# US 12,604,539 B2 · Solar cell module and method for manufacturing solar cell module > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,604,539 B2 - Document ID: US12604539B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 19/038,714 - Filed: 2025-01-28 - Published: 2025-10-09 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2024-04-05 - Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Shoichi Iwamoto; Taizo Masuda; Yuya Okuda; Ryota Morikawa; Shinya Iwasaki; Shintaro Hinata - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12604539B2 ## CPC - H10F 19/00: Integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one photovoltaic cell covered by group H10F10/00, e.g. photovoltaic modules - H10F 19/80: Encapsulations or containers for integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, having photovoltaic cells - H02S 20/30: Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment - H10F 19/804: {Materials of encapsulations} - H10F 19/902: {for series or parallel connection of photovoltaic cells} - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION - 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) ## Abstract A curved plate-shaped solar cell module includes a front surface layer, a back surface layer, first and second solar cell units, and an sealing material, wherein the first solar cell unit includes a plurality of strip-shaped first cells, each first cell includes a flexible, strip-shaped film base material and a perovskite element, and is curved according to a curved shape of the solar cell module, and a reinforcing portion having a higher bending rigidity than other portions of the film base material is formed at an edge portion along the longitudinal direction of the film base material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A solar cell module in a form of a curved plate, the solar cell module characterized by comprising: a light-transmitting front surface layer; a back surface layer; a first solar cell unit and a second solar cell unit that are arranged in an order of the first solar cell unit and the second solar cell unit from a front surface layer side between the front surface layer and the back surface layer; and a sealing material that seals the first solar cell unit and the second solar cell unit, wherein: the first solar cell unit includes a plurality of strip-shaped first cells; the first cells are arranged next to each other in a lateral direction of the first cell; each of the first cells includes a flexible, strip-shaped film base material and a first power generation element, the first power generation element being disposed along a longitudinal direction of the film base material on one surface of the film base material, and the first cells being curved according to a curved shape of the solar cell module; the second solar cell unit includes a plurality of second power generation elements arranged in the longitudinal direction of the film base material so as to face the other surface of each of the film base materials along a longitudinal direction of the first cell; and a reinforcing portion is provided at an edge portion of the film base material, the edge portion being a portion along the longitudinal direction of the film base material, and the reinforcing portion having a higher bending rigidity than a remaining portion of the film base material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The solar cell module according to claim 1, wherein: the first power generation element is longer than the second power generation element in a lateral direction of the film base material; and the second power generation element is disposed with respect to the first power generation element in the lateral direction so as to leave a power generation region of the first power generation element on both sides in the lateral direction, when the solar cell module is viewed in a thickness direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The solar cell module according to claim 1, wherein: the solar cell module is curved along a first direction, and is more curved along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction than along the first direction; and the first cells are arranged in such a manner that the longitudinal direction coincides with the second direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A vehicle equipped with the solar cell module according to claim 3, as at least part of a roof. ### Claim 5 A method for manufacturing a solar cell module in a form of a curved plate, the solar cell module including a first solar cell unit and a second solar cell unit, the first solar cell unit including a plurality of strip-shaped first cells, each of the first cells including a flexible, strip-shaped film base material and a first power generation element, the first power generation element being disposed along a longitudinal direction of the film base material on one surface of the film base material, and the second solar cell unit including a plurality of second power generation elements, the method comprising: fabricating a stack in which the first solar cell unit and the second solar cell unit are arranged between a light-transmitting curved front panel and a curved back panel so as to sandwich a sealing sheet between the front panel and the back panel, the first solar cell unit and the second solar cell unit being arranged in an order of the first solar cell unit and the second solar cell unit from a front panel side, and the sealing sheet being made of a resin; and pressing the stack by hot press at a heating temperature equal to or higher than a softening point of the resin until the first solar cell unit and the second solar cell unit are sealed with the resin of the sealing sheet, wherein in the fabricating, the first cells, each having a reinforcing portion formed at an edge portion of the film base material, are arranged next to each other in a lateral direction of the first cell, the edge portion being a portion along the longitudinal direction of the film base material, and the reinforcing portion having a higher bending rigidity than a remaining portion of the film base material, and the second power generation elements are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the film base material so as to face the other surface of each of the film base materials along a longitudinal direction of the first cell.