초록 ▼

A roofing module provides weather protection generates electrical power. The module comprises a base having a plurality of curved crests and curved pans. The crests and pans have contours sized and shaped to match the size and shape of the contours and pans of conventional clay or concrete S-tiles t

A roofing module provides weather protection generates electrical power. The module comprises a base having a plurality of curved crests and curved pans. The crests and pans have contours sized and shaped to match the size and shape of the contours and pans of conventional clay or concrete S-tiles to enable the base to interlock with the conventional clay or concrete S-tiles. The base is made from lightweight plastic material. Each crest of the base includes a depressed portion. A photovoltaic panel is positioned in the depressed portions of at least two curved crests and span across at least one curved pan between the at least two curved crests.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A roofing module that provides weather protection and that generates electrical power, comprising: a base comprising a plurality of raised crests and lowered pans between a first edge and a second edge of the base, the crests and the pans having contours sized and shaped to match the size and sha

1. A roofing module that provides weather protection and that generates electrical power, comprising: a base comprising a plurality of raised crests and lowered pans between a first edge and a second edge of the base, the crests and the pans having contours sized and shaped to match the size and shape of the contours and pans of conventional contour roofing tiles to enable the base to engage with the conventional contour roofing tiles, the base comprising a lightweight plastic material, each crest of the base including a depressed portion, the depressed portion of at least one crest having an opening from a top surface to a bottom surface of the at least one crest; anda photovoltaic panel assembly positioned in the depressed portions of at least two adjacent crests and spanning between a first edge and a second edge of the panel assembly across at least one pan between the at least two adjacent crests of the base, wherein the photovoltaic panel assembly comprises: an outer frame sized to fit in the depressed portions of the base, the outer frame encompassing a depressed inner area:a photovoltaic array sized to fit in the depressed inner area of the outer frame, the photovoltaic array having an output module with a first electrical output conductor and a second electrical output conductor extending therefrom, the output module sized to fit in the opening of the at least one crest of the base so that the first and second electrical output conductors extend below the bottom surface of the at least one crest:a first interlock at the first edge of the photovoltaic panel assembly and a second interlock at the second edge of the photovoltaic panel assembly, the first interlock and the second interlock having mutually engaging configurations such that when two adjacent bases are engaged, the first interlock of the panel on one base engages the second interlock of the panel on the other base,wherein the depressed inner area of the outer frame of the photovoltaic panel assembly comprises a lower surface comprising a support structure surrounding a plurality of openings in the lower surface, andwherein the support structure comprises a plurality of shield portions respectively disposed above the lowered pans of the base. 2. A method of constructing a roofing tile having an integrated photovoltaic array, comprising: constructing a photovoltaic assembly, comprising: installing a photovoltaic array in a frame having a central depressed portion sized to receive the photovoltaic array, the frame spanning between a first edge and a second edge of the frame, the first edge of the frame including a first interlock configuration and the second edge of the frame including a second interlock configuration, the photovoltaic array including an output module and at least a pair of electrical conductors extending from the output module; andsecuring the photovoltaic array to the frame with the output module extending through an opening in the frame; andinstalling the photovoltaic assembly in a base having a plurality of raised crests and interposed lowered pans between a first edge and a second edge of the base, the crests and pans shaped to match the shapes of a conventional contour roofing tile, comprising: positioning the photovoltaic assembly on at least first and second depressed portions of at least two adjacent crests and spanning at least one pan between the two adjacent crests, with the first edge of the photovoltaic assembly overhanging a pan at the first edge of the base and with the second edge of the photovoltaic assembly extending beyond a crest at the second edge of the base, at least one of the crests having an opening sized to receive the output module of the photovoltaic array such that the pair of electrical conductors extend below the crest; andsecuring the photovoltaic assembly to the base,wherein the depressed inner area of the frame of the photovoltaic assembly comprises a lower surface comprising a support structure surrounding a plurality of openings in the lower surface, andwherein the support structure comprises a plurality of shield portions respectively disposed above the lowered pans of the base. 3. A roofing module that provides weather protection and that generates electrical power, comprising: a base comprising a plurality of raised crests and lowered pans between a first edge and a second edge of the base, the crests and pans having contours sized and shaped to match the size and shape of the contours and pans of conventional contour roofing tiles to enable the base to engage with the conventional contour roofing tiles, the base comprising a lightweight plastic material, each crest of the base including a depressed portion, the depressed portion of at least one of the crests including an opening surrounded by a perimeter wall raised above the depressed portion;a photovoltaic panel support frame positioned in the depressed portions of at least two adjacent crests of the base and spanning between a first edge and a second edge of the panel support frame across at least one pan between the at least two adjacent crests, the panel support frame comprising an outer wall sized to fit in the depressed portion of the base, the support panel including a depressed portion having a lower surface, the lower surface including at least one opening sized and positioned to surround the perimeter wall of the opening in the base when the panel support frame is positioned in the depressed portion of the base, the first edge of the panel support frame including a first interlock and the second edge of the panel support frame including a second interlock, the first interlock and the second interlock having mutually engaging configurations such that when two adjacent bases are engaged, the first interlock of the panel support frame on one base engages the second interlock of the panel support frame on the other base; anda photovoltaic panel sized to fit in the depressed portion of the support frame, the photovoltaic panel having a lower surface and an output module formed on the lower surface, the output module sized and positioned to fit within the opening in the base when the photovoltaic panel is positioned in the depressed portion of the panel support frame and the panel support frame is positioned in the depressed portion of the base. 4. A profiled solar roof module, comprising: a base having (i) a left side and a right side, (ii) a top edge and a bottom edge, and (iii) a plurality of alternating crests and valleys undulating from the left side to the right side;each crest having a substantially flat area disposed therein, the flat area dividing the corresponding crest into two crest portions with no crest therebetween, each flat area being closer to the base bottom edge than to the base top edge, a portion of said each crest being disposed between said base bottom edge and said each flat area, each of the plurality of crests having the same shape; anda solar panel being disposed in the flat areas of the plurality of crests, an upper surface of said solar panel being even with a peak of each of the crests, said solar panel having (i) top and bottom edges in respective contact with base flat area top and bottom edges, and (ii) left and right side edges not in contact with said base. 5. A module according to claim 4, wherein each crest has a crest width at the top edge that is different than the crest width at the bottom edge. 6. A module according to claim 4, wherein the base has a width between the left edge and the right edge that is greater than a corresponding width of the solar panel. 7. A module according to claim 4, further comprising a junction box disposed adjacent a bottom surface of a base crest. 8. A module according to claim 4, further comprising left side base interlock structure and right side base interlock structure, these interlock structures being configured to engage each other. 9. A module according to claim 8, wherein one of the side interlock structures is configured to overlap the other to shield the interlock structures from water. 10. A module according to claim 8, further comprising left side solar panel interlock structure and right side solar panel interlock structure, these interlock structures being configured to engage each other. 11. A module according to claim 4, wherein a solar panel lower edge has a plurality of protrusions configured to engage complementary recesses in the corresponding base flat areas. 12. A module according to claim 4, wherein each valley has a fastener hole therein. 13. A profiled solar roof module base, comprising: a base structure having (i) a left side and a right side, (ii) a top edge and a bottom edge, and (iii) a plurality of alternating crests and valleys undulating from the left side to the right side;each crest having a substantially flat area disposed therein, the flat area dividing the corresponding crest into two crest portions with no crest therebetween, each flat area being closer to the base bottom edge than to the base top edge; anda solar module supported on said flat area, a portion of said each crest being disposed between said base bottom edge and said each flat area, said portion having a height even with a thickness of the solar module supported on said flat area, each of the plurality of crests having the same shape, said solar module having (i) top and bottom edges in respective contact with base structure flat area top and bottom edges, and (ii) left and right side edges not in contact with said base structure. 14. A module base according to claim 13, further comprising an electrical connector opening in the flat area of at least one of the crests. 15. A module base according to claim 14, further comprising an engagement hole in a vertically-disposed wall of a crest adjacent the flat area. 16. A module base according to claim 13, further comprising a plurality of ribs disposed on a bottom surface of said base. 17. A module base according to claim 13, further comprising left side base interlock structure and right side base interlock structure, these interlock structures being configured to engage each other. 18. A support structure adapted to support a solar panel on a profiled solar roof module that has a plurality of alternating crests and valleys, said support structure, comprising: a rectangular support structure having a periphery and a depressed central area within said periphery is configured to support the solar panel;a plurality of openings being disposed within said depressed area, one opening in said depressed area being configured for passage of electrical connectors; anda plurality of shields disposed between said openings, each shield being configured to block substantially all of a respective valley portion of an underlying profiled solar roof module. 19. A support structure according to claim 18, further comprising left side interlock structure and right side interlock structure, these interlock structures being configured to engage each other. 20. A support structure according to claim 18, wherein said openings are disposed in a matrix pattern.