Photovoltaic power generating apparatus, method of producing same and photovoltaic power generating system

• US 6,966,184 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2003
• Issued: 11/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Mimura, Toshihiko, Toyomura, Fumitaka
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HOANG M
• Application Number:
  US10/717,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20040159102A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 606/418, 606/411.1, 606/411.2, 136/244, 136/256, 136/257, 136/258, 136/259
• US Class Current: 60/641.8
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0201 comprising specially adapted module bus-bar structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/02021 for solar cells electrical connection means, e.g. junction boxes, specially adapted for structural association with photovoltaic modules H02S40/34
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/03921 including only elements of Group IV of the Periodic Table
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/046 PV modules composed of a plurality of thin film solar cells deposited on the same substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/048 Encapsulation of modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/4807 having a high frequency intermediate AC stage
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/26 Building materials integrated with PV modules, e.g. façade elements H02S20/25 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/32 comprising DC/AC inverter means associated with the PV module itself, e.g. AC modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/36 characterised by special electrical interconnection means between two or more PV modules, e.g. electrical module-to-module connection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/46 Conversion of thermal power into mechanical power, e.g. Rankine, Stirling or solar thermal engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers

Abstract

A photovoltaic power generating apparatus is provided which comprises a single solar cell element formed on a substrate and a plurality of power conversion devices individually connected to the solar cell element for converting an output of the solar cell element.

Claims

1. A photovoltaic power generating apparatus comprising:

a single solar cell element formed on a substrate; and

a plurality of power conversion devices individually connected to the solar cell element for converting an output of the solar cell element,

wherein the plurality of power conversion devices is provided on the solar cell element at predetermined intervals.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of power conversion devices are DC-DC converters for boosting a DC voltage output from the solar cell element.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of power conversion devices are inverters.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a wiring member that electrically connects the solar cell element and a power conversion device of said plurality of power conversion devices has an exposed section at least at a part of a live part.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the solar cell element comprises a photoelectric conversion layer, a current collection electrode disposed on a light-receiving side of the photoelectric conversion layer, a surface wiring member and a transparent thin film resin layer, and at least a part of the current collection electrode or the surface wiring member has an exposed section which is not covered with the transparent thin film resin layer.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a photoelectric conversion layer of the solar cell element comprises thin film silicon.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is conductive and a substrate side of a photoelectric conversion layer of the solar cell element constitutes a positive electrode.

8. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the substrate is conductive and an output of one of the DC-DC converters and one of outputs of the solar cell element are electrically connected to the substrate.

9. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an output of one of the DC-DC converters and one of outputs of the solar cell element are on a low voltage side.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an output of one of the DC-DC converters and one of outputs of the solar cell element are on a high voltage side.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the solar cell element has portions where no power generation section is formed on two peripheral sides thereof.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the solar cell element is fixed to a support through one of the portions where no power generation section is formed.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the solar cell element or the photovoltaic power generating apparatus itself is sealed with a resin.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the solar cell element is a minimum power generation unit having a function as a solar cell.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a plurality of current collection electrodes for individually collecting power of the solar cell element, wherein each of the plurality of current collection electrodes is connected to one of the plurality of power conversion devices such that power individually collected by the plurality of current collection electrodes is converted individually.

18. A photovoltaic power generating system comprising the apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of power conversion devices are a plurality of inverters for converting outputs of the solar cell element to AC power, and wherein the plurality of inverters supply output power to a load or interconnect the output power with a commercial power system.

16. A photovoltaic power generating system comprising:

a photovoltaic power generating apparatus comprising a single solar cell element formed on a substrate and a plurality of DC-DC converters individually connected to the solar cell element for converting a DC output of the solar cell element; and

an inverter for converting outputs of the plurality of DC-DC converters to AC power and supplying the AC power to a load or interconnecting the AC power to a commercial power systems,

wherein the plurality of DC-DC converters is provided on the solar cell element at predetermined intervals.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the inverter has an insulating transformer, and wherein a wiring member connecting the inverter and one of the plurality of DC-DC converters is grounded.

19. A method of producing a photovoltaic power generating apparatus comprising the steps of:

forming a solar cell element on a substrate through a semiconductor producing step; and

connecting a plurality of power conversion devices to predetermined portions of the solar cell element,

wherein the plurality of power conversion devices is provided on the solar cell element at predetermined intervals.

20. The method according to claim 19, comprising a step of forming a photoelectric conversion layer, a current collection electrode and a surface wiring member on the substrate successively to form the solar cell element and a step of connecting the plurality of power conversion devices to predetermined portions of the solar cell element successively.