CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 200820109127.7, filed on July 10, 2008.

BACKGROUND

In modern society, oil and coal are the main energy resources. However, these non-renewable resources are gradually decreasing and as a result, the prices of oil and coal are steadily increasing. In addition, burning oil and coal is not environmental friendly. Renewable energy resources including the likes of wind, water and solar may be considered as alternatives to oil and coal.

SUMMARY

Solar component and devices containing the same are disclosed. One embodiment discloses a solar component having an upper member, a lower member, and at least two side members coupled to the upper member and the lower member. The coupled members are able to form a cavity for storing at least one solar cell. The solar cell is configured to receive sunlight through the upper member. In one embodiment, at least one aperture is formed therethrough the upper member and the lower member. The aperture is capable of facilitating air flow from the upper member, through the cavity, and out the lower member.

In one embodiment, a sealing agent may be disposed between the upper member and the lower member surrounding the aperture and/or disposed onto an inner wall of the aperture for isolating the cavity from external environment. The sealing agent may be at least one of an adhesive and a glass cement. In one embodiment, the aperture is circular. In one embodiment, each solar cell is fabricated of single crystal silicon. In one embodiment, at least four solar cells are disposed within the cavity, each solar cell comprises at least one angled corner, and the aperture is formed in each unused space surrounded by four angled corners of four solar cells adjacent to one another. In one embodiment, the angled corner of the solar cell may be a chamfer angle from about 15 to about 45 degrees. Alternatively, at least one corner of each solar cell is rounded or inwardly recessed.

One embodiment discloses a solar power supply comprising at least one solar component substantially similar to that described above. In addition, the solar power supply includes a power storage unit coupled to the solar component, the power storage unit capable of converting the sunlight from the solar component into electricity. In one embodiment, the solar power supply includes a control unit coupled to the solar component and the power storage unit, the control unit capable of controlling both the power storage unit and the solar component. In one embodiment, the solar power supply includes an output coupled to the power storage unit, the output capable of delivering the electricity to at least one solar-powered device.

One embodiment discloses a solar street lamp comprising a solar power supply substantially similar to that described above. In addition, the solar street lamp includes at least one illuminating device connected to the solar power supply, the solar power supply capable of delivering electricity to the illuminating device. In one embodiment, the illuminating device is a light emitting diode (LED) light.

Other variations, embodiments and features of the presently disclosed solar component and devices containing the same will become evident from the following detailed description, drawings and claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figs. 1-2 are top-down and cross-section views, respectively, of a solar component according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 1a-1c are schematic views respectively of the solar cell according to the embodiments of the present disclosure;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section view through A-A of the solar component of Figs. 1-2;

Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a solar power supply according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; and

Fig. 5 illustrates a solar street lamp according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the solar component and devices containing the same can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential character thereof. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The present disclosure will be described in more details with examples, some parts of the examples are shown in the drawings, whereby the same or similar symbols represent the same components or similar component or functionally similar components. The examples and drawings are used to interpret the present disclosure and shall not be a restriction of the present disclosure.

One embodiment of the present disclosure is to provide apertures therethrough a solar component thereby improving wind resistance without impacting other functions and operations of the solar component and devices using the same. In some embodiments, the electronic devices include without limitation street lamps, water heaters and power supplies. EXAMPLE 1

Figs. 1-2 are top-down and cross-section views, respectively, of a solar component 10 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In some instances, the solar component 10 is capable of powering devices including the likes of solar water heaters and solar street lamps, to name a few. In one embodiment, the solar component 10 may be incorporated in a solar power supply. This will become more apparent in subsequent figures and discussion.

In one embodiment, the solar component 10 includes an upper member 14, a lower member 16, and at least two side members 12 coupled to the upper member 14 and the lower member 16 (best shown in Fig. 2). In one example, the upper member 14 is a glass cover. In some examples, the lower member 16 may be a plate or a board. In one instance, the combination of the upper member 14, the lower member 16, and the side members 12 are capable of forming at least one cavity 18. At least four side members 12 are coupled to the upper member 14 and the lower member 16 in forming the cavity 18.

In one embodiment, at least four solar cells 20 may be disposed within the cavity 18. In some embodiments, there may be more or fewer solar cells 20. For example, the cavity 18 of the solar component 10 may house one solar cell 20, or two solar cells 20, or three solar cells 20, or five or more solar cells 20. The solar cells 20 may be configured to receive sunlight for powering devices including the likes of solar water heater and solar street lamp, to name a few. In one instance, the sunlight may be received through the upper member 14. In one example, the solar cells 20 may be housed within the cavity 18 and enclosed by the upper member 14, the lower member 16, and the side members 12 (best shown in Fig. 2). In one embodiment, the solar cells 20 may be fabricated of single crystal silicon. In some embodiments, the solar cells 20 maybe fabricated of other semiconductor materials including without limitation gallium arsenide and silicon on insulator.

In one embodiment, each solar cell 20 includes at least one angled corner 22 , as shown in Fig. 1 and 1a, the solar cell 20 has four angled corners 22. Alternatively, the angled corner 22 may also be referred to as a chamfer angle. The aperture 24 is formed in the unused space 26 surrounded by four angled corners 22 of four solar cells 20 adjacent to one another. Because the apertures 24 are formed in the unused spaces 26, the solar cells 20 can be disposed more closely in the cavity 18, thereby more solar cells 20 may be disposed with respect to the same cavity 18. In some embodiments, the chamfer angle may be beveled at from about 15 to about 45 degrees relative to neighboring surfaces. As shown in Fig. 1 , each solar cell 20 is in the shape of an octagon. In some embodiments, the solar cell 20 may take on other polygonal shapes and sizes including without limitation square, rectangle, diamond and circle (not shown). In one embodiment, four corners 22 of each solar cell 20 within the solar component 10 are at a chamfer angle of about 45 degrees.

In some embodiments, as shown in Figs. 1 b and 1c, the corners of each solar cell 20 are rounded or inwardly recessed, so that the aperture 24 can be formed in the unused space 26 surrounded by four rounded or inwardly recessed corners 22 of four solar cells 20 adjacent to one another, and more solar cells 20 can be disposed in the cavity 18. In other words, through removing a portion of the corners 22 of each solar cell 20, the aperture 24 can be formed in the unused spaces 26 surrounded by adjacent four corners 22 of four solar cells 20 , so that the solar cells 20 can be disposed more closely to one another and more solar cells 20 can be disposed in the cavity 18.

In one embodiment, unused space 26 may exist between adjacent solar cells 20 based on cell configuration. In these instances, at least one aperture 24 may be formed therethrough the upper member 14 and the lower member 16, whereby each aperture 24 is capable of allowing air to flow through the cavity 18. In other words, each aperture 24 penetrates at least a portion of the solar component 10 (e.g., the upper member 14 and the lower member 16). In doing so, air will be able to enter from the upper member 14, through the cavity 18, and exit the lower member 16. Likewise, air will be able to enter from the lower member 16, through the cavity 18, and exit the upper member 14. As used herein, "therethrough" and the like means through it or onto and out of.

In one embodiment, prior to coupling the upper member 14 and the lower member 16 to the side members 12, the locations of the solar cells 20 may be preconfigured and the amount of spacing 26 between the solar cells 20 may be predefined in order to determine where to position an aperture 24. In these instances, each aperture 24 may take on various shapes and sizes as formed by drilling or boring techniques with minimal damage to the adjacent solar cells 20. In one embodiment, the aperture 24 may be circular. In some embodiments, the aperture 24 may be rectangular or square, to name a few.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section view through A-A of the solar component of Figs. 1-2. As shown, a sealing agent 28 may be incorporated between the upper member 14 and the lower member 16 within each aperture 24. In some embodiments, the sealing agent 28 may include an adhesive or a glass cement, to name a few. The sealing agent 28 may also be other suitable glue or fasteners with anti-aging and water-proofing properties. In one embodiment, the sealing agent 28 is disposed onto the inner wall of the aperture 24 and couples the upper member 14 to the lower member 16. In doing so, the sealing agent 28 is able to separate the cavity 18 from external environment. As a result, the solar cells 20 contained within the cavity 18 may be protected from any harsh or hazardous conditions. Alternatively, the sealing agent 28 may be disposed between the upper member 14 and the lower member 16 surrounding the aperture 24.

EXAMPLE 2

Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a solar power supply 40 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The solar power supply 40 includes, among other things, a solar component 10 substantially similar to that described above. In one embodiment, the solar power supply 40 is capable of converting sunlight into electricity.

In one embodiment, the solar power supply 40 also includes a power storage unit 42, which is connected to the solar component 10, and a control unit 44, which is connected to both the power storage unit 42 and the solar component 10. In one embodiment, the control unit 44 is capable of controlling the operations of the solar component 10 and the power storage unit 42. In one embodiment, the power storage unit 42 is capable of converting sunlight from the solar component 10 into electricity, and storing the same within for future use. In one embodiment, the solar power supply 40 also includes an output 46 coupled to the power storage unit 42, whereby the output 46 is capable of delivering electricity to at least one solar-powered device. In some embodiments, the solar-powered device includes without limitation solar water heater and solar street lamp.

In one embodiment, the solar component 10 may be used to collect sunlight through the upper member 14. The collected sunlight may be converted into electricity and stored within the power storage unit 42 for powering external solar-powered devices. The output 46, coupled to the power storage unit 42, offers a path for external solar-powered devices to draw such power from the power storage unit 42 of the solar power supply 40. The conversion and storage of sunlight and electricity, as well as delivery of electricity to external solar-powered devices, may be controlled by the control unit 44. For example, the control unit 44 may prevent the solar component 10 from receiving sunlight or supplying additional power to the power storage unit 42 when the power storage unit 42 has been saturated.

In one embodiment, the solar component 10 includes an upper glass cover board 14, a bottom board 16, and side frames 12 for coupling to the upper glass cover board 14 and the bottom board 16. In one embodiment, the solar component 10 includes at least four silicon solar cells 20 disposed between the upper glass board 14 and the bottom board 16. In this instance, at least one of the silicon solar cell's angled corner is a chamfer angle at about 45 degrees. This may lead to the formation of an unused space 26 in between junctions of adjacent solar cells 20. In one example, each silicon solar cell 20 may have four chamfer angles at about 45 degrees.

In one embodiment, at least one circular aperture 24 may be disposed therethrough the upper glass board 14 and the bottom board 16 thereby penetrating the solar component 10. In one embodiment, an adhesive agent 28 may be disposed onto the inner wall of the aperture 24 between the upper glass board 14 and the bottom board 16 thereby separating the solar cells 20 from the external environment. In one example, the adhesive agent 28 may be glass cement. In other examples, the adhesive agent 28 may have anti- aging or water-proofing properties.

Although the solar component 10, the power storage unit 42, and the control unit 44 are shown as being enclosed within the solar power supply 40, in some instances, at least one of the solar component 10, the power storage unit 42, or the control module 44 may be situated outside of the solar power supply 40. This will become more apparent in subsequent figure and discussion.

EXAMPLE 3 Reference is now made to Fig. 5 illustrating a solar street lamp 50 incorporating a solar power supply 40 having a solar component 10 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the solar component 10 resides at the top of a lamp post 56 outside of the solar power supply 40 in contrast to the previous example. In one embodiment, the solar power supply 40 and the solar component 10 are substantially similar to those described above and will not be discussed in further detail.

In one embodiment, the solar street lamp 50 includes at least one illuminating device 52 connected to the solar power supply 40. As shown in the figure, the connection may be via electrical wires (not shown) running up and down the lamp post 56. In one embodiment, the illuminating device 52 is a light emitting diode (LED) light. In some embodiments, the illuminating device 52 may include without limitation halogen lamps and light bulbs.

In one embodiment, the solar power supply 40 is capable of transmitting electricity from the power storage unit 42 to the illuminating device 52 similar to that described above. And like above, electricity may be converted and stored within the power storage unit 42 from sunlight received via the solar component 10.

In one embodiment, the apertures 24 within the solar component 10 are able to direct air flow therethrough as shown by the arrows. Accordingly, the presently disclosed solar street lamp 50 may exhibit reduce wind resistance as compared against a solar component 10 without any apertures 24. In one instance, wind resistance may be determined based on the amount of drag or force exerted on the solar component 10. In some embodiments, the reduction in wind resistance may be at least about 5 percent based on the size of the apertures 24. In some instances, the reduction in wind resistance may be from about 10 to about 25 percent. In one embodiment, charging of the solar street lamp 50 may take place during the day for illumination at night. In one example, the solar street lamps 50 may be situated in rural or developing areas without the need for connecting to an external power supply (e.g., without connection to a city or county electrical grid). In some instances, the external environment may be severe and multiple solar cells 20 are needed depending on the illumination intensity and time. In one embodiment, the solar cells 20 for absorbing sunlight are fabricated of silicon and may relatively heavy and occupy a large amount of surface. When positioned at the top of a lamp post 56, the ability of the solar street lamp 50 to withstand wind resistance may become crucial. As such, the benefits of reducing wind resistance using the presently disclosed embodiments may be realized.

Although the solar component and devices containing the same have been described in detail with reference to several embodiments, additional variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit as described and defined in the following claims.