CONNECTOR SYSTEM FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC ARRAY

摘要

A photovoltaic assembly comprising; (a) at least two photovoltaic components that are adjacent to each other in a first direction, each photovoltaic component comprising (i) a partial recess in communication with the partial recess in an adjacent photovoltaic component and (ii) one or more connector receptors aligned in a second direction which is non-parallel to the first direction; (b) a connector located at feast partially in the partial recess of the photovoltaic component and at least partially in the partial recess of the adjacent photovoltaic component so that the connector connects the photovoltaic component to the adjacent photovoltaic component, the connector comprising: (i) a flexible housing having a first end and a second end; (ii) one or more connection ports at the first end; (iii) one or more connection ports at the second end; and (iv) one more flexible electrical conductors that extend from the one or more connection ports at the first end to the one or more connection ports at the second end; wherein the connector is flexible so that the first end and the second end are movable relative to each other in a plane, out of the plane, or both; wherein the one or more connection ports at the first end and the one or more connection ports at the second end form a connection with the one or more connector receptors of the photovoltaic component and the adjacent photovoltaic component so that the connector electrically connects the photovoltaic component to the adjacent photovoltaic component.

主权项

1) A photovoltaic assembly comprising:
a) at least two photovoltaic components that are adjacent to each other in a first direction, each photovoltaic component comprising
i. a partial recess in communication with a partial recess in an adjacent photovoltaic component andii. one or more connector receptors aligned in a second direction which is non-parallel to the first direction; b) a connector located at least partially in the partial recess of the photovoltaic component and at least partially in the partial recess of the adjacent photovoltaic component so that the connector connects the photovoltaic component to the adjacent photovoltaic component, the connector comprising:
i. a housing having a first end and a second end;ii. one or more connection ports at the first end;iii. one or more connection ports at the second end; andiv. one or more flexible electrical conductors that extend from the one or more connection ports at the first end to the one or more connection ports at the second end, andv. one or more flexible regions in the housing so that the housing is a flexible housing, the one or more flexible regions being located at an apex between the first end and the second end of the housing;wherein the connector is flexible so that the first end and the second end are movable relative to each other in a plane, out of the plane, or both;wherein the one or more connection ports at the first end and the one or more connection ports at the second end form a connection with the one or more connector receptors of the photovoltaic component and the adjacent photovoltaic component so that the connector electrically connects the photovoltaic component to the adjacent photovoltaic component.