Photovoltaic panel having a distributed support frame
AssigneeSunPower Corporation
InventorsGabriela Elena Bunea, Lee Gorny, George Nadim Mseis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A photovoltaic panel having a photovoltaic module supported by a distributed support frame is described. The distributed support frame may include a support member extending over a back surface of the photovoltaic module. For example, one or more support members may extend laterally from a support hub mounted on the back surface. The distributed support frame may reduce a span length of the photovoltaic module between support locations, and thus, may reduce a likelihood that a module laminate will crack under a design load.
Claims20
A photovoltaic panel, comprising:
- a photovoltaic module having a photovoltaic cell between a front layer and a back layer, wherein the back layer includes a back surface having a lateral perimeter;
- and
- a distributed support frame including
- a support hub mounted on the back surface of the photovoltaic module, and
- a support member extending laterally from the support hub over the back surface.
A photovoltaic panel, comprising:
- a photovoltaic module having a photovoltaic cell between a front layer and a back layer, wherein the back layer includes a back surface having a lateral perimeter;
- and
- a distributed support frame including
- a support hub mounted on the back surface inward from the lateral perimeter, wherein a vertical axis extends through the support hub orthogonal to the back surface, and
- a plurality of support members extending laterally from the support hub over the back surface, wherein the support members are symmetrically arranged about the vertical axis.
A photovoltaic panel, comprising:
- a photovoltaic module having a photovoltaic cell between a front layer and a back layer, wherein the back layer includes a back surface having a lateral perimeter;
- and
- a distributed support frame including
- a support hub having an upper end mounted on the back surface inward from the lateral perimeter, wherein the support hub includes a hub connector at a lower end, and
- a support member extending laterally from the support hub over the back surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.