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:
Sep. 05, 2000
Filed:
Dec. 29, 1997
Satoru Yamada, Kyoutanabe, JP;
Takahiro Mori, Ikoma, JP;
Ichiro Kataoka, Kyoutanabe, JP;
Hidenori Shiotsuka, Nara, JP;
Ayako Shiotsuka, Nara, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A method for manufacturing a solar cell module including a photovoltaic cell between a surface covering material and a back-surface covering material is disclosed that includes the steps of sequentially laminating a member elastically deformable in the direction of the thickness and a member having a flexural rigidity on the surface covering material and/or the back-surface covering material, and providing an external pressure to the member having the flexural rigidity to cover the photovoltaic cell with the surface covering material and the back-surface covering material. According to the above-described manufacturing method, by providing the member elastically deformable in the direction of the thickness, it is possible to prevent deformation and breakage of the photovoltaic cell and rupture of the covering materials. Furthermore, by utilizing a property such that hardness changes in accordance with an amount of deformation, possesed by the member which is deformed in the direction of the thickness, foaming of a foamed member can be homogenized. In addition, since the pressure is provided via the member having the flexural rigidity, the surfaces of the covering materials of the solar cell module are not deformed more than the amount of deformation of the member which is elastically deformed in the direction of the thickness. As a result, large undulation does not occur in the solar cell module.