Flexible connectors for building integrable photovoltaic modules

摘要

Provided are novel building integrable photovoltaic (BIP) modules having flexible connectors and methods of fabricating thereof. According to various embodiments, a BIP module includes a photovoltaic insert having one or more photovoltaic cells and a flexible connector having a flexible member and a connector member. The flexible member provides flexible mechanical support to the connector member with respect to the insert. The flexible member may include a flat conductive strip, a portion of which is shaped to provide additional flexibility to the flexible member along its width. The connector member encloses one or more conductive elements, such as louvered sockets, which are electrically connected to the photovoltaic insert by the flexible member. In certain embodiments, the same flat conductive strip is used to form a shaped portion as well as conductive element and/or a portion of a bus bar extending into the photovoltaic insert.

主权项

1. A building integrable photovoltaic module comprising:
a photovoltaic insert comprising one or more electrically interconnected photovoltaic cells enclosed in one or more sealing sheets; and a connector comprising a flexible member and a connector member;
the connector member having an insulating body enclosing a conductive element, wherein the conductive element is configured to establish an electrical connection to another conductive element of an adjacent building integrable photovoltaic module,the flexible member separating the insulating body from the photovoltaic insert and providing flexible mechanical support to the connector member with respect to the photovoltaic insert and providing an electrical connection between the conductive element and the one or more electrically interconnected photovoltaic cells, whereinthe flexible member comprises a first flat conductive strip mechanically and electrically connected to the photovoltaic insert having a wave-shaped portion extending between the photovoltaic insert and the connector member, the wave-shaped portion having two or more peaks wherein the wave shaped portion extends outside the area of the photovoltaic insert.