Roof mounted photovoltaic system and method for wireless transfer of electrical energy
A roof mountable photovoltaic system, wherein electrical energy is transferred from multiple direct current generating sources to at least one wireless energy receiver device through some separated distance. The system is configured such that electrical energy can be transferred even through an obstruction, such as several layers of roofing material, to the wireless energy receiver device. In some embodiments, there are fewer wireless energy receiver devices than the direct current generating sources. In some embodiments, the wireless energy receiver device can include one or more inductive windings, antennae, or a combination thereof, which can couple with the windings, antennae, or a combination thereof of the wireless transmitter(s) to transfer electrical energy from the transmitters to the one or more receivers without direct electrical or physical connection.
1. A roofing system, comprising:
a roof structure including a roof deck;
a first photovoltaic device disposed above the roof deck; wherein the first photovoltaic device includes:
a first solar cell, and
a first wireless energy transmitter device comprising a first transmitter magnetic induction component,
wherein the first wireless energy transmitter device is electrically connected to the first solar cell, wherein the first wireless energy transmitter device is configured, when in operation, to generate a first alternating magnetic field;
a second photovoltaic device disposed above the roof deck, wherein the second photovoltaic device includes:
a second solar cell, and
a second wireless energy transmitter device comprising a second transmitter magnetic induction component,
wherein the second wireless energy transmitter device is electrically connected to the second solar cell, wherein the second wireless energy transmitter device is configured, when in operation, to generate a second alternating magnetic field; and a wireless energy receiver device disposed below the roof deck,
wherein the wireless energy receiver device is not in direct electrical contact with the first photovoltaic device,
wherein the wireless energy receiver device is not in direct electrical contact with the second photovoltaic device,
wherein the wireless energy receiver device includes:
an electrical circuit, and
a magnetic induction component in electrical contact with the electrical circuit,
wherein an area of the magnetic induction component of the wireless energy receiver device is greater than a total area of the first and second transmitter magnetic induction components,
wherein the magnetic induction component is configured, when in operation, to be inductively coupled to both of the first wireless energy transmitter device and the second wireless energy transmitter device via the first alternating magnetic field and the second alternating magnetic field to alter a current through the electrical circuit,
wherein the roofing system comprises one or more wireless energy receiver devices including the wireless energy receiver device and a plurality of wireless energy transmitter devices including the first and second wireless energy transmitter device, and wherein a quantity of the one or more wireless energy receiver devices is less than a quantity of the plurality of wireless energy transmitter devices.
2. The roofing system of claim 1 , wherein the first photovoltaic device and the second photovoltaic device are not directly in electrical contact with each other.
3. The roofing system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more wireless energy receiver devices further comprises additional wireless energy receiver devices.
4. The roofing system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more wireless energy receiver devices comprises only one wireless energy receiver device.
5. The roofing system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more wireless energy receiver devices further comprises additional wireless energy receiver devices.
6. The roofing system of claim 1 , wherein the roof structure further comprises:
a shingle; and
an underlayment;
wherein the underlayment is disposed between the shingle and the roof deck.
7. The roofing system of claim 6 , wherein the wireless energy receiver device is disposed below the underlayment.
8. The roofing system of claim 1 , wherein below the roof deck is in an attic of a building structure.
9. The roofing system of claim 1 , wherein the first photovoltaic device further comprises an inverter configured, when in operation, to generate high frequency alternating current (AC).
10. The roofing system of claim 1 , wherein the first photovoltaic device further comprises a resonant network of discrete or integrated components electrically connected to the first wireless energy transmitter device.
11. The roofing system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical circuit of the wireless energy receiver device comprises a receiver resonant network of discrete or integrated components electrically connected to the magnetic induction component.
12. The roofing system of claim 1 , wherein the first wireless energy transmitter device comprises:
a resonant power converter;
a capacitor, an inductor, or a combination thereof; and
an inverter.
13. The roofing system of claim 1 , wherein the first photovoltaic device is not connected electrically to a household appliance.
14. The roofing system of claim 1 , the one or more wireless energy receiver devices each comprise a respective magnetic induction component including the magnetic induction component of the wireless energy receiver device, and wherein a quantity of the respective magnetic induction components is less than the quantity of the plurality of wireless energy transmitter devices.
15. The roofing system of claim 1 , the roofing system comprises a plurality of solar cells including the first and second solar cells, and wherein the quantity of the one or more wireless energy receiver devices is less than a quantity of the plurality of solar cells.
16. The roofing system of claim 1 , the roofing system comprises a plurality of solar cells including the first and second solar cells, the one or more wireless energy receiver devices each comprise a respective magnetic induction component including the magnetic induction component of the wireless energy receiver device, and wherein a quantity of the respective magnetic induction components is less than a quantity of the plurality of solar cells.
17. A roof system, comprising:
photovoltaic devices disposed above a roof deck, wherein the photovoltaic devices comprise:
two solar cells, and
two wireless energy transmitter devices comprising respective transmitter magnetic induction components,
wherein each of the two wireless energy transmitter devices are electrically connected to each of the two solar cells, respectively, and wherein the two wireless energy transmitter devices are configured, when in operation, to generate a magnetic field;
a wireless energy receiver device disposed below the roof deck,
wherein the wireless energy receiver device is not in direct electrical contact with the two solar cells,
wherein the wireless energy receiver device comprises:
an electrical circuit, and
a magnetic induction component in electrical contact with the electrical circuit,
wherein an area of the magnetic induction component of the wireless energy receiver device is greater than a total area of the transmitter magnetic induction components,
wherein the magnetic induction component is configured, when in operation, to be inductively coupled to both of the two wireless energy transmitter devices via the magnetic field to alter a current through the electrical circuit,
wherein the roof system comprises one or more wireless energy receiver devices including the wireless energy receiver device and a plurality of wireless energy transmitter devices including the two wireless energy transmitter devices, and wherein a quantity of the one or more wireless energy receiver devices is less than a quantity of the plurality of wireless energy transmitter devices.
18. A system, comprising:
solar cells;
wireless energy transmitter devices, comprising respective transmitter magnetic induction components, configured to be disposed above a roof deck,
wherein the wireless energy transmitter devices are each electrically connected to the solar cells, respectively,
wherein the wireless energy transmitter devices are configured, when in operation, to generate a magnetic field; and
a wireless energy receiver device configured to be disposed below the roof deck,
wherein the wireless energy receiver device is not in direct electrical contact with the solar cells,
wherein the wireless energy receiver device includes:
an electrical circuit, and
a magnetic induction component in electrical contact with the electrical circuit,
wherein an area of the magnetic induction component of the wireless energy receiver device is greater than a total area of the transmitter magnetic induction components,
wherein the magnetic induction component is configured, when in operation, to be inductively coupled to the wireless energy transmitter devices to alter a current through the electrical circuit,
wherein the system comprises one or more wireless energy receiver devices including the wireless energy receiver device, and wherein a quantity of the one or more wireless energy receiver devices is less than a quantity of the wireless energy transmitter devices.