# US 12,191,797 B2 · Photovoltaic module for a roof with continuous fiber tape > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,191,797 B2 - Document ID: US12191797B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/972,401 - Filed: 2022-10-24 - Published: 2023-02-16 - Granted: 2025-01-07 - Earliest claimed: 2021-02-19 - Assignees: GAF Energy LLC - Applicants: GAF Energy LLC - Inventors: William Sirski; Alex Sharenko; David Fredric Joel Kavulak; Nathan Peterson; Hamsini Gopalakrishna - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12191797B2 ## CPC - H02S 20/23: specially adapted for roof structures - H10F 19/804: {Materials of encapsulations} - B32B 3/085: {spaced apart pieces on the surface of a layer} - B32B 5/02: characterised by structural features of a {fibrous or filamentary} layer {(layer formed of metallic wires B32B15/02; layer formed of natural mineral fibres B32B19/02; layer formed of wood fibres B32B21/02)} - B32B 5/12: characterised by the relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of {different layers, e.g. the fibres or filaments being parallel or perpendicular to each other} - B32B 5/26: another layer {next to it} also being fibrous or filamentary {(relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12)} - B32B 17/04: bonded with or embedded in a plastic substance - B32B 17/10788: {containing ethylene vinylacetate} - B32B 17/10798: {containing silicone} - C09J 7/20: characterised by their carriers - C09J 7/381: {based on macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds} - E04D 5/10: by making use of compounded or laminated materials, e.g. metal foils or plastic films coated with bitumen - E04D 5/148: {fastening by gluing} - H10F 19/80: Encapsulations or containers for integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, having photovoltaic cells - H10F 19/85: Protective back sheets - B32B 2260/023: Two or more layers - B32B 2260/046: Synthetic resin - B32B 2262/101: Glass fibres - B32B 2307/204: Di-electric - B32B 2307/206: Insulating - B32B 2307/3065: Flame resistant or retardant, fire resistant or retardant - B32B 2307/412: Transparent - B32B 2307/54: Yield strength; Tensile strength - B32B 2307/546: Flexural strength; Flexion stiffness - B32B 2457/12: Photovoltaic modules - 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) - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - C09J: ADHESIVES; NON-MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF ADHESIVE PROCESSES IN GENERAL; ADHESIVE PROCESSES NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; USE OF MATERIALS AS ADHESIVES (preparation of glue or gelatine C09H) - E04D: ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS (coverings of outer walls by plaster or other porous material E04F13/00) - 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 Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to photovoltaic module for use on a roof. In some embodiments, the photovoltaic module may include a solar cell and a polymeric continuous fiber tape. In some embodiments, the polymeric continuous fiber tape comprises a polymer and glass fiber. In some embodiments, the glass fiber is present in an amount greater than about 50% by weight based on a total weight of the polymeric continuous fiber tape. In some embodiments, the polymeric continuous fiber tape comprises an elastic modulus greater than 1 GPa and an optical transmission greater than 80%. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A roofing system, comprising: a roofing surface; a plurality of photovoltaic modules located above the roofing surface, wherein each of the plurality of photovoltaic modules comprises: a solar cell; and a plurality of modules located above the roofing surface and adjacent the plurality of photovoltaic modules, wherein each of the plurality of modules comprises: a first layer, wherein the first layer comprises a thermoplastic polyolefin; a second layer, wherein the second layer comprises a continuous fiber tape; and a third layer, wherein the third layer comprises a thermoplastic polyolefin, wherein the second layer is between the first layer and the third layer, wherein the third layer is adjacent to the second layer, wherein each of the plurality of modules does not include a solar cell. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The roofing system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of modules further comprises: a fourth layer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The roofing system of claim 2, wherein the fourth layer comprises a continuous fiber tape. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The roofing system of claim 3, wherein the continuous fiber tape of the fourth layer comprises a polymer and a glass fiber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The roofing system of claim 4, wherein the continuous fiber tape of the second layer comprises a polymer and a glass fiber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The roofing system of claim 1, wherein the continuous fiber tape of the second layer has a thickness from 100 μm to 1000 μm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The roofing system of claim 1, wherein the continuous fiber tape of the second layer has a thickness from 200 μm to 500 μm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The roofing system of claim 1, wherein an optical transmission of the continuous fiber tape of the second layer is at least 80%. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The roofing system of claim 1, wherein an optical transmission of the continuous fiber tape of the second layer is from 80% to 95%. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The roofing system of claim 1, wherein the continuous fiber tape of the second layer comprises a polymer and a continuous glass fiber. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The roofing system of claim 10, wherein the continuous glass fiber comprises a unidirectional glass fiber. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The roofing system of claim 10, wherein the continuous glass fiber comprises an extruded glass fiber. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The roofing system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of modules further comprises: a fourth layer, wherein the fourth layer comprises a continuous fiber tape, wherein the continuous fiber tape of the fourth layer comprises a polymer and a continuous glass fiber, and wherein the continuous glass fiber comprises at least one of a unidirectional glass fiber and an extruded glass fiber. ### Claim 14 A roofing system, comprising: a roofing surface; a plurality of photovoltaic modules located above the roofing surface, wherein each of the plurality of photovoltaic modules comprises: a solar cell; and a plurality of modules located above the roofing surface and adjacent the plurality of photovoltaic modules, wherein each of the plurality of modules comprises: a first layer, wherein the first layer comprises a polymer; a second layer, wherein the second layer comprises a continuous fiber tape, wherein the continuous fiber tape of the second layer comprises a polymer and a glass fiber; a third layer, wherein the third layer comprises a polymer, wherein the second layer is between the first layer and the third layer, wherein the third layer is adjacent to the second layer; and a fourth layer, wherein the fourth layer comprises a continuous fiber tape, wherein the continuous fiber tape of the fourth layer comprises a polymer and a glass fiber, wherein the third layer is between the second layer and the fourth layer, wherein each of the plurality of modules does not include a solar cell. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The roofing system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the first layer and the third layer comprises thermoplastic polyolefin. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The roofing system of claim 14, wherein the continuous fiber tape of the second layer has a thickness from 100 μm to 1000 μm. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The roofing system of claim 14, wherein the continuous fiber tape of the second layer has a thickness from 200 μm to 500 μm. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The roofing system of claim 14, wherein an optical transmission of the continuous fiber tape of the second layer is at least 80%. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The roofing system of claim 14, wherein an optical transmission of the continuous fiber tape of the second layer is from 80% to 95%. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The roofing system of claim 14, wherein the continuous fiber tape of the second layer comprises at least one of a unidirectional glass fiber and an extruded glass fiber.