초록 ▼

A photovoltaic building material comprises a substrate having one or more photovoltaic generating devices encapsulated thereupon. The substrate includes a body of contact adhesive material, preferably protected by a release layer. The material is readily installed onto a roof, wall or other portion

A photovoltaic building material comprises a substrate having one or more photovoltaic generating devices encapsulated thereupon. The substrate includes a body of contact adhesive material, preferably protected by a release layer. The material is readily installed onto a roof, wall or other portion of a building structure by use of the adhesive.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A photovoltaic building material comprising: a generally planar, flexible substrate having a first side and a second side opposed to said first side; a plurality of photovoltaic devices, each being operative to generate an electrical current in response to the absorption of light incident the

1. A photovoltaic building material comprising: a generally planar, flexible substrate having a first side and a second side opposed to said first side; a plurality of photovoltaic devices, each being operative to generate an electrical current in response to the absorption of light incident thereupon, said photovoltaic devices being affixed to said substrate in a spaced apart relationship so that a bottom side of each faces the first side of said substrate, and so that a top, light incident, side of each faces away from said substrate; an encapsulant material disposed so as to cover the light incident side of said photovoltaic devices, at least a portion of the encapsulant material which covers the light incident side of said photovoltaic devices being light transmissive; a body of contact adhesive covering at least a portion of the second side of said substrate; and a firebreak disposed between at least two of said photovoltaic devices. 2. The building material of claim 1 further including a release coating covering said contact adhesive. 3. The building material of claim 1 wherein said contact adhesive is a rubberized asphalt. 4. The building material of claim 1, wherein the first side of said substrate includes a body of contact adhesive thereupon, and wherein said photovoltaic devices are affixed to said substrate by said body of contact adhesive. 5. The building material of claim 4, wherein said substrate comprises a monolithic body of an elastomeric contact adhesive material. 6. The building material of claim 1, wherein said encapsulant material affixes said photovoltaic devices to said substrate. 7. A building material as in claim 1, wherein said firebreak comprises an L-shaped metal member which is disposed so that one leg thereof is parallel to said substrate and the other leg thereof projects from said substrate. 8. A building material as in claim 1, wherein said firebreak projects beyond an edge of said substrate. 9. A building material as in claim 1, wherein said photovoltaic devices are flexible. 10. A building material as in claim 9, wherein said photovoltaic devices include at least one layer of a thin film semiconductor material selected from the group consisting of: silicon alloy materials, germanium alloy materials, and silicon-germanium alloy materials. 11. A building material as in claim 1, wherein said substrate comprises a body of material selected from the group consisting of: sheet metal, polymeric membranes, fibrous material impregnated with an organic polymer, a monolithic body of an elastomeric adhesive, and combinations thereof. 12. A building material as in claim 1, wherein said encapsulant material is selected from the group consisting of: fluoropolymers, ethylenevinylacetate, and combinations thereof. 13. A building material as in claim 1, wherein said encapsulant material comprises a polymeric material having glass fibers disposed therein. 14. A building material as in claim 1, wherein said photovoltaic devices are electrically interconnected. 15. A building material as in claim 1, further including a first terminal and a second terminal which are in electrical communication with said photovoltaic devices. 16. A building material as in claim 15, wherein said terminals are disposed in a junction box which is supported on said substrate. 17. A building material as in claim 1, characterized in that the weight thereof is no more than two pounds per square foot. 18. A building material as in claim 1, wherein said body of contact adhesive covers all of the second side of said substrate.