IP Library Granted Patent US 9,788,141
Granted Patent B2
US 9,788,141 · App. 14/857,738 · Granted Oct 10, 2017

Communicating with arrays of module units

Inventors: Andrew J. Ponec (Fremont, CA); Darren Hau (Fremont, CA); Benjamin A. Johnson (Richmond, CA)
Assignee: SunPower Corporation
H04W4/008H04W4/005
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,788,141
App. No.
14/857,738
Granted
Oct 10, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems include moving a mobile communication unit along a plurality of module units, and exchanging data with one of the plurality of module units based at least upon the mobile communication unit being in proximity to the one of the plurality of module units.

Claims (29)

1. A method comprising:

moving a mobile communication unit along a plurality of module units, wherein the module units are configured to receive light energy and to convert the light energy to electrical energy;

exchanging data with one of the plurality of module units based at least upon the mobile communication unit being in proximity to the one of the plurality of module units; and

the mobile communication unit cleaning a light-receiving surface of the one of the plurality of module units substantially concurrently to exchanging data with the one of the plurality of module units.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the mobile communication unit emitting light, wherein the one of the plurality of module units is configured to power on based at least on receiving the light from the mobile communication unit.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the mobile communication device being in proximity comprises the one of the plurality of module units receiving the light from the mobile communication device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile communication device being in proximity comprises the mobile communication device triggering a switch coupled to the one of the plurality of module units.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the mobile communication unit identifying an identity of the one of the plurality of units with which the mobile communication unit is exchanging data.

6. A system comprising a mobile communication unit configured to:

move along a plurality of module units wherein the module units are configured to receive light energy and to convert the light energy to electrical energy,

exchange data with one of the plurality of modules based at least upon the mobile communication device being in proximity to the one of the plurality of module units, and

clean a light-receiving surface of the one of the plurality of module units substantially concurrently to exchanging data with the one of the plurality of module units.

7. The system of claim 6 :

wherein the mobile communication unit is configured to emit light, and

wherein the one of the plurality of module units is configured to power on based at least upon receiving the light from the mobile communication unit.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the mobile communication device being in proximity comprises the one of the plurality of module units receiving the light from the mobile communication device.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the mobile communication device being in proximity comprises the mobile communication device triggering a switch coupled to the one of the plurality of module units.

10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the mobile communication unit is configured to identify an identity of the one of the plurality of module units with which the mobile communication unit is exchanging data.

11. A system comprising a module unit, wherein the module unit is configured to receive light energy and to convert the light energy to electrical energy, wherein the module unit is configured to:

exchange data with a mobile communication device based at least upon the mobile communication device being in proximity to the module unit,

wherein the mobile communication unit is configured to clean a light-receiving surface of the module unit substantially concurrently to exchanging data with the module unit,

wherein the module unit is one of a plurality of module units, and

wherein the mobile communication device is configured to move along the plurality of module units.

12. The system of claim 11 :

wherein the mobile communication unit is configured to emit light, and

wherein the one of the plurality of module units is configured to power on based at least upon receiving the light from the mobile communication unit.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the mobile communication device being in proximity comprises the one of the plurality of module units receiving the light from the mobile communication device.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the mobile communication device being in proximity comprises the mobile communication device triggering a switch coupled to the one of the plurality of module units.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the mobile communication unit is configured to identify an identity of the one of the plurality of module units with which the mobile communication unit is exchanging data.

Assignments (7)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE SPELLING OF THE ASSIGNEE AND EXECUTION DATE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 055517 FRAME 0778. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jun 14, 2021
From: NORTHSTAR ENERGY MANAGEMENT, LLC
To: NOVASOURCE POWER OPCO, INC.
Reel/Frame 056589/0334 →
RELEASE Recorded Apr 1, 2021
From: BANK OF MONTREAL, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: NORTHSTAR ENERGY MANAGEMENT, LLC
Reel/Frame 055804/0607 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 1, 2021
From: NORTHSTAR ENERGY MANAGEMENT, LLC
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
Reel/Frame 055804/0685 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 8, 2021
From: NORTHSTAR ENERGY MANAGEMENT LLC
To: NOVOSOURCE POWER OPCO, INC.
Reel/Frame 055517/0778 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 8, 2021
From: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
To: NORTHSTAR ENERGY MANAGEMENT
Reel/Frame 055517/0620 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 14, 2020
From: NORTHSTAR ENERGY MANAGEMENT, LLC
To: BANK OF MONTREAL, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 052666/0533 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 17, 2015
From: PONEC, ANDREW J.; HAU, DARREN; JOHNSON, BENJAMIN A.
To: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 036595/0696 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170086013A1 · Mar 23, 2017