Solar array devices with structural electrical connections
AssigneeStellaris Corporation
InventorJames B. Paull
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solar cell array assembly that includes a first solar cell having a first side and a second side; a second solar cell in a stacked below the first cell, the second cell having a first side and a second side; and a structural conductor disposed between the first cell and second cell; wherein the structural conductor being selected to support a weight of, at least, the first cell to maintain a selected distance between the first cell and the second cell; and wherein the structural conductor being electrically coupled to the second side of the first cell and the first side of the second cell.
Claims22
A solar cell array assembly, comprising:
- a first solar cell having a first side and a second side,
- a second solar cell in a stacked arrangement with the first cell, the second cell having a first side and a second side;
- and
- a structural conductor disposed between the first cell and second cell;
- wherein the structural conductor being selected to support a weight of, at least, the first cell to maintain a selected distance between the first cell and the second cell;
- and wherein the structural conductor being electrically coupled to the second side of the first cell and the first side of the second cell, wherein the first and second solar cells and the structural conductor forming a self-supporting array;
- and wherein
- the first and second solar cells being arranged horizontally in rows, wherein the second cell being stacked on top of and spaced apart from the first cell to make a vertical stack.
A panel of solar cell arrays, comprising:
- a plurality of solar cell arrays electrically coupled together;
- each solar cell array comprising:
- a first solar cell having a first side and a second side,
- a second solar cell in a stacked arrangement with the first cell, the second cell having a first side and a second side;
- and
- a structural conductor disposed between the first cell and second cell;
- wherein the structural conductor being selected to support a weight of, at least, the first cell to maintain a selected distance between the first cell and the second cell;
- and wherein the structural conductor being electrically coupled to the second side of the first cell and the first side of the second cell;
- wherein the first and second solar cells and the structural conductor of each solar cell array forming a self-supporting array;
- and wherein
- the first and second solar cells being arranged horizontally in rows, wherein the second cell being stacked on top of and spaced apart from the first cell to make a vertical stack.
A solar window assembly with solar power generation, comprising:
- a first window pane;
- a second window pane adjacent the first window pane;
- a frame to house the first and second window panes;
- and
- a solar cell array comprising:
- a first solar cell having a first side and a second side,
- a second solar cell in a stacked arrangement with the first cell, the second cell having a first side and a second side;
- and
- a structural conductor disposed between the first cell and second cell;
- wherein the structural conductor being selected to support a weight of, at least, the first cell to maintain a selected distance between the first cell and the second cell;
- and wherein the structural conductor being electrically coupled to the second side of the first cell and the first side of the second cell;
- wherein the first and second solar cells and the structural conductor forming a self-supporting array;
- and wherein
- the first and second solar cells being arranged horizontally in rows, wherein the second cell being stacked on top of and spaced apart from the first cell to make a vertical stack.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.