Photovoltaic solar cell laminated in vehicle windshield

• US 5,602,457 A
• Filed: 06/13/1996
• Issued: 02/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Exide Corporation
• Original Assignee: Exide Corporation
• Inventors: Mitchell, Howard E., Anderson, Carl J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHIN, KYUNG E
• Application Number:
  US08/663,376
• Time in Patent Office: 243 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2, 428/437, 428/336, 296/84.1
• US Class Current: 320/102
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10165 Functional features of the laminated safety glass or glazing
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/002 with means for clear vision, e.g. anti-frost or defog panes, rain shields window heating in H05B3/84, H05B3/86
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0488 Double glass encapsulation, e.g. photovoltaic cells arranged between front and rear glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/265 1 mil or less
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/3163 Next to acetal of polymerized unsaturated alcohol [e.g., formal butyral, etc.]

Abstract

A laminated windshield in which thin solar cells are sandwiched between the glass layer. The solar cell is electrically connected to a vehicle battery to provide recharging current to the battery from the electrical current generated by the solar cells. The solar cells may be formed of dendrite solar cells arranged in flexible strings. These solar cell strings may be positioned in the windshield proximate to an edge of the windshield and superimposed over windshield tinting or darkened border areas of the windshield.

Claims

1. A laminated windshield for a moving vehicle comprising:

outer and inner glass layers both having substantially the same non-planar shape;

first and second layers of PVB, and

a string of solar cells sandwiched between said first and second layers of PVB which are sandwiched between the outer and inner glass layers that are laminated together.

2. A laminated windshield as in claim 1 wherein said string of solar cells is a dendrite solar cell material.

3. A laminated windshield as in claim I wherein said string of solar cells is arranged and located proximate a perimeter of said windshield.

4. A laminated windshield as in claim I wherein the first layer of PVB is substantially thicker than the second layer of PVB and electrical connections for the solar cells are arranged on a side of the cells adjacent the first layer of PVB.

5. A laminated windshield as in claim 4 wherein the first layer of PVB has a thickness in the range of approximately 0.38 mm to 0.76 mm.

6. A laminated windshield as in claim 4 wherein the second layer of PVB has a thickness of approximately 0.38 mm.

7. A laminated windshield and battery for a moving vehicle comprising:

outer and inner glass layers both having substantially the same complex curved shape, and a opaque or translucent border area proximate at least one edge of the glass layers;

first and second layers of PVB having a shape substantially the same shape as the shape of the glass layers;

a string of dendrite solar cell strings sandwiched between said first and second layers of PVB which are sandwiched between the outer and inner glass layers that are laminated together, wherein the solar cell strings are superimposed over the border area of the glass layers, and

wherein the vehicle battery is electrically coupled to said solar cell strings to receive a recharging current from the solar cell string.

8. A laminated windshield and battery as in claim 7 further comprising an electrical connection between a positive terminal of the battery and the solar cell strings and wherein the electrical connection consists of a low resistance electrical path and a diode.

9. A laminated windshield as in claim 7 wherein said string of solar cells is a dendrite solar cell material.

10. A laminated windshield as in claim 7 wherein multiple strings of solar cells are arranged proximate to the perimeter edge of said windshield.

11. A laminated windshield as in claim 7 wherein the first layer of PVB is substantially thicker than the second layer of PVB and electrical intercell connections for the solar cells are arranged on a side of the cells adjacent the first layer of PVB.

12. A laminated windshield as in claim 7 wherein the first layer of PVB has a thickness in the range of approximately 0.38 mm to 0.76 mm.

13. A laminated windshield as in claim 7 wherein the second layer of PVB has a thickness of approximately 0.38 mm.

14. A laminated windshield as in claim 7 wherein the battery is connected in parallel to the solar cell strings.

15. A laminated windshield as in claim 7 further comprising at least one electronic device connected in parallel to the battery and solar cell, and said electronic device receiving electrical current for measuring or power from the solar cell string.