The current invention is related to designing an automatic awning. It is used to protect the vehicle or the persons desiring to sit outside during the daytime from the sun and its heat. It includes only one pillar fixed to the ground or on a fixed wall (FIG. 2). This pillar contains the closed awning inside. The pillar contains also a motor with a chain to push the awning making it go out smoothly (FIG. 3) from the pillar and turn into a cross-rail (FIG. 4). Then, the awning is opened containing two awnings fixed to the cross-rail. Each awning is opened against the other direction of the other one. Each awning folded in a cylindrical shape contains its special fabric and arm with a tie rod. It has a spring and a chain set up in a special way to be very specific in pushing force out. It is fixed to the cylinder and the fabric to open the fabric awning (FIG. 5). There is a motor inside the cylinder. It pulls and closes the fabric by wrapping around the cylinder. Each awning is spread horizontally in a reverse direction to give the desired shade (FIG. 6). The sizes of the awning vary according to the size of the required shade, as it is enlarged to increase the desired shade, and vice versa. There are three sensors in each awning. One of them is the sun sensor to be opened at daytime and closed at night, the wind sensor that closes in case of strong winds and a sensor of radio frequency (RFID) attached to the designated vehicle to be opened in case of proximity and closed in case of being away. The awning is opened either by pressing the remote-control button, and this is a manual option, and there is an automatic option. It is through a barcode reader, the sensor of radio frequency (RFID), in a card set inside the vehicle linked to the awning. When the vehicle is parked under the awning, it is automatically opened in case of the sunny weather. The process of closing the awning is done either manually by remote control or automatically in the following cases; when the vehicle moves away from its place and the awning, also in case of the absence of the sun, and also in the case of the fast wind.

A ten-device-in-one reconfigurable adjustable carport (capable of functioning as a privacy screen, a wind screen, a cabana, a dog run, a retail-tradeshow booth, an attic, a storage, a picnic table, a kennel, and a carport) comprises: a canopy, roof spines, roof ribs, leg posts, T-shaped joiners and X-shaped joiners spring-snappingly connected to the roof spines and roof ribs and leg posts for configuring the ten-device-in-one carport as a car canopy and a greenhouse and an enclosure and a barrier and a cabana and a privacy room and a privacy screen and a tradeshow booth and a wind barrier, panels, door-frame panel, panel-to-panel-securing brackets and panel-to-post-securing brackets bolted to the panels and the door-frame panel and the roof spines and the roof ribs and the leg posts for configuring the ten-device-in-one carport as a dog run and a greenhouse and an enclosure and a barrier and bleacher shelves to store or display items and an attic to store items off the ground and a hanging cage to house animals off the ground and structures for displaying signs and roof storage, and bracket heads formed into the panel-to-post-securing brackets for automatically centering the bracket-head ends.

A solar powered charging station uses photovoltaic panels to generate electrical energy for use directly and/or for storage in electrical batteries for use during night operation. The station includes parallel electrical circuits which permit the station to operate during daylight hours in the event of a failure of the battery or the battery charging system. The station is adapted to use stabilizing ballast which can be collected locally at the site of the station. The parallel circuitry is adaptable for use with other forms of electrical power generation having a minimal carbon footprint.

In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, solar energy shade structures and methods of design and revenue generation are disclosed. These systems comprise structures capable of supporting solar panel at heights greater than 18 feet above their mounting surface. These systems may be installed in confined spaces. These systems also comprise structures that are customizable, allowing an installation to be configured with a desired lighting and environmental effect. The methods discussed herein describe processes for achieving desired design effects based on natural elements. Moreover, the methods discussed herein describe processes for reducing the costs of generating solar energy and/or reducing the costs of providing a solar structure.

A solar carport system has a framework comprising metal tubing and connection fittings, the framework having a length, a width and a height and rectangular faces on top, ends and sides, a plurality of wheel assemblies at a lowermost location on the framework, enabling the framework to be moved on the wheels on a supporting surface, a plurality of solar panels assembled to the framework in the top rectangular face, such that an active surface of each solar panel faces upward, and circuitry and wiring connecting the solar panels to a cable ending in a connector compatible with and connected to an inverter.

Canopy structures and methods for erecting the same include a main support that is attached to a foot at a first pinned hinge point. A hub is attached to the main support at a second pinned hinge point. One or more arms are attached to the hub. One or more purlins are attached to the one or more arms. An upper surface mounted on the one or more purlins.

The present application provides methods for loading and unloading high capacity storage equipment to a solar power canopy. The methods and structures may include horizontal support members have mechanisms to engage corresponding mechanisms on a compartment housing the high capacity storage equipment. The mechanisms may include plates, flanged surfaces, rails, tracks, hook assemblies, and ridges. The methods and structures may include a superstructure that is coupled to an moves with respect to the solar power canopy frame. The superstructure may pivot and/or rotate to allow loading and unloading. The methods and structures also may include cabinets or cubicles sized to receive one or more compartments housing the high capacity storage equipment.

A solar assembly includes a single-slope crossbeam, a plurality of clip angle brackets, and a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) modules. Each PV module is supported by at least two of the plurality of clip angle brackets, and a height of the plurality of angle brackets differ from each other in order to allow the PV modules to be shingled.

The embodiments are apparatuses, systems and methods of water management and icicle prevention for solar carports, and are designed to catch drips between rows of, and water run-off from, the low side of inclined photovoltaic modules arranged to form the roof of the solar carport or canopy.

Various embodiments of mounting structures for solar photovoltaic (PV) modules and methods for constructing such mounting structures are described. A mounting structure is usable to secure PV modules in portrait orientation or landscape orientation. PV modules are secured to PV module support rails, which may be secured to purlins of a mounting structure using clamps. In some embodiments, self-adhesive grounding patches are used to establish electrical grounding paths in various embodiments of mounting structure.