Solarex Corporation

Amoco/enron Solar

Ramon Dominguez

Edward M Gaddy

Peter F Varadi

George J Kelly

Jack R Anderson

High-quality photovoltaic devices can be produced while lowering manufacturing costs by the inventive process. In the process, solar cells are manufactured, connected, and placed on one or more curable plastic sheets at a solar cell manufacturing plant. The plastic sheets are then heated at a sufficient temperature to bond the plastic sheets to the solar cells without a substantial amount of curing and polymerization of the plastic sheet. The plastic sheet is then cooled. The plastic sheet can be coated with a protective water-resistant coating. The partially cured photovoltaic subassembly is subsequently shipped to a manufacturing facility, such as a glass plant or automobile plant, where it is contacted with a glass support member providing a superstrate or a substrate. The plastic sheet of the photovoltaic subassembly is then fully cured, polymerized, and bonded to the glass superstrate or substrate.

Method of making and utilizing partially cured photovoltaic assemblies

A solar panel in which the bus-and-interconnect structures are visually masked, to improve not only aesthetics but also the operational characteristics of the panel. A transparent superstrate for the panel has on a surface juxtaposed to the radiation-receiving surfaces of the cells a pattern masking material just sufficient, with manufacturing tolerances, to mask the generally non-symmetrical interconnect structure in a substantially more uniform, symmetrical manner. The masking material may be matte-finish (paint) or highly reflective (a metallic deposit), and in either case may be applied by the same process (e.g., silk screen). The reflective mask structure inhibits heat build-up in the panel; and the matte-finish mask structure is generally unobtrusive and aesthetically pleasing, as required for example, in vehicular applications. A redundant bus structure yields surprisingly compact interconnects, with increased versatility in arrangement of grid patterns of collector electrodes, and is highly compatible with the masking structures and techniques.

Solar panel with interconnects and masking structure, and method

A solar panel in which interconnected photovoltaic cells are maintained in light-receiving position by electrically conductive clips secured to the base of the panel. When the cells and clips are encapsulated in a protective resin, a vacuum is drawn during encapsulation to remove air bubbles trapped beneath the cells.

Method of making a solar panel

A device utilizing solar energy cells to charge a battery or a plurality of batteries. An array of solar cells is disposed on a container having lid and tray parts. The parts are electrically interconnected to the solar cell array so that in container closed position the circuit including the solar cell array and the battery is closed to effect charging of the battery, and in container open position the circuit including the solar cell array and the battery is open with no flow of solar cell electrical output to the battery.

Battery charging device employing solar cells

A solar panel including photovoltaic cells encapsulated in a silicone resin, in which the base member to which the silicone resin adheres is a glass mat polyester in laminate or molded form.

Growing community of inventors

Rockville, MD, United States of America

Ramon Dominguez