Gaf Energy LLC

Sunpower Corporation

Richard Perkins

Thierry Nguyen

Gabriela Elena Bunea

Lewis C Abra

Babak Farhangi

Alex Sharenko

Hasib Amin

Matthew Peterson Grigsby

Anna Wojtowicz

Brian L West

Evan Michael Wray

Peter Clemente

David Kavulak

Caleb David Cheung

Henry Pham

Mike Kuiper

Brian Edward Atchley

Yafu Lin

Jianfang Si

Nicholas Boitnott

Daniel East

Nathan Peterson

Gary Rossi

Dan Hua

Rory Runser

Henry Krevor

David Fredric Joel Kavulak

Igor Alovert

Natasha Hjerrild

Kishan Gondalia

Nate Peterson

Angelo Bossini

Barbara Nussel

Janany Kugathasan

William Holt

A system includes a plurality of photovoltaic modules installed on a roof deck. Each of the photovoltaic modules includes at least one solar cell, an encapsulant encapsulating the at least one solar cell, a frontsheet, a backsheet, a headlap portion, and an energy storage device between the roof deck and the backsheet. The energy storage device is in electrical communication with the at least one solar cell.

Photovoltaic modules with energy storage components

A system includes photovoltaic modules including a plurality of substrings installed on a roof deck. A printed circuit board of the system includes a bypass diode, a plurality of solder pads, and first and second low melting alloys connecting first and second solder pads. When the first and second low melting alloys reach a threshold temperature based on the occurrence of an event affecting the bypass diode, the first and second low melting alloys melt towards each other in a channel such that the first and second low melting allows connect to each other to form a continuous path between the first and second solder pads. The formed continuous path causes shorting of circuitry connecting at least one of the plurality of photovoltaic substrings to the first and second solder pads to provide a failsafe for at least one of the plurality of substrings.

Failsafe functionality for photovoltaic modules

A photovoltaic module, including a base portion and a headlap portion, the base portion having a first layer, and at least one solar cell, the at least one solar cell above the first layer, and the first layer having an edge, headlap portion having a second layer, the second layer having an edge, the headlap portion and the base portion joined to one another along the edge of the first layer and the edge of the second layer.

Photovoltaic module, and associated kit, system, and method

Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an integrated photovoltaic (PV) roofing shingle comprising a photovoltaic (PV) module and a roofing shingle. In some embodiments, the roofing shingle is bonded to the PV module. In some embodiments, a bond strength between the roofing shingle and the PV module is from 5 N/mm to 60 N/mm tested according to ASTM D1876. In some embodiments, the integrated PV roofing shingle has a mass per unit area of 0.5 lb per square foot to 5 lbs per square foot. Methods, systems, and kits including the integrated PV roofing shingle are also disclosed.

Integrated photovoltaic roofing shingles, methods, systems, and kits thereof

A system, including: a roof deck; a first photovoltaic module above the roof deck, where the first photovoltaic module includes: a first solar cell, where the first photovoltaic module includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end; a first wireway portion above the roof deck, where the first wireway portion is proximate the first end of the first photovoltaic module; and a first cover, where the first cover is removably attached to the first wireway portion, where the first cover comprises: a second solar cell.

Roofing system including photovoltaic module wireway cover, and associated method

A system includes a photovoltaic module having photovoltaic cells, each having a width, and a roofing shingle having an exposure zone and a headlap zone. A plurality of slots extends from the exposure zone to the headlap zone and define tooth portions. A first one of the tooth portions has a first side defined by a first slot and a second side defined by a second slot adjacent to the first slot. The first tooth portion has a first width that is the photovoltaic cell width multiplied by a first positive integer. A second tooth portion has a first side defined by a third slot and a second side defined by a fourth slot adjacent to the third slot. The second tooth portion has a second width that is the photovoltaic cell width multiplied by a second positive integer different than the first positive integer.

Solar roofing system

A system includes a plurality of building integrated photovoltaic modules installed on a roof deck and arranged in an array. The plurality of building integrated photovoltaic modules includes a first building integrated photovoltaic module and a second building integrated photovoltaic module, with the first building integrated photovoltaic module being vertically adjacent to the second building integrated photovoltaic module. Each of the building integrated photovoltaic modules includes a plurality of solar cells arranged in at least one row, and a power electronics unit. The power electronics unit is adjacent to a first end of one of the at least one row of the plurality of solar cells. The power electronics unit is electrically connected to the plurality of solar cells. The power electronics unit of the first building integrated photovoltaic module is electrically connected to the power electronics unit of the second building integrated photovoltaic module.

Photovoltaic shingles with multi-module power electronics

A system including a plurality of photovoltaic modules and a plurality of roofing shingles installed on a roof deck. Each of the photovoltaic modules includes a plurality of solar cells. Each of the plurality of roofing shingles includes a core layer and a cap layer composed of a first polymer material and having a first surface and a pattern printed on the first surface. The pattern includes a depiction of a plurality of solar cells that extends between the first end and the second end.

Roofing shingles for mimicking the appearance of photovoltaic modules

A system includes a plurality of photovoltaic modules, each having a mat with an edge and a spacer with an edge, the edge of the mat being attached to the edge of the spacer. The spacer includes a plurality of support members and a solar module mounted to the support members. Each of the support members includes a ledge. The solar module and the ledge form a space therebetween. The space is sized and shaped to receive an edge of a solar module of another of the photovoltaic modules. The spacer of one of the photovoltaic modules overlays the mat of another of the photovoltaic modules.

Mounting apparatus for photovoltaic modules

A rapid shutdown device for rapidly de-energizing a photovoltaic module system is disclosed. The rapid shutdown device includes power lines connected to a photovoltaic string of modules on a roof of a structure. A high voltage switch on a first power line is disconnected when the high voltage switch is open. The rapid shutdown device includes a gate drive circuit that receives an electronic photovoltaic string status signal associated with an operating status of the photovoltaic string. The date drive circuit may determine that the operating status indicates the presence of a hazard based on the electronic photovoltaic string status signal. Based on the presence of the hazard, the rapid shutdown device generates a high voltage switch command signal to cause the high voltage switch to open to disconnect the photovoltaic string from an electrical connection to a grid power supply, thereby enhancing protection of the string and safety for responders.

Rapid shutdown device for photovoltaic modules

A system includes a plurality of photovoltaic modules installed and arranged in an array on a roof deck. Each of the photovoltaic modules includes a wire cover bracket configured to receive at least one electrical component. A rapid shutdown device is electrically connected to the at least one electrical component. The rapid shutdown device is configured to reduce an electrical voltage of the system to a predetermined voltage level. At least one visible indicator is electrically connected to the plurality of photovoltaic modules. The at least one visible indicator is activated when the electrical voltage of the system is less than or equal to the predetermined voltage level.

Active component indicators for photovoltaic systems

A system includes first, second and third photovoltaic modules on a rood. Each module includes an upper edge, a lower edge and at least one solar cell. Lower edges of the cells of the first and second modules are offset from lower edges of the first and second modules. Upper edge of the cell of the second module is offset from the upper edge of the second module. The upper edge of the cell of the third module is offset from the upper edge of the third module. The first module overlays the second module. The lower edge of the cell of the first module is substantially aligned with the upper edge of the cell of the second module. The second module overlays the third module. The lower edge of the cell of the second module is substantially aligned with the upper edge of the cell of the third module.

Building integrated photovoltaic systems

A system includes a plurality of roofing shingles having a core layer and a cap layer, with first and second ends of the cap layer offset from respective first and second ends of the core layer. The cap layer includes a first surface and a pattern on the first surface. A side lap extends from the second end of the cap layer to the second end of the core layer and an extended portion is located at the first end of the cap layer. The extended portion of a first one of the roofing shingles overlays the side lap of a second one of the roofing shingles. The system further includes a plurality of photovoltaic modules, each of the plurality of photovoltaic modules include at least one solar cell.

Roofing shingle and method of manufacturing same

A system includes first and second photovoltaic modules, each of which includes a first side lap portion, a plurality of solar cells arranged in a plurality of rows, a first electrical connector on the first side lap portion and electrically connected to the first row of the solar cells, and a second electrical connector on the first side lap portion electrically connected to the second row of the solar cells. The system includes a first power electronics unit connected to the first and second electrical connectors of the first photovoltaic module; and a second power electronics unit connected to the first and second electrical connectors of the second photovoltaic module. The first power electronics unit is electrically connected to the second power electronics unit.

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

Richard Perkins