# US 12,009,773 B2 · Photovoltaic modules for commercial roofing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,009,773 B2 - Document ID: US12009773B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/340,521 - Filed: 2023-06-23 - Published: 2023-10-19 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2021-09-01 - Assignees: GAF Energy LLC - Applicants: GAF Energy LLC - Inventors: Thierry Nguyen; Gabriela Bunea; Gary Rossi; Nicholas Boitnott; Richard Perkins; David Kavulak - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12009773B2 ## CPC - E04D 5/06: by making use of plastics - H02S 20/23: specially adapted for roof structures - E04D 1/22: of specified materials {not covered by any one of groups E04D1/14 - E04D1/205}, or of combinations of materials, {where at least one is} not covered by any one of groups E04D1/14 - E04D1/205 - E04D 5/10: by making use of compounded or laminated materials, e.g. metal foils or plastic films coated with bitumen - H02S 30/10: Frame structures - H10F 19/80: Encapsulations or containers for integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, having photovoltaic cells - H10F 19/804: {Materials of encapsulations} - H10F 19/85: Protective back sheets - Y02B 10/10: Photovoltaic [PV] - Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy - E04D: ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS (coverings of outer walls by plaster or other porous material E04F13/00) - 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) - 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 system includes a roof deck having a slope of 0.25 inch to 3 inches per foot and a roofing membrane is composed of a first material, and at least one photovoltaic module installed on the roof deck. The photovoltaic module includes at least one solar cell, an encapsulant, a frontsheet, and a backsheet. The backsheet includes a head flap located at a first end of the backsheet, and a bottom flap located at a second end of the backsheet. The backsheet is composed of the first material. At least a first portion of the head flap is attached to the roofing membrane, and at least a second portion of the bottom flap is attached to the roofing membrane. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system, comprising: a roof deck, wherein the roof deck includes a roofing membrane, and wherein the roofing membrane is composed of a first material; and at least one photovoltaic module installed on the roof deck, the at least one photovoltaic module including at least one solar cell, an encapsulant encapsulating the at least one solar cell, and a backsheet juxtaposed with the encapsulant, wherein the backsheet includes a head flap located at a first end of the backsheet, and a bottom flap located at a second end of the backsheet, wherein the backsheet is composed of the first material, wherein at least a first portion of the head flap is attached to the roofing membrane, and wherein at least a second portion of the bottom flap is attached to the roofing membrane. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first material is composed of a polymeric material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first material is composed of thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the head flap and the bottom flap are attached to the roofing membrane by an adhesive. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the head flap and the bottom flap are attached to the roofing membrane by thermal bonding. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the head flap and the bottom flap are attached to the roofing membrane by ultrasonic welding. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the backsheet includes a first side flap located at a first side of the at least one photovoltaic module and a second side flap located at a second side of the at least one photovoltaic module opposite the first side, wherein at least a third portion of the first side flap is attached to the roofing membrane and at least a fourth portion of the second side flap is attached to the roofing membrane. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the backsheet includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface of the backsheet, and wherein the first surface of the backsheet is juxtaposed with the encapsulant. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the second surface of the second portion of the bottom flap is attached to the roofing membrane. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the second surface of the first portion of the head flap is attached to the roofing membrane. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the first surface of the first portion of the head flap is attached to the roofing membrane. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the head flap includes a free end, wherein the free end of the head flap is folded relative to itself and forms a rounded end. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the rounded end includes a first portion juxtaposed with the roofing membrane and a second portion relative to the roofing membrane, wherein the second portion of the rounded end is elevated relative to the roofing membrane. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the first surface of at least the first portion of the rounded end is attached to the roofing membrane. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the second portion of the rounded end is sloped 0.1 degrees to 15 degrees. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one support member located intermediate a corresponding one of the at least one photovoltaic module and the roofing membrane, and wherein a portion of the at least one photovoltaic module is elevated relative to the roofing membrane. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one solar cell includes a first plurality of solar cells arranged in a first array, and a second plurality of solar cells arranged in a second array, wherein the at least one photovoltaic module includes a first section, a second section, and a region located intermediate the first section and the second section, wherein the first array is located within the first section, wherein the second array is located within the second section, wherein the at least one support member is juxtaposed with the region. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one support member includes a rod. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one support member is composed of thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO). ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein each of the first section and the second section is elevated relative to the roofing membrane, wherein the first section is sloped 0.1 degrees to 15 degrees, and wherein the second section is sloped 0.1 degrees to 15 degrees.