Solar array devices with structural electrical connections
A solar cell array assembly that includes a first solar cell having a first side and a second side; a second solar cell in a stacked below the first cell, the second cell having a first side and a second side; and a structural conductor disposed between the first cell and second cell; wherein the structural conductor being selected to support a weight of, at least, the first cell to maintain a selected distance between the first cell and the second cell; and wherein the structural conductor being electrically coupled to the second side of the first cell and the first side of the second cell.
1 . A solar cell array assembly, comprising:
a first solar cell having a first side and a second side,
a second solar cell in a stacked arrangement with the first cell, the second cell having a first side and a second side; and
a structural conductor disposed between the first cell and second cell; wherein the structural conductor being selected to support a weight of, at least, the first cell to maintain a selected distance between the first cell and the second cell; and wherein the structural conductor being electrically coupled to the second side of the first cell and the first side of the second cell, wherein the first and second solar cells and the structural conductor forming a self-supporting array; and wherein
the first and second solar cells being arranged horizontally in rows, wherein the second cell being stacked on top of and spaced apart from the first cell to make a vertical stack.
2 . The solar cell array of claim 1 , wherein the first and second cells are bi-facial solar configured to produce electrical power on both the first and second sides of the first and second cells.
3 . The solar cell array of claim 1 , wherein the structural conductor is formed of wire having a diameter of about 0.005 inches to 0.032 inches.
4 . The solar cell array of claim 1 , wherein the first and second cells are bi-facial solar configured to produce electrical power on both the first and second sides of the first and second cells; and wherein the first and second cells having a bus pad disposed on the first and second sides; wherein the structural conductor is soldered to the bus pad on the second side of the first cell and the first side of the second cell.
5 . The solar cell array of claim 1 , wherein the structural conductor is formed having a continuous circular, oblong, rectangular, triangular or polygon shape.
6 . The solar cell array of claim 1 , wherein the structural conductor is formed having a “C” shape or a “U” shape.
7 . A panel of solar cell arrays, comprising:
a plurality of solar cell arrays electrically coupled together; each solar cell array comprising:
a first solar cell having a first side and a second side,
a second solar cell in a stacked arrangement with the first cell, the second cell having a first side and a second side; and
a structural conductor disposed between the first cell and second cell; wherein the structural conductor being selected to support a weight of, at least, the first cell to maintain a selected distance between the first cell and the second cell; and wherein the structural conductor being electrically coupled to the second side of the first cell and the first side of the second cell;
wherein the first and second solar cells and the structural conductor of each solar cell array forming a self-supporting array; and wherein
the first and second solar cells being arranged horizontally in rows, wherein the second cell being stacked on top of and spaced apart from the first cell to make a vertical stack.
8 . The panel of solar cell arrays of claim 7 , wherein the first and second cells of each array are bi-facial solar configured to produce electrical power on both the first and second sides of the first and second cells.
9 . The panel of solar cell arrays of claim 7 , wherein the structural conductor is formed of wire having a diameter of about 0.005 inches to 0.032 inches.
10 . The panel of solar cell arrays of claim 7 , wherein the first and second cells of each array are bi-facial solar configured to produce electrical power on both the first and second sides of the first and second cells; and wherein the first and second cells having a bus pad disposed on the first and second sides; wherein the structural conductor is soldered to the bus pad on the second side of the first cell and the first side of the second cell.
11 . The panel of solar cell arrays of claim 7 , wherein the structural conductor is formed having a continuous circular, oblong, rectangular, triangular or polygon shape.
12 . The panel of solar cell arrays of claim 7 , wherein the structural conductor is formed having a “C” shape or a “U” shape.
13 . The panel of solar cell arrays of claim 7 , wherein the arrays are electrically coupled together in series.
14 . The panel of solar cell arrays of claim 7 , wherein the arrays are electrically coupled together in parallel.
15 . The panel of solar cell arrays of claim 7 , wherein the arrays are electrically coupled together in both series and parallel to generate a target maximum voltage of the panel of arrays.
16 . A solar window assembly with solar power generation, comprising:
a first window pane;
a second window pane adjacent the first window pane;
a frame to house the first and second window panes; and
a solar cell array comprising:
a first solar cell having a first side and a second side,
a second solar cell in a stacked arrangement with the first cell, the second cell having a first side and a second side; and
a structural conductor disposed between the first cell and second cell; wherein the structural conductor being selected to support a weight of, at least, the first cell to maintain a selected distance between the first cell and the second cell; and wherein the structural conductor being electrically coupled to the second side of the first cell and the first side of the second cell; wherein the first and second solar cells and the structural conductor forming a self-supporting array; and wherein
the first and second solar cells being arranged horizontally in rows, wherein the second cell being stacked on top of and spaced apart from the first cell to make a vertical stack.
17 . The solar window assembly of claim 16 , wherein the first and second cells are bi-facial solar configured to produce electrical power on both the first and second sides of the first and second cells.
18 . The solar window assembly of claim 16 , wherein the structural conductor is formed of wire having a diameter of about 0.005 inches to 0.032 inches.
19 . The solar window assembly of claim 16 , wherein the first and second cells are bi-facial solar configured to produce electrical power on both the first and second sides of the first and second cells; and wherein the first and second cells having a bus pad disposed on the first and second sides; wherein the structural conductor is soldered to the bus pad on the second side of the first cell and the first side of the second cell.
20 . The solar window assembly of claim 16 , wherein the structural conductor is formed having a continuous circular, oblong, rectangular, triangular or polygon shape.
21 . The solar window assembly of claim 16 , wherein the structural conductor is formed having a “C” shape or a “U” shape.
22 . The solar window assembly of claim 16 , further comprising adhesive disposed on a junction point of the first solar cell and the structural conductor; the adhesive to adhere to a surface of the first window pane.