# US 11,121,674 B2 · Photovoltaic modules > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,121,674 B2 - Document ID: US11121674B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/594,720 - Filed: 2019-10-07 - Published: 2020-01-30 - Granted: 2021-09-14 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-03 - Assignees: SunPower Corporation - Applicants: SunPower Corporation - Inventors: Patrick L. Chapman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11121674B2 ## CPC - H02S 30/10: Frame structures - F24S 25/67: for coupling adjacent modules or their peripheral frames (for fixing modules or their peripheral frames to supporting elements F24S25/63) - H02J 3/38: Arrangements for feeding a single network from two or more generators or sources in parallel; Arrangements for feeding already energised networks from additional generators or sources in parallel - H02J 3/381: {Dispersed generators} - H02S 30/20: Collapsible or foldable PV modules - H02S 40/36: characterised by special electrical interconnection means between two or more PV modules, e.g. electrical module-to-module connection - H02S 40/38: Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules - H10F 19/90: Structures for connecting between photovoltaic cells, e.g. interconnections or insulating spacers (between thin-film photovoltaic cells on a single substrate H10F19/35) - F24S 2020/12: {Coplanar arrangements with frame overlapping portions} - H02J 2101/22: Solar energy - H02J 2101/24: Photovoltaics - Y02B 10/10: Photovoltaic [PV] - Y02B 10/20: Solar thermal - Y02E 10/47: Mountings or tracking - Y02E 10/56: Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers - Y02E 70/30: Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin - H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00) - F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A modular photovoltaic (PV) system can include a PV cell, a frame coupled to the PV cell, and a converter. The frame is configured to support a plurality of pairs of externally accessible connectors, each pair having a positive voltage connector and a negative voltage connector, the positive voltage connector of each pair of the plurality electrically connected to each other and the negative voltage connector of each pair of the plurality electrically connected to each other. The converter is configured to receive voltage from the PV cell and change the voltage for output at one or more pairs of the externally accessible connectors. The converter may include Maximum Power Point Tracking services to manage the power output from the PV cell. Multiple PV systems may be connected to each other in coplanar and non-coplanar relationships. In some embodiments, the frames have triangular, rectangular, or other polygonal shapes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular photovoltaic (PV) system comprising: a plurality of PV modules, wherein each PV module is a modular building block of the PV system, and each PV module comprises: a PV cell, a positive connector and a negative connector positioned along each of multiple sides of the PV module, wherein each connector is an externally accessible building block electrical connector and mechanical connector, and an active power converter configured to receive voltage from the PV cell and change the received voltage for output to the connectors of the PV module, wherein at least one of the positive connectors and at least one of the negative connectors of a first PV module of the plurality of PV modules is connected to the respective connectors of a second PV module of the plurality of PV modules to reconfigurably connect the first and second PV modules in a series or parallel electrical configuration, wherein the connectors of the first and second PV modules are configured to mechanically connect with each other and thereby hold the first PV module and the second PV module together, and wherein when mechanically connected to each other, the first PV module and the second PV module are also electrically connected to each other via the mechanical connection. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The modular (PV) system of claim 1 wherein the first PV module includes an internal electrical disconnect to selectively deactivate the power converter of the first PV module and electrically disconnect the first PV module from the second PV module while maintaining a mechanical connection between the first and second PV modules. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The modular (PV) system of claim 1 wherein the externally accessible building block connector of the first modular building block is interlockable with the externally accessible building block connector of the second modular building block connector. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The modular (PV) system of claim 1 wherein the first and second PV modules are electrically connected to each other in a parallel electrical configuration. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The modular (PV) system of claim 1 wherein the connectors of the first and second PV modules are configured as male or female and to mechanically connect with each other using a tool-free method of assembly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The modular (PV) system of claim 1 wherein the connectors of the first and second PV modules are configured to mechanically flexibly connect with each other using a tool free method of assembly. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The modular system of claim 1 wherein the externally accessible building block connectors of the first building block and the second building block are hinge-like connectors. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The modular (PV) system of claim 1 wherein the connectors of the first and second PV modules are flexible and electrically conductive. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The modular (PV) system of claim 1 wherein the first PV module has a DC voltage output V1 and the second PV module has a DC voltage output V2, and V1 is different than V2. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The modular (PV) system of claim 1 wherein the first PV module is non-coplanar with the second PV module when connected to the second PV module. ### Claim 11 A modular photovoltaic system comprising: a first modular photovoltaic (PV) building block, the first modular building block comprising a first PV cell, a first active power converter configured to receive voltage from the second PV cell and change the received voltage for output to a first plurality of separate externally accessible building block side connectors; a second discrete modular PV building block, the second modular building block comprising a second PV cell, a second active power converter configured to receive voltage from the second PV cell and change the received voltage for output to a second plurality of separate externally accessible building block side connectors; and wherein the first and second plurality of externally accessible building block side connectors are configured to reconfigurably mechanically connect with each other and thereby hold the first building block and the second building block together along a side of each of the building blocks in a parallel or series electrical connection, and wherein when mechanically connected to each other, the first building block and the second building block are also electrically connected to each other via at least one of the side connectors. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The modular system of claim 11 wherein the first building block and the second building block are electrically connected to each other in parallel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The modular system of claim 11 wherein a side connector of the first plurality or the second plurality comprises a rectangular receiving trough. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The modular system of claim 11 wherein the side connectors of the first plurality and the second plurality are flexible and mate in a tool-free manner. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The modular system of claim 11 wherein the side connectors of the first plurality and the second plurality each comprise at least one electrical trace or bare conductor and wherein an externally accessible building block side connector is positive and is connected to another positive externally accessible building block side connector on an opposite building block side. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The modular system of claim 11 wherein the first building block and the second building block have voltage outputs of 0.6 VDC or 1.2 VDC or 3.0 VDC.