Photovoltaic roof and method of making same

Patent 5092939 Issued on March 3, 1992. Estimated Expiration Date:

November 30, 2010. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

Photovoltaic roof construction
Patent #: 4189881
Issued on: 02/26/1980
Inventor: Hawley

Amorphous semiconductors equivalent to crystalline semiconductors
Patent #: 4217374
Issued on: 08/12/1980
Inventor: Ovshinsky , et al.

Amorphous semiconductors equivalent to crystalline semiconductors produced by a glow discharge process
Patent #: 4226898
Issued on: 10/07/1980
Inventor: Ovshinsky , et al.

Solar panels
Patent #: 4336413
Issued on: 06/22/1982
Inventor: Tourneux

Large area, low voltage, high current photovoltaic modules and method of fabricating same
Patent #: 4773944
Issued on: 09/27/1988
Inventor: Nath , et al.

Photovoltaic cells in combination with single ply roofing membranes Patent #: 4860509
Issued on: 08/29/1989
Inventor: Laaly , et al.

Inventors

Assignee

United Solar Systems Corporation

Application

No. 620047 filed on 11/30/1990

US Classes:

136/251, Encapsulated or with housing52/173.3, With a sunlight activated device (e.g., passive solar or photoelectric)52/509, With separate fastener extending beyond margin136/291, APPLICATIONS438/62, Using running length substrate438/67Assembly of plural semiconductor substrates

Examiners

Primary: Weisstuch, Aaron

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Krass & Young

International Classes

H01L 031/048
H01L 031/18
H01L 031/05

Abstract

A roof structure 10 comprises panels 14 and 16 of desired length each having a galvanized steel supportive layer which has side supporting flanges 22 interconnected together to form the roof assembly 10. The mid portion 20 of each panel has a photovoltaic surface made from amorphous semiconductor material which is laminated onto the galvanized steel with a protective plastic transparent polymer coating laminated above the photovoltaic material. The laminated galvanized steel and the photovoltaic layers are rolled into a coil and transported on site where it is unrolled, cut to size having the flanges formed to construct the rigid panels and having the panels assembled together via clips 26 and weather-proof battens 32. The photovoltaic surfaces are connected together via electrical conduit 34 coupled through couplings 88 under the panels and between the frame members 30.