Solar roof tile module with embedded inter-tile circuitry
AssigneeTesla, Inc.
InventorsPeter P. Nguyen, Bhavananda R. Nadimpally
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
One embodiment can provide a photovoltaic roof tile module. The photovoltaic roof tile module can include a plurality of photovoltaic roof tiles mechanically and electrically coupled to each other. A respective photovoltaic roof tile can include a front glass cover, a back glass cover, and a plurality of photovoltaic structures positioned between the front and back glass covers. The back glass cover can include a glass substrate and a pre-laid circuit electrically coupled to the plurality of photovoltaic structures, and the pre-laid circuit can include a plurality of metallic strips that are attached to and in direct contact with the back glass cover.
Claims20
A photovoltaic roof tile module, comprising:
- a plurality of photovoltaic roof tiles mechanically and electrically coupled to each other;
- wherein a respective photovoltaic roof tile comprises:
- a front glass cover;
- a back glass cover;
- and
- a plurality of photovoltaic structures positioned between the front and back glass covers;
- and
- wherein the back glass cover comprises a glass substrate and a pre-laid circuit electrically coupled to the plurality of photovoltaic structures, wherein the pre-laid circuit comprises a plurality of metallic strips that are attached to and in direct contact with the glass substrate.
A photovoltaic roof tile, comprising:
- a front glass cover;
- a back glass cover;
- and
- a plurality of photovoltaic structures positioned between the front and back glass covers;
- and
- wherein the back glass cover comprises a glass substrate and a pre-laid circuit electrically coupled to the plurality of photovoltaic structures, and wherein the pre-laid circuit comprises a plurality of metallic strips that are attached to and in direct contact with the glass substrate.
A method for fabricating a photovoltaic roof tile module comprising one or more photovoltaic roof tiles, the method comprising:
- obtaining one or more back glass covers;
- forming a pre-laid circuit on a respective back glass cover, wherein the pre-laid circuit comprises a plurality of metallic strips that are attached to and in direct contact with the back glass cover;
- placing a cascaded string of photovoltaic structures on the respective back glass cover such that the pre-laid circuit electrically couples to electrodes of the cascaded string;
- placing a front encapsulant layer and a front glass cover on top of the cascaded string;
- and
- performing a lamination operation to laminate together the front glass cover, the cascaded string, and the back glass cover.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.