Photovoltaic module pin electrical connectors

摘要

Provided are novel structures for electrically interconnecting two or more building integrable photovoltaic (BIP) modules with a pin connector. Each module has a cavity and a conductive element positioned inside the cavity. The conductive element may be electrically coupled to one or more photovoltaic cells. In a photovoltaic assembly formed by two modules, a conductive portion of the pin connector extends between two cavities of the respective modules and provides an electrical communication between the two conductive elements. The two cavities are generally coaxially aligned. In certain embodiments, one or both cavities are through holes. A portion of the pin connector may extend outside of such cavities and protrude into a building structure to mechanically secure the modules with respect to the structure. A pin connector may have an insulating head for handling the connector during installation and/or sealing the through hole under the head from the environment.

主权项

1. A building integrable photovoltaic (BIP) module assembly comprising:
a first BIP module comprising a first photovoltaic cell positioned in between a first set of insulating sheets and a first cavity in the first set of insulating sheets, the first cavity comprising a first conductive element electrically coupled to the first photovoltaic cell, wherein the insulating sheets in the first set of insulating sheets are sealed directly together to form a seal around the first photovoltaic cell; a second BIP module comprising a second photovoltaic cell positioned in between a second set of insulating sheets and a second cavity in the second set of insulating sheets, the second cavity comprising a second conductive element electrically coupled to the second photovoltaic cell, the second cavity co-axially aligned with respect to the first cavity of the first BIP module, wherein the insulating sheets in the second set of insulating sheets are sealed directly together to form a seal around the second photovoltaic cell; and a pin connector comprising a conductive protrusion extending between the first cavity and the second cavity and electrically connecting the first conductive element and the second conductive element, wherein the first cavity is a through hole having a first opening and a second opening positioned on opposite sides of the first set of insulating sheets, the second opening facing the second BIP module, and the first opening is covered by an insulating head.