# US 2018/0323743 A1 · Photovoltaic modules

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- Number: US 2018/0323743 A1
- Document ID: US20180323743A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/586,100
- Filed: 2017-05-03
- Published: 2018-11-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-05-03
- Assignees: SunPower Corporation
- Applicants: SunPower Corporation
- Inventors: Patrick L Chapman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180323743A1

## CPC

- H02S 30/10: Frame structures
- F24S 25/67: for coupling adjacent modules or their peripheral frames (for fixing modules or their peripheral frames to supporting elements F24S25/63)
- H02J 3/38: Arrangements for feeding a single network from two or more generators or sources in parallel; Arrangements for feeding already energised networks from additional generators or sources in parallel
- H02J 3/381: {Dispersed generators}
- H02S 30/20: Collapsible or foldable PV modules
- H02S 40/36: characterised by special electrical interconnection means between two or more PV modules, e.g. electrical module-to-module connection
- H02S 40/38: Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
- H10F 19/90: Structures for connecting between photovoltaic cells, e.g. interconnections or insulating spacers (between thin-film photovoltaic cells on a single substrate H10F19/35)
- F24S 2020/12: {Coplanar arrangements with frame overlapping portions}
- H02J 2101/22: Solar energy
- H02J 2101/24: Photovoltaics
- Y02B 10/10: Photovoltaic [PV]
- Y02B 10/20: Solar thermal
- Y02E 10/47: Mountings or tracking
- Y02E 10/56: Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
- Y02E 70/30: Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
- 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)
- F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00)
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- 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 modular photovoltaic (PV) system can include a PV cell, a frame coupled to the PV cell, and a converter. The frame is configured to support a plurality of pairs of externally accessible connectors, each pair having a positive voltage connector and a negative voltage connector, the positive voltage connector of each pair of the plurality electrically connected to each other and the negative voltage connector of each pair of the plurality electrically connected to each other. The converter is configured to receive voltage from the PV cell and change the voltage for output at one or more pairs of the externally accessible connectors. The converter may include Maximum Power Point Tracking services to manage the power output from the PV cell. Multiple PV systems may be connected to each other in coplanar and non-coplanar relationships. In some embodiments, the frames have triangular, rectangular, or other polygonal shapes.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A modular photovoltaic system comprising:
a photovoltaic (PV) cell;
a frame coupled to the PV cell, the frame configured to support a plurality of pairs of externally accessible connectors, each pair of the plurality having a positive voltage connector and a negative voltage connector, the positive voltage connector of each pair of the plurality electrically connected to each other and the negative voltage connector of each pair of the plurality electrically connected to each other; and
a converter configured to receive voltage from the PV cell and change the voltage for output at one or more pairs of the externally accessible connectors.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The modular photovoltaic system of claim 1 wherein the PV cell consists of a triangular shape and the frame consists of three connected sides.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The modular photovoltaic system of claim 1 wherein the frame comprises a plurality of sides and each side of the frame comprises a pair of externally accessible and uniformly spaced connectors.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The modular photovoltaic system of claim 1 wherein the pairs of externally accessible connectors are biased to promote connection orientation to pairs of externally accessible connectors supported by a second frame.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The modular photovoltaic system of claim 1 further comprising:
a storage cell; and
a storage cell converter, the storage cell converter configured to increase or decrease voltage to or from the storage cell.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The modular photovoltaic system of claim 5 wherein the storage cell is a battery or a capacitor.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The modular photovoltaic system of claim 1
wherein the converter is configured with Maximum Power Point Tracking services to manage power output of the PV cell,
wherein the PV has an outer periphery,
wherein the frame surrounds the outer periphery of the PV cell,
wherein at least one pair of externally accessible connectors is configured with tear-away bias, and
wherein a switch is positioned to disconnect a positive voltage connector or a negative voltage connector from a pair of externally accessible connectors.

### Claim 8

A process of assembling a modular solar cell system, the process comprising:
coupling a first pair of connectors from a first photovoltaic (PV) module to a second pair of connectors from a second photovoltaic (PV) module,
the first pair of connectors supported by a first frame, the second pair of connectors supported by a second frame,
the first frame supporting a photovoltaic (PV) cell of the first PV module, the second frame supporting a PV cell of the second PV module,
the first frame and the second frame configured to be mated with each other when the first pair and the second pair of connectors are coupled,
a first converter interposed between outputs of the PV cell of the first PV module and the first pair of connectors,
a second converter interposed between outputs of the PV cell of the second PV module and the second pair of connectors,
wherein the first frame supports a first plurality of other pairs of connectors in addition to the first pair of connectors and the second frame supports a second plurality of other pairs of connectors in addition to the second pair of connectors.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The process of claim 8 further comprising:
tearing a pair of other connectors off of the first frame and off of the second frame.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The process of claim 8 further comprising:
disabling a pair of other connectors from the first plurality of other pairs of connectors of the first frame and disabling a pair of other connectors from the second plurality of other pairs of connectors from the second frame.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The process of claim 8 further comprising:
covering a pair of other connectors from the first plurality of other pairs of connectors of the first frame and disabling a pair of other connectors from the second plurality of other pairs of connectors from the second frame.

### Claim 12

A modular solar cell device comprising:
a first multi-side frame configured to mate with a second multi-side frame, the first multi-side frame surrounding at least one photovoltaic (PV) cell,
the first multi-side frame supporting a plurality of pairs of external connectors,
wherein the pairs of external connectors have positive and negative connectors with the positive connectors positioned around the first multi-side frame and electrically connected to each other and the negative connectors positioned around the first multi-side frame and electrically connected to each other.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The modular solar cell device of claim 12 wherein the first multi-side frame is further configured to mate with the second multi-side frame along a shared plane and both the first multi-side frame and the second multi-side frame are in the shape of a polygon.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The modular solar cell device of claim 12 wherein the first multi-side frame is further configured to mate with the second multi-side frame while not being on the same plane of reference as the second multi-side frame and both the first multi-side frame and the second multi-side frame are in the shape of a triangle or quadrilateral or other polygon.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The modular solar cell device of claim 12 wherein the second multi-side frame supports and surrounds at least one photovoltaic (PV) cell.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The modular solar cell device of claim 12 wherein the converter is configured with Maximum Power Point Tracking services to manage power output of at least one PV cell.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The modular solar cell device of claim 12 wherein the first multi-side frame is further coupled to a battery, the battery configured to receive and store voltage from at least one PV cell.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The modular solar cell device of claim 12 wherein the external connectors electrically are coupled to a converter, the converter electrically coupled to the at least one PV cell, and
wherein the converter is configured with over-voltage management, the over-voltage management tailored to sense over-voltage conditions and curtail power in response.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The modular solar device of claim 12 wherein at least some of the external connectors are notched, the notch providing a failure location for removing the external connector from connection to the multi-side frame the connector is supported by.

### Claim 20 (depends on 12)

The modular solar device of claim 12 wherein
a first switch is positioned and configured to electrically connect or electrically disconnect one or more positive voltage external connectors, or
a second switch is positioned and configured to electrically connect or electrically disconnect one or more negative voltage external connectors,
or both.