Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric – Photoelectric – Cells
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-06
2001-04-17
Ahmad, Nasser (Department: 1772)
Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric
Photoelectric
Cells
C136S244000, C136S252000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06218609
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a solar-cell module, and more particularly to a solar-cell module whose reinforcing sheet has been bent, a process for its production, a method for its installation, and an electricity generation system making use of the solar-cell module.
2. Related Background Art
Solar cells have widely been used as clean and inexhaustible energy supply sources, and various research and development has been made in this area. In addition, development is energetically made on solar-cell modules well adapted to be installed on the ground, the roof and so forth.
Such solar-cell modules have begun to be used for various purposes, and with each situation, there are various demands.
One such demand is a solar-cell module making use of a back reinforcing sheet on the back of a solar-cell module. This back reinforcing sheet is bent or perforated so that the solar-cell module can be attached by utilizing the bent or perforated part.
As an example thereof, there is a solar-cell module employing a metallic reinforcing sheet as the back reinforcing sheet, which back reinforcing sheet is bent so that the solar-cell module may be more adaptable than ever to the installation of metallic roof materials.
As an example of this solar-cell module, a technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-121773 is known in the art. This solar-cell module has a metallic reinforcing sheet on the back of the light-receiving side. A photovoltaic device is mounted at the middle of this reinforcing sheet, the photovoltaic device is sealed with a covering material transparent resin, and the metallic reinforcing sheet is bent at its uncovered outer sides (bent portions are not covered with the covering material) so that the bent portions can be utilized to fix the solar-cell module upon installation.
Such a solar-cell module, however, has had a problem that the covering material tends to come off. In such a case, the covering material begins to come off from the margin and may gradually further come off until it comes off at its part directly sealing the photovoltaic device. If this occurs, the photovoltaic device may become detached from the reinforcing sheet and may become greatly damaged, resulting in a great lowering of electrical performance in some cases. Also, even if the covering material does not come off to the extent that the photovoltaic device becomes detached from the reinforcing sheet, water may enter the structure and contact the photovoltaic device to cause a great lowering of electrical performance. Thus, it is a great problem that the covering material comes off as stated above.
Under existing circumstances, however, no solar-cell module has been developed in which the covering material is peel-resistant and the photovoltaic device is protected from damage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention was made taking account of the above problems the prior art has had. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a solar-cell module whose covering material which covers the photovoltaic device of the solar-cell module does not come off from its margins.
The present invention solves the above problems.
First, it is important that the covering material is provided in the manner it does not cover the margin of the reinforcing sheet so that the covering material does not come off or become damaged at the margin of the reinforcing sheet. Taking only such a measure, however, is insufficient as in the above prior art. Once the covering material has begun to come off, it may gradually come off more and more until it comes off up to the part of the photovoltaic device.
Accordingly, the inventors have though of a measure which must be taken so that a covering material having begun to come off can be prevented from further coming off, and have employed the following means so that the intended effect can be attained and the above problems can be solved.
That is, as a first embodiment, the present invention provides a solar-cell module comprising a photovoltaic device, a reinforcing sheet for reinforcing the photovoltaic device and a covering material which seals the photovoltaic device on the reinforcing sheet, wherein;
the reinforcing sheet has at least a portion worked by bending, in its region extending from the border of the photovoltaic device on a photovoltaic device mounting area to the margin of the reinforcing sheet, and in that region the reinforcing sheet is covered with the covering material at the part extending from the border of the photovoltaic device toward the margin of the reinforcing sheet so far as it extends over the portion worked by bending, and is not covered at the margin thereof with the covering material.
As a second embodiment, the present invention provides a solar-cell module comprising a photovoltaic device, a reinforcing sheet for reinforcing the photovoltaic device and a covering material which seals the photovoltaic device on the reinforcing sheet, wherein;
the reinforcing sheet has at least a region extending from the border of the photovoltaic device on a photovoltaic device mounting area to the margin of the reinforcing sheet, and in that region the covering material is so bonded as to have at the margin thereof such a shape that the covering material has a thickness made cross-sectionally smaller toward the outer edge, and the reinforcing sheet is not covered at the outward margin thereof with the covering material.
The present invention-also provides a process for producing a solar-cell module having a photovoltaic device and a reinforcing sheet; the process comprising the steps of sealing the photovoltaic device with a covering material on the reinforcing sheet, and thereafter working the reinforcing sheet by means of a forming machine;
the covering material being provided only at the part the covering material is not damaged by the forming machine.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4315163 (1982-02-01), Bienville
patent: 5409549 (1995-04-01), Mori
patent: 5530264 (1996-06-01), Kataoka et al.
patent: 5583057 (1996-12-01), Inoue
patent: 5597422 (1997-01-01), Kataoka et al.
patent: 5651837 (1997-07-01), Ohtsuka et al.
patent: 5707459 (1998-01-01), Itoyama et al.
patent: 5849107 (1998-12-01), Itoyama et al.
patent: 5998729 (1999-12-01), Shiomi et al.
patent: 5-121773 (1993-05-01), None
patent: 10-341031 (1998-04-01), None
patent: 5-121773 (1998-04-01), None
Komori Ayako
Matsushita Masaaki
Mori Masahiro
Takabayashi Akiharu
Takada Takeshi
Ahmad Nasser
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Miggins Michael C.
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