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US 12,015,374 B2Granted
Photovoltaic modules integrated with building siding and fencing
AssigneeGAF Energy LLC
InventorsRichard Perkins, Thierry Nguyen, Brian West, Henry Pham
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system includes a plurality of photovoltaic modules installed in an array on an exterior wall of a structure. Each of the photovoltaic modules includes at least one solar cell, a first encapsulant encapsulating the at least one solar cell, and a frontsheet juxtaposed with the encapsulant. The frontsheet includes a glass layer. The system includes a plurality of siding panels installed on the exterior wall. The plurality of siding panels is adjacent to the plurality of photovoltaic modules.
Claims19
A system, comprising:
- a plurality of photovoltaic modules installed on an exterior wall of a structure,
- wherein the photovoltaic modules are arranged in an array on the exterior wall,
- wherein each of the photovoltaic modules includes:
- at least one solar cell,
- a first encapsulant encapsulating the at least one solar cell,
- wherein the first encapsulant includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface,
- a frontsheet juxtaposed with the first surface of the first encapsulant,
- wherein the frontsheet includes a glass layer,
- a first end,
- a second end opposite the first end,
- a first edge extending from the first end to the second end,
- a second edge opposite the first edge and extending from the first end to
- the second end, and
- a headlap portion,
- wherein the headlap portion extends from the first end to the second end and from the first edge to a first location between the first edge and the second edge;
- and
- a plurality of siding panels installed on the exterior wall,
- wherein the plurality of siding panels is adjacent to the plurality of photovoltaic modules,
- wherein a first photovoltaic module of the plurality of photovoltaic modules is horizontally adjacent to a second photovoltaic module of the plurality of photovoltaic modules,
- wherein a third photovoltaic module of the plurality of photovoltaic modules is vertically adjacent to the first photovoltaic module,
- wherein the first ends of the first and third photovoltaic modules are substantially aligned with each other,
- wherein the second ends of the first and third photovoltaic modules are substantially aligned with each other,
- wherein the first photovoltaic module overlays at least a part of the headlap portion of the third photovoltaic module,
- wherein at least the third photovoltaic module overlays at least a portion of at least a first one of the plurality of siding panels.
21 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a plurality of photovoltaic modules installed on an exterior wall of a structure,
- wherein the photovoltaic modules are arranged in an array on the exterior wall,
- wherein the plurality of photovoltaic modules comprises at least a first photovoltaic module and a second photovoltaic module,
- wherein each of the photovoltaic modules includes:
- at least one solar cell,
- a first encapsulant encapsulating the at least one solar cell,
- wherein the first encapsulant includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and
- a frontsheet juxtaposed with the first surface of the first encapsulant,
- wherein the frontsheet includes a glass layer;
- and
- a plurality of siding panels installed on the exterior wall,
- wherein each of the plurality of photovoltaic modules includes a side lap portion,
- wherein the second photovoltaic module overlays at least a part of the side lap portion of the first photovoltaic module wherein the plurality of siding panels is adjacent to the plurality of photovoltaic modules.
10 more elements
A system comprising:
- a plurality of photovoltaic modules installed on an exterior wall of a structure,
- wherein the photovoltaic modules are arranged in an array on the exterior wall,
- wherein each of the photovoltaic modules includes:
- at least one solar cell,
- a first encapsulant encapsulating the at least one solar cell,
- wherein the first encapsulant includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and
- a frontsheet juxtaposed with the first surface of the first encapsulant,
- wherein the frontsheet includes a glass layer;
- a plurality of siding panels installed on the exterior wall,
- wherein the exterior wall comprises a plurality of beams,
- wherein the plurality of photovoltaic modules comprises at least a first photovoltaic module and a second photovoltaic module,
- wherein ends of the first photovoltaic module and the second photovoltaic module abut against one another, thereby to form a seam;
- and
- at least one flashing member,
- wherein the at least one flashing member is installed between the seam and at least one beam of the plurality of beams,
- wherein the at least one flashing member comprises at least one channel configured to flow water that leaks through the seam away from the at least one beam wherein the plurality of siding panels is adjacent to the plurality of photovoltaic modules.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.