Photovoltaic module having bi-directional couplings
Granted: February 1, 2022
Patent Number:
11239791
A photovoltaic (PV) module having bi-directional couplings is described. The bi-directional couplings include a first coupling mounted on a support frame under a first edge of the PV module and a second coupling mounted on the support frame under a second edge of the PV module. The PV module can be a keystone module and the bi-directional couplings of the keystone module can connect to respective couplings of several adjacent PV modules. The bi-directional couplings can form…
Solar cell wafer
Granted: February 1, 2022
Patent Number:
D942370
Cabling systems for rooftop photovoltaic solar systems
Granted: January 25, 2022
Patent Number:
11233479
Rooftop photovoltaic solar systems and methods for installing interconnection wiring for photovoltaic solar systems. Cabling systems can include cable support stands secured underneath shingles. Cabling systems can include molded rubber raceways mounted using raceway clips secured underneath shingles.
Solar energy metering, communications, and control system
Granted: January 25, 2022
Patent Number:
11231446
Methods, systems, and computer readable media are disclosed for monitoring photovoltaic solar systems. In some examples, the system includes a solar power measurement input for coupling to a solar panel system, a measurement circuit configured to measure power produced by the solar panel system using the solar power measurement input, and a data transmission system. The measurement circuit is configured, by virtue of the measurement circuit including electrical components rated to at…
Wire-based metallization and stringing for solar cells
Granted: January 18, 2022
Patent Number:
11227962
Wire-based metallization and stringing techniques for solar cells, and the resulting solar cells, modules, and equipment, are described. In an example, a substrate has a surface. A plurality of N-type and P-type semiconductor regions is disposed in or above the surface of the substrate. A conductive contact structure is disposed on the plurality of N-type and P-type semiconductor regions. The conductive contact structure includes a plurality of conductive wires, each conductive wire of…
Integrated external connectors
Granted: January 11, 2022
Patent Number:
11223318
Connectors, systems with connectors and processes with connectors are described. These include how connectors can actively hold external portions of two frames or other components together during transport and before final installation, as well as, how the connectors can be repositionable on the frame or other component so as to provide a mechanical connection in one position and not to provide a mechanical connection when moved into a second position. The connectors can also function to…
Solar panel
Granted: December 21, 2021
Patent Number:
D938899
Energy control system
Granted: December 14, 2021
Patent Number:
11201496
The present disclosure provides energy control systems for whole home and partial home backup with integrated breaker spaces and metering. The energy control system includes a grid interconnection electrically coupled to a utility grid, a backup power interconnection electrically coupled to a backup power source, a backup load interconnection electrically coupled to at least one backup load, and a non-backup load interconnection electrically coupled to at least one non-backup load. The…
Voltage breakdown device for solar cells
Granted: December 7, 2021
Patent Number:
11195964
Voltage breakdown devices for solar cells are described. For example, a solar cell includes a semiconductor substrate. A plurality of alternating N-type and P-type semiconductor regions is disposed in or above the substrate. A plurality of conductive contacts is coupled to the plurality of alternating N-type and P-type semiconductor regions. A voltage breakdown device is disposed above the substrate. The voltage breakdown device includes one of the plurality of conductive contacts in…
Bifacial solar cells with reflective back contacts
Granted: December 7, 2021
Patent Number:
11195966
A solar cell and a solar laminate are described. The solar cell can have a front side which faces the sun during normal operation and a back side opposite front side. The solar cell can include conductive contacts having substantially reflective outer regions disposed on the back side of the solar cell. The solar laminate can include a first encapsulant, the first encapsulant disposed on the back side of the solar cell and a second encapsulant. The solar laminate can include the solar…
Solar panel
Granted: November 30, 2021
Patent Number:
D937193
Trench process and structure for backside contact solar cells with polysilicon doped regions
Granted: November 23, 2021
Patent Number:
11183607
A solar cell includes polysilicon P-type and N-type doped regions on a backside of a substrate, such as a silicon wafer. A trench structure separates the P-type doped region from the N-type doped region. Each of the P-type and N-type doped regions may be formed over a thin dielectric layer. The trench structure may include a textured surface for increased solar radiation collection. Among other advantages, the resulting structure increases efficiency by providing isolation between…
Current cyclical testing for PV electrical connections
Granted: November 2, 2021
Patent Number:
11165387
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.
Solar panel
Granted: October 26, 2021
Patent Number:
D934158
Solar cell having a plurality of conductive contacts
Granted: October 19, 2021
Patent Number:
11152518
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…
Solar panel
Granted: October 19, 2021
Patent Number:
D933585
Solar panel
Granted: October 19, 2021
Patent Number:
D933584
Photovoltaic panel having a distributed support frame
Granted: October 5, 2021
Patent Number:
11139776
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…
Solar panel
Granted: October 5, 2021
Patent Number:
11139403
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.
High current burn-in of solar cells
Granted: September 28, 2021
Patent Number:
11133778
A method of high reverse current burn-in of solar cells and a solar cell with a burned-in bypass diode are described herein. In one embodiment, high reverse current burn-in of a solar cell with a tunnel oxide layer induces low breakdown voltage in the solar cell. Soaking a solar cell at high current can also reduce the difference in voltage of defective and non-defective areas of the cell.
