PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE AND USE THEREOF

• US 20150083191A1
• Filed: 06/05/2012
• Published: 03/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik AG
• Original Assignee: AT&S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik AG
• Inventors: Gmundner, Gernot
• Application Number:
  US14/356,802
• Publication Number:
  US 20150083191A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/245
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0201 comprising specially adapted module bus-bar structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/048 Encapsulation of modules
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0516 specially adapted for interconnection of back-contact solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 30/20 Collapsible or foldable PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

In the case of a photovoltaic module which comprises a plurality of solar cells which are each coupled to an electrically conductive, structured layer for discharging the electrical energy generated in the solar cells, wherein at least two subregions of the photovoltaic module are coupled to one another via a flexible connecting region, provision is made for the solar cells to be coupled on the rear side of said solar cells to the electrically conductive, structured layer, and for the electrically conductive, structured layer to be integrated in a multilayered film arranged on the rear side of the solar cells, wherein the multilayered film forms the flexible connecting region between the at least two subregions of the photovoltaic module, as a result of which a photovoltaic module which can be tilted or folded can be made available.

Claims

1. A photovoltaic module which comprises a plurality of solar cells that are each coupled to an electrically conducting or conductive and structured layer or structure for discharging the electrical energy generated in the solar cells, wherein at least one transparent carrier layer is provided on the surface of the solar cells facing away from the electrically conducting layer or structure, wherein the electrically conducting and structured layer or structure can be contacted with connections of a connection housing, wherein at least two subregions of the photovoltaic module which each have at least one solar cell are coupled to one another via a flexible connecting region and can be folded or tilted along the flexible connecting region into a position in which they are angled relative to one another and/or at least partially overlap one another, wherein the solar cells on their rear side are coupled to the electrically conducting or conductive and structured layer, which is covered by a cover layer, and that the electrically conducting or conductive and structured layer is integrated in a multilayered film arranged on the rear side of the solar cells, wherein the multilayered film forms the flexible connecting region between the at least two subregions of the photovoltaic module and/or a component thereof.

2. The photovoltaic module according to claim 1, wherein the at least two subregions each have substantially identical dimensions and/or an identical number of solar cells.

3. The photovoltaic module according to claim 1, wherein the subregions of the photovoltaic module have a regular geometric configuration such as a rectangular, in particular square, triangular, hexagonal configuration.

4. The photovoltaic module according to claim 1, wherein the conducting or conductive and structured layer or structure is embedded in the flexible connecting region.

5. The photovoltaic module according to claim 1, wherein the subregions respectively connected to one another via a flexible connecting region each comprise a plurality of solar cells and are formed with a transparent carrier layer collectively covering all of the solar cells of said subregion.

6. The photovoltaic module according to claim 1, wherein a control device is associated to at least each of the subregions of the photovoltaic module.

7. The photovoltaic module according to claim 1, wherein the dimensions of flexible connecting regions between individual, mutually overlapping subregions of the photovoltaic module are each a multiple of, in particular at least twice, the thickness of a subregion of the photovoltaic module.

8. The photovoltaic module according to claim 7, wherein the dimensions of the flexible connecting regions between subregions of the photovoltaic module are selected to differ from one another.

9. The use of a photovoltaic module according to claim 1 as a transportable photovoltaic module to be used in a folded or tilted transport condition.

10. The use of a photovoltaic module according to claim 1 as a photovoltaic module to be used with relatively angled subregions.