US 12,445,086 B2
Three-dimensional photovoltaic charging system
Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Assigned to The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Filed by THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Filed on Aug. 23, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/408,925.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/069,261, filed on Aug. 24, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0060142 A1, Feb. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. H02S 20/32 (2014.01); H02S 30/10 (2014.01); H02S 40/22 (2014.01); H02S 40/38 (2014.01); H02S 40/42 (2014.01)
CPC H02S 20/32 (2014.12) [H02S 30/10 (2014.12); H02S 40/22 (2014.12); H02S 40/38 (2014.12); H02S 40/42 (2014.12)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A three-dimensional (3D) photovoltaic charging system comprising:
a tubular housing extending in a longitudinal direction;
a plurality of discrete photovoltaic layers encased in the tubular housing and spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction; and
a power management unit configured to receive and manage electric current from the plurality of discrete photovoltaic layers,
wherein each discrete photovoltaic layer is supported within the housing at a location along an outer edge of the respective layer and extends away from said location in the same direction,
wherein the tubular housing is at least partially transparent about an entire perimeter of the tubular housing such that light from outside the housing can be transmitted through the housing in all directions perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and
wherein substantially an entire planar face of each photovoltaic layer lies on the same transverse side of said location.