US 12,294,332 B2
Solar carports, solar-tracking carports, and methods
Alain Poivet, Palo Alto, CA (US)
Assigned to KBFX LLC, Lewes, DE (US)
Filed by KBFX LLC, Lewes, DE (US)
Filed on Jul. 13, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/374,805.
Application 17/374,805 is a continuation of application No. 16/505,537, filed on Jul. 8, 2019, granted, now 11,063,553.
Application 16/505,537 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/237,517, filed on Dec. 31, 2018, granted, now 11,283,393.
Application 16/237,517 is a continuation of application No. 14/970,431, filed on Dec. 15, 2015, granted, now 10,277,159, issued on Apr. 30, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/694,835, filed on Jul. 6, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0182009 A1, Jun. 9, 2022
Int. Cl. H02S 30/10 (2014.01); E04B 1/343 (2006.01); G05D 3/10 (2006.01); H02S 20/24 (2014.01); H02S 20/32 (2014.01); H02S 30/20 (2014.01); E04B 7/16 (2006.01); E04H 6/02 (2006.01)
CPC H02S 30/10 (2014.12) [E04B 1/34363 (2013.01); G05D 3/105 (2013.01); H02S 20/24 (2014.12); H02S 20/32 (2014.12); H02S 30/20 (2014.12); E04B 7/163 (2013.01); E04H 6/025 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A solar tracking carport, comprising:
a supporting structure including at least two columns;
a three-dimensionally rigid canopy deck having a deck length in a deck longitudinal direction from a first edge to a second edge and having a deck width, the three-dimensionally rigid canopy deck including
at least one solar panel;
a deck frame configured to support the at least one solar panel, the deck frame including a load transmitting structure extending substantially across the deck width of the three dimensionally rigid canopy deck, the deck frame having only one axis of rotation positioned substantially centrally between the first edge and the second edge and defining a first canopy deck portion and a second canopy deck portion, the first canopy deck portion configured to be disposed over a first parking spot, the second canopy deck portion configured to be disposed over a second parking spot;
a rotation enabling connection configured to rotatably connect the three-dimensionally rigid canopy deck to the at least two columns of the supporting structure;
a first drive system configured to control tilting of the three-dimensionally rigid canopy deck about the one axis of rotation to a programmatically set first maximum angle in a first direction and to a programmatically set second maximum angle in a second direction, the programmatically set first maximum angle preventing the first edge of the three-dimensionally rigid canopy deck from going above or below a first threshold height, the programmatically set second maximum angle preventing the second edge of the three-dimensionally rigid canopy deck from going above or below a second threshold height; and
at least one switch or sensor configured to generate a signal when the three-dimensionally rigid canopy deck is at a third maximum angle in the first direction beyond the programmatically set first maximum angle but below a first physical threshold or at a fourth maximum angle in the second direction beyond the programmatically set second maximum angle but below a second physical threshold, the signal being used to inform a controller of a danger condition that the first drive system has exceeded a programmatic angle limit of the three-dimensionally rigid canopy deck.