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US 4,287,382 AGranted
Solar cell assembly and fabrication of solar cell panels utilizing same
AssigneeExxon Research & Engineering Co.
InventorHollis E. French
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An assembly comprising a plurality of solar cells arrayed on and adhesively bonded to a sheet of non-woven heat-actuatable fabric is provided which offers significant advantages in the fabrication of solar cell panels, particularly fabrication of panels by vacuum lamination techniques.
Claims5
A solar cell assembly for use in forming a solar cell panel comprising:
- a sheet of non-woven, heat-actuatable sheet material selected from the group consisting of non-woven synthetic fibers having a thermally activated adhesive thereon and non-woven filaments of thermoplastic adhesive material, said sheet material having a major top surface;
- and a plurality of solar cells arrayed on and adhesively bonded to the top surface of the sheet material.
In the method of forming a solar cell panel by laminating an array of solar cells between protective sheet material, the improvement comprising:
- forming a solar cell assembly by providing a sheet of non-woven, heat-actuatable sheet material having a major top surface;
- placing a plurality of solar cells on the top of said sheet in a predetermined pattern, said cells having interconnectors bonded to the bottom electrode of said cells;
- attaching the interconnector of one cell to the top electrode of an adjacent cell by soldering or welding whereby said cells are electrically interconnected and whereby at least a portion of said cells becomes sufficiently heated to activate said heat-actuatable sheet material and become adhesively bonded thereto, thereby providing a solar cell assembly;
- and
- thereafter laminating said assembly between protective sheet material to provide a solar cell panel.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.