10  can be damaged by strong winds blowing at it. Solar panels are mostly promoted to be installed in regions such as the Pacific and/or Atlantic rims. However, hurricanes frequently occur in those places, and will likely damage the solar panels. There is a demand to develop a strong wind protection system for a solar panel. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  shows a prior art device. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  shows a first state of an embodiment according to this invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  shows a second state of the embodiment according to this invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  shows a block diagram of embodiments according to this invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]      FIG. 2  shows a first state of an embodiment according to this invention 
         [0009]    A pedestal  20  is anchored in the ground  100 . A telescopic support  21  extends upward from the pedestal  20 . A solar panel  10  is mounted on the top of the telescopic support  21 . The telescopic support  21  has a bottom sliding block  22  coupled, e.g., by thread, to a rotation axle  202  within the pedestal  20 . The rotation axle  202  is coupled to an electric motor  201  which provides a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation according to instructions from a control unit  24 . The telescopic support  21  is driven by the clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation of the rotation axle  202  to go up or down so as to raise or lower the solar panel  10  on top of it. 
         [0010]    A gravitation detector or an acceleration detector  23  is mounted on the solar panel  10  to detect the strength of the wind blowing at it. When the wind strength is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the control unit  24  notifies the motor  201  to rotate in the appropriate direction to lower the solar panel  10  to a predetermined height according to a predetermined rule. When the wind strength is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the control unit  24  notifies the motor  201  to rotate to raise the solar panel  10  to a predetermined height according to a predetermined rule.  FIG. 2  shows that the telescopic support  21  extends to a maximum height, and the solar panel  10  is raised to its highest position. 
         [0011]      FIG. 3  shows a second state of the embodiment according to this invention 
         [0012]      FIG. 3  shows that the telescopic support  21  is retracted to a minimum height, and the solar panel  10  is lowered to its lowest position. Stops  203  and  204  ( FIG. 2 ) define the maximum and minimum heights of the solar panel  10 . 
         [0013]      FIG. 4  shows a block diagram of embodiments according to this invention 
         [0014]    A wind speed detector  23  is coupled to a control unit  24 . The wind speed detector  23  provides detected information to the control unit  24 . The control unit  24  determines the strength of the wind according to the following two algorithms: 
         [0015]    (1) Whether the wind speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined value “A”? 
         [0016]    If “No”, the control unit  24  continues to receive the information from the wind speed detector  23  and no further action will be taken. 
         [0017]    If “Yes”, the control unit  24  instructs the motor  201  to rotate according to a predetermined rule, so that the telescopic support  21  lowers the solar panel  10  to a predetermined position. 
         [0018]    (2) Whether the wind speed is equal to or smaller than a predetermined valued “B”? 
         [0019]    If “No”, the control unit  24  continues to receive the information from the wind speed detector  23  and no further action will be taken. 
         [0020]    If “Yes”, the control unit  24  instructs the motor  201  to rotate according to a predetermined rule, so that the telescopic support  21  raises the solar panel  10  to a predetermined position. 
         [0021]    While several embodiments have been described by way of example, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Such modifications are all within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.