Silicon CPV Ltd
Akhter House, Perry Road, Harlow, Essex, CM18 7PN, UK
Tel +44 (0) 1279 821200 Email [email protected]
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Theory of Operation
The Silicon CPV Solar Light is based on a pair of state-of-the-art embedded
ultra-low power processing units.
Using a highly adaptive and predictive algorithm, the first processing unit
looks after the
Energy Management System
(EMS). This unit is
responsible for extracting and storing the maximum amount of solar energy
available during daylight hours. Using the available stored energy, the unit
is then capable of a custom light output profile during the night period
(Dusk to Dawn).
The second processing unit is the
Communications Management
System
(CMS). This unit provides all the necessary facilities for a mesh
local and wide area network communications. The unit then provides users
with local or remote wide area light cluster management and local light-to-
light connectivity for wide area network communications.
When the light is first switched on the system begins to build a solar light
model and an environmental profile. This process is fully automatic,
however, it does require 2-3 days to complete.
The system will need to gain data on a number of key parameters to
maximise performance, these will include the following:
•
Solar PV Panel Output Power
•
LED Light Output
•
Battery Capacity
•
Daylight Hours
•
Night-time Hours
Following switch on, the system will detect
the “
dusk
” period
and enter the
“First Night”
period. During this period the LED light will be turned onto
maximum brightness for a period dependant on the current battery
“
state
of charge
”
.
The system will then automatically detect dawn on
the “Second Day”
; the
system can then start calculating additional parameters including PV panel
power, battery capacity as well as night and day time hours.