Jung Shin Gwon

US Patent:

20130042856, Feb 21, 2013

Filed:

Aug 17, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/211431

Inventors:

Jon Switkes - San Jose CA, US
Ross Koningstein - Atherton CA, US
John S. Fitch - Los Altos CA, US
Tamsyn Peronel Waterhouse - San Francisco CA, US
Jung Shin Gwon - Santa Cruz CA, US

Assignee:

Google Inc. - Mountain View CA

International Classification:

F24J 2/52
G02B 7/198

US Classification:

126606, 359876

Abstract:

A system for positioning a heliostat mirror or a solar collector includes a support structure, a pivot mechanism adapted to pivot the heliostat mirror or solar collector about a first generally horizontal axis and about a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis, the pivot mechanism is attached to a rear side of the heliostat mirror or solar collector and attached to the support structure. The system also includes a first cable drive actuator having a first motor, driving a first cable spool, and a first cable attached at a proximal end to the first cable spool and attached at a distal end to the heliostat mirror or solar collector, and a second cable drive actuator having a second motor driving a second cable spool, and a second cable attached at a proximal end to the second cable spool and attached to the heliostat mirror or solar collector.

US Patent:

20120174962, Jul 12, 2012

Filed:

Aug 15, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/209823

Inventors:

Ross Koningstein - Menlo Park CA, US
Benjamin M. Davis - San Francisco CA, US
Timothy Peter Allen - Santa Cruz CA, US
Jung Shia Gwon - Santa Cruz CA, US

Assignee:

Google Inc. - Mountain View CA

International Classification:

H01L 31/052
F24J 2/52
F24J 2/16
F24J 2/38

US Classification:

136246, 126600, 126605, 126574

Abstract:

A solar energy system includes a support member secured to a substantially fixed location; a solar energy member mounted to the support member and including a surface operable to track in response to movement of the Sun; an actuator assembly coupled to the solar energy member and configured to periodically apply a torque at a first frequency to move the solar energy member in response to movement of the Sun; and a damper assembly including a spool, where the damper assembly is configured to reactively release and retract a cable about the spool in response to changes in the steady state load, and maintain the cable at a substantially fixed length released from the spool in response to a torque at a second frequency greater than the first frequency that is intermittently received by the solar energy member.