The Role of Patent Licensing in MSME Development

Problem the Invention Addresses

Solar panels generate the most electricity when sunlight hits them directly. However, the sun’s position changes constantly:

• During the day — moves from East to West
• During the year — shifts North to South due to seasonal changes

Because of this movement, most solar installations cannot maintain the ideal angle all the time.

Limitations of Existing Solutions

1. Fixed-Tilt Systems

• Panels are installed at a single angle
• Easy and low cost, but large energy loss occurs for most of the day
• Significant reduction in annual power generation

2. Single-Axis Trackers (Common Industry Standard)

• Panels move only East-West (daily movement)
• Cannot adjust to seasonal sun position
• Performance drops during winter and seasonal transitions
• Plants do not reach maximum energy yield

3. Conventional Dual-Axis Trackers

• Can follow the sun in both directions
• Provide high energy output
• However:
• Mechanically complex
• Heavy structures
• Expensive gearboxes and drive systems
• High maintenance requirements
• Difficult to scale for large solar farms

Resulting Challenges for Solar Developers

• Lower electricity generation than possible
• Reduced return on investment
• Higher land usage per MW installed
• Increased cost of energy (LCoE)
• Mechanical failures and maintenance in complex trackers

In simple terms:

Solar plants must choose between affordable systems that waste sunlight or efficient systems that are too expensive and complicated to deploy at scale.

The Invention — Solution to the Problem

The patented invention provides a practical dual-axis solar tracking system that allows solar panels to follow the sun both daily (East-West) and seasonally (North-South) using a simple mechanical structure instead of complex rotating machinery.

Instead of rotating the entire panel structure with heavy motors and gearboxes, the system converts straight-line (linear) movement into controlled angular motion. This is achieved through a four-bar linkage mechanism made of beams, struts, and supporting pillars.

How the Solution Works

The system uses two coordinated motions:

1. East–West Movement (Daily Sun Path)

• A sliding upper beam moves in a straight line
• This motion is transferred through flexible brackets and bearings
• The solar panels rotate to follow the sun from morning to evening

2. North–South Tilt (Seasonal Sun Shift)

• A lower sliding beam moves between support pillars
• Connected struts convert the sliding motion into frame tilting
• Panels adjust angle for summer and winter sun positions

Both movements are powered by actuators and can be controlled automatically by a controller.

Key Concept Behind the Innovation

The invention replaces:

• Torque tubes
• Gearboxes
• Large rotating shafts
• Complex multi-motor systems

with a balanced linkage geometry that moves many panels using minimal force.

What Makes This a Practical Industry Solution

The system achieves dual-axis tracking while keeping the structure simple and scalable:

• Linear motion instead of heavy rotational drives
• Fewer moving parts
• Ability to move multiple panels with one actuator
• Easy installation and transport
• Stable under wind forces
• Suitable for large solar farms

Commercial Outcome

This invention solves the industry trade-off by delivering:

High energy capture (dual-axis performance) + low mechanical complexity (single-axis practicality)

As a result, solar plants can generate more electricity without adopting expensive or maintenance-heavy tracking systems, improving overall project economics and scalability.

The Gap in Existing Technologies

Prior solar tracking technologies fall into two separate categories, each with critical limitations:

1. Single-Axis Trackers

• Track the sun only from East to West (daily movement)
• Do not adjust for seasonal North-South sun position
• Result: noticeable loss of energy generation, especially during winter and seasonal transition periods

2. Conventional Dual-Axis Trackers

• Track both daily and seasonal movement
• Provide higher energy output
• However:
• Require complex rotating structures
• Use heavy torque tubes, gear drives, and multiple motors
• High manufacturing and installation cost
• Difficult maintenance
• Limited scalability for large solar farms

The Industry Gap

There has been no practical system combining:

• Dual-axis energy performance
• with
• Mechanical simplicity and cost efficiency suitable for utility-scale deployment

In other words, the market had to choose between:

• Affordable but lower-yield systems, or
• High-yield but commercially impractical systems

How the Invention Fills the Gap

The patented system introduces a four-bar linkage mechanism that converts linear actuator motion into panel rotation and tilt.

This enables dual-axis tracking without heavy rotating machinery or complex drive assemblies.

Result:

A commercially deployable solution delivering near dual-axis performance using a simpler, lighter, and lower-cost mechanical architecture.

Conclusion

The invention closes a long-standing industry gap by making dual-axis tracking economically and mechanically practical for large-scale solar installations — something prior art systems were unable to achieve.