Transparent pane for vehicles

• US 5,213,626 A
• Filed: 02/21/1992
• Issued: 05/25/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Webasto-Schade GmbH
• Original Assignee: Webasto-Schade GmbH
• Inventors: Paetz, Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): Weisstuch, Aaron
• Application Number:
  US07/838,885
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 136/244, 136/251, 136/291, 136/293
• US Class Current: 136/244
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10174 Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/00 Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels , e.g. rotary sunroofsB60J10/00 takes precedence; window aspects B60J1/00; fixed roofs B62D25/06; mechanisms for operating wings E05F11/00, E05F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0468 comprising specific means for obtaining partial light transmission through the module, e.g. partially transparent thin film solar modules for windows
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/048 Encapsulation of modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/90 Energy harvesting concepts as power supply for auxiliaries' energy consumption, e.g. photovoltaic sun-roof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/291 Applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/293 Circuits

Abstract

Transparent pane for vehicles, in particular, a transparent cover for sliding roofs, lifting roofs and the like, with a transparent outer layer and a solar laminate lying flat against the inside of this outer layer. The active part of the solar laminate is formed of a first subsection lying in the outer edge area of the pane which is made of crystalline semiconductor material, and a second subsection that is made of an amorphous semiconductor material.

Claims

1. Transparent pane for vehicles, with a transparent outer layer, and a solar laminate lying flat against the inside of this outer layer, wherein an active part of the solar laminate comprises a first subsection located in an outer edge area of the pane, said first subsection being formed of a crystalline semiconductor material, and a second subsection, said second subsection being formed of an amorphous semiconductor material.

2. Transparent pane according to claim 1, wherein essentially the whole area of the transparent outer layer that is free of crystalline semiconductor material has solar cells whose active part is formed of amorphous semiconductor material placed beneath it.

3. Transparent pane according to claim 2, wherein solar cells with crystalline semiconductor material and solar cells with amorphous semiconductor material are each interconnected into separate groups in a manner that the voltage supplied by the groups is at least approximately equal.

4. Transparent pane according to claim 3, wherein the electric circuits of the solar cell groups are connected in parallel.

5. Transparent pane according to claim 4, wherein the electric circuits of the solar cell groups are coupled to one another by reverse current blocking elements.

6. Transparent pane according to claim 5, wherein the crystalline semiconductor material is formed of one of monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon.

7. Transparent pane according to claim 6, wherein the amorphous semiconductor material is amorphous silicon.

8. Transparent pane according to claim 1, wherein solar cells with crystalline semiconductor material and solar cells with amorphous semiconductor material are each interconnected into separate groups in a manner that the voltage supplied by the groups is at least approximately equal.

9. Transparent pane according to claim 8, wherein the electric circuits of the solar cell groups are connected in parallel.

10. Transparent pane according to claim 9, wherein the electric circuits of the solar cell groups are coupled to one another by reverse current blocking elements.

11. Transparent pane according to claim 10, wherein the crystalline semiconductor material is formed of one of monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon.

12. Transparent pane according to claim 11, wherein the amorphous semiconductor material is amorphous silicon.

13. Transparent pane according to claim 1, wherein the crystalline semiconductor material is formed of one of monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon.

14. Transparent pane according to claim 13, wherein the amorphous semiconductor material is amorphous silicon.

15. Transparent pane according to claim 1, wherein the amorphous semiconductor material is amorphous silicon.

16. Transparent pane according to claim 1, wherein the pane is a cover panel of a vehicle roof.

17. Transparent pane according to claim 16, wherein cover panel is provided with a perimetric edge molding on the periphery thereof.

18. Transparent pane according to claim 17, wherein the perimetric edge molding has an inner leg which runs on an underside of the transparent pane, said first subsection formed of crystalline semiconductor material extending inwardly from the periphery of the cover panel to substantially the same extent as said inner leg.