Prior art

The USPTO provides tools for searching patents and patent application publications. For this analysis, I will rely on the "Prior art references" section from the Google Patents page for US11411529, as it lists both examiner-cited and applicant-cited prior art and is readily accessible.

Based on the analysis, the most relevant prior art for US patent 11411529 is its own parent patent, US10075125, due to the direct continuation relationship and identical disclosure of key inventive features. Additionally, US9077227B2 is highly relevant as an examiner-cited patent with substantially the same disclosure and priority date.

Here is an analysis of the most relevant prior art:

Most Relevant Prior Art

1. US10075125B2 - Solar tracker apparatus

• Full citation: US10075125B2, "Solar tracker apparatus," issued September 11, 2018, to Au et al., and assigned to Nextracker LLC.
• Publication/Filing Date: Published: September 11, 2018. Filed: December 16, 2015. (Claims benefit of US Provisional Application No. 62/095,670, filed on December 22, 2014, which is the same priority date as US11411529).
• Brief Description: This patent describes a solar tracker apparatus featuring an adjustable hanger assembly with a clam shell hanger assembly for holding a torque tube. It emphasizes the alignment of the apparatus's center of mass with the torque tube's center of rotation to reduce the load on the drive mechanism. Solar modules are coupled to the torque tubes. The system includes a self-sufficient energy system with a solar panel, a DC to DC converter, a battery, and a micro-controller, enabling operation without external power lines.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US11411529 is explicitly stated to be a continuation of an application that led to US10075125. The abstract and significant portions of the detailed description of US10075125 are identical to those of US11411529, indicating that the core inventive concepts are disclosed in this earlier patent. Therefore, US10075125 anticipates all inferred independent claims of US11411529:
  • Anticipates Claim 1 (Self-Powered Tracker Apparatus with Center of Mass Alignment): US10075125's abstract and detailed description explicitly disclose the adjustable hanger, clam shell clamp, continuous torque tube, alignment of center of mass with center of rotation, reduced motor load, solar modules, motor drive, and the self-powered energy system comprising a solar panel (less than 300 Watts), a DC to DC converter, a battery storage device, a boost converter, a capacitor device (for stable voltage), a micro-controller, and operation with less than 15 Watt-hours per day without an external energy source.
  • Anticipates Claim 2 (Pier-Supported Tracker Apparatus with Offset Drive and Notched Torque Tube): US10075125's description details the drive mount capable of compensating for construction tolerances in at least three axes, an offset clamp device coupled to a cylindrical bearing device and a clamp housing member, a cylindrical torque tube with notches, and clamps configured to mate with the notches to prevent movement and support solar modules.
  • Anticipates Claim 3 (Alternative Tracker Apparatus with Offset Crank and Continuous Torque Tube): US10075125 discloses a drive device, an offset crank (first and second cranks 1541, 1542) coupled to a frame assembly, a continuous torque tube, and swage fittings coupling the cranks to the torque tubes, along with a second pier and drive mount.
  • Anticipates Claim 4 (Solar Tracker Apparatus with Upright Spherical Bearing Hanger): US10075125 describes a clamp housing member configured in an upright direction with a spherical bearing device, a clam shell clamp housing member coupled to and suspended from the spherical bearing, a torque tube supported from the upper region of the clamp housing member in an offset position from the center of rotation, assembly without welds using swage devices, elastomeric and locking dampers, an underground controller box, and the spherical bearing providing tolerance accommodation, movement, and a grounding path.
  • Anticipates Claim 5 (Tracker Apparatus with Multiple Weld-Free Torque Tubes): US10075125 explicitly describes a plurality of torque tubes configured as a continuous structure (80 to 200 meters in length), with each pair being swage-fitted together (weld-free), including notches and U-bolt devices, and being made of steel.
  • Anticipates Claim 6 (Tracker Apparatus with Multi-Directional Clamp Holding Member): US10075125 describes a pier member with a clamp holding member configured to its upper region, capable of moving in at least six distinct directions (first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth, and their respective opposite directions).
  • Anticipates Claim 7 (Solar Tracker Apparatus with Suspended Clam Shell and Twist-Free Drive): US10075125 discloses an upright clamp housing member with a spherical bearing from which a clam shell clamp housing member is suspended, a torque tube with its first end coupled to the spherical bearing in an offset position, and a drive device coupled to the second end, with the drive device and torque tube configured to be substantially free from twisting under load.

2. US9077227B2 - Drive support system for solar tracker

• Full citation: US9077227B2, "Drive support system for solar tracker," issued July 7, 2015, to Au et al., and assigned to Nextracker LLC.
• Publication/Filing Date: Published: July 7, 2015. Filed: December 22, 2014. (This is the same date as the Provisional Application No. 62/095,670, which US11411529 claims priority from).
• Brief Description: This patent details a drive support system for a solar tracker, comprising a drive mechanism support structure coupled to a pier. The system includes a drive mechanism (motor, gearbox) and a drive arm connected to a torque tube. A key feature is the drive mechanism's support structure's ability to accommodate construction tolerances in multiple axes.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): As noted, US9077227B2 shares the same priority date and contains substantial disclosure overlapping with US11411529 and US10075125. The language in US9077227B2's detailed description for several features is often identical to that used in US11411529.
  • Anticipates Claim 2 (Pier-Supported Tracker Apparatus with Offset Drive and Notched Torque Tube): US9077227B2 explicitly describes a drive mount capable of compensating for construction tolerances in at least three axes, a drive device with an off-set clamp device coupled to a cylindrical bearing device and a clamp housing member, a cylindrical torque tube with a plurality of notches, and a clamp configured to mate with a respective notch to prevent movement and support a portion of a solar module.
  • Anticipates Claim 3 (Alternative Tracker Apparatus with Offset Crank and Continuous Torque Tube): US9077227B2 describes a drive device with a crank configured in an offset manner to a frame assembly, including first and second cranks (1541, 1542) coupled to first and second torque tubes via swage fittings, and a second pier coupled to the drive device.
  • Anticipates Claim 4 (Solar Tracker Apparatus with Upright Spherical Bearing Hanger): US9077227B2 discloses an upright clamp housing member with a spherical bearing device, a clam shell clamp housing member coupled to and suspended from the spherical bearing, a torque tube supported in an offset position, weld-free assembly, swage devices, elastomeric and locking dampers, an underground controller box, and the spherical bearing's tolerance/movement/grounding capabilities.
  • Anticipates Claim 5 (Tracker Apparatus with Multiple Weld-Free Torque Tubes): US9077227B2 discloses a plurality of torque tubes (80 to 200 meters in length) swage-fitted together (weld-free), with notches and U-bolt devices.
  • Anticipates Claim 7 (Solar Tracker Apparatus with Suspended Clam Shell and Twist-Free Drive): US9077227B2 describes a suspended clam shell clamp housing member from a spherical bearing, an offset torque tube, and a drive device configured to be substantially free from twisting under load.
  • US9077227B2 does not appear to disclose the detailed self-powered energy system of Claim 1, nor the explicit 6-directional movement of a clamp holding member as detailed in Claim 6.

3. US6460533B1 - Solar tracking mechanism for solar panel

• Full citation: US6460533B1, "Solar tracking mechanism for solar panel," issued October 8, 2002, to Fardanesh.
• Publication/Filing Date: Published: October 8, 2002. Filed: September 8, 2000.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a solar tracking mechanism for a solar panel that uses an active sun sensor and a micro-controller to activate motors for azimuth and elevation tracking. It includes a battery power source and a charging circuit, with a focus on reducing power consumption.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While US6460533B1 generally describes a self-powered solar tracking system with a battery and controller, it lacks the specific detailed architecture and performance parameters of Claim 1 of US11411529. Specifically, it does not disclose the center of mass alignment for load reduction, the less than 300 Watts solar panel, the DC to DC converter, boost converter, capacitor for stable voltage, or the less than 15 Watt-hours per day operation. It also does not disclose any of the specific mechanical features related to torque tubes, clamps, piers, or bearing assemblies found in claims 2-7 of US11411529. Therefore, it does not anticipate any of the inferred independent claims under § 102.