Solar cell module

• US 6,066,797 A
• Filed: 03/23/1998
• Issued: 05/23/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Sasaoka, Makoto, Toyomura, Fumitaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Diamond, Alan
• Application Number:
  US09/045,954
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 136/251, 136/244, 136/256, 136/259, 52/173.3, 126/623, 126/569, 126/704, 126/705, 438/64, 438/66, 438/98, 438/57, 438/83, 257/433
• US Class Current: 136/251
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/048 Encapsulation of modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/34 comprising specially adapted electrical connection means to be structurally associated with the PV module, e.g. junction boxes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

The object of this invention is to provide a solar cell module having a terminal extracting structure for it, with high adhesion workability, high productivity, and high reliability. The solution to this object is a solar cell module wherein a box member having therein an electrical connecting portion between a solar cell element and an outer lead wire is adhered to the solar cell module with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, and a lid member is adhered to the solar cell module with an adhesive so as to cover the box member.

Claims

1. A solar cell module wherein a box member having an open upper surface and having therein an electrical connecting portion between a solar cell element of said solar cell module and an outer lead wire is adhered to said solar cell module at a bottom surface of said box member with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, and a lid member disposed so as to cover said open upper surface of said box member is adhered to said solar cell module with an adhesive other than said pressure-sensitive adhesive.

2. A module according to claim 1, wherein said box member has a locking projecting portion on a side surface thereof, and said lid member has a locking portion corresponding to said locking projecting portion.

3. A module according to claim 1, wherein said lid member has a locking projecting portion on a side surface thereof, and said box member has a locking portion corresponding to said locking projecting portion.

4. A module according to claim 1, wherein said box member has a projecting portion on said upper surface thereof, and said lid member has a hole portion corresponding to said projecting portion.

5. A module according to claim 1, wherein said box member has a recessed portion in said upper surface thereof, and said lid member has a projecting portion corresponding to said recessed potion.

6. A module according to claim 1, wherein a bottom portion of said lid member has a surface which is in contact with said solar cell module, and a surface which is coated with said adhesive other than said pressure-sensitive adhesive.

7. A module according to claim 1, wherein the interior of said box member is filled with a filler.

8. A module according to claim 7, wherein said lid member has a through hole in an upper surface thereof.

9. A module according to claim 1, wherein said pressure-sensitive adhesive is a double-sided adhesive tape.

10. A module according to claim 1, wherein said solar cell module has at least a reinforcing plate, a filler, said solar cell element, and a protective film.

11. A method of manufacturing a solar cell module, comprising the steps of

adhering a box member having an open upper surface and an opening portion in a bottom surface thereof to said solar cell module with a pressure-sensitive adhesive,

electrically connecting an outer lead wire fixed to a side surface of said box member to an output terminal of said solar cell module, and

adhering a lid member disposed so as to cover said open upper surface of said box member to said solar cell module with an adhesive other than said pressure-sensitive adhesive.

12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising, between the step of electrically connecting said outer lead wire and said output terminal to each other and the step of adhering said lid member, the step of inspecting the output from said solar cell module.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein the step of electrically connecting said outer lead wire and said output terminal to each other includes the steps of connecting an inner lead wire to said output terminal and connecting said inner lead wire and said outer lead wire to each other.

14. A building material wherein a box member having an open upper surface and having therein an electrical connecting portion between a solar cell element of a solar cell module and an outer lead wire is adhered to said solar cell module at a bottom surface of said box member with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, and a lid member disposed so as to cover said open upper surface of said box member is adhered to said solar cell module with an adhesive other than said pressure-sensitive adhesive.

15. A building material according to claim 14, wherein said lid member has a through hole in an upper surface thereof.

16. A method of connecting a building material, comprising the steps of connecting a plurality of building materials according to claim 14 to each other, and connecting connectors, each formed on one end of said outer lead wire, to each other.

17. A solar power generation apparatus comprising a solar cell module and an inverter for controlling an output from said solar cell module, said solar cell module being arranged such that a box member having an open upper surface and having therein an electrical connecting portion between a solar cell element of said solar cell module and an outer lead wire is adhered to said solar cell module at a bottom surface of said box member with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, and a lid member disposed so as to cover said open upper surface of said box member is adhered to said solar cell module with an adhesive other than said pressure-sensitive adhesive.

18. A solar cell module comprising a solar cell module body comprising a solar cell element, an outer lead wire for taking the power generated by said solar cell element out of said solar cell module body, a box member having an open upper surface and having therein a portion for electrically connecting said solar cell element and said outer lead wire, a lid member disposed so as to cover said open upper surface of said box member, wherein said box member is affixed to said solar cell module body at a bottom surface of said box member with a first adhesive, and wherein said lid member is adhered and fixed to said solar cell module body with a second adhesive other than said first adhesive.

19. The solar cell module according to claim 18, wherein said second adhesive is further arranged between said lid member and said box member.

20. The solar cell module according to claim 18, wherein said box member has a locking projecting portion on a side surface thereof, and wherein said lid member has a locking recessed portion corresponding to said locking projecting portion.

21. The solar cell module according to claim 18, wherein said lid member has a locking projecting portion on a side surface thereof, and wherein said box member has a locking recessed portion corresponding to said locking projecting portion.

22. The solar cell module according to claim 18, wherein said box member has a projecting portion on said upper surface thereof, and wherein said lid member has a hole portion corresponding to said projecting portion.

23. The solar cell module according to claim 18, wherein said box member has a recessed portion in said upper surface thereof, and wherein said lid member has a projecting portion corresponding to said recessed portion.

24. The solar cell module according to claim 18, wherein a bottom portion of said lid member has a surface in contact with said solar cell module, and another surface in contact with said adhesive.

25. The solar cell module according to claim 18, wherein the inside of said box member is filled with a filler.

26. The solar cell module according to claim 25, wherein said lid member has a through hole in an upper surface thereof.

27. The solar cell module according to claim 18, wherein said first adhesive is a double-sided adhesive tape.

28. The solar cell module according to claim 18, wherein said solar cell module further comprises a reinforcing plate, a filler and a protective film.

29. The solar cell module according to claim 18, wherein said lid member is disposed so as to cover the entire upper surface of said box member.

30. The solar cell module according to claim 18, wherein said lid member is adhered to said solar cell module body so as to bridge over said box member.

31. A method of manufacturing a solar cell module, comprising the steps of:

adhering a box member having an open upper surface and an opening portion in a bottom surface thereof to a solar cell module body having a solar cell element with a first adhesive; and

adhering and then fixing with a second adhesive other than said first adhesive a lid member having a portion extending over the upper surface of said box member to said solar cell module body.

32. The method according to claim 31, further comprising the step of electrically connecting said solar cell element and an output terminal for taking an output from said solar cell element outside and an outer lead wire for guiding the output out of said solar cell module, and further comprising between the connecting step and the step adhering and then fixing said lid member, the step of inspecting an output from said solar cell module.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the step of electrically connecting said outer lead wire and said output terminal to each other comprises the steps of connecting an inner lead wire of said solar cell module to said output terminal and connecting said inner lead wire and said outer lead wire to each other.

34. The method according to claim 31, wherein said lid member is disposed so as to cover the entire upper surface of said box member.

35. The method according to claim 31, wherein said lid member is adhered and fixed to said solar cell module body so as to bridge over said box member.

36. The method according to claim 31, wherein the step of adhering said lid member comprises locking between said lid member and said box member.

37. The method according to claim 31, wherein the step of adhering said lid member comprises insertion between said lid member and said box member.

38. The method according to claim 31, wherein the step of adhering and then fixing said lid member comprises adhering and fixing said lid member to said box member with said second adhesive.

39. The method according to claim 31, further comprising the step of filling a space inside said box member with a filler.

40. A building material comprising a solar cell module comprising a solar cell module body comprising a solar cell element, a box member having an open upper surface and having therein a portion for electrically connecting said solar cell element and an outer lead wire for taking an output from said solar cell element outside, said box member being adhered to said solar cell module body at a bottom surface of said box member with a first adhesive, and a lid member adhered and fixed to said solar cell module body with a second adhesive other than said first adhesive so as to cover said open upper surface of said box member.

41. The building material according to claim 40, wherein said lid member has a through hole in an upper surface thereof.

42. A method of connecting a building material, comprising the steps of connecting a plurality of the building materials as set forth in claim 40 to each other, and connecting connectors, each formed on one end of said outer lead wire, to each other.

43. A solar power generation apparatus comprising a solar cell module and an inverter for controlling an output from said solar cell module, said solar cell module comprising a solar cell module body comprising a solar cell element, an outer lead wire for taking an output from said solar cell element out of said solar cell module, a box member, having an open upper surface and having therein a portion for electrically connecting said solar cell element and said outer lead wire, adhered to said solar cell module body at a bottom surface of said box member with a first adhesive, and a lid member, disposed so as to cover said open upper surface of said box member, adhered and fixed to said solar cell module body with a second adhesive other than said first adhesive.