Building integrated photovoltaic tile mounting system

A building-integrated photovoltaic roof tile system comprising:

• a plurality of photovoltaic roof tiles;
• a pair of tile connectors, each tile connector having three protruding portions that include:
• a first protruding portion including a mechanical connector for directly mechanically coupling with a first photovoltaic roof tile of the plurality of photovoltaic roof tiles,
• a second protruding portion including an electrical connector directly electrically coupling directly adjacent photovoltaic roof tiles, and
• a third protruding portion including a mechanical connector for directly mechanically coupling with a second photovoltaic roof tile of the plurality of photovoltaic roof tiles;
• and
• each tile including:
• a substantially planar laminate structure of a substantially rectangular shape and having at least one photovoltaic cell encapsulated therein;
• respective positive and a negative electrical leads connected to opposing ends of the at least one photovoltaic cell;
• a first and a second cut out along a top portion of the roof tile when mounted within a laterally extending course, wherein the first and second cut out are each shaped to receive a corresponding mechanical connector of one of the pair of tile connectors therein so as to releasably couple with the pair of tile connectors;
• and
• a positive electrical contact electrically coupled with the positive lead and a negative electrical contact electrically coupled with the negative lead, wherein the positive and negative electrical contacts are projected out of the planar laminate structure and are disposed on the top portion of the roof tile with the positive electrical contact adjacent the first cut out and the negative electrical contact adjacent the second cut out to facilitate electrical coupling with corresponding electrical connectors portion of the pair of tile connectors.

A building-integrated photovoltaic roof tile system comprising:

• a plurality of photovoltaic roof tiles;
• a pair of tile connectors, each tile connector having three protruding portions that include:
• a first protruding portion including a mechanical connector for directly mechanically coupling with a first photovoltaic roof tile of the plurality of photovoltaic roof tiles,
• a second protruding portion including an electrical connector for directly electrically coupling directly adjacent photovoltaic roof tiles, and
• a third protruding portion including a mechanical connector for directly mechanically coupling with a second photovoltaic roof tile of the plurality of photovoltaic roof tiles;
• and
• each tile including:
• a laminate structure with at least one photovoltaic cell encased therein, wherein the roof tile has a left and a right edge relative to a top portion thereof when mounted within a laterally extending course of tiles,
• wherein the roof tile includes a first mechanical coupling feature along the top portion near the left edge of the tile and a second mechanical coupling feature along the top portion near the right edge of the tile each first and second mechanical coupling feature configured for directly mechanically coupling with the mechanical connectors of the pair of tile connectors, and
• wherein each roof tile includes a positive electrode contact disposed exterior to and along the top portion between the left edge of the tile and adjacent first mechanical coupling feature and a negative electrode contact disposed exterior to and along the top portion between the right edge and adjacent second mechanical coupling feature, the positive and negative electrode contacts configured such that the positive and negative electrode contacts of directly adjacent roof tiles directly electrically connect with the electrical connector of one of the pair of tile connectors.