09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
12 - Land, air and water vehicles; parts of land vehicles
19 - Non-metallic building materials
Goods & Services
Flexible photovoltaic cells; flexible photovoltaic films;
flexible photovoltaic panels; flexible photovoltaic panel
roll; flexible photovoltaic floating panels; photovoltaic
energy collectors for electricity generation; flexible solar
cells; flexible solar films; flexible solar panels; flexible
solar panel roll; flexible solar floating panels; solar
energy collectors for electricity generation. Photovoltaic body panels for vehicles; photovoltaic panels
being structural components of vehicles; solar body panels
for vehicles; solar panels being structural components of
vehicles. Photovoltaic elements sold as components of non-metal
construction materials; photovoltaic elements sold as
components of non-metal awnings structures; non-metal
sidewalks, bike paths and pavements embedded with
photovoltaic elements; solar elements sold as components of
non-metal construction materials; solar elements sold as
components of non-metal awnings structures; non-metal
sidewalks, bike paths and pavements embedded with solar
elements.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
12 - Land, air and water vehicles; parts of land vehicles
19 - Non-metallic building materials
Goods & Services
Flexible photovoltaic cells; flexible photovoltaic films;
flexible photovoltaic panels; flexible photovoltaic panel
roll; flexible photovoltaic floating panels; photovoltaic
energy collectors for electricity generation; flexible solar
cells; flexible solar films; flexible solar panels; flexible
solar panel roll; flexible solar floating panels; solar
energy collectors for electricity generation. Photovoltaic body panels for vehicles; photovoltaic panels
being structural components of vehicles; solar body panels
for vehicles; solar panels being structural components of
vehicles. Photovoltaic elements sold as components of non-metal
construction materials; photovoltaic elements sold as
components of non-metal awnings structures; non-metal
sidewalks, bike paths and pavements embedded with
photovoltaic elements; solar elements sold as components of
non-metal construction materials; solar elements sold as
components of non-metal awnings structures; non-metal
sidewalks, bike paths and pavements embedded with solar
elements.
3.
Flexible and Rollable Solar Panels Having an Integrated Functional Backing Layer of Polymeric Foam
A photovoltaic article, that is configured to generate electricity from light, includes: a flexible and rollable and non-brittle solar cell, that is capable of being flexed and being rolled without becoming broken or non-operational; and an integrated, functional, backing layer that is non-detachably attached to a back side of that flexible and rollable and non-brittle solar cell. The backing layer is formed of foamed polymer, and can be flexible and rollable while also providing mechanical support to the solar cell.
A system includes a rollable photovoltaic awning having an array of flexible and rollable photovoltaic cells that convert incoming light to electricity. The rollable photovoltaic awning is configured to transit between a rolled-out state and a rolled-in state. In the rolled-in state, the rollable photovoltaic awning has a cylindrical form-factor with a diameter that is smaller than 30 centimeters. In the rolled-out state, the rollable photovoltaic awning has a surface area of at least 2 square meters. The rollable photovoltaic awning is structured to withstand at least 1,000 cycles of rolling and unrolling with not more than 15 percent degradation of operational photovoltaic efficiency. A rolling and unrolling unit is configured to deploy the rollable photovoltaic awning by transitioning it from the rolled-in state to the rolled-out state, and also configured to store the rollable photovoltaic awning by transitioning it from the rolled-out state to the rolled-in state.
A hybrid photovoltaic (PV) device includes: a rigid PV segment, having one or more PV cells that convert light to electricity, wherein the rigid PV segment is non-foldable and non-bendable; and a co-located flexible PV segment, wherein the flexible PV segment is foldable or bendable without being damaged; electric connectors, that connect between (i) electric current or voltage generated by the rigid PV segment, and (ii) electric current or voltage generated by the flexible PV segment; a unified encapsulation layer, encapsulating together both the rigid PV segment and the co-located flexible PV segment. The rigid PV segment, the co-located flexible PV segment, the electric connectors, and the unified encapsulation layer, form together the hybrid PV device as a single stand-alone PV device that converts light to electricity, and has at least one rigid region corresponding to the rigid PV segment and at least one flexible region corresponding to the co-located flexible PV segment.
A flexible photovoltaic (PV) cell having enhanced properties of mechanical impact absorption, includes: a semiconductor wafer that is freestanding and carrier-less; having a thickness, and having a first surface, and a having second surface that is opposite to that first surface; and non-transcending gaps within the semiconductor wafer. Each non-transcending gap penetrates from the first surface towards the second surface, but reaches to a depth of between 50 to 99 percent of the thickness of the semiconductor wafer, and does not reach said second surface. Each non-transcending gap does not entirely penetrate through an entirety of the thickness of the semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer maintains between 1 to 50 percent of the thickness of the semiconductor wafer as an intact and non-penetrated thin layer of semiconductor wafer that remains intact and non-penetrated by the non-transcending gaps. The non-transcending gaps in the semiconductor wafer are filled with an elastomer, and they absorb and dissipate mechanical forces.
Improved flexible solar panels and photovoltaic devices, and methods and systems for producing them. A solar cell has non-transcending grooves or trenches, that penetrate some, but not all, of a silicon layer or semiconductor wafer of the solar cell. The non-transcending grooves or trenches are segmenting the solar cell into regions, and provide flexibility and mechanical resilience. Selective and localized region-constrained doping of an opposite polarity is performed at particular regions or locations of a surface or front region of the solar cell; as well as selective and localized placement of metallized electrical contacts. Grooving or trenching operations can be performed via a dopant-containing layer, to prevent or reduce recombination at or near exposed surfaces. A particular layout of metallization is used for producing electrical contacts or “fingers” that are dashed or segmented or spaced-apart; such that grooving or trenching or segmentation lines are located along non-metallized gaps between adjacent contacts and between adjacent rows of contacts.
H01L 31/0352 - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS - Details thereof characterised by their semiconductor bodies characterised by their shape or by the shapes, relative sizes or disposition of the semiconductor regions
H01L 31/0288 - Inorganic materials including, apart from doping material or other impurities, only elements of Group IV of the Periodic System characterised by the doping material
H01L 31/068 - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS - Details thereof adapted as photovoltaic [PV] conversion devices characterised by at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier the potential barriers being only of the PN homojunction type, e.g. bulk silicon PN homojunction solar cells or thin film polycrystalline silicon PN homojunction solar cells
H01L 31/18 - Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of these devices or of parts thereof
8.
Flexible and Rollable Self-Floating and Self-Buoyant Solar Panels and Photovoltaic Devices
A self-floating, rollable, flexible, photovoltaic article includes: (a) a plurality of flexible and rollable and mechanically-resilient solar cells that are inter-connected as a generally planar array that is also flexible and rollable; and (b) a self-buoyant low-density rollable and flexible floating-capability providing layer, that is integrally attached and is non-removably connected, via a non-detachable connection mechanism, to a bottom side or a top side or the generally planar array of flexible and rollable solar cells, or integrally encapsulates the flexible and rollable solar cells, or is integrally sandwiched within the flexible and rollable solar cells. The overall Specific Weight of an entirety of the photovoltaic article is smaller than 1.00.
A vehicular component, such as vehicular roof or vehicular hood or vehicular door or vehicular side-panel or vehicular trunk cover, has a plurality of electrically interconnected flexible solar cells, that are integrally embedded therein. Optionally, the vehicular component has curvatures or has non-planar regions or curved regions; and the integrally embedded flexible solar cells are arranged in a three-dimensional structure that follows or matches the vehicular contour. The embedded flexible solar panels are not directly in touch with the air that surrounds the vehicle; rather, they are infused or embedded within one or more layers of the vehicular component; optionally sandwiched between encapsulant layers; optionally further sandwiched between a topsheet and a backsheet; optionally further sandwiched between two thermoformed layers that are formed of polycarbonate or other thermoformable materials.
A flexible solar module has an integral and internal thin metal foil, which is an integral layer of the solar cell stack. The thin metal foil collects and transports photovoltaic (PV) generated electric power from a plurality of regions of the solar module. A single metal foil can mechanically connect, and can collect PV-generated electric power, from multiple such solar cells; and is further coated from beneath by lamination or encapsulation layers. A plurality of solar modules are mounted on top of a support structure or a polymeric support substrate, that has metal wires running integrally therein. The metal wires are arranged in accordance with a pre-defined layout, such that most of the length of each metal wire is concealed and is protected within the support structure or the polymeric support substrate. An ending of each metal wire protrudes from the support structure or the polymeric support substrate, at a particular location that is configured to match an intended location of an electrical terminal of a PV module that is intended to be mounted on top of the support structure or the polymeric support substrate.
H02S 40/36 - Electrical components characterised by special electrical interconnection means between two or more PV modules, e.g. electrical module-to-module connection
Enhanced flexible solar panels and photovoltaic devices, and methods and systems for producing them. A flexible Photovoltaic (PV) device includes: a flexible PV cell, configured to generate electricity from light; and a stretchable and compressible Patterned Metal Wiring Mesh, that is attached to a surface of said flexible PV cell, and that is configured to collect and aggregate PV-generated electricity from said flexible PV cell. The stretchable and compressible Patterned Metal Wiring Mesh is capable of stretching or compressing in response to mechanical forces that are applied to said flexible PV cell, while generally maintaining physical connectivity and electrical connectivity to electricity-generating regions of said PV cell. The Patterned Metal Wiring Mesh is embedded or attached onto, or at least partially embedded within, a Flexible Polymeric Support Foil that supports both the Patterned Metal Wiring Mesh and the flexible PV cell.
Corrugated solar panels for improved installation and water-tight mounting. A solar panel includes: a central photovoltaic region, including one or more photovoltaic cells that are configured to convert light to electricity; and at least one corrugated non-planar region, that is attached to the central photovoltaic region, and that is configured to overlap a complementing corrugated non-planar region of another solar panel, and to enable nested mechanical attachment of that solar panel to the other solar panel. Optionally, the corrugated non-planar region is non-photovoltaic. Optionally, the corrugated non-planar region is photovoltaic. Optionally, the corrugated non-planar region is detachably attached to the central photovoltaic region. Optionally, the corrugated non-planar region is non-detachably attached to the central photovoltaic region.
Conjoined solar module, and a joining unit for conjoining multiple solar panels. A mechanical joining unit has two back-to-back elongated rails. The first elongated rail has an elongated hollow cavity, and receives therein a set of beads or mushroom-shaped protrusions or lollipop-shaped protrusions that are connected to an edge of a first solar panel. Similarly, the second elongated rail has an elongated hollow cavity, and receives therein a set of beads or mushroom-shaped protrusions or lollipop-shaped protrusions that are connected to an edge of a second solar panel. Optionally, the mechanical joining unit has an additional elongated rail that defines an elongated cavity for storing metal wires that transport electricity generated by the solar panels. Optionally, each solar panel is flexible or rollable.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
12 - Land, air and water vehicles; parts of land vehicles
19 - Non-metallic building materials
Goods & Services
(1) Flexible photovoltaic cells; flexible photovoltaic films; flexible photovoltaic panels; flexible photovoltaic panel roll; flexible photovoltaic floating panels; photovoltaic energy collectors for electricity generation; flexible solar cells; flexible solar films; flexible solar panels; flexible solar panel roll; flexible solar floating panels; solar energy collectors for electricity generation.
(2) Photovoltaic body panels for vehicles; photovoltaic panels being structural components of vehicles; solar body panels for vehicles; solar panels being structural components of vehicles.
(3) Photovoltaic elements sold as components of non-metal construction materials; photovoltaic elements sold as components of non-metal awnings structures; non-metal sidewalks, bike paths and pavements embedded with photovoltaic elements; solar elements sold as components of non-metal construction materials; solar elements sold as components of non-metal awnings structures; non-metal sidewalks, bike paths and pavements embedded with solar elements.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
12 - Land, air and water vehicles; parts of land vehicles
19 - Non-metallic building materials
Goods & Services
Flexible photovoltaic cells; flexible photovoltaic films; flexible photovoltaic panels; flexible photovoltaic panel roll; flexible photovoltaic floating panels; photovoltaic energy collectors for electricity generation; flexible solar cells; flexible solar films; flexible solar panels; flexible solar panel roll; flexible solar floating panels; solar energy collectors for electricity generation. Photovoltaic body panels for vehicles; photovoltaic panels being structural components of vehicles; solar body panels for vehicles; solar panels being structural components of vehicles. Photovoltaic elements sold as components of non-metal construction materials; photovoltaic elements sold as components of non-metal awnings structures; non-metal sidewalks, bike paths and pavements embedded with photovoltaic elements; solar elements sold as components of non-metal construction materials; solar elements sold as components of non-metal awnings structures; non-metal sidewalks, bike paths and pavements embedded with solar elements.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
12 - Land, air and water vehicles; parts of land vehicles
19 - Non-metallic building materials
Goods & Services
Flexible photovoltaic cells; flexible photovoltaic films; flexible photovoltaic panels; flexible photovoltaic panel roll; flexible photovoltaic floating panels; photovoltaic energy collectors for electricity generation; flexible solar cells; flexible solar films; flexible solar panels; flexible solar panel roll; flexible solar floating panels; solar energy collectors for electricity generation. Photovoltaic body panels for vehicles; photovoltaic panels being structural components of vehicles; solar body panels for vehicles; solar panels being structural components of vehicles. Photovoltaic elements sold as components of non-metal construction materials; photovoltaic elements sold as components of non-metal awnings structures; non-metal sidewalks, bike paths and pavements embedded with photovoltaic elements; solar elements sold as components of non-metal construction materials; solar elements sold as components of non-metal awnings structures; non-metal sidewalks, bike paths and pavements embedded with solar elements.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
12 - Land, air and water vehicles; parts of land vehicles
19 - Non-metallic building materials
Goods & Services
(1) Flexible photovoltaic cells; flexible photovoltaic films; flexible photovoltaic panels; flexible photovoltaic panel roll; flexible photovoltaic floating panels; photovoltaic energy collectors for electricity generation; flexible solar cells; flexible solar films; flexible solar panels; flexible solar panel roll; flexible solar floating panels; solar energy collectors for electricity generation.
(2) Photovoltaic body panels for vehicles; photovoltaic panels being structural components of vehicles; solar body panels for vehicles; solar panels being structural components of vehicles.
(3) Photovoltaic elements sold as components of non-metal construction materials; photovoltaic elements sold as components of non-metal awnings structures; non-metal sidewalks, bike paths and pavements embedded with photovoltaic elements; solar elements sold as components of non-metal construction materials; solar elements sold as components of non-metal awnings structures; non-metal sidewalks, bike paths and pavements embedded with solar elements.
18.
COMPOSITE ARTICLE THAT INTEGRALLY INCORPORATES A SOLAR CELL PRODUCED BY A MULTI-CAVITY MULTI-LAYER MOLD, AND SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MASS PRODUCTION OF SUCH COMPOSITE ARTICLES
Production systems and methods are configured for mass production of composite articles. Each composite article has an operable photovoltaic cell that is integrally incorporated in a molded component. A production system includes: a plurality of mold plates, that are stacked on top of each other or that are arranged next to each other; each pair of neighboring mold plates defines a respective mold cavity; the plurality of mold plates defines a plurality of discrete mold cavities that together are a multi-cavity multi-layer mold structure. Operable photovoltaic cells are provided for placement as inserts within the discrete mold cavities. Reinforcement materials are placed above or beneath each operable photovoltaic device within a respective mold cavity. An injector unit injects a hot or heated or molten or liquid resin or other molding material, at a particular pressure, simultaneously into the discrete mold cavities of the multi-cavity multi-layer mold structure, through a plurality of injection ports.
B29C 45/14 - Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mouldApparatus therefor incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles
B32B 17/10 - Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or fibres of glass, slag or the like comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific substance of synthetic resin
19.
SOLAR CELL HAVING INTEGRATED ISOLATED ELECTRICAL CONTACTS
An intermediate article includes a plurality of a flexible and rollable and non-brittle solar cells; each of them is capable of being flexed or curved or rolled without becoming broken or non- operational. The plurality of flexible solar cells are interconnected via internal electrical conductors that are embedded in a flexible polyimide film; which also extends outwardly and holds external electrical conductors that transport photovoltaic-generated electricity away from the plurality of solar cells. The intermediate article is sandwiched within thermoforming layers, or is utilized as an insert in a molding process, to form a generally-firm article that has the intermediate article embedded therein, providing to the final article the capability to generate electricity using the photovoltaic effect.
H01L 31/05 - Electrical interconnection means between PV cells inside the PV module, e.g. series connection of PV cells
H01L 31/0392 - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS - Details thereof characterised by their semiconductor bodies characterised by their crystalline structure or particular orientation of the crystalline planes including thin films deposited on metallic or insulating substrates
Solar panel and photovoltaic devices having an integrated mechanical protection and mitigation layer and having a cooling mechanism. A photovoltaic device includes, from top to bottom: a top-side encapsulant and top-sheet; beneath them, mechanical resilience and mitigation layer, such as a reservoir storing gel or silicone oil or viscous liquid; beneath it, photovoltaic regions that convert incoming light into electricity; beneath them, a cooling mechanism which runs or traverses within the photovoltaic device, such as water circulating in a set of tubes; beneath it, a bottom-side encapsulant and backsheet. Other types of layers and other orders and arrangements of layers are also disclosed.
H01L 31/052 - Cooling means directly associated or integrated with the PV cell, e.g. integrated Peltier elements for active cooling or heat sinks directly associated with the PV cells
21.
Rubber Molded Articles that Integrally Incorporate a Photovoltaic Device, and Method and System for Producing Such Articles
Rubber molded articles that integrally incorporate an operable photovoltaic device, and method and system for producing such articles. An apparatus includes a rubber body, formed of one or more solidified, compacted, previously-heated rubber materials, selected from the group consisting of: virgin unused rubber material, recycled rubber, scrap rubber, rubber pellets, rubber granules, rubber lumps, rubber strips. The apparatus also includes an operable photovoltaic device, that is configured to generate electricity from light via the photovoltaic effect; and which is optionally flexible and rollable. The operable photovoltaic device is integrally held on top of the rubber body, via a molded connection and holding mechanism which molds together the rubber body and the operable photovoltaic device.
B29C 45/00 - Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mouldApparatus therefor
H02S 20/21 - Supporting structures directly fixed to an immovable object specially adapted for motorways, e.g. integrated with sound barriers
H02S 20/10 - Supporting structures directly fixed to the ground
B29C 45/14 - Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mouldApparatus therefor incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles
22.
Flexible Solar Panels and Photovoltaic Devices, and Methods and Systems of Producing Them
A flexible and mechanically-resilient Photovoltaic (PV) cell is formed of a single semiconductor wafer. It includes non-transcending craters or bling gaps, that penetrate upwardly from a dark-side surface towards a sunny-side surface but do not reach the sunny-side surface. The craters segment the wafer into miniature sub-regions, and provide mechanical resilience and mechanical shock absorption. A set of conducting wires are located on each side of the PV cell; one set collects the negative electric charge, and the other set collects the positive electric charge. The conducting wires are embedded in an adhesive transparent flexible plastic foil. Optionally, a bi-facial PV cell is similarly provided, as well as methods and systems for producing such PV cells.
H01L 31/047 - PV cell arrays including PV cells having multiple vertical junctions or multiple V-groove junctions formed in a semiconductor substrate
H01L 31/05 - Electrical interconnection means between PV cells inside the PV module, e.g. series connection of PV cells
H01L 31/18 - Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of these devices or of parts thereof
23.
Injection Molded, Blow Molded, and Rotational Molded Articles that Integrally Incorporate a Photovoltaic Device, and Method and System for Producing Such Articles
Injection molded, blow molded, and rotational molded articles that integrally incorporate an operable photovoltaic device, and method and system for producing such articles. A method includes: placing an operable photovoltaic device at an inner-side of a mold cavity of a mold; performing injection molding or reaction injection molding or blow molding or rotational molding, of raw plastic materials or raw polymeric materials; and forming a single or singular, monolithic, unified or uniform, molded article that integrally incorporates and fixedly holds and tightly secures, therein or thereon, the operable photovoltaic device, directly and securely and tightly via the solidified molded plastic or the solidified molded polymer that are adjacent to it.
A photovoltaic (PV) article includes: a flexible and rollable and non-brittle solar cell, that is capable of being flexed and being rolled without becoming broken or non-operational; and an integrated, functional, backing layer that is non-detachably attached to a back side of that flexible and rollable and non-brittle solar cell. The backing layer is formed of foamed polymer, and can be flexible and rollable while also providing mechanical support to the solar cell.
A vehicular component, such as vehicular roof or vehicular hood or vehicular door or vehicular side-panel or vehicular trunk cover, has a plurality of electrically interconnected flexible solar cells, that are integrally embedded therein. Optionally, the vehicular component has curvatures or has non-planar regions or curved regions; and the integrally embedded flexible solar cells are arranged in a three-dimensional structure that follows or matches the vehicular contour. The embedded flexible solar panels are not directly in touch with the air that surrounds the vehicle; rather, they are infused or embedded within one or more layers of the vehicular component; optionally sandwiched between encapsulant layers; optionally further sandwiched between a topsheet and a backsheet; optionally further sandwiched between two thermoformed layers that are formed of polycarbonate or other thermoformable materials.
Conjoined solar module, and a joining unit for conjoining multiple solar panels. A mechanical joining unit has two back-to-back elongated rails. The first elongated rail has an elongated hollow cavity, and receives therein a set of beads or mushroom-shaped protrusions or lollipop- shaped protrusions that are connected to an edge of a first solar panel. Similarly, the second elongated rail has an elongated hollow cavity, and receives therein a set of beads or mushroom- shaped protrusions or lollipop-shaped protrusions that are connected to an edge of a second solar panel. Optionally, the mechanical joining unit has an additional elongated rail that defines an elongated cavity for storing metal wires that transport electricity generated by the solar panels. Optionally, each solar panel is flexible or rollable.
F24S 25/67 - Fixation means, e.g. fasteners, specially adapted for supporting solar heat collector modules for coupling adjacent modules or their peripheral frames
F24S 25/60 - Fixation means, e.g. fasteners, specially adapted for supporting solar heat collector modules
H01L 31/042 - PV modules or arrays of single PV cells
H02S 20/24 - Supporting structures directly fixed to an immovable object specially adapted for buildings specially adapted for roof structures specially adapted for flat roofs
F24S 25/00 - Arrangement of stationary mountings or supports for solar heat collector modules
27.
ENHANCED FLEXIBLE SOLAR PANELS AND PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES, AND METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PRODUCING THEM
Enhanced flexible solar panels and photovoltaic devices, and methods and systems for producing them. A flexible Photovoltaic (PV) device includes: a flexible PV cell, configured to generate electricity from light; and a stretchable and compressible Patterned Metal Wiring Mesh, that is attached to a surface of said flexible PV cell, and that is configured to collect and aggregate PV-generated electricity from said flexible PV cell. The stretchable and compressible Patterned Metal Wiring Mesh is capable of stretching or compressing in response to mechanical forces that are applied to said flexible PV cell, while generally maintaining physical connectivity and electrical connectivity to electricity-generating regions of said PV cell. The Patterned Metal Wiring Mesh is embedded or attached onto, or at least partially embedded within, a Flexible Polymeric Support Foil that supports both the Patterned Metal Wiring Mesh and the flexible PV cell.
H01L 31/0392 - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS - Details thereof characterised by their semiconductor bodies characterised by their crystalline structure or particular orientation of the crystalline planes including thin films deposited on metallic or insulating substrates
H01L 31/00 - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS - Details thereof
H01L 31/05 - Electrical interconnection means between PV cells inside the PV module, e.g. series connection of PV cells
H01L 31/18 - Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of these devices or of parts thereof
28.
SOLAR PANELS HAVING AN INTEGRAL AND INTERNAL METAL FOIL, MOUNTED ON A SUPPORT SUBSTRATE WITH EMBEDDED WIRES
A flexible solar module has an integral and internal thin metal foil, which is an integral layer of the solar cell stack. The thin metal foil collects and transports photovoltaic (PV) generated electric power from a plurality of regions of the solar module. A single metal foil can mechanically connect, and can collect PV-generated electric power, from multiple such solar cells; and is further coated from beneath by lamination or encapsulation layers. A plurality of solar modules are mounted on top of a support structure or a polymeric support substrate, that has metal wires running integrally therein. The metal wires are arranged in accordance with a pre-defined layout, such that most of the length of each metal wire is concealed and is protected within the support structure or the polymeric support substrate. An ending of each metal wire protrudes from the support structure or the polymeric support substrate, at a particular location that is configured to match an intended location of an electrical terminal of a PV module that is intended to be mounted on top of the support structure or the polymeric support substrate.
H01L 31/042 - PV modules or arrays of single PV cells
H01L 31/0465 - PV modules composed of a plurality of thin film solar cells deposited on the same substrate comprising particular structures for the electrical interconnection of adjacent PV cells in the module
H01L 31/0392 - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS - Details thereof characterised by their semiconductor bodies characterised by their crystalline structure or particular orientation of the crystalline planes including thin films deposited on metallic or insulating substrates
H01L 31/0445 - PV modules or arrays of single PV cells including thin film solar cells, e.g. single thin film a-Si, CIS or CdTe solar cells
29.
IMPROVED FLEXIBLE SOLAR PANELS AND PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES, AND METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PRODUCING THEM
Improved flexible solar panels and photovoltaic devices, and methods and systems for producing them. A solar cell has non-transcending grooves or trenches, that penetrate some, but not all, of a silicon layer or semiconductor wafer of the solar cell. The non-transcending grooves or trenches are segmenting the solar cell into regions, and provide flexibility and mechanical resilience. Selective and localized region-constrained doping of an opposite polarity is performed at particular regions or locations of a surface or front region of the solar cell; as well as selective and localized placement of metallized electrical contacts. Grooving or trenching operations can be performed via a dopant-containing layer, to prevent or reduce recombination at or near exposed surfaces. A particular layout of metallization is used for producing electrical contacts or "fingers" that are dashed or segmented or spaced-apart; such that grooving or trenching or segmentation lines are located along non-metallized gaps between adjacent contacts and between adjacent rows of contacts.
H01L 31/18 - Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of these devices or of parts thereof
H01L 31/0352 - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS - Details thereof characterised by their semiconductor bodies characterised by their shape or by the shapes, relative sizes or disposition of the semiconductor regions
H01L 31/0392 - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS - Details thereof characterised by their semiconductor bodies characterised by their crystalline structure or particular orientation of the crystalline planes including thin films deposited on metallic or insulating substrates
H01L 31/05 - Electrical interconnection means between PV cells inside the PV module, e.g. series connection of PV cells
H01L 31/068 - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS - Details thereof adapted as photovoltaic [PV] conversion devices characterised by at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier the potential barriers being only of the PN homojunction type, e.g. bulk silicon PN homojunction solar cells or thin film polycrystalline silicon PN homojunction solar cells
H01L 31/02 - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS - Details thereof - Details
30.
HYBRID PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE HAVING RIGID PLANAR SEGMENTS AND FLEXIBLE NON-PLANAR SEGMENTS
A hybrid photovoltaic (PV) device includes: a rigid PV segment, having one or more PV cells that convert light to electricity, wherein the rigid PV segment is non-foldable and non-bendable; a co-located flexible PV segment, wherein the flexible PV segment is foldable or bendable without being damaged; electric connectors, that connect between (i) electric current or voltage generated by the rigid PV segment, and (ii) electric current or voltage generated by the flexible PV segment; a unified encapsulation layer, encapsulating together both the rigid PV segment and the co-located flexible PV segment. The rigid PV segment, the co-located flexible PV segment, the electric connectors, and the unified encapsulation layer, form together the hybrid PV device as a single stand-alone PV device that converts light to electricity, and has at least one rigid region corresponding to the rigid PV segment and at least one flexible region corresponding to the co-located flexible PV segment.
A self-floating, rollable, flexible, photovoltaic article includes: (a) a plurality of flexible and rollable and mechanically-resilient solar cells that are inter-connected as a generally planar array that is also flexible and rollable; and (b) a self-buoyant low-density rollable and flexible floating-capability providing layer, that is integrally attached and is non-removably connected, via a non-detachable connection mechanism, to a bottom side or a top side or the generally planar array of flexible and rollable solar cells, or integrally encapsulates the flexible and rollable solar cells, or is integrally sandwiched within the flexible and rollable solar cells. The overall Specific Weight of an entirety of the photovoltaic article is smaller than 1.00.
Rubber molded articles that integrally incorporate an operable photovoltaic device, and method and system for producing such articles. An apparatus includes a rubber body, formed of one or more solidified, compacted, previously-heated rubber materials, selected from the group consisting of: virgin unused rubber material, recycled rubber, scrap rubber, rubber pellets, rubber granules, rubber lumps, rubber strips. The apparatus also includes an operable photovoltaic device, that is configured to generate electricity from light via the photovoltaic effect; and which is optionally flexible and reliable. The operable photovoltaic device is integrally held on top of the rubber body, via a molded connection and holding mechanism which molds together the rubber body and the operable photovoltaic device.
H01L 31/042 - PV modules or arrays of single PV cells
33.
INJECTION MOLDED, BLOW MOLDED, AND ROTATIONAL MOLDED ARTICLES THAT INTEGRALLY INCORPORATE A PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE, AND METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING SUCH ARTICLES
Injection molded, blow molded, and rotational molded articles that integrally incorporate an operable photovoltaic device, and method and system for producing such articles. A method includes: placing an operable photovoltaic device at an inner-side of a mold cavity of a mold; performing injection molding or reaction injection molding or blow molding or rotational molding, of raw plastic materials or raw polymeric materials; and forming a single or singular, monolithic, unified or uniform, molded article that integrally incorporates and fixedly holds and tightly secures, therein or thereon, the operable photovoltaic device, directly and securely and tightly via the solidified molded plastic or the solidified molded polymer that are adjacent to it.
B29C 45/14 - Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mouldApparatus therefor incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles
INJECTION MOLDED, BLOW MOLDED, AND ROTATIONAL MOLDED ARTICLES THAT INTEGRALLY INCORPORATE A PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE, AND METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING SUCH ARTICLES
Injection molded, blow molded, and rotational molded articles that integrally incorporate an operable photovoltaic device, and method and system for producing such articles. A method includes: placing an operable photovoltaic device at an inner-side of a mold cavity of a mold; performing injection molding or reaction injection molding or blow molding or rotational molding, of raw plastic materials or raw polymeric materials; and forming a single or singular, monolithic, unified or uniform, molded article that integrally incorporates and fixedly holds and tightly secures, therein or thereon, the operable photovoltaic device, directly and securely and tightly via the solidified molded plastic or the solidified molded polymer that are adjacent to it.
B29C 45/14 - Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mouldApparatus therefor incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles
H01L 21/56 - Encapsulations, e.g. encapsulating layers, coatings
35.
FLEXIBLE SOLAR PANELS AND PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES, AND METHODS AND SYSTEMS OF PRODUCING THEM
A flexible and mechanically-resilient Photovoltaic (PV) cell is formed of a single semiconductor wafer. It includes non-transcending craters or bling gaps, that penetrate upwardly from a dark-side surface towards a sunny-side surface but do not reach the sunny- side surface. The craters segment the wafer into miniature sub-regions, and provide mechanical resilience and mechanical shock absorption. A set of conducting wires are located on each side of the PV cell; one set collects the negative electric charge, the other set collects the positive electric charge. The conducting wires are embedded in an adhesive transparent flexible plastic foil. Optionally, a bi-facial PV cell is similarly provided, as well as methods and systems for producing such PV cells.
H01L 31/0352 - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS - Details thereof characterised by their semiconductor bodies characterised by their shape or by the shapes, relative sizes or disposition of the semiconductor regions
H01L 31/0445 - PV modules or arrays of single PV cells including thin film solar cells, e.g. single thin film a-Si, CIS or CdTe solar cells
H01L 31/18 - Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of these devices or of parts thereof
36.
Flexible photovoltaic cell, and methods and systems of producing it
A flexible photovoltaic (PV) cell having enhanced properties of mechanical impact absorption, includes: a semiconductor wafer that is freestanding and carrier-less; having a thickness, and having a first surface, and a having second surface that is opposite to that first surface; a set of non-transcending gaps within the semiconductor wafer. Each non-transcending gap penetrates from the first surface towards the second surface but reaches to a depth of between 80 to 99 percent of the thickness of the semiconductor wafer, and does not reach said second surface. Each non-transcending gap does not entirely penetrate through an entirety of the thickness of the semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer maintains at least 1 percent of the thickness of the semiconductor wafer as an intact and non-penetrated thin layer of semiconductor wafer that remains intact and non-penetrated by the non-transcending gaps. The intact and non-penetrated thin layer of semiconductor wafer absorbs and dissipates mechanical forces.
A hybrid photovoltaic (PV) device includes: a rigid PV segment, having one or more PV cells that convert light to electricity, wherein the rigid PV segment is non-foldable and non- bendable; a co-located flexible PV segment, wherein the flexible PV segment is foldable or bendable without being damaged; electric connectors, that connect between (i) electric current or voltage generated by the rigid PV segment, and (ii) electric current or voltage generated by the flexible PV segment; a unified encapsulation layer, encapsulating together both the rigid PV segment and the co-located flexible PV segment. The rigid PV segment, the co-located flexible PV segment, the electric connectors, and the unified encapsulation layer, form together the hybrid PV device as a single stand-alone PV device that converts light to electricity, and has at least one rigid region corresponding to the rigid PV segment and at least one flexible region corresponding to the co-located flexible PV segment.
An apparatus includes a segmented Photovoltaic (PV) cell array, having a plurality of micro PV cells. The PV cell array includes one of: (I) a single wafer that is segmented via craters, (II) a portion of a single wafer that is segmented via craters, (III) a set inter-connected wafers that are segmented via craters. The wafer is one of: (i) a composite metallized wafer having an underlying metallization layer, wherein each crater penetrates an entirety of the non-metalized layers of the wafer but does not penetrate the underlying metallization layer; (ii) a semiconductor wafer, wherein each crater penetrates into not more than 99 percent of an entire depth of the semiconductor wafer. Each crater creates a physical recess separation between two neighboring micro PV cells, which are still inter-connected to each other but only across some and not all of their height. The micro PV cells are connected to each other, mechanically and electrically.
Semiconductor substrates and semiconductor devices produced from such substrates, such as photovoltaic (PV) cells, may exhibit toughened physical characteristics making them more suitable for use in mechanically challenging or stressful environments. Semiconductor substrates and semiconductor devices produced from such substrates, such as photovoltaic (PV) cells, may exhibit toughened thermal characteristics making them more suitable for use in environmentally challenging applications. Semiconductor substrates and semiconductor devices produced from such substrates, such as photovoltaic (PV) cells, may exhibit sufficiently toughened characteristics and increase impact resistance to permit packaging in non-rigid and light weight encapsulating layer(s). Semiconductor substrates and semiconductor devices produced from such substrates may exhibit sufficient flexibility to permit for rolling up during shipment and or for non-destructive deformation during deployment over uneven surfaces. Semiconductor devices produced from such substrates may exhibit sufficient flexibility to permit repeated mechanical and/or thermal stresses without failure.
H01L 31/0392 - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS - Details thereof characterised by their semiconductor bodies characterised by their crystalline structure or particular orientation of the crystalline planes including thin films deposited on metallic or insulating substrates
H01L 31/18 - Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of these devices or of parts thereof
H01L 31/042 - PV modules or arrays of single PV cells
H01L 31/054 - Optical elements directly associated or integrated with the PV cell, e.g. light-reflecting means or light-concentrating means
H01L 31/0352 - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS - Details thereof characterised by their semiconductor bodies characterised by their shape or by the shapes, relative sizes or disposition of the semiconductor regions
40.
FLEXIBLE MICRO-PATTERNED FILMS SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURE THEREOF
A method for use in patterning a film is described, the method comprising: providing substrate layer film carrying a non-stick coating on at least one surface thereof; providing polymeric film on said non-stick coating thereby providing polymeric film on substrate; bringing the polymeric film on substrate in contact with liquid mixture comprising mixture of solvent and non-solvent materials with respect to said polymeric film for a selected time period; drying said polymeric film on substrate from said liquid mixture thereby providing a plurality of through pores in said polymeric film.
A photovoltaic device is described. The device comprises active absorber layer comprising Selenium active material and being in electrical contact with at least one electron collection electrode and at least one hole collection electrode. The photoelectric device comprises charge selective layer comprising a selenium compound based charge selective layer, such as Selenide-based material, at interface of at least one of the hole and electron collecting electrodes with the active absorber layer.
A method for use in producing an electrode arrangement is described. The method comprises providing a first patterned structure, said first patterned structure having a first layer comprising a first electrically conducting material on one face thereof and a layer of an electrically insulating material on one other face thereof. Said first patterned structure comprises a plurality of perforations forming said pattern. Applying a second layer comprising a second electrically conducting material on said electrically insulating material of the first patterned structure thereby covering a face of said first patterned structure. Thus, a pattern is formed of said first and second electrically conducting materials, being insulated between them and exposed to the environment on a second face of said electrode arrangement.
An optically active medium and an electrode arrangement are provided, for use in providing a photovoltaic device. The optically active medium comprises a liquid carrier comprising: suspended colloidal structures comprising nucleation assisting particles and optically-active semiconducting structures; and at least one soluble material selected such that when said medium is applied on a surface and the liquid carrier is allowed to evaporate, said at least one soluble material interacts with said colloidal structures to form a continuous polycrystalline film of said optically-active semiconducting structures. The electrode arrangement is configured for collection of charge carriers from a medium interacting with said electrodes. The electrode arrangement comprising at least one pair of first and second electrode elements configured as spaced apart patterned electrode elements installable on and extendable along a surface and being configured for selectively collecting electrons and holes respectively.
H01L 51/42 - Solid state devices using organic materials as the active part, or using a combination of organic materials with other materials as the active part; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of such devices, or of parts thereof specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation
H01L 31/032 - Inorganic materials including, apart from doping materials or other impurities, only compounds not provided for in groups
An electrode arrangement and plurality of micro-structures are presented configured for use in conversion of a surface to photovoltaic cell. The electrode arrangements comprising at least two sets of conducting wires comprising wires with coatings configured to allow selective transmission of charge carriers. The wires are configured for charge collection from a medium in surroundings thereof. The sets of conducting wires are arranged in the form of a grid such that the different wires overlay about one another defining a region of charge collection, and are insulated from one another in said region of charge collection.
H01L 51/44 - Solid state devices using organic materials as the active part, or using a combination of organic materials with other materials as the active part; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of such devices, or of parts thereof specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation - Details of devices
H01L 51/42 - Solid state devices using organic materials as the active part, or using a combination of organic materials with other materials as the active part; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of such devices, or of parts thereof specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation
