IP Library Granted Patent US 9,368,665
Granted Patent B2
US 9,368,665 · App. 14/534,479 · Granted Jun 14, 2016

Solar cell module

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,368,665
App. No.
14/534,479
Granted
Jun 14, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A solar cell module includes multiple rectangular solar cells each with chamfered corner portions, wiring members each electrically connecting adjacent ones of the solar cells to each other, and a protective member on a light-receiving surface side of the solar cells. The solar cells are arranged in matrix with spaces therebetween. The wiring member has a reflective surface in a region surrounded by the corner portions of the multiple solar cells. The reflective surface reflects light entering from the light-receiving surface side toward the protective member.

Claims (73)

1. A solar cell module comprising:

a plurality of rectangular solar cells each with chamfered corner portions, the solar cells being arranged in matrix with spaces there between, the solar cells including a first solar cell, a second solar cell adjacent to the first solar cell in a first direction and a third solar cell adjacent to the first solar cell in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction;

a wiring member electrically connecting the first and second solar cells adjacent to each other; and

a protective member arranged at a light-receiving surface side of the solar cells, wherein

the wiring member has a reflective surface that is located in a corner-surrounded region surrounded by the chamfered corner portions of the first, second and third solar cells, and the reflective surface is configured to reflect light entering from the light-receiving surface side toward the protective member,

wherein

the reflective surface extends over to the corner-surrounded region surrounded by the chamfered corner portions of the first, second and third solar cells on a first side in the second direction.

2. The solar cell module according to claim 1 , wherein

the solar cell includes

a photoelectric conversion body, and

first and second electrodes placed on one main surface of the photoelectric conversion body.

3. The solar cell module according to claim 2 , wherein

the wiring member includes a protrusion portion protruding to the corner-surrounded region surrounded by the chamfered corner portions of the first, second and third solar cells.

4. The solar cell module according to claim 2 , wherein

the wiring members each include

a wiring-member main body electrically connecting the solar cells adjacent in the first direction, and

a reflective member provided on the wiring-member main body and forming the reflective surface, and

the reflective member of one of the wiring members and the reflective member of another one of the wiring members which is adjacent to the one wiring member in the second direction are provided integrally.

5. The solar cell module according to claim 2 , wherein

the wiring members each include

a wiring-member main body electrically connecting the solar cells adjacent in the first direction, and

a reflective member provided on the wiring-member main body and forming the reflective surface, and

one of the wiring members and another one of the wiring members which is adjacent to the one wiring member in the second are provided integrally, including their wiring-member main bodies.

6. The solar cell module according to claim 1 , wherein

the wiring member includes a protrusion portion protruding to the corner-surrounded region surrounded by the chamfered corner portions of the first, second and third solar cells.

7. The solar cell module according to claim 1 , wherein

the wiring members each include

a wiring-member main body electrically connecting the solar cells adjacent in the first direction, and

a reflective member provided on the wiring-member main body and forming the reflective surface, and

the reflective member of one of the wiring members and the reflective member of another one of the wiring members which is adjacent to the one wiring member in the second direction are provided integrally.

8. The solar cell module according to claim 1 , wherein the reflective surface does not extend over to the corner-surrounded region surrounded by the chamfered corner portions of the first, second and third solar cells on a second side in the second direction.

9. The solar cell module according to claim 1 , wherein

the wiring members each include

a wiring-member main body electrically connecting the solar cells adjacent in the first direction, and

a reflective member provided on the wiring-member main body and forming the reflective surface, and

one of the wiring members and another one of the wiring members which is adjacent to the one wiring member in the second direction are provided integrally, including their wiring-member main bodies.

10. A solar cell module comprising:

a plurality of rectangular solar cells each with chamfered corner portions, the solar cells being arranged in matrix with spaces there between, the solar cells including a first solar cell, a second solar cell adjacent to the first solar cell in a first direction and a third solar cell adjacent to the first solar cell in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction;

a wiring member electrically connecting the first and second solar cells adjacent to each other; and

a protective member arranged at a light-receiving surface side of the solar cells, wherein

the wiring member has a reflective surface that is located in a corner-surrounded region surrounded by the chamfered corner portions of the first, second and third solar cells,

the reflective surface is configured to reflect light entering from the light-receiving surface side toward the protective member, and extends over to the corner-surrounded region surrounded by the chamfered corner portions of the first, second and third solar cells on a first side in the second direction,

and wherein

the wiring member includes a resin sheet, and a conductive layer on a surface of the resin sheet on a side of the solar cells.

11. The solar cell module according to claim 10 , wherein

the solar cell includes

a photoelectric conversion body, and

first and second electrodes placed on one main surface of the photoelectric conversion body.

12. The solar cell module according to claim 11 , wherein

the wiring member includes a protrusion portion protruding to the corner-surrounded region surrounded by the chamfered corner portions of the first, second and third solar cells.

13. The solar cell module according to claim 11 , wherein

the wiring members each include

a wiring-member main body electrically connecting the solar cells adjacent in the first direction, and

a reflective member provided on the wiring-member main body and forming the reflective surface, and

the reflective member of one of the wiring members and the reflective member of another one of the wiring members which is adjacent to the one wiring member in the second direction are provided integrally.

14. The solar cell module according to claim 11 , wherein

the wiring members each include

a wiring-member main body electrically connecting the solar cells adjacent in the first direction, and

a reflective member provided on the wiring-member main body and forming the reflective surface, and

one of the wiring members and another one of the wiring members which is adjacent to the one wiring member in the second are provided integrally, including their wiring-member main bodies.

15. The solar cell module according to claim 10 , wherein

the wiring member includes a protrusion portion protruding to the corner-surrounded region surrounded by the chamfered corner portions of the first, second and third solar cells.

16. The solar cell module according to claim 10 , wherein

the wiring members each include

a wiring-member main body electrically connecting the solar cells adjacent in the first direction, and

a reflective member provided on the wiring-member main body and forming the reflective surface, and

the reflective member of one of the wiring members and the reflective member of another one of the wiring members which is adjacent to the one wiring member in the second direction are provided integrally.

17. The solar cell module according to claim 10 , wherein the reflective surface does not extend over to another corner-surrounded region surrounded by at least the first and second solar cells on a second side in the second direction.

18. The solar cell module according to claim 10 , wherein

the wiring members each include

a wiring-member main body electrically connecting the solar cells adjacent in the first direction, and

a reflective member provided on the wiring-member main body and forming the reflective surface, and

one of the wiring members and another one of the wiring members which is adjacent to the one wiring member in the second direction are provided integrally, including their wiring-member main bodies.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2015
From: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 035071/0276 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2015
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 035071/0508 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 6, 2014
From: FUKUMOCHI, SHUJI; ONO, MASAYOSHI
To: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 034117/0586 →