Multi-layered solar cell device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10348239-B2
Application number	US-201313875505-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 2, 2013
Priority date	May 2, 2013
Publication date	Jul 9, 2019
Grant date	Jul 9, 2019

Abstract

Multi-layered solar cell devices covered with partially transmissive graphic films. The multi-layered solar cell devices include at least one solar cell, a graphics layer over the solar cell, and a reflective layer. The reflective layer can be behind the solar cell for recycling light or between the partially transmissive graphic film and the solar cell for improved appearance. The multi-layered solar cell devices have a high efficiency and a customizable appearance.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A multi-layered solar cell device, comprising:
a reflector;
a plurality of solar cells positioned adjacent the reflector; and
a partially transmissive graphic film positioned adjacent the plurality of solar cells on a side opposite the reflector,
wherein a first gap separates the reflector and the plurality of solar cells, a second gap separates the partially transmissive graphic film and the plurality of solar cells, and the plurality of solar cells are spaced apart from each other such that open areas of the reflector are not covered by the plurality of solar cells, and
wherein the partially transmissive graphic film comprises a perforated laminate comprising a graphic film layer and a reflective layer, the perforated laminate having a plurality of perforations that extend entirely through a thickness of the perforated laminate.

2. The multi-layered solar cell device of claim 1 , wherein the partially transmissive graphic film comprises a graphic covering between about 10% and about 70% of a first major surface of the partially transmissive graphic film.

3. The multi-layered solar cell device of claim 1 , wherein the reflector has a total front surface area At, the open areas of the reflector not covered by the plurality of solar cells has an area Ao and Ao/At is at least 0.05.

4. The multi-layered solar cell device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of solar cells has active areas on a top surface and on a bottom surface.

5. The multi-layered solar cell device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first gap or the second gap comprises an encapsulant.

6. The multi-layered solar cell device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first gap or the second gap comprises a glass layer.

7. The multi-layered solar cell device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first gap or the second gap comprises light redirecting elements that increase the transport of light in a direction parallel to a plane of the multi-layered solar cell device.

8. The multi-layered solar cell device of claim 1 , wherein the reflector comprises a semi-specular reflector.

9. The multi-layered solar cell device of claim 1 , wherein the reflector comprises a white diffuse reflector.

10. The multi-layered solar cell device of claim 1 , wherein the second gap comprises a first material adjacent the plurality of solar cells, the first material having refractive index n1, and a second material positioned between the first material and the partially transmissive graphic film, the second material having refractive index n2, wherein n1 is greater than or equal to n2.

11. The multi-layered solar cell device of claim 1 , wherein the partially transmissive graphic film comprises a translucent laminate comprising a translucent graphic film layer and a partially reflective layer.

12. A multi-layered solar cell device, comprising:
a solar cell;
a spectrally selective reflector adjacent the solar cell;
a diffuser adjacent the spectrally selective reflector opposite the solar cell; and
a graphics layer adjacent the diffuser opposite the spectrally selective reflector,
wherein the spectrally selective reflector has a reflectivity of at least about 80 percent throughout a range of wavelengths from 400 nm to 700 nm.

13. The multi-layered solar cell device of claim 12 , wherein the spectrally selective reflector is a multilayered polymeric film.

14. The multi-layered solar cell device of claim 12 , wherein the spectrally selective reflector is perforated.

15. The multi-layered solar cell device of claim 12 , wherein the diffuser comprises a beaded diffuser layer.

16. The multi-layered solar cell device of claim 12 , wherein the diffuser comprises a layer having an index of refraction less than 1.35.

17. The multi-layered solar cell device of claim 12 , wherein the graphics layer comprises a printed pattern on a surface of the diffuser opposite the spectrally selective reflector.

18. The multi-layered solar cell device of claim 12 , wherein the graphics layer comprises a printed transparent substrate.

19. The multi-layered solar cell device of claim 12 , wherein the graphics layer comprises a colored adhesive.

20. The multi-layered solar cell device of claim 12 , wherein the graphics layer comprises a printed layer adjacent the diffuser and a protective layer opposite the diffuser.

21. The multi-layered solar cell device of claim 12 , wherein the graphics layer comprises an embossed pattern.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Yordem Onur S
• Benoit Gilles J B
• Chen Jingfei
• Du Guanglei
• Zhang Yan Yan
• Liu Jiao
• Guo Bo
• Hebrink Timothy J

Classifications

• H02S40/22 Primary

  Light-reflecting or light-concentrating means (directly associated with the PV cell or integrated with the PV cell H10F77/42) · CPC title

• Y02E10/52

  PV systems with concentrators · CPC title

• H01L31/048

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H10F19/80

  Encapsulations or containers for integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, having photovoltaic cells · CPC title

• H10F77/00

  Constructional details of devices covered by this subclass (constructional details of integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one element in which radiation controls the flow of current H10F39/00) · CPC title