Power generating building panels and methods for their manufacture
US5968287A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 16, 1997 |
| Grant date | Oct 19, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 16, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A photovoltaic building structure comprises a number of interlockable building panels having photovoltaic generator devices supported thereupon. The photovoltaic devices may be attached to the panels by a vacuum lamination process in which a flexible, air impermeable membrane covers a stack of layers being laminated to the panel. Evacuation of air from between the membrane and panel causes the lamination stack to be compressed against the panel, and a pressure and/or heat activatable adhesive is employed to adhere the various layers to the panel. Installation of the panels is in accord with standard building techniques, and the presence of the photovoltaic generators does not change the mechanical characteristics of the panels.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.