Patent · US Active

In-process electrical connector

US9054632B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by

18References

31Claims

0Family size

Assignee

First Solar, Inc. · US

Inventors

James Ernest Hinkle · Lambertville, US
Imran Khan · Richardson, US
Modesto Sanchez · Perrysburg, US
Thomas Truman · Toledo, US

Key dates

Filing date	Aug 4, 2011
Grant date	Jun 9, 2015
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Jul 6, 2033

Classification

Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
CPC primaryY02E10/50
WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Characteristics of partially assembled photovoltaic modules can be determined using electrical connection apparatuses and methods. By providing deformable electrical contacts against a partially assembled module on an assembly line, an electrical bias can be applied to the module before the module is completely assembled. An electrical connection apparatus for a photovoltaic module may include a first contact configured to engage a first lead on the photovoltaic module, a second contact configured to engage a second lead on the photovoltaic module, and an electrical power source configured to apply an electrical bias between the first contact and the second contact.

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