Solar cell module and manufacturing method therefor

• US 20050103376A1
• Filed: 10/25/2004
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Matsushita, Masaaki, Kataoka, Ichiro, Makita, Hidehisa, Itoyama, Shigenori, Mukai, Takaaki
• Application Number:
  US10/971,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20050103376A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/251
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/02008 for solar cells or solar cell modules
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/048 Encapsulation of modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/24 specially adapted for flat roofs
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 30/10 Frame structures
• 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: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

The solar cell module of the present invention includes a solar cell panel, a frame, and a back member provided on a back side of the solar cell panel, wherein the back member includes a joining portion for joining the back member to the back side of the solar cell panel, and a projection portion extending in a direction crossing the frame, and wherein the frame has a first engaging portion for engaging with the solar cell panel and the joining portion of the back member, and a second engaging portion for engaging with the projection portion of the back member, whereby the present invention provides a solar cell module having a high strength and a light weight at a low cost.

Claims

1. A solar cell module comprising a solar cell panel, a frame, and a back member provided on a back side of the solar cell panel, wherein the back member includes a joining portion for joining to the back side of the solar cell panel, and a projection portion extending in a direction crossing the frame, and wherein the frame has a first engaging portion for engaging with the solar cell panel and the joining portion of the back member, and a second engaging portion for engaging with the projection portion of the back member.

2. A solar cell module according to claim 1, wherein the back member comprises a plurality of projection portions extending in a direction crossing the frame, the projection portions being formed by bending, and wherein the back member is a single plate provided on an entire surface of a back side of the solar cell panel.

3. A solar cell module according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of back members are provided on the back side of the solar cell panel.

4. A solar cell module according to claim 1, wherein at an end portion of the solar cell module, a bending portion of at least one of a part of the solar cell panel and a part of the back member is bent so as to cover a cross section of the frame, and the bent portion is joined to the frame by a joining member.

5. A solar cell module according to claim 4, wherein the solar cell panel is in electrical conduction with the frame by the joining member.

6. A solar cell module according to claim 1, wherein the frame is an aluminum frame.

7. A solar cell module according to claim 1, wherein the frame is provided only along a long side of the solar cell module.

8. A solar cell module according to claim 1, wherein the projection portion of the back member has one of I-shaped, U-shaped, and V-shaped cross sections.

9. A solar cell module according to claim 1, wherein the projection portion is provided more densely at an end portion of the solar cell module than at a central portion of the solar cell module.

10. A method of manufacturing a solar cell module including a solar cell panel, a frame, and a back member provided on a back side of the solar cell panel, comprising the steps of:

forming the back member which includes a joining portion for joining to the back side of the solar cell panel, and a projection portion extending in a direction crossing the frame;

providing the frame with a first engaging portion for engaging with the solar cell panel and the joining portion of the back member, and a second engaging portion for engaging with the projection portion of the back member;

providing the back member having the projection portion on the back side of the solar cell panel; and

engaging the solar cell panel and the back member with the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion to fix them to one another.