EMBEDDED RFID SOLUTION FOR SOLAR PANELS
First Claim
1. A method for manufacturing an identifiable solar photovoltaic panel, the method comprising:
- forming a layup of at least a first lamination layer, a plurality of electrically connected solar photovoltaic cells and at least a second lamination layer;
applying a lamination process to the layup thereby forming a solar photovoltaic panel;
embedding an RFID tag in the solar photovoltaic panel before, during or after applying the lamination-process thereby making a solar photovoltaic panel with an embedded RFID tag;
storing product identification information in the RFID tag pertaining to a product of which the solar photovoltaic panel is an individual item; and
storing instantiation information in the RFID tag pertaining to the individual item, the instantiation information including installation location information or test information.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for producing a solar photovoltaic panel with an embedded RFID, and resultant product, are disclosed. A layup is formed of at least a first lamination layer and a plurality of electrically connected solar photovoltaic cells. At least a second lamination layer is added to the layup, and a lamination process is applied, forming a solar photovoltaic panel. An RFID tag is embedded in the panel before, during or after applying the lamination process. The RFID tag may be embedded between a front layer and a back layer, between sheets of ethylene vinyl acetate, between a backside of the layup and a junction box, or in an adhesive, sealant or polymerizing material. A solar photovoltaic panel with an embedded RFID tag is thereby formed. Instantiation information pertaining to the individual solar photovoltaic panel, including installation location information or test information, and product information are stored in the RFID tag.
21 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for manufacturing an identifiable solar photovoltaic panel, the method comprising:
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forming a layup of at least a first lamination layer, a plurality of electrically connected solar photovoltaic cells and at least a second lamination layer; applying a lamination process to the layup thereby forming a solar photovoltaic panel; embedding an RFID tag in the solar photovoltaic panel before, during or after applying the lamination-process thereby making a solar photovoltaic panel with an embedded RFID tag; storing product identification information in the RFID tag pertaining to a product of which the solar photovoltaic panel is an individual item; and storing instantiation information in the RFID tag pertaining to the individual item, the instantiation information including installation location information or test information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for manufacturing an individually identifiable solar photovoltaic panel, the method comprising:
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setting up a layup of at least a first lamination layer; adding a plurality of electrically connected solar photovoltaic cells to the layup; adding an RFID tag to the layup; adding at least a second lamination layer to the layup; applying a lamination process to the layup thereby forming a solar photovoltaic panel with an embedded RFID tag as an instantiation of a solar photovoltaic panel product; storing product identification information in the RFID tag pertaining to the product of which the solar photovoltaic panel is the instantiation; and storing instantiation information in the RFID tag pertaining to the instantiation of the solar photovoltaic panel, the instantiation information including installation location information or test information. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A solar photovoltaic panel comprising:
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a first lamination layer; a plurality of electrically connected solar photovoltaic cells; a second lamination layer; an RFID tag embedded in a laminated assembly including the first lamination layer, the plurality of electrically connected solar photovoltaic cells and the second lamination layer; the RFID tag containing product information relating to the product of which an individual solar photovoltaic panel is an instance; and the RFID tag further containing information specific to the individual solar photovoltaic panel. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification