The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 16, 2018
Filed:
Sep. 29, 2016
Sunpower Corporation, San Jose, CA (US);
Gary Alan Rossi, Pleasant Hill, CA (US);
SunPower Corporation, San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
Improved PV assemblies for converting solar radiation to electrical energy and methods of installation thereof are disclosed herein. PV arrays comprising a plurality PV modules are also described herein. A PV assembly can comprise a plurality of PV modules arranged into rows and/or columns of a PV array. A PV module can comprise a plurality of solar cells encapsulated within a PV laminate. In some embodiments, a PV module includes a frame at least partially surrounding the PV laminate. A PV assembly can further comprise at least one flexible grounding connector positioned between a plurality of PV modules, adjacent rows of PV modules in an array and/or a column of PV modules in an array. A flexible grounding connector can comprise a first and a second engagement head for engaging a first and a second PV module. A flexible grounding connector can further comprise a flexible body portion coupling first and second engagement heads. The flexible body portion of the flexible grounding connector can be electrically conductive so as to provide an electrical grounding path between first and second PV modules and accommodate any misalignment or offset between first and second PV modules.