Flat-Plate Photovoltaic Module
First Claim
1. A photovoltaic module, comprising:
- a conductive backsheet;
a non-conductive layer disposed on the conductive backsheet;
a plurality of photovoltaic cells disposed above the non-conductive layer, the plurality of photovoltaic cells arranged in a plurality of rows and collectively generating a first power output characterized by a first voltage, wherein;
each row includes two or more photovoltaic cells;
the photovoltaic cells within each row are connected to each other in parallel;
the plurality of rows are connected in series; and
a top row is connected to the conductive backsheet; and
a power conversion device redundantly connected to a bottom row and to the conductive backsheet to form a complete circuit, the power conversion device converting the first power output to a second power output characterized by a second voltage larger than the first voltage and substantially maintaining peak power of the plurality of photovoltaic cells.
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Accused Products
Abstract
One example embodiment includes a PV module comprising a conductive backsheet, a non-conductive layer disposed on the conductive backsheet, a plurality of PV cells arranged in rows and collectively generating a first power output characterized by a first voltage, and a power conversion device. Each of the rows can include two or more PV cells. The PV cells within each row can be connected to each other in parallel. The rows can be connected in series. A top row can be connected to the conductive backsheet. The power conversion device can be redundantly connected to a bottom row and to the conductive backsheet to form a complete circuit. The power conversion device can convert the first power output to a second power output characterized b a second voltage that is larger than the first voltage. The power conversion device can also maintain peak power of the PV cells.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A photovoltaic module, comprising:
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a conductive backsheet; a non-conductive layer disposed on the conductive backsheet; a plurality of photovoltaic cells disposed above the non-conductive layer, the plurality of photovoltaic cells arranged in a plurality of rows and collectively generating a first power output characterized by a first voltage, wherein; each row includes two or more photovoltaic cells; the photovoltaic cells within each row are connected to each other in parallel; the plurality of rows are connected in series; and a top row is connected to the conductive backsheet; and a power conversion device redundantly connected to a bottom row and to the conductive backsheet to form a complete circuit, the power conversion device converting the first power output to a second power output characterized by a second voltage larger than the first voltage and substantially maintaining peak power of the plurality of photovoltaic cells. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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19. The photovoltaic module of 14, further comprising a plurality of bypass diodes coupled in series with each other via the plurality of conductive spacers, each bypass diode connected in anti-parallel with a different row such that when a row is blocked, current can flow around the row through the corresponding bypass diode coupled in anti-parallel with the blocked row.
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28. A photovoltaic system, comprising:
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a photovoltaic module including; a conductive backsheet; a substantially transparent front plate; a plurality of photovoltaic cells disposed between the conductive backsheet and the front plate, the photovoltaic cells arranged in a plurality of rows, the photovoltaic cells in each row being connected in parallel and the rows being connected in series; a plurality of conductive spacers interposed between the photovoltaic cells, the conductive spacers including a top spacer and a bottom spacer, the top spacer interconnecting a top row to the conductive backsheet; and a power conversion device redundantly connected to a bottom row via the bottom spacer and to the conductive backsheet to form a complete circuit; and a plurality of louvers positioned above the conductive spacers and the front plate, the louvers reflecting solar radiation incident on the louvers onto the photovoltaic cells. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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Specification