Systems and methods for impact resistant and photovoltaic windows

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10163166-B1
Application number	US-201615173019-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 3, 2016
Priority date	Aug 11, 2015
Publication date	Dec 25, 2018
Grant date	Dec 25, 2018

Abstract

An impact-resistant, photovoltaic (IRPV) window system is provided. The system may include an IRPV window coupled to a structure, a controller, and an insurance computing device. The IRPV window may include an impact resistant (IR) layer, a photovoltaic (PV) material that may generate an electrical output, and an electrode coupled to the PV material that may receive the electrical output. The IRPV window may permit a portion of visible light to pass through the IRPV window. The controller may monitor the electrical output and generate a solar profile of the structure based upon the electrical output. The insurance computing device may receive the solar profile and determine if an insurance policy associated with the structure is eligible for a policy adjustment and/or an insurance reward or discount offer.

First claim

I claim:

1. An impact-resistant, photovoltaic (IRPV) window system comprising:
an IRPV window coupled to a structure, the IRPV window comprising at least one glass layer, an impact resistant (IR) layer, a photovoltaic (PV) material configured to generate an electrical output, and an electrode coupled to the PV layer that receives the electrical output, the IRPV window configured to permit at least a portion of visible light to pass through the IRPV window;
a controller comprising at least one processor and a memory, wherein the controller is configured to monitor the electrical output and generate a solar profile of the structure based at least in part on the electrical output; and
an insurance computing device communicatively coupled to the controller, the insurance computing device comprising at least one processor and a memory, wherein the insurance computing device is configured to identify an insurance policy associated with the structure based at least in part on the solar profile.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the solar profile comprises at least one of a structure identifier, a window identifier, a time and date stamp, voltage data, current data, power data, weather data, and Global Positioning System (GPS) data.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of IRPV windows including the IRPV window, wherein the controller is configured to monitor the electrical output of each IRPV window of the plurality of IRPV windows.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising an inverter electrically coupled to the electrical output of the IRPV window, the inverter configured to convert the electrical output from a direct current (DC) output to an alternating current (AC) output.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to the inverter, the controller further configured to selectively direct the AC output of the inverter to at least one of an energy storage device, an electric device, and an electrical grid.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the insurance computing device is further configured to:
receive the solar profile from the controller;
and
adjust the insurance policy based at least in part on the solar profile.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a user computing device communicatively coupled to at least one of the controller and the insurance computing device, the user computing device including a processor, a memory, and a user interface, wherein the user computing device is configured to:
receive the solar profile from at least one of the controller and the insurance computing device; and
display the solar profile on the user interface.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the IRPV window further includes a first protective layer.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the IRPV window further includes a second protective layer, wherein the IR layer is coupled between the first protective layer and the second protective layer.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first protective layer and the second protective layer are made of glass.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the IR layer includes the PV material.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the IRPV window further includes a PV layer comprising the PV material and the electrode.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the PV layer further comprises at least one of a protective film, a reflective material, and an electrical contact.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the IR layer comprises at least one of polyvinyl butyral (PVB), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), PET, and a resin material.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the PV material comprises at least one of a semiconductor and an organic polymer.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the PV material is configured to absorb at least one of infrared light and ultraviolet light.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the structure is a building.

18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the structure is a vehicle.

19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine that the IRPV window has been damaged; and
indicate that the IRPV window has been damaged in the solar profile.

20. A computer-implemented method for generating a solar profile of a structure including at least one impact-resistant, photovoltaic (IRPV) window, said method comprising:
providing the at least one IRPV window for coupling to the structure, the IRPV window including an impact resistant (IR) layer, and a photovoltaic (PV) layer including PV material and an electrode coupled to the PV material, wherein the electrode is further coupled to a controller;
receiving, with the controller, an electrical output of the PV layer of the at least one IRPV window;
monitoring, with the controller, the electrical output;
generating, by the controller, the solar profile based, at least in part, on the electrical output; and
transmitting, from the controller, the solar profile to a first remote computing device, wherein the first remote computing device is configured to identify an insurance policy associated with the structure based at least in part on the solar profile.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 20 , wherein generating the solar profile further includes:
determining that the IRPV window has been damaged; and
indicating that the IRPV window has been damaged in the solar profile.

Assignees

• State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co

Inventors

• Stevig Larry

Classifications

• B32B2457/12

  Photovoltaic modules · CPC title

• H01L31/0468

  Electricity · mapped topic

• G06Q40/08 Primary

  Insurance · CPC title

• B32B2605/006

  Transparent parts other than made from inorganic glass, e.g. polycarbonate glazings · CPC title

• E06B7/28

  Other arrangements on doors or windows, e.g. door-plates, windows adapted to carry plants, hooks for window cleaners {(edge protecting devices for door leaves E06B3/88; special glazing; emergency glazing; double glazing E06B3/66)} · CPC title