# US 2013/0153009 A1 · Photovoltaic module > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153009 A1 - Document ID: US20130153009A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/770,480 - Filed: 2013-02-19 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2008-01-08 - Assignees: CertainTeed Corporation - Inventors: Husnu M. Kalkanoglu; Gregory F. Jacobs; Ming Liang Shiao - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153009A1 ## CPC - H02S 20/25: Roof tile elements - B32B 17/10788: {containing ethylene vinylacetate} - H02S 20/23: specially adapted for roof structures - H02S 40/20: Optical components - H10F 19/80: Encapsulations or containers for integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, having photovoltaic cells - H10F 77/00: Constructional details of devices covered by this subclass (constructional details of integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one element in which radiation controls the flow of current H10F39/00) - H10F 77/315: {the coatings being antireflective or having enhancing optical properties} - H10F 77/50: Encapsulations or containers (for photovoltaic modules H10F19/80) - 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) - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - 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 photovoltaic module includes an encapsulated photovoltaic element and an infrared-transmissive decorative overlay simulating conventional roofing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A photovoltaic module comprising a photovoltaic element having an upper surface, an encapsulant resin layer over the upper surface of the photovoltaic element, and a decorative overlay positioned above the upper surface of the photovoltaic element, the overlay being substantially transmissive of near infrared radiation and infrared radiation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A photovoltaic module according to claim 1 wherein the decorative overlay is positioned outside the encapsulant resin layer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A photovoltaic module according to claim 1 wherein the decorative overlay is positioned under the encapsulant resin layer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A photovoltaic module according to claim 1 wherein the decorative overlay simulates the appearance of a conventional roofing shingle surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A photovoltaic module according to claim 1 wherein the decorative overlay comprises a coating layer including a binder and at least one infrared-transmissive pigment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A photovoltaic module according to claim 5 wherein the at least one infrared-transmissive pigment is selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide, zinc oxide, nanoparticle titanium dioxide, CI Pigment Black 31, CI Pigment Black 32, CI Pigment Red 122, and CI Pigment Yellow 13 ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A photovoltaic module according to claim 1 wherein the overlay comprises a film material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) A photovoltaic module according to claim 6 wherein the film material includes a carrier and at least one infrared-transmissive pigment. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A photovoltaic module according to claim 7 wherein the film material includes a decorative layer on the surface of the film. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A photovoltaic module according to claim 9 wherein the decorative layer is formed by a halftone printing process. ### Claim 11 A process for producing a decorative photovoltaic module comprising: (a) providing a photovoltaic module including a semiconductor stack encapsulated in an infrared-transmissive resin having an upper resin layer, and (b) adhering an overlay film bearing a decorative pattern to the upper resin layer using an infrared-transmissive adhesive material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The process of claim 11, wherein the decorative pattern further includes an infrared-transmissive ink on at least a first portion of the upper resin layer and an opaque ink on at least a second portion of the upper resin layer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The process of claim 11, wherein the decorative photovoltaic module is incorporated into a roofing cover. ### Claim 14 A process for producing a decorative photovoltaic module comprising: (a) providing a photovoltaic element including a semiconductor stack, the photovoltaic element having an upper surface, (b) providing a decorative overlay positioned above the upper surface of the photovoltaic element, the overlay being substantially transmissive of near infrared radiation and infrared radiation, and (c) encapsulating the decorative overlay and the photovoltaic element in an infrared-transmissive resin. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A process according to claim 14 wherein the decorative overlay simulates the appearance of a conventional roofing shingle surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A process according to claim 15 wherein the decorative overlay comprises a coating layer including a binder and at least one infrared-transmissive pigment. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) A process according to claim 14 wherein the overlay comprises a film material. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A process according to claim 17 wherein the film material includes a decorative layer on the surface of the film. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A process according to claim 18 wherein the decorative layer is formed by a halftone printing process. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) A process according to claim 14 wherein (a) the photovoltaic element is encapsulated in an infrared-transmissive resin, (b) the decorative overlay is positioned above the upper surface of the encapsulated photovoltaic element, and (c) the decorative overlay is encapsulated in an infrared-transmissive resin.