Photovoltaic devices
AssigneeEight19 Limited
InventorsJohn Richard Fyson, Jurjen Frederick Winkel, MIchael Niggermann, Simon Barns-Field-Garth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In order to mitigate tampering with a solar cell, the present invention provides a photovoltaic device comprising at least one photovoltaic cell housed within an encapsulant forming a protective barrier for the at least one photovoltaic cell; a switch operable to allow delivery of electricity from the device; and means, also housed within the encapsulant, to render the device inoperable, preferably permanently inoperable, upon tampering with the device.
Claims52
A photovoltaic device comprising:
- at least one photovoltaic cell housed within an encapsulant forming a protective barrier for the at least one photovoltaic cell;
- a switch operable to allow delivery of electricity from the device;
- and
- means, also housed within the encapsulant, to render the device inoperable, preferably permanently inoperable, upon tampering with the device.
A photovoltaic device as claim in any preceding claim, wherein the switch is also housed within the encapsulant.
A photovoltaic device according to any preceding claim, wherein the switch is controlled by an integrated circuit.
A photovoltaic device according to any preceding claim, wherein integrated circuit and/or switch comprises an integral component of the PV device.
A photovoltaic device according to any preceding Claim comprising a terminal for connection to a load.
A photovoltaic device according to any preceding Claim comprising a plurality, i.e. two, three or more, photovoltaic cells.
A photovoltaic device according to any preceding Claim, wherein the means to render the device inoperable may comprise means to partially or completely interfere with collection of solar energy (e.g. to shade) the at least one cell.
A photovoltaic device according to any preceding Claim, wherein the means to render the device inoperable comprises channels which are revealed upon tampering with the switch and/or, if present, the integrated circuit.
A photovoltaic device according to any preceding Claim, wherein the means to render the device inoperable may comprise a chemical switch.
A photovoltaic device according to any preceding Claim, wherein the means to render the device inoperable may comprise a conductive liquid which makes a vital connection (for example between the or a busbar and the or a stripe electrode) which leaks away upon tampering with the switch.
A photovoltaic device according to any preceding Claim, wherein the means to render the device inoperable comprises a corrosive or aggressive liquid chemical, chemicals or etchants delivered to key interfaces, e.g. by capillary force.
A photovoltaic device according to any preceding Claim, wherein the photovoltaic cell is an organic photovoltaic cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.