Patent ID: 8895834

Claim:
A solar tracker assembly, comprising: a solar driver panel including a set of interconnected solar photovoltaic cells; an axle, said solar panel mounted on said axle, said axle oriented to position said solar panel for receiving rays from the sun throughout diurnal operation of the assembly; an electric motor rotatably connected to said axle for rotational movement between said electric motor and said axle to enable rotational movement of said solar panel on said axle corresponding to movement of the earth relative to the sun to optimize positioning of said solar panel relative to the sun to enhance solar ray reception of said solar panel throughout the day; means for controlling electrical output from said solar panel to control solar panel output fed into said electric motor, said means for controlling electrically connected to said electric motor for only operational control thereof, said means for controlling consisting of only electronic components so that it receives only electrical input and provides only electrical output without including physical structures defining apertures used to locate solar panels relative to the sun; wherein said means for controlling electrical output selectively controls the output voltage from said solar panel in order to control operation of said motor and thereby control rotation of said solar panel in order that said solar panel maintains a desired angular orientation relative to direction of propagation of the solar rays throughout diurnal operation of the assembly; wherein said means for controlling includes a voltage divider circuit receiving electrical output from said solar panel, said voltage divider circuit providing an electrical output responsive to said solar panel electrical output and selected according to electrical power requirement of said motor for operational control of said motor; wherein said voltage divider circuit includes a first resistor, a second resistor and a zener diode, said first resistor and said second resistor electrically connected together in series, said zener diode electrically connected to said first resistor and between said first resistor and said second resistor so that said zener diode taps into current flowing between first and second resistor, said second resistor being variable in order to control its resistance so that flow of electrical current through said zener diode is dependent on the resistance of the second resistor; electrical wires directly interconnecting only said solar panel, said means for controlling and said electric motor to provide electrical power produced by said solar panel to said means for controlling and to said electric motor, said solar panel providing sufficient voltage and amperage to drive said electric motor without requiring introduction of electrical power from generating or capacitive devices needed to drive said electric motor; a solar array rigidly mounted on said axle for rotational movement thereof relative to said motor.