Connector device for building integrated photovoltaic device
First Claim
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1. A photovoltaic assembly comprising:
- a first photovoltaic device and a second photovoltaic device adjacent to the first photovoltaic device;
a first connector housing integral to and disposed in a side portion of the first photovoltaic device;
a second connector housing integral to and disposed in a side portion of the second photovoltaic device;
at least one electrical terminal at least partially encapsulated in each of the first and second connector housings; and
,a connector assembly including a connector element having a first end and a second end and at least one electrically conductive member having at opposing ends a first and a second electrical terminal at least partially encapsulated in the connector element, wherein the first end of the connector element is geometrically complementary with the first connector housing and the second end of the connector element is geometrically complementary with the electrical terminal of the second connector housing;
wherein connecting the first electrical terminal of the connector with the electrical terminal of the first connector housing, and connecting the second electrical terminal of the connector element with the electrical terminal of the second connector housing results in completing an electrical circuit therebetween and wherein the connector element and the first and second housings provide a rotationally adjustable location function between the first and second photovoltaic devices.
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Abstract
The present invention is premised upon a connector device and method that can more easily electrically connect a plurality of PV devices or photovoltaic system components and/or locate these devices/components upon a building structure. It also may optionally provide some additional sub-components (e.g. at least one bypass diode and/or an indicator means) and may enhance the serviceability of the device.
18 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A photovoltaic assembly comprising:
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a first photovoltaic device and a second photovoltaic device adjacent to the first photovoltaic device; a first connector housing integral to and disposed in a side portion of the first photovoltaic device; a second connector housing integral to and disposed in a side portion of the second photovoltaic device;
at least one electrical terminal at least partially encapsulated in each of the first and second connector housings; and
,a connector assembly including a connector element having a first end and a second end and at least one electrically conductive member having at opposing ends a first and a second electrical terminal at least partially encapsulated in the connector element, wherein the first end of the connector element is geometrically complementary with the first connector housing and the second end of the connector element is geometrically complementary with the electrical terminal of the second connector housing; wherein connecting the first electrical terminal of the connector with the electrical terminal of the first connector housing, and connecting the second electrical terminal of the connector element with the electrical terminal of the second connector housing results in completing an electrical circuit therebetween and wherein the connector element and the first and second housings provide a rotationally adjustable location function between the first and second photovoltaic devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A photovoltaic device connector assembly for connecting and locating a plurality of photovoltaic devices comprising:
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a first receptacle connector housing at least partially connectively disposed into a side portion of a first photovoltaic device and having; at least one first locator portion located in a peripheral wall portion and at least one electrical terminal at least partially encapsulated in the first receptacle connector housing; a second receptacle connector housing at least partially connectively disposed into a side portion of a second photovoltaic device having; at least one second locator portion located in a peripheral wall portion, the second locator portion geometrically complementary with the first locator portion and at least one electrical terminal at least partially encapsulated in the second connector receptacle housing; wherein the first receptacle connector housing is at least partially connectively disposed on a side portion of a first photovoltaic device and the second receptacle connector housing is at least partially connectively disposed on a side portion of a second photovoltaic device; and
,a header connector element having a first end and a second end;
at least one electrically conductive member having at opposing ends a first and a second header electrical terminals at least partially encapsulated in the header connector element, the first header electrical terminal of the connector element is geometrically complementary with the receptacle electrical terminal of the first connector housing and the second header electrical terminal of the connector element is geometrically complementary with the receptacle electrical terminal of the second connector housing;wherein the first and second locator portions provide a rotationally adjustable location function between the first and second photovoltaic device; and wherein the first header electrical terminal of the header connector connects with the receptacle electrical terminal of the first receptacle connector housing, and the second header electrical terminal of the header connector element connects with the receptacle electrical terminal of the second receptacle connector housing resulting in completing an electrical circuit therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification