PHOTOVOLTAIC PANEL HAVING KEYING STRUCTURES

摘要

A photovoltaic panel includes a photovoltaic module from which keying structures in the form of first and second keying flanges extend laterally. Each keying flange has a mating surface thereon. The mating surfaces are disposed in a complimentary confrontational relationship with respect to each other. An electrode is mounted on the mating surface of each keying flange. The electrodes are connected to the photovoltaic cells in the photovoltaic module. The complimentary confrontational relationship between the mating surfaces permits direct electrical interconnection between electrodes on adjacent panels by disposing a first flange on a first panel in a physically overlapping relationship with a second flange on an adjacent panel. The keying structures insure that adjacent panels are mechanically arranged in a predetermined relative orientation and are electrically interconnected in a specific desired manner.