Devices configured to direct heat flow are disclosed, as well as methods of forming thereof. A device may include a self-assembling heat flow object. The self-assembling heat flow object may include a material having one or more self-assembling properties that cause the material to react to an environmental stimulus and one or more thermal pathways. An application of the environmental stimulus causes the self-assembling heat flow object to deploy and arrange the one or more thermal pathways for directing thermal energy to one or more locations.

Devices configured to direct heat flow are disclosed, as well as methods of forming thereof. A device may include a self-assembling heat flow object. The self-assembling heat flow object may include a material having one or more self-assembling properties that cause the material to react to an environmental stimulus and one or more thermal pathways. An application of the environmental stimulus causes the self-assembling heat flow object to deploy and arrange the one or more thermal pathways for directing thermal energy to one or more locations.

In one embodiment, a proximity camera system is disclosed. The proximity camera system may include a proximity camera having a lens and a housing, fascia, and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the proximity camera and the fascia. The proximity camera system may additionally include a non-transitory computer-readable medium communicatively coupled to the one or more processors and having logic thereon, the logic, when executed by the one or more processors, being configured to perform operations including: (i) receiving an image captured by the proximity camera, (ii) performing object recognition techniques on the image, (iii) determining whether an object was detected within a first predetermined proximity region, and (iv) transmitting one or more instructions configured to cause a graphical display to be displayed by the fascia. In some embodiments, the proximity camera and the fascia may be coupled to a shelving unit.

An apparatus for predicting useful life of a photovoltaic module includes an input and an output. The input receives first information indicating an amount of hygrothermal stress that a photovoltaic module undergoes from a start until an end of a period during which the photovoltaic module outputs predetermined electric power. The input further receives second information indicating an amount of hygrothermal stress that the photovoltaic module undergoes per a predetermined time in a field where the photovoltaic module is deployed. The second information is generated based on information about daily maximum temperatures of the photovoltaic module in the field where the photovoltaic module is deployed. The output outputs result information about a predicted period during which the photovoltaic module is expected to output the predetermined electric power when the photovoltaic module is deployed in the field.

An apparatus for predicting useful life of a photovoltaic module includes an input and an output. The input receives first information indicating an amount of hygrothermal stress that a photovoltaic module undergoes from a start until an end of a period during which the photovoltaic module outputs predetermined electric power. The input further receives second information indicating an amount of hygrothermal stress that the photovoltaic module undergoes per a predetermined time in a field where the photovoltaic module is deployed. The second information is generated based on information about daily maximum temperatures of the photovoltaic module in the field where the photovoltaic module is deployed. The output outputs result information about a predicted period during which the photovoltaic module is expected to output the predetermined electric power when the photovoltaic module is deployed in the field.

In one embodiment, a proximity camera system is disclosed. The proximity camera system may include a proximity camera having a lens and a housing, fascia, and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the proximity camera and the fascia. The proximity camera system may additionally include a non-transitory computer-readable medium communicatively coupled to the one or more processors and having logic thereon, the logic, when executed by the one or more processors, being configured to perform operations including: (i) receiving an image captured by the proximity camera, (ii) performing object recognition techniques on the image, (iii) determining whether an object was detected within a first predetermined proximity region, and (iv) transmitting one or more instructions configured to cause a graphical display to be displayed by the fascia. In some embodiments, the proximity camera and the fascia may be coupled to a shelving unit.

In one embodiment, a proximity camera system is disclosed. The proximity camera system may include a proximity camera having a lens and a housing, fascia, and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the proximity camera and the fascia. The proximity camera system may additionally include a non-transitory computer-readable medium communicatively coupled to the one or more processors and having logic thereon, the logic, when executed by the one or more processors, being configured to perform operations including: (i) receiving an image captured by the proximity camera, (ii) performing object recognition techniques on the image, (iii) determining whether an object was detected within a first predetermined proximity region, and (iv) transmitting one or more instructions configured to cause a graphical display to be displayed by the fascia. In some embodiments, the proximity camera and the fascia may be coupled to a shelving unit.

A frame for supporting a photovoltaic module (PV) includes a plurality of sidewalls, which are arranged to support the PV module at a spaced distance from an installation surface. The sidewalls define an interior volume having an open top and open bottom. One sidewall has a plurality of openings defined therethrough along a portion of a length thereof. A plenum is disposed adjacent to an exterior surface of the first sidewall and extends along at least the portion of the length of the first sidewall having the plurality of openings defined therethrough. The plenum has an inlet port for receiving a flow of warmed air from a source of warmed air, and is configured to distribute the flow of warmed air through at least some of the plurality of openings in the first sidewall and into the interior volume.

A frame for supporting a photovoltaic module (PV) includes a plurality of sidewalls, which are arranged to support the PV module at a spaced distance from an installation surface. The sidewalls define an interior volume having an open top and open bottom. One sidewall has a plurality of openings defined therethrough along a portion of a length thereof. A plenum is disposed adjacent to an exterior surface of the first sidewall and extends along at least the portion of the length of the first sidewall having the plurality of openings defined therethrough. The plenum has an inlet port for receiving a flow of warmed air from a source of warmed air, and is configured to distribute the flow of warmed air through at least some of the plurality of openings in the first sidewall and into the interior volume.

The present invention relates to a close-contacting module capable of bringing a solar photovoltaic panel and a thermal collector of a solar photovoltaic-thermal panel into close contact without creating an interface. The close-contacting module comprises: a plurality of elastic members (36) which provide an elastic force that presses the thermal collector (20) toward the solar photovoltaic panel (10) from the backside of the thermal collector (20); a support member (35) for supporting the elastic members (36); and a pair of clips (31, 32, 33) provided at both ends of the support member (35) to fix the support member (35) to the edges of the solar photovoltaic-thermal panel (1).