Electronic component housing with heat sink
First Claim
1. A photovoltaic assembly comprising:
- a photovoltaic module having a front side that faces the sun during normal operation and a back side opposite the front side, the photovoltaic module comprising;
a frame of the photovoltaic module;
a plurality of solar cells on the front side disposed within the photovoltaic module; and
a backsheet on the back side of the photovoltaic module; and
an electronic component housing comprising;
an upper portion coupled to the backsheet of the photovoltaic module;
a lower portion enclosing an electronic component; and
a middle portion comprising;
a heat sink in thermal communication with the electronic component, the heat sink disposed between the backsheet and the electronic component; and
an opening in the electronic component housing between the upper portion and lower portion, the opening permitting fluid communication between the heat sink and an ambient environment.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A photovoltaic assembly for converting solar radiation to electrical energy is described. The photovoltaic assembly includes a photovoltaic module and an electronic component housing. The photovoltaic module has a frame, a laminate, a plurality of solar cells and a backsheet. The electronic component housing has an upper section to couple to the backsheet, a middle section and a lower section for enclosing electronic components. The electronic components can include a microinverter or electronics for a junction box. The middle section can have a heat sink in thermal communication with the electronic component and an opening. The opening can be a plurality of openings having a plurality of air fins distributed therein, or can be a diagonal or curved structure. The opening can permit fluid communication between the heat sink and an ambient environment. The upper section and/or the aforementioned air fins can also be coupled to the backsheet via a heat conductive adhesive.
13 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A photovoltaic assembly comprising:
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a photovoltaic module having a front side that faces the sun during normal operation and a back side opposite the front side, the photovoltaic module comprising; a frame of the photovoltaic module; a plurality of solar cells on the front side disposed within the photovoltaic module; and a backsheet on the back side of the photovoltaic module; and an electronic component housing comprising; an upper portion coupled to the backsheet of the photovoltaic module; a lower portion enclosing an electronic component; and a middle portion comprising; a heat sink in thermal communication with the electronic component, the heat sink disposed between the backsheet and the electronic component; and an opening in the electronic component housing between the upper portion and lower portion, the opening permitting fluid communication between the heat sink and an ambient environment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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12. A photovoltaic assembly comprising:
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a photovoltaic module having a front side that faces the sun during normal operation and a back side opposite the front side, the photovoltaic module comprising; a plurality of solar cells on the front side disposed within the photovoltaic module; and a backsheet on the back side of the photovoltaic module; and an electronic component housing comprising; an upper portion coupled to the backsheet of the photovoltaic module; a lower portion enclosing an electronic component; and a middle portion comprising; a heat sink in thermal communication with the electronic component, the heat sink disposed between the backsheet and the electronic component; and an opening in the housing originating from the lower portion and ending in between the upper portion and lower portion, the opening permitting fluid communication between the heat sink and an ambient environment. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A photovoltaic assembly comprising:
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a photovoltaic module having a front side that faces the sun during normal operation and a back side opposite the front side, the photovoltaic module comprising; a frame of the photovoltaic module; a plurality of solar cells on the front side disposed within the photovoltaic module; and a backsheet on the back side of the photovoltaic module; and an electronic component housing comprising; a lower portion enclosing an electronic component; an upper portion comprising an L-shaped structure extending from the lower portion and bending inward to couple to the backsheet of the photovoltaic module; and a middle portion comprising; a heat sink in thermal communication with the electronic component, the heat sink disposed between the backsheet and the electronic component; an opening in the housing between the upper portion and lower portion, the opening permitting fluid communication between the heat sink and an ambient environment; and a plurality of air fins extending from the lower portion to contact the backsheet between the L-shaped structure allowing heat transfer from the backsheet to the heat sink. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification