초록 ▼

A photovoltaic module that serves as a shingle, tile or other building material that may be placed onto the exterior of a structure. The photovoltaic module generates a voltage when exposed to light and this voltage may be directed onto transmission lines of a power utility and/or into an external b

A photovoltaic module that serves as a shingle, tile or other building material that may be placed onto the exterior of a structure. The photovoltaic module generates a voltage when exposed to light and this voltage may be directed onto transmission lines of a power utility and/or into an external battery that may serve as a source of power for the building on which the photovoltaic shingles are laid. The practice of the present invention provides for a variety of mechanical and electrical connectors for securing together the photovoltaic modules and/or for connecting the photovoltaic modules to the exterior structure. Furthermore, the structure of the modules is such that the modules are automatically electrically connected together when laid on the building.

대표청구항 ▼

A solar roofing system comprising: a first longitudinally extending conductive bus; a second longitudinally extending conductive bus spaced a predetermined distance from and substantially parallel to the first bus; a plurality of separate photovoltaic modules laid out in a plurality of rows, each ro

A solar roofing system comprising: a first longitudinally extending conductive bus; a second longitudinally extending conductive bus spaced a predetermined distance from and substantially parallel to the first bus; a plurality of separate photovoltaic modules laid out in a plurality of rows, each row extending between the first and second buses, each module for covering an exterior surface of a structure and having: a carrier layer constructed from a non-porous building material and including first and second opposing lateral sides and upper and lower surfaces, the upper surface of the carrier layer defining a resting ledge extending inwardly a predetermined distance from the first side; a photovoltaic layer at least partially laminated to the carrier layer, the photovoltaic layer for generating a DC voltage when exposed to light, the photovoltaic layer including first and second electrical connectors for outputting the DC voltage generated by the photovoltaic layer, the first connector being laminated on and forming a part of the resting ledge, the second connector extending beyond the second side of the carrier layer; and a translucent layer laminated to the photovoltaic layer, the translucent layer covering all of the photovoltaic layer except for the first connector, a protruding portion of the translucent layer extending beyond the second side of the carrier layer a predetermined distance and being laminated to the second connector such that the protruding portion and the second connector form a protruding ledge; the protruding ledge of each module being positioned to rest on the resting ledge of an immediately adjacent module such that the second connector on the protruding ledge is in electrical communication with the first connector on the resting ledge, each row having an outermost first connector on an outermost resting ledge and an outermost second connector on an outermost protruding ledge; the first bus being in electrical communication with each outermost first connector on each outermost resting ledge, the second bus being in electrical communication with each outermost second connector on each outermost protruding ledge such that a DC row voltage appears across the first and second buses; and a DC/AC converter in electrical communication with the first and second buses, wherein the DC/AC converter converts the DC row voltage into an AC voltage.