Patent · US Expired

Assembly method and apparatus for photovoltaic module

US6870087B1 · kind B1 · utility

87Cited by
21References
21Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 16, 2002
Grant dateMar 22, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 23, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E10/60
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A photovoltaic (PV) module 10 assembled by automated processes. PV module 10 comprises solar cells electrically connected in a linear string 24. Encapsulant 26 surrounds solar cell string 24. Dielectric 30 is positioned between solar cell string 24 and a layer of encapsulant 26′. A glass layer is placed atop encapsulant 26. A terminal bar 19 is in electrical continuity with the electrical output of the solar cell at each end of solar cell string 24. Circuit connector 20 is in electrical continuity with terminal bar 19 and is used for electrical connection of one module to another in the field. Solar cell string 24 is mounted in a box-like structure comprised of an upper pan 14 and lower pan 16. Lower pan 16 defines a conduit for the flow of air beneath solar cell string 24. Module 10 is rotatably mountable in sunlight tracking array 100.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.