Photovoltaic Module Having Bi-Directional Couplings
Granted: May 5, 2022
Application Number:
20220140777
Photovoltaic module systems are provided. These systems can comprise multiple photovoltaic laminates connected with one or more mechanical coupling pairs that extend beyond perimeter edges of individual photovoltaic laminates. The mechanical coupling pairs can be connected to ends of support members positioned beneath the photovoltaic laminates. During assembly, an additional photovoltaic laminate may be added to connected photovoltaic laminates that are previously connected and lie…
SOLAR CELL SEPARATION WITH EDGE COATING
Granted: March 17, 2022
Application Number:
20220085223
A groove is cut along a line between adjacent solar cells of a wafer. A coating powder is processed to form a coating layer on the surface of the groove. The solar cells are thereafter physically separated from each other along the groove, with the coating layer serving as an edge coat. The solar cells are electrically connected in series and packaged in a solar module.
SOLAR PANEL
Granted: March 17, 2022
Application Number:
20220085218
A high efficiency configuration for a solar cell module comprises solar cells arranged in an overlapping shingled manner and conductively bonded to each other in their overlapping regions to form super cells, which may be arranged to efficiently use the area of the solar module.
SOLAR CELL CONTACT FORMATION USING LASER ABLATION
Granted: January 27, 2022
Application Number:
20220029038
The formation of solar cell contacts using a laser is described. A method of fabricating a back-contact solar cell includes forming a poly-crystalline material layer above a single-crystalline substrate. The method also includes forming a dielectric material stack above the poly-crystalline material layer. The method also includes forming, by laser ablation, a plurality of contacts holes in the dielectric material stack, each of the contact holes exposing a portion of the…
Photovoltaic Panel Having a Distributed Support Frame
Granted: January 13, 2022
Application Number:
20220014144
A photovoltaic panel having a photovoltaic module supported by a distributed support frame is described. The distributed support frame may include a support member extending over a back surface of the photovoltaic module. For example, one or more support members may extend laterally from a support hub mounted on the back surface. The distributed support frame may reduce a span length of the photovoltaic module between support locations, and thus, may reduce a likelihood that a module…
CLAMPS FOR SOLAR SYSTEM
Granted: December 30, 2021
Application Number:
20210408960
A solar power system can include a rail and a solar module disposed on the rail. A clamp assembly can couple the solar module to the rail. The clamp assembly can have a clamped configuration in which the solar module is secured to the rail and an unclamped configuration. The clamp assembly can comprise an upper clamp member, a lower clamp member coupled to the rail, and a stabilization member mechanically engaging the upper clamp member and the lower clamp member. The stabilization…
COMPOSITE MASKING BETWEEN SOLAR CELLS
Granted: December 9, 2021
Application Number:
20210384363
Composite making regions are provided. These masking regions can include layers or other areas of different transparency where a first region has a first transparency and a second region has a different transparency. Masking regions can be positioned between adjacent photovoltaic cells of photovoltaic arrays.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SHINGLING WAFER STRIPS CONNECTED IN PARALLEL
Granted: November 4, 2021
Application Number:
20210343888
A solar device includes a first string of first solar wafers, wherein a plurality of the first solar wafers each overlap with at least one vertically adjacent solar wafer from the first string. Additionally, the solar device includes a second string of second solar wafers, wherein a plurality of the second solar wafers each overlap with at least one vertically adjacent solar wafer from the second string, wherein a plurality of the first solar wafers overlap with one or more of the…
WATER SEALING SURFACE ATTACHMENT
Granted: October 7, 2021
Application Number:
20210310513
A mounting assembly for securing fixtures to a mounting structure may include a first fastener, a washer, a mounting bracket, and second fastener. The first fastener may be coupled to the mounting structure through a mounting aperture. The washer may be disposed around shaft of the first fastener between a head of the first fastener and the mounting surface. The mounting bracket may be disposed on top of the first fastener. The second fastener may be disposed through the mounting bracket…
ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE ADHESIVES FOR SOLAR CELL MODULES
Granted: September 23, 2021
Application Number:
20210296520
A solar module includes at least one first solar cell and at least one second solar cell, each including: a substrate including a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type and a second semiconductor region of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type; a first metallization pattern providing electrical contact to the first semiconductor region of the first conductivity type; and a second metallization pattern providing electrical contact to the…
CURRENT CYCLICAL TESTING FOR PV ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS
Granted: September 9, 2021
Application Number:
20210281215
Cyclical testing of electrically conductive bonding (ECB) is provided. Cyclical testing comprises high current flows using multiples of max operating currents and monitoring sensors with periods of no current to accelerate testing of electrical connections employing ECBs.
SPACER FORMATION IN A SOLAR CELL USING OXYGEN ION IMPLANTATION
Granted: September 9, 2021
Application Number:
20210280726
A solar cell is disclosed. The solar cell has a front side facing the sun during normal operation, and a back side facing away from the sun. The solar cell comprises a silicon substrate, a first polysilicon layer with a region of doped polysilicon on the back side of the substrate. The solar cell also comprises a second polysilicon layer with a second region of doped polysilicon on the back side of the silicon substrate. The second polysilicon layer at least partially covers the region…
SOLAR PANEL SYSTEM GENERATION
Granted: August 26, 2021
Application Number:
20210264071
A solar panel system proposal system includes a remote device configured to display various steps of the solar panel system proposal process and receive input from a user. The user input received from the user allows the user, via the solar panel system proposal system, to create one or more solar panel system layout designs, compare savings for different solar panel system layout designs, select a solar panel system layout design from the one or more solar panel system layout designs,…
SOLAR POWER SYSTEM COMMISSIONING
Granted: August 19, 2021
Application Number:
20210257968
Commissioning a solar power monitoring system includes imaging a plurality of labels, wherein each label of the plurality of labels is associated with an electronic component. Further, commissioning the solar power monitoring system includes discovering each electronic component at the same time based on the imaging of the plurality of labels, displaying a list of the discovered electronic components, and commissioning a solar power monitoring system including the discovered electronic…
SOLAR MODULE SKIRT ASSEMBLY
Granted: August 12, 2021
Application Number:
20210249990
A solar module skirt assembly includes a skirt that is attached to a frame of a solar module, and a clip to attach the skirt to the solar module. The clip includes a first portion to attach to a frame of the solar module and to the skirt, a second portion to hold a portion of the frame of the solar module and a portion of the skirt, and a fastener to affix the clip to the frame of the solar module and the portion of the skirt.
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELL AND LAMINATE METALLIZATION
Granted: July 29, 2021
Application Number:
20210234054
A photovoltaic laminate is disclosed. Embodiments include placing a first encapsulant on a substantially transparent layer that includes a front side of a photovoltaic laminate. Embodiments also include placing a first solar cell on the first encapsulant. Embodiments include placing a metal foil on the first solar cell, where the metal foil uniformly contacts a back side of the first solar cell. Embodiments include forming a metal bond that couples the metal foil to the first solar cell.…
ELECTRICAL PATHWAY INTERMITTENT FAULT DETECTION
Granted: June 24, 2021
Application Number:
20210194425
Testing to detect intermittent electrical pathways is described. Applied currents may be reversed to fully test all components of a workpiece. Various testing methodologies may be employed. These methodologies may include Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR), mechanical agitation, dark current/voltage testing, (dark IV), i.e., electrical testing of a workpiece using applied electricity, and thermographic imaging, e.g., infra-red thermal imaging. The sensed voltage during agitation may be…
SINGLE-WALLED CONNECTING KEY FRAMESETS
Granted: June 17, 2021
Application Number:
20210180831
Frames and processes of manufacture using single-wall frame sections coupled to other single-wall frame sections or double-wall frame sections using a connecting key are provided. The connecting key can be metallic, polymer, ceramic, a laminate, and combinations thereof.
METAL-FOIL-ASSISTED FABRICATION OF THIN-SILICON SOLAR CELL
Granted: June 10, 2021
Application Number:
20210175375
One embodiment relates to a method of fabricating a solar cell. A silicon lamina is cleaved from the silicon substrate. The backside of the silicon lamina includes the P-type and N-type doped regions. A metal foil is attached to the backside of the silicon lamina. The metal foil may be used advantageously as a built-in carrier for handling the silicon lamina during processing of a frontside of the silicon lamina. Another embodiment relates to a solar cell that includes a silicon lamina…
PHOTOVOLTAIC FRAME WITH LAMINATE RECEIVER
Granted: May 27, 2021
Application Number:
20210159850
Photovoltaic (PV) frames, PV frame systems, methods of PV manufacture, articles of PV manufacture, and processes involving PVs are provided. These frames may employ a laminate receiver configured to receive a surface of a PV laminate and support that PV laminate upon installation of a PV system.
