초록 ▼

A thin film photovoltaic panel includes a backcap for protecting the active components of the photovoltaic cells from adverse environmental elements. A spacing between the backcap and a top electrode layer is preferably filled with a desiccant to further reduce water vapor contamination of the envir

A thin film photovoltaic panel includes a backcap for protecting the active components of the photovoltaic cells from adverse environmental elements. A spacing between the backcap and a top electrode layer is preferably filled with a desiccant to further reduce water vapor contamination of the environment surrounding the photovoltaic cells. The contamination of the spacing between the backcap and the cells may be further reduced by passing a selected gas through the spacing subsequent to sealing the backcap to the base of the photovoltaic panels, and once purged this spacing may be filled with an inert gas. The techniques of the present invention are preferably applied to thin film photovoltaic panels each formed from a plurality of photovoltaic cells arranged on a vitreous substrate. The stability of photovoltaic conversion efficiency remains relatively high during the life of the photovoltaic panel, and the cost of manufacturing highly efficient panels with such improved stability is significantly reduced.

대표청구항 ▼

An improved stability photovoltaic panel, comprising a plurality of photovoltaic cells each having a plurality of polycrystalline thin film layers, each of the plurality of thin film layers respectively deposited on a common vitreous substrate for allowing light to pass therethrough to reach a photo

An improved stability photovoltaic panel, comprising a plurality of photovoltaic cells each having a plurality of polycrystalline thin film layers, each of the plurality of thin film layers respectively deposited on a common vitreous substrate for allowing light to pass therethrough to reach a photovoltaic hetrojunciton formed by at least two of the plurlaity of thin film layers, at least one of the film layrs forming the photovoltaic heterojunction for each of the plurlaity of photovoltaic cells, each of the photovoltaic cells lying within a plane substantially parallel to an interior planar surface of the vitreous substrate, each of the photovoltaic cells being connected electrically in series to pass electrical current from the photovoltaic panel, a pliable sheet material backcap opposite the vitreous substrate with respect to the plurality of photovoltaic cells and spaced from the plurality of photovoltaic cells so as to form a substantially planar spacing between the plurality of photovoltaic cells and an interior surface of the sheet material backcap, a perimeter portion of the sheet material backcap having a bend for positioning an edge strip of the sheet material backcap spaced from the interior surface of the backcap to form the planar spacing, the edge strip forming a planar surface parallel with an sealingly engaging the vitreous substrate for forming a fluid-tight seal with the vitreous substrate about the perimeter of the plurality of photovoltaic cells for protecting the plurality of photovoltaic cells from elements exterior of the photovoltaic panel, and a selected desiccant filling substantially the planar spacing for preventing water vapor within the planar spacing from adversely affecting the plurality of photovoltaic cells.