Solar module with combined antenna

Abstract

The invention relates to a solar module (10) for supplying energy, in particular to a field device (50), wherein the solar module (10) enables improved wireless communication. The solar module (10) has a plurality of solar cells (30) arranged on a carrier (40) and at least one electrical line (22, 24) arranged on the solar module (10), wherein the at least one electrical line (22, 24) is configured to function as an antenna for a predefined frequency range.

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a device for supplying energy, in particular to a field device, which device also enables improved wireless communication. Furthermore, the invention relates to a use. background

[0002] For field devices, especially those not connected to a power grid, a supply of electrical power can be a critical task in many cases. Furthermore, high-quality wireless data transmission can be important for at least some field devices. With the current state of the art, installing devices that enable a power supply can be complex for service personnel. Installing a device for high-quality wireless data transmission can significantly increase the required effort. Summary

[0003] The object of the invention is to provide a device that can, in at least some cases, reduce the installation effort required for supplying electrical power and for wireless data transmission. This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Further developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the following description.

[0004] One aspect relates to a solar module comprising a plurality of solar cells arranged on a carrier and at least one electrical line arranged on the solar module. The at least one electrical line is configured to function as an antenna element for a predefined frequency range.

[0005] The solar module can be designed as a compact device that can, for example, be foldable before commissioning. The solar module has a plurality of solar cells that are dimensioned such that they can contribute to supplying energy to a field device. The dimensioning of the solar cells can, in particular, be tailored to an average power consumption of the field device. The solar module further has at least one electrical line arranged on the solar module. The line can be electrically insulated. In one embodiment, the line can be only partially insulated and, in particular, have only a bare wire in the radiation direction or reduced insulation, such as a lacquer coating. The at least one electrical line can be configured to function as an antenna element for a predefined frequency range.For this purpose, the cable or a plurality of cables can be designed to achieve a particularly high antenna gain in the predefined frequency range. The plurality of cables can be configured for a specific antenna characteristic, for example, for a particularly narrow beam angle. The plurality of cables can be designed as a plurality of sub-antennas to achieve better radiation characteristics. In particular, a special shape of the solar module can contribute to improved radiation characteristics.

[0006] Through this combination of solar cells as energy supply and additional cables as antenna, the installation effort for a supply of electrical energy and for wireless data transmission can be significantly reduced in at least some cases, in particular because only a single device needs to be installed to supply a field device with energy and wireless data transmission. A single solar module with integrated antenna is much easier to install and requires less additional material than two complete individual components. An example of an application could be a simple installation on a vehicle, on a container or on a house wall. The solar module can be particularly advantageous for supplying self-sufficient field devices. The integration of the antenna into a photovoltaic module can be particularly advantageous because the solar module has the antenna cables "at the front", i.e.in the direction of radiation, and thus systematically avoid any – possibly unintentional – shadowing by the solar cells. Furthermore, solar cells are often arranged so that they cast little shadow. Such an arrangement can also be particularly advantageous for the placement of antenna elements. Commissioning can also be simplified compared to separate devices.

[0007] In some embodiments, the carrier is designed to be electrically insulating. This can simplify the arrangement of the antenna lines and also allow the antenna lines to be only partially insulated.

[0008] In some embodiments, the carrier comprises and / or is made of one of the following materials: plastics, wood, glass and / or plastic-coated metals, such as iron or stainless steel.

[0009] In some embodiments, the at least one electrical line is arranged in and / or on a frame of the solar module. The line can, for example, be routed within the frame, arranged on the frame, or even arranged or sprayed onto the frame as an electrically conductive "film."

[0010] In some embodiments, the at least one electrical line is arranged between and / or behind the solar cells of the solar module. For example, a plurality of electrical lines can be arranged horizontally and / or vertically between the solar cells of the solar module. For certain frequency ranges, it may be advantageous to arrange the lines behind the solar cells, for example, if the solar cells are intended to protect the antenna. The embodiments in which the line is arranged in and / or on a frame of the solar module and between and / or behind the solar cells of the solar module can be combined.

[0011] In some embodiments, the at least one electrical line is only partially insulated. In some embodiments, the line may have only a bare wire in the radiation direction or reduced insulation. "Reduced insulation" can be understood, for example, as meaning that the wires only have a lacquer coating. This can be a sensible compromise between unhindered radiation of the high-frequency waves from the antenna and protection of the wires, for example, against corrosion.

[0012] In some embodiments, the at least one electrical line has thermal insulation at least in the area of ​​the solar module. This can be particularly advantageous in hot environments.

[0013] In some embodiments, the solar module is planar, semicircular, round, or pyramid-shaped. This can advantageously contribute both to better utilization of sunlight by the solar cells and to optimization of the radiation direction of the high-frequency waves according to certain criteria. These criteria can include, for example, achieving the most uniform radiation possible in many directions, or even focused radiation in one or more preferred directions.

[0014] In some embodiments, the antenna functions as a transmitting and / or receiving antenna for a predefined frequency range between approximately 800 MHz and approximately 4 GHz. The predefined frequency range can be optimized, for example, for mobile radio reception, e.g., for frequency ranges from 890 to 915 MHz and from 935 to 960 MHz (GSM 900), for frequency ranges from 1,710 to 1,785 and from 1,805 to 1,880 MHz (GSM 1800), or for frequency ranges from 1,920 to 1,980 MHz and from 2,110 to 2,170 MHz (UMTS), or for frequency ranges around 700 MHz, around 800 MHz, 1.8 GHz, 2 GHz, and 2.6 GHz (LTE) and / or for frequency ranges between 2 GHz and 3.6 GHz. Alternatively or additionally, frequency ranges for LoRa (Long Range), LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network), Wireless LAN (WLAN) and / or for a GPS position can be supported.

[0015] In some embodiments, the solar module further comprises a buffer storage configured to temporarily store electrical energy from the solar cells. Thus, the solar module can serve as the primary power source for at least some field devices.

[0016] In some embodiments, the solar module further comprises a cable configured to connect the solar cells and the antenna to a field device. The cable comprises a first line for transmitting radio-frequency signals from the antenna and a second line for transmitting power from the solar cells. This cable can contribute to further simplifying the installation and / or commissioning of the solar module.

[0017] In one embodiment, the solar module can be arranged on the field device and / or connected to the field device via a support device - e.g. a frame on which the support is arranged.

[0018] One aspect relates to the use of a solar module as described above and / or below as a power source and as a transmitting and / or receiving antenna for a field device. The solar module can be particularly advantageous for supplying power to a self-sufficient field device.

[0019] For further clarification, the invention is described using embodiments illustrated in the figures. These embodiments are to be understood as examples only and not as limitations. Short description of the characters

[0020] It shows: Fig. 1 schematically shows a solar module according to an embodiment; Fig. 2 schematically shows a cable according to an embodiment. Detailed description of embodiments

[0021] Fig. 1 schematically shows a solar module 10 according to one embodiment, to which a field device 50 is connected. The solar module 10 has a plurality of solar cells 30 arranged on a carrier 40. The carrier 40 can in particular be electrically insulating. The solar module 10 can have a buffer storage 35 configured to temporarily store electrical energy from the solar cells 30. The solar module 10 has at least one electrical line 22 or 24 arranged on the solar module 10. The at least one electrical line 22 and / or 24 is configured to function as an antenna element for a predefined frequency range. In the exemplary embodiment, the at least one electrical line 22 is arranged between the solar cells 30 of the solar module 10. The line 22 can be implemented as a plurality of lines 22 arranged horizontally and / or vertically between the solar cells 30.These can be combined and forwarded to a terminal 23. As a variant, the plurality of lines 22 can be arranged and / or behind the solar cells 30 (not shown). Alternatively or additionally, the at least one electrical line 24 can be arranged in and / or on a frame 42 of the solar module 10 and routed to a terminal 25.

[0022] The solar module 10 can serve as a power source and as a transmitting and / or receiving antenna for a field device 50. The field device 50 can be used, for example, for level measurement, topology determination, limit level determination, flow measurement, pressure measurement, and / or temperature measurement. For this purpose, the field device 50 can have a measuring front end 52. The measuring front end 52 can, for example, be a high-frequency front end, in particular a radar front end, an ultrasound front end, a LiDAR or a laser front end, and / or a radiometric front end. The exemplary embodiment shows a field device 50 that is used to measure the level of a medium or filling material 62 in a container 60 using a radar front end (symbolically shown as a horn antenna). The field device 50 can be self-sufficient, i.e., have no connection to a power grid. The field device 50 has a power supply unit 54 and a radio device 56.The radio device 56 can be configured to transmit data to and / or receive data from a server and / or another level measuring device. The power supply unit 54 can be connected to the solar module 10 via a power supply line 32 in order to use the solar module 10 as a power source. Furthermore, the radio device 56 can be connected to the terminal 23 and / or to the terminal 25 via a line 28 in order to use the antenna part of the solar module 10 for wireless data transmission. Arranging the antenna part in or on the solar module 10 can, in particular, lead to high-quality data transmission.This high quality can be achieved by the antenna portion of solar module 10 being installed particularly high, being particularly free of restrictive objects (which is also beneficial for a high energy yield of the solar portion of solar module 10), and / or by the shape of solar module 10 having a specific, advantageous radiation characteristic. The combination of antenna portion and solar portion in solar module 10 can also simplify installation and commissioning.

[0023] Fig. Figure 2 schematically shows a cable 38 according to an embodiment. The same reference numerals as in Fig. 1 denote identical or similar elements. The cable 38 can in particular be used to connect the solar cells 30 and the antenna 22 and / or 24 of a solar module 10 (see Fig.1) is connected to a field device 50. The cable comprises a first line 28 for transmitting the high-frequency signals from the antenna 22, 24 and a second line 32 for transmitting energy from the solar cells. The cable 38 can contribute to further simplifying the installation and / or commissioning of the solar module 10. List of reference symbols 10 solar modules 22, 24 cable, antenna 23, 25 Terminal 28 Line 30 solar cells 32 Line 32 Power supply line 35 buffer storage 38 cables 40 carriers 42 frames 50 field devices 52 measurement front end 54 Power supply unit 56 radio device 60 containers 62 Filling material

Claims

[1] Solar module (10), comprising: a plurality of solar cells (30) arranged on a carrier (40); and at least one electrical line (22, 24) arranged on the solar module (10), wherein the at least one electrical line (22, 24) is configured to function as an antenna for a predefined frequency range. [2] Solar module (10) according to claim 1, wherein the carrier (40) is electrically insulating. [3] Solar module (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the carrier (40) comprises and / or consists of one of the following materials: plastics, wood, glass and / or plastic-coated metals. [4] Solar module (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one electrical line (24) is arranged in and / or on a frame (42) of the solar module (10). [5] Solar module (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one electrical line (22) is arranged between and / or behind the solar cells (30) of the solar module (10). [6] Solar module (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one electrical line (22) has thermal insulation at least in the region of the solar module (10). [7] Solar module (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the antenna functions as a transmitting and / or receiving antenna for a predefined frequency range between about 800 MHz and about 4 GHz. [8] Solar module (10) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a buffer storage (35) which is arranged for intermediate storage of electrical energy from the solar cells (30). [9] Solar module (10) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a cable (38) arranged to connect the solar cells (30) and the antenna to a field device (50), the cable (38) comprising a first line (28) for transmitting radio frequency signals from the antenna (22, 24) and a second line (32) for transmitting energy from the solar cells (30). [10] Solar module (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the solar module (10) is arranged on the field device (50) and / or is connected to the field device (50) via a carrier device. [11] Use of a solar module (10) according to one of the preceding claims as a power source and as a transmitting and / or receiving antenna for a field device (50), in particular for a self-sufficient field device.

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