Photovoltaic assembly having corner-facing electrical connector port
AssigneeSunPower Corporation
InventorsKyle Donald Feldmann, Lee Gorny, Matthew Deschambeault, Gary Alan Rossi, John Paul Kapla
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Photovoltaic (PV) assemblies and electrical connections for interconnecting PV modules to form PV arrays are described herein. The PV assemblies can include angled connector terminals to electrically mate with power connector ports of the PV modules. A power connector port can face a corner of a PV module. The electrical connections of the PV assemblies can simplify cable management and facilitate flexibility in arrangement and interconnection of PV modules and PV arrays.
Claims20
An alternating current photovoltaic (ACPV) assembly, comprising:
- a frame including a plurality of frame members between an inner boundary and an outer boundary;
- a corner key coupled to the plurality of frame members, wherein the corner key joins the plurality of frame members at a corner, and wherein the corner key includes a feedthrough opening between the inner boundary and the outer boundary at the corner;
- and
- an ACPV module mounted on the frame, wherein the ACPV module includes a PV laminate having a plurality of solar cells, an inverter electrically connected to the plurality of solar cells, and an alternating current (AC) connector port electrically connected to the inverter and having a port face facing the feedthrough opening, wherein the AC connector port is accessible from the outer boundary through the feedthrough opening.
A photovoltaic (PV) assembly, comprising:
- a frame including a frame member between an inner boundary and an outer boundary, wherein the frame includes a feedthrough opening through the frame member from the inner boundary to the outer boundary;
- and
- a PV module mounted on the frame, wherein the PV module includes
- a PV laminate having a plurality of solar cells encapsulated between a front side and a back side,
- an electronic component coupled to the back side of the PV laminate, wherein the electronic component is to condition power generated by the plurality of solar cells, and wherein the electronic component includes a DC connector port electrically coupled to the plurality of solar cells, and a conditioned power connector port having a port face facing the feedthrough opening.
A photovoltaic (PV) module, comprising:
- a PV laminate having a plurality of solar cells encapsulated between a front side and a back side, wherein the back side includes a plurality of edges joined at a corner;
- and
- an electronic component coupled to the back side of the PV laminate, wherein the electronic component is to condition power generated by the plurality of solar cells, and wherein the electronic component includes a DC connector port electrically coupled to the plurality of solar cells, and a conditioned power connector port having a port face facing the corner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.