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US 8,618,408 B2Granted
Protective layers for a glass barrier in a photovoltaic device
AssigneeMiasole
InventorsTodd Krajewski, Kedar Hardikar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A photovoltaic device includes at least one photovoltaic cell, a flexible glass layer formed over the at least one photovoltaic cell, and a transparent planarizing hardcoat formed on the glass layer. The planarizing hardcoat may be in compressive stress and the glass layer may be in tension.
Claims16
A photovoltaic device, comprising:
- at least one photovoltaic cell;
- a flexible glass layer formed over a top surface of the at least one photovoltaic cell;
- a first layer of a transparent planarizing hardcoat formed directly on a first major surface of the glass layer, wherein the first major surface faces away from the at least one photovoltaic cell;
- a second layer of the transparent planarizing hardcoat formed directly on a second major surface of the glass layer, wherein the second major surface faces toward the at least one photovoltaic cell, such that the glass layer and the photovoltaic cell are separated by the second layer of the planarizing hardcoat;
- and
- a transparent and abrasion resistant film comprising an organic-inorganic hybrid material formed on the first layer of the transparent planarizing hardcoat on the first major surface of the glass layer and on the second layer of the transparent planarizing hardcoat on the second major surface of the glass layer;
- wherein the first and the second layers of the transparent planarizing hardcoat are in compressive stress and the glass layer is in tension;
- and
- wherein the transparent and abrasion resistant film is further formed directly on at least two minor opposing surfaces of the glass layer.
6 more elements
A method of making a photovoltaic device, comprising:
- providing at least one photovoltaic cell;
- forming a flexible glass layer over a top surface of the at least one photovoltaic cell, wherein the flexible glass layer has a first layer and a second layer of a transparent planarizing hardcoat, wherein:
- the first layer of the transparent planarizing hardcoat is formed directly on a first major surface of the flexible glass layer;
- the second layer of the transparent planarizing hardcoat layer is formed directly on a second major surface of the flexible glass layer;
- and
- the first major surface faces away from the at least one photovoltaic cell and the second major surface faces toward the at least one photovoltaic cell such that the flexible glass layer and the photovoltaic cell are separated by the second layer of the planarizing hardcoat;
- wherein the first and the second layers of the transparent planarizing hardcoat are in compressive stress and the flexible glass layer is in tension;
- and
- forming a transparent and abrasion resistant film comprising an organic-inorganic hybrid material on the first layer of the transparent planarizing hardcoat, on the second layer of the transparent planarizing hardcoat, and directly on at least two minor opposing surfaces of the flexible glass layer.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.