Photovoltaic roofing elements and roofs using them
AssigneeCertainTeed Corporation
InventorsMing-Liang Shiao, Gregory F. Jacobs
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Abstract
The present invention relates generally to photovoltaic devices, and more particularly to photovoltaic roofing products in which a photovoltaic element is joined to a roofing substrate. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a photovoltaic roofing element comprising a roofing substrate; one or more photovoltaic cells disposed on the roofing substrate; and a colored or patterned layer disposed on the roofing substrate and visible in the area surrounding the photovoltaic cells; and an encapsulant layer disposed over the photovoltaic cells and the patterned colored layer.
Claims19
A photovoltaic roofing element comprising
- a roofing substrate;
- one or more photovoltaic cells disposed on the roofing substrate;
- and
- a patterned film disposed on the roofing substrate entirely above the level of the tops of the photovoltaic cells and visible in the area surrounding the photovoltaic cells the patterned film including one or more non-patterned, non-colored film regions in substantial registration with the one or more photovoltaic cells, or one or more apertures in substantial registration with the one or more photovoltaic cells;
- and
- an encapsulant layer disposed over the photovoltaic cells and the patterned film.
A photovoltaic element, the photovoltaic element comprising:
- a backing layer,
- one or more photovoltaic cells disposed on the backing layer;
- a patterned film disposed on the backing layer entirely above the level of the tops of the photovoltaic cells and visible in the area surrounding the photovoltaic cells the patterned film including one or more non-patterned, non-colored film regions in substantial registration with the one or more photovoltaic cells, or one or more apertures in substantial registration with the one or more photovoltaic cells;
- and
- an encapsulant layer disposed over the photovoltaic cells and the patterned layer.
A method of installing photovoltaic cells on a surface, the method comprising:
- selecting a patterned film that resembles the surface;
- and
- disposing the photovoltaic cells and the patterned film on the surface, such that the photovoltaic cells are visible, and the patterned layer is visible in the area surrounding the photovoltaic cells;
- and the surface is visible in an area adjacent the patterned film,
- wherein the photovoltaic cells and the patterned film are provided as a photovoltaic element comprising
- a backing layer;
- the photovoltaic cells disposed on the backing layer;
- the patterned film disposed on the backing layer entirely above the level of the tops of the photovoltaic cells and visible in the area surrounding the photovoltaic cells the patterned film including one or more non-patterned, non-colored film regions in substantial registration with the one or more photovoltaic cells, or one or more apertures in substantial registration with the one or more photovoltaic cells;
- and
- an encapsulant layer disposed over the photovoltaic cells and the patterned film.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.