Tesla Secures Patent For Laser Glass Cleaning

Automobile Giant Tesla Granted Patent For Pulsed Laser Cleaning Of Vehicles & Solar PV Panels By US Patent & Trademark Office

Tesla Secures Patent For Laser Glass Cleaning

Tesla had filed an application with the USPTO to secure patent for its laser beam glass cleaning technology in May 2019, that can be used to clean all glass surfaces including PV panels. It has now reportedly secured it. (Photo Credit: Tesla, Inc.)

  • Tesla has reportedly secured a patent for its laser beam glass cleaning technology
  • It is equipped with a debris detection circuitry that can detect debris and remove the same with the help of laser beam
  • According to Tesla the cleaning apparatus is a fast, robust, and chemical-free solution to clean different glass articles in vehicles and solar photovoltaic facilities

US headquartered automobile and solar power company Tesla, Inc. has won a patent for its laser beam cleaning technology for glass surfaces of vehicles and solar PV systems, according to various media reports that refer to a US Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) information released on September 7, 2021.

Titled ‘Pulsed laser cleaning of debris accumulated on glass articles in vehicles and photovoltaic assemblies’, the USPTO document says the technology is said to be helpful for solar panels which when covered with dirt can report a decrease in power conversion efficiency ‘which may translate into lower power output for homes, offices, transport systems, or facilities that may depend on power from such solar panels’.

It describes the technology having debris detection circuitry to detect debris accumulated over the glass. Laser beam is then pulsated at a calibrated rate that limits penetration of the laser beam to a depth that is less than a thickness of the glass article, eventually removing the debris accumulated.

Currently, glass on solar PV modules is cleaned either using sophisticated chemical solutions, or through robotic brushes. According to Tesla’s submission to the USPTO, “Although such automated solutions may clean glass articles, preparations for cleaning such glass articles may consume a significant time and the cleaning and drying period may add to overall unproductive time. Additionally, usage of chemical solutions may be unsuitable for glass articles installed in electronics devices (for example, cameras, dashboards, and the like) as such components may turn defective with application of such chemical solutions.”

Touting its laser beam solution, Tesla says its cleaning apparatus provides a fast, robust, and chemical-free solution to clean different glass articles in vehicles and solar photovoltaic facilities.

Tesla says this technology can also be useful for architectural glass cleaning or cleaning of any other glass or glass-like surfaces for instance windows, glass panels used as building material, skylights, and the like.

The inventor of the technology is mentioned as Phiroze Dalal whose LinkedIn account says he is a senior staff scientific and industrial imaging specialist at Tesla. The patent was filed on May 10, 2019.

About The Author

Anu Bhambhani

SENIOR NEWS EDITOR Anu is our solar news whirlwind. At TaiyangNews, she covers everything that is of importance in the world of solar power. In the past 9 years that she has been associated with TaiyangNews, she has covered over thousands of stories, and analysis pieces on markets, technology, financials, and more on a daily basis. She also hosts TaiyangNews Conferences and Webinars. Prior to joining TaiyangNews, Anu reported on sustainability, management, and education for leading print dailies in India. [email protected]

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