Abstract:
A self-cleaning system for a light-receiving substrate is able to detect a particulate on a designated surface of the light-receiving substrate and is then able to clean off of the designated surface with contactless electrostatic waves. The self-cleaning system includes a plurality of conductive traces, a microcontroller, a pulsed electrostatic-field generator, and a direct current (DC) power source. The conductive traces are electrodes that use the electrostatic waves to levitate and move the particulate off of the designated surface. The pulsed electrostatic-field generator creates the pulsed electrostatic fields that accumulate into the electrostatic waves. The microcontroller instructs and manages the electronic parts of the self-cleaning system. The DC power source is used to power the electrical parts of the self-cleaning system.

Description:
[0001]    The current application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) application of the U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 14/198,930 filed on Sep. 9, 2014. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to contactless cleaning of a solar panel. More specifically, the present invention is able to automatically detect the need to the solar panel and is then able to clean of the solar panel using electrostatic waves. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A major problem that has been identified with the use of solar panels (in particular the ones used in deserts and places where the sun illumination is particularly effective) is the frequent dust and sand cleaning off solar panels and glass façades, which is needed. Indeed, a regular cleaning of the solar panels has to be made in order to keep the efficiency at the highest percentage possible. Efficiency of a solar panel can decrease by as much as 30% due to dirt and dust or even much more due to accumulated snow on the solar panel. Solar panel manufacturers advise a minimum of one cleaning a month. In some situations, it is not easy to climb to a roof in order to clean the panel. Traditional cleaning causes scratches to surfaces, which reduces the efficiency of the solar panel. In most cases, cleaning requires solvents, water, personnel time, equipment and machinery. In addition, such solar panels are usually spread out on large areas to build large surfaces and the cleaning of such large areas is time consuming. 
         [0004]    Therefore, an objective of the present invention is to provide improved solar panels. More specifically, the objective of the present invention is to provide solar panels that can be easily and effectively cleaned so that these solar panels keep their properties and efficiency over time. Accordingly, the present invention is an intelligent self-cleaning multilayer coating to address the cleaning of surfaces such as solar panels, glass windows, or any similar surfaces that require cleaning. The surface of a solar panel is equipped with various detectors such as luminosity, temperature, humidity, and others for automatic operation or can be manually operated. In the case of a transparent surface, the light transmission efficiency is monitored regularly and compared with the initial factory calibration. The intelligent electronics decides to activate the self-cleaning system in relation with the decrease in efficiency taking into consideration the time zone, luminosity, temperature, and weather conditions of the geospatial region. The electronics will activate four independent direct current (DC) powered pulsed electrostatic fields when detecting dirt or sand on the panel or use the same elements on the surface to melt down the snow. The electronic means include typically of the power input and regulation of the board, a microcontroller, monitoring electronics, electrostatic field power electronics and communication electronics. This innovative technology uses a small percentage of the power produced by the solar panel and for a very short period of time. In the case of other surfaces, the electronic circuit has to be powered by other external sources. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating the present invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating the connection from the other components of the present invention to each conductive trace. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating the environmental sensors for the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating the light-receiving substrate with solar cells. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating the light-receiving substrate with solar cells and a vacuum chamber. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating the light-receiving substrate as a thermal solar panel. 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram illustrating the light-receiving substrate as a reflector. 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram illustrating the light-receiving substrate as a transparent panel. 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a block diagram illustrating the light-receiving substrate as a transparent panel with a vacuum layer. 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a block diagram illustrating the light-receiving substrate, the transparent protective sheet, and the rigid sheet being adhered together with transparent insulative resin. 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  is a block diagram illustrating the light-receiving substrate, the transparent protective sheet, and the heat-dissipating fixture being adhered together with transparent insulative resin. 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  is a block diagram illustrating the piezoelectric devices for the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 13  is a schematic illustrating one configuration of the conductive traces for the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 14  is a schematic illustrating one configuration of the conductive traces for the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 15  is a schematic illustrating another configuration of the conductive traces for the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 16  is a schematic illustrating another configuration of the conductive traces for the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 17  is a schematic illustrating another configuration of the conductive traces for the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 18  is a schematic illustrating another configuration of the conductive traces for the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 19  is a schematic illustrating another configuration of the conductive traces for the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
         [0025]    As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the present invention is a self-cleaning system for a light-receiving substrate  1  that is able to intelligent detect and automatically clean off dust, sand, dirt, or other kinds of particulates from the light-receiving substrate  1 . In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the light-receiving substrate  1  is a kind of solar panel and needs to be constantly cleaned in order to collect the most amount of power from the Sun. The present invention can also detect and melt off snow or ice deposits that may have accumulated on the light-receiving substrate  1 . The present invention comprises a plurality of conductive traces  2 , a microcontroller  3 , a pulsed electrostatic-field generator  4 , and a direct current (DC) power source  5 . The plurality of conductive traces  2  is a group of electrodes that generates electrostatic waves. These electrostatic waves act as a contactless conveyor to levitate and move particulate off of the light-receiving substrate  1 , which prevents any scratches or other kinds of damage to the light-receiving substrate  1 . Each of the plurality of conductive traces  2  outputs a pulsed electrostatic field that is created and managed by the pulsed electrostatic-field generator  4 . The microprocessor provides the other components of the present invention with the necessary instructions to enable the intelligent features of the present invention, such as when the present invention should activate its cleaning and/or snow-melting process. The DC power source  5  is used to electrically power the other components of the present invention. The DC power source  5  is preferably a high-voltage power source and can be, but is not limited to, a battery, a thermal power generator, a wind power generator, a utility grid, or a combination thereof. 
         [0026]    The general configuration for the aforementioned components allows the present invention to effectively and efficiently generate electrostatic waves from independently-functioning conductive traces. Thus, the plurality of conductive traces  2  is arranged onto and across a designated surface  101  of the light-receiving substrate  1  in a non-intersecting pattern. The present invention has preferably four conductive traces. Examples of the non-intersecting pattern for the plurality of conductive traces  2  are shown in  FIG. 13 through 19 . The designated surface  101  is the surface that requires cleanliness in order to optimally operate the light-receiving substrate  1 . The non-intersecting pattern allows the plurality of conductive traces  2  to be arranged on designated surface  101  so that electrostatic waves are generated to move particulate off of the designated surface  101  in a unidirectional manner. Conversely, the non-intersecting pattern also allows the plurality of conductive traces  2  to be arranged on designated surface  101  so that electrostatic waves are generated to move particulate off of the designated surface  101  in an omnidirectional manner. In addition, the DC power source  5  is electrically connected to each of the plurality of conductive traces  2  through the pulsed electrostatic-field generator  4 , which allows the each of the plurality of conductive traces  2  to be electrically powered by the DC power source  5 . The microcontroller  3  is electronically connected to the pulsed electrostatic-field generator  4  so that the microcontroller  3  is able to adjust various aspects of the pulsed electrostatic field that is outputted by each of the plurality of conductive traces  2 . 
         [0027]    Also for the general configuration, each of the plurality of conductive traces  2  needs to electrically insulated from each other in order to prevent electrical arcing between two or more conductive traces. In one embodiment, the present invention further comprises a transparent insulative coating  6  that is superimposed onto the designated surface  101 . The transparent insulative coating  6  is used to increase the breakdown voltage between the plurality of conductive traces  2 , which are resultantly positioned in between the transparent insulative coating  6  and the designated surface  101 . 
         [0028]    The pulsed electrostatic-field generator  4  is able to independently generate and control the pulsed electrostatic field that is outputted by each of the plurality of conductive traces  2 . Thus, the pulsed electrostatic-field generator  4  needs to comprise a plurality of independent-field generating outputs  401 , which are shown in  FIG. 2 . The plurality of independent-field generating outputs  401  allows the pulsed electrostatic-field generator  4  to separately configure each pulsed electrostatic field so that the combination of each pulsed electrostatic field forms electrostatic waves that efficiently and effectively move particulates off of the designated surface  101 . Consequently, each of the plurality of conductive traces  2  is electrically connected to a corresponding output from the plurality of independent-field generating outputs  401 . This configuration allows the DC power source  5  to be electrically connected to each of the plurality of conductive traces  2  through the corresponding output so that the DC power source  5  is able to independently power each of the plurality of conductive traces  2 . This configuration also allows the microcontroller  3  to be electronically connected to each of the plurality of conductive traces  2  through the corresponding output so that the microcontroller  3  is able to independently control and manage each of the plurality of conductive traces  2 . 
         [0029]    In order to monitor the surroundings of the light-receiving substrate  1 , the present invention further comprises a plurality of environmental sensors  7 , which are used to detect situations that require cleaning of the designated surface  101 . As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , the plurality of environmental sensors  7  is mounted adjacent to the designated surface  101  so that the plurality of environment sensors is able to immediately detect any obstructions that adversely affect the designated surface  101 . Some examples of such obstructions include, but are not limited to, rain and snow. The microcontroller  3  is electronically connected to each of the plurality of environmental sensors  7 , which allows the microcontroller  3  to retrieve data from the plurality of environmental sensors  7 . This data can then be processed by the microcontroller  3  in order to determine whether or not the designated surface  101  needs to be cleaned off by the present invention. 
         [0030]    More specifically, the plurality of environmental sensors  7  comprises at least one temperature sensor  701 , at least one humidity sensor  702 , and at least one luminosity sensor  703 . The temperature sensor  701  is in thermal communication with the designated surface  101  so that the microcontroller  3  is able to receive temperature data for the designated surface  101 . For example, the microcontroller  3  can determine if snow has fallen onto the designated surface  101  via the temperature sensor  701 . The humidity sensor  702  is externally positioned to the light-receiving substrate  1  so that the microcontroller  3  is able to receive ambient-humidity data for the light-receiving substrate  1 . The luminosity sensor  703  is directionally aligned with the designated surface  101  so that the luminosity sensor  703  is able to receive light in same direction and magnitude as the designated surface  101 . For example, the microcontroller  3  can determine if heavy cloud cover is reducing the light received by the designated surface  101  because the humidity sensor  702  would detect a change in the ambient-humidity data and because the luminosity sensor  703  would detect a reduction in the light received by the designated surface  101 . In this example, the microcontroller  3  would not activate the present invention to clean off the designated surface  101 . In another example, the microcontroller  3  can determine if accumulated particulate is reducing the light received by the designated surface  101  because the humidity sensor  702  would not detect a change in the ambient-humidity data and because the luminosity sensor  703  would detect a reduction in the light received by the designated surface  101 . In this example, the microcontroller  3  would activate the present invention to clean the designated surface  101 . 
         [0031]    The present invention can also be remotely activated to clean the designated surface  101 . Thus, the present invention needs to further comprise a wireless communication module  8  and a remote computing device  9 , which are shown in  FIG. 1 . The wireless communication module  8  is proximally located with the other components of the present invention and is used to send and receive communications for the microcontroller  3 . Consequently, the microcontroller  3  is electronically connected to the wireless communication module  8 . The remote computing device  9  is distally located from the other components of the present invention and is used to remotely communicate the microcontroller  3  or to remotely monitor the light-receiving substrate  1 . Consequently, the remote computing device  9  is communicably coupled with the wireless communication module  8   8 . For example, if the light-receiving substrate  1  is a solar panel located in the desert, then a user of the present invention would need the remote computing device  9  in order to communicate with the microcontroller  3  and/or to run diagnostics on certain components of the present invention. 
         [0032]    The present invention can have various implementations of the light-receiving substrate  1 . The light-receiving substrate  1  is typically made of glass or polymer and can be, but is not limited to, a photovoltaic solar panel, a thermal solar panel, a vacuum solar panel, a mirror, a piece of glass, a windshield, an optical device, or a façade. However, these various implementations of the light-receiving substrate  1  can alter the components and/or the arrangement of those components for the present invention. As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , one implementation of the light-receiving substrate  1  comprises a plurality of solar cells  103 , which are used to capture solar energy and to convert solar energy into electrical energy. The plurality of solar cells  103  can typically be photovoltaic (that is made of Polycrystalline Silicon) or thin film. In order to collect the maximum amount of solar energy with the plurality of solar cells  103 , the plurality of conductive traces  2  needs to be transparent, and the plurality of solar cells  103  needs to be distributed throughout the light-receiving substrate  1 . The plurality of solar cells  103  is also electrically connected to the DC power source  5  so that the plurality of solar cells  103  recharges the DC power source  5  as the DC power source  5  expends energy to electrically power the plurality of conductive traces  2 . More specifically, the light-receiving substrate  1  further comprises a vacuum chamber  104 , which is shown in  FIG. 5 . The plurality of solar cells  103  is positioned within the vacuum chamber  104  and is positioned adjacent to an opposing surface  102  of the light-receiving substrate  1 . The designated surface  101  and the opposing surface  102  are opposite surfaces of the light-receiving substrate  1 . Consequently, this configuration for the plurality of solar cells  103  and the vacuum chamber  104  allows the plurality of solar cells  103  to be more thermally insulated within the light-receiving substrate  1 . The plurality of solar cells  103  is able to better execute the photovoltaic process at lower temperatures. 
         [0033]    As can be seen in  FIG. 6 , another implementation of the light-receiving substrate  1  is a thermal solar panel, which typically is a set of transparent tubes that retain some kind of fluid. These transparent tubes are then mounted within a transparent hollow enclosure. For this implementation of the light-receiving substrate  1 , the plurality of conductive traces  2  also needs to be transparent so that the thermal solar panel is able to collect the maximum amount of solar energy and is able to convert that solar energy into thermal energy. 
         [0034]    Another implementation of the light-receiving substrate  1  is a transparent panel depicted in  FIG. 8 , such as the piece of glass or the windshield. For this implementation of the light-receiving substrate  1 , the plurality of conductive traces  2  also needs to be transparent so that the transparent panel is able to provide the maximum amount of visibility through the present invention. More specifically, this implementation of the light-receiving substrate  1  depicted in  FIG. 9  comprises a first glass layer  105 , a second glass layer  106 , and a vacuum layer  107 , which are used to increase the thermal insulative properties of the transparent panel. Thus, the vacuum layer  107  needs to be hermetically sealed in between the first glass layer  105  and the second glass layer  106 , which allows the transparent panel to maintain the vacuum layer  107 . 
         [0035]    As can be seen in  FIG. 7 , another implementation of the light-receiving substrate  1  is as a reflector, which is used reflect the light received by the designated surface  101 . In order to maximize the functionality of this implementation of the light-receiving substrate  1 , the plurality of conductive traces  2  needs to be reflective. This implementation of the light-receiving substrate  1  can be used as a solar reflector to concentrate and collect solar energy. This implementation of light-receiving substrate  1  also allows the light-receiving substrate  1  to be configured into either a flat, semi-cylindrical, or parabolic shape. 
         [0036]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , transparent insulative resin is used in various instances to structurally affix certain components of the present invention to the light-receiving substrate  1 . In one such instance, the plurality of conductive traces  2  is adhered to the designated surface  101  by a first layer of transparent insulative resin  10 . The first layer of transparent insulative resin  10  allows light to travel past the plurality of conductive traces  2  and to travel into the light-receiving substrate  1  with minimal obstruction. In another such instance, a transparent protective sheet  13  is adhered onto and across the designated surface  101  by a second layer of transparent insulative resin  11 . The transparent protective sheet  13  is typically made of polymer or another equivalent material. The transparent protective sheet  13  is a durable shield that protects the plurality of conductive traces  2  from physical damage, and, thus, the plurality of conductive traces  2  is positioned in between the transparent protective sheet  13  and the designated surface  101 . The second layer of transparent insulative resin allows light to travel past the transparent protective sheet  13  and the plurality of conductive traces  2  and to travel into the light-receiving substrate  1  with minimal obstruction. In both of the aforementioned instances, the first layer of transparent insulative resin  10 , the second layer of transparent insulative resin  11 , and the transparent protective sheet  13  is also used to further prevent electrical arcing between two or more conductive traces. 
         [0037]    A third layer of transparent insulative resin  12  can be used to adhere certain components to the opposing surface  102  of the light-receiving substrate  1 . As described before, the designated surface  101  and the opposing surface  102  are opposite surfaces of the light-receiving substrate  1 . In reference to  FIG. 10 , one component of the present invention that can be adhered to the opposing surface  102  by the third layer of transparent insulative resin  12  is a rigid sheet  14 , which provides a structural base for the light-receiving substrate  1 . The rigid sheet  14  is typically made of a compound material that is capable of withstanding structural stress and strain. In reference to  FIG. 11 , another component of the present invention that can be adhered to the opposing surface  102  by the third layer of transparent insulative resin  12  is a heat-dissipating fixture  15 , which is used to transfer heat out of the light-receiving substrate  1 . The heat-dissipating fixture  15  is typically made of rigid, lightweight metals that are used in heat sinks. The heat-dissipating fixture  15  is particularly useful when the light-receiving substrate  1  comprises the plurality of solar cells  103  because the plurality of solar cells  103  is able to optimally function at lower temperatures. The heat-dissipating fixture  15  is preferably a honeycomb structure. The heat-dissipating fixture  15  is also adhered onto and across the opposing surface  102  so that the heat-dissipating fixture  15  is able to transfer heat out of any portion of the light-receiving substrate  1 . 
         [0038]    In order to enhance the ability to clean particulate off of the designated surface  101 , the present invention further comprises a plurality of piezoelectric devices  16  depicted in  FIG. 12 , which allow electrical power to be converted into mechanical stress and vice versa. In addition to the electrostatic waves generated by the present invention, the plurality of piezoelectric devices  16  is used to generate ultrasonic waves and to physically vibrate particulate off of the designated surface  101 . Thus, the plurality of piezoelectric devices  16  is distributed onto and across the designated surface  101  in order to generate ultrasonic waves for every portion of the designated surface  101 . The microcontroller  3  is electronically connected to the plurality of piezoelectric devices  16  so that the microcontroller  3  is able to simultaneously activate the plurality of conductive traces  2  and the plurality of piezoelectric devices  16 . The DC power source  5  is also electrically connected to the plurality of piezoelectric devices  16 , which allows the DC power source  5  to electrically power the plurality of piezoelectric devices  16  as well as the plurality of conductive traces  2 . 
         [0039]    Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.