# US 12,015,374 B2 · Photovoltaic modules integrated with building siding and fencing

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- Number: US 12,015,374 B2
- Document ID: US12015374B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/471,776
- Filed: 2023-09-21
- Published: 2024-03-28
- Granted: 2024-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2022-09-26
- Assignees: GAF Energy LLC
- Applicants: GAF Energy LLC
- Inventors: Richard Perkins; Thierry Nguyen; Brian West; Henry Pham
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12015374B2

## CPC

- H02S 20/25: Roof tile elements
- H02S 20/26: Building materials integrated with PV modules, e.g. façade elements (H02S20/25 takes precedence)
- E04F 13/0846: {the fastening elements engaging holes or grooves in the side faces of the covering elements (E04F13/0835 and E04F13/0839 take precedence)}
- E04F 13/0864: {composed of superposed elements which overlap each other and of which the flat outer surface includes an acute angle with the surface to cover}
- E04F 13/0866: {composed of several layers, e.g. sandwich panels or layered panels (layered products as such in general B32B; producing decorative panels or veneers B44C5/04; E04F13/0864, E04F13/0875 take precedence)}
- H02S 20/22: specially adapted for buildings
- H02S 40/34: comprising specially adapted electrical connection means to be structurally associated with the PV module, e.g. junction boxes
- H02S 40/36: characterised by special electrical interconnection means between two or more PV modules, e.g. electrical module-to-module connection
- H10F 19/80: Encapsulations or containers for integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, having photovoltaic cells
- Y02B 10/10: Photovoltaic [PV]
- Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy
- 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)
- E04F: FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS (windows, doors E06B)
- 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 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of photovoltaic modules is installed on the exterior wall by at least one fastener, and wherein the headlap portion is configured to receive the at least one fastener therethrough.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of photovoltaic modules includes an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, and wherein the inner surface of the first photovoltaic module is attached to the outer surface of the third photovoltaic module.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of siding panels includes a nailing strip and an exposed portion adjacent to the nailing strip,
wherein the third photovoltaic module overlays the nailing strip of the at least first one of the plurality of siding panels,
wherein the exposed portion of the at least first one of the plurality of siding panels is adjacent to the second edge of the third photovoltaic module.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of photovoltaic modules includes a reveal portion, and wherein the exposed portion of at least a second one of the plurality of siding panels is substantially aligned with the reveal portion of the third photovoltaic module.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the exposed portion of at least a third one of the plurality of siding panels is substantially aligned with the reveal portion of the first photovoltaic module.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the exposed portion of each of the plurality of siding panels includes an interlocking flange,
wherein the nailing strip of each of the plurality of siding panels includes a projection,
wherein the interlocking flange of the at least first one of the plurality of siding panels is interlocked with the projection of the nailing strip of at least a fourth one of the plurality of siding panels located below and adjacent to the at least first one of the plurality of siding panels.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the third photovoltaic module overlays the nailing strip of the at least first one of the plurality of siding panels and a fifth one of the plurality of siding panels,
wherein the exposed portion of the fifth one of the plurality of siding panels is adjacent to the second edge of the third photovoltaic module.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of siding panels is composed of vinyl, aluminum, fiber cement or wood.

### Claim 10

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.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one wireway installed proximate to the first end of at least the first photovoltaic module.

### Claim 12

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.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one flashing member comprises a plurality of channels, wherein each of the channels of the plurality of channels has at least one of a rectangular, triangular, or semicircular cross-sectional shape.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of photovoltaic modules is installed on the exterior wall by at least one fastener.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, further comprising at least one wireway installed proximate to an end of at least the first photovoltaic module.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of siding panels is composed of vinyl, aluminum, fiber cement or wood.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of photovoltaic modules is installed on the exterior wall by at least one fastener.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, further comprising at least one wireway installed proximate to an end of at least the first photovoltaic module.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of siding panels is composed of vinyl, aluminum, fiber cement or wood.