Patent US5990414A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5990414A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Photovoltaic solar roof
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1996-11-21
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Granted: 1999-11-23
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Expires: 2016-11-21
Abstract
Abstract This invention concerns a solar roof consisting of unmodified mass-produced roofing elements (1), for example of fiber cement, upon which solar cells (2) which have also been mass produced have been made fast using adhesive or clamps. Each solar cell (2) has a border element (3) on its upper edge upon which a connecting terminal (4) is placed. This connecting terminal (4) has at least one receptacle (5) into which can be inserted an asymmetrically formed plug (6) at the end of a cable (7). All of the named elements (1 to 7) rest on the roofing elements (1) so that no ducts of any kind need to be provided through the roofing elements (1), for example, a longer cable (17) leads from the final roofing element (1) of a row under the next higher overlaying roofing element and under the roof to a converter or direct consumer. The switch type (series or parallel) of the individual solar cells (2) is established by the wiring in the connecting terminal (4). The roof can be laid by a roofer with no electrotechnical expertise.
Inventors
- 👤 Mario Posnansky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 08:49
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02S; H02S20/00; H02S20/20; H02S20/22; H02S20/23; H02S20/25; H10; H10F; H10F19/00; H10F19/80; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B10/00; Y02B10/10; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y10; Y10S; Y10S136/00; Y10S136/291
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A solar roof facade comprising a plurality of overlapping roofing elements wherein each of said plurality of roofing elements comprises: a roofing element portion having an upper portion and a lower portion; a photovoltaic solar cell assembly positioned on top of said lower portion, said photovoltaic solar cell assembly comprising a transparent cover positioned on top of a semiconductor assembly along with a waterproofing/vapor proofing layer laminated to the underneath of said semiconductor assembly; a current conductor connected to said photovoltaic solar cell assembly; and a connecting terminal, connected to said current conductor, positioned in an a location that is offset with respect to a center vertical line of said roofing element and on said upper portion of said roofing element portion, said connecting terminal being for electrically connecting said roofing element to at least another roofing element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
A solar roof facade comprising a plurality of overlapping roofing elements wherein each of said plurality of roofing elements comprises: a roofing element portion having an upper portion and a lower portion; a photovoltaic solar cell assembly positioned on top of said lower portion, said photovoltaic solar cell assembly comprising a transparent cover positioned on top of a semiconductor assembly along with a waterproofing/vapor proofing layer laminated to the underneath of said semiconductor assembly; a current conductor connected to said photovoltaic solar cell assembly; and a connecting terminal, connected to said current conductor, positioned in an a location that is offset with respect to a center vertical line of said roofing element and on said upper portion of said roofing element portion, said connecting terminal being for electrically connecting said roofing element to at least another roofing element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The solar roof or facade of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of roofing elements further comprises a finishing strip positioned adjacent to said photovoltaic solar cell assembly in a horizontal fashion with respect to said roofing element portion, said finishing strip serves as a cover for said connecting terminal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
The solar roof or facade of claim 1, wherein said lower portion is positioned on top of an upper portion of another roofing element such that said plurality of roofing elements are overlapped in a manner similar to a shingle roof, said connecting portion being underneath an overlapped lower portion of another roofing element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
99 words
A solar roofing shingle comprising: a roofing element having an upper portion and a lower portion; said lower portion of said roofing element comprises: a waterproofing layer; a semiconductor layer comprising at least one photovoltaic solar cell on top of said waterproofing layer; a transparent layer on top of said semiconductor layer; said upper portion of said roofing element comprising: a conducting terminal for conducting electricity between said solar roofing shingle at least a second solar roofing shingle, said conducting terminal comprising a connector that is positioned away from the vertical center and the edge of said roofing element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
99 words
A solar roofing shingle comprising: a roofing element having an upper portion and a lower portion; said lower portion of said roofing element comprises: a waterproofing layer; a semiconductor layer comprising at least one photovoltaic solar cell on top of said waterproofing layer; a transparent layer on top of said semiconductor layer; said upper portion of said roofing element comprising: a conducting terminal for conducting electricity between said solar roofing shingle at least a second solar roofing shingle, said conducting terminal comprising a connector that is positioned away from the vertical center and the edge of said roofing element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The solar roofing shingle of claim 4, further comprising a finishing strip for separating said upper portion from said lower portion, said conducting terminal positioned adjacent to said finishing strip.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The solar roofing shingle of claim 4, wherein said connector is used to electrically connect said solar roofing shingle with said at least second solar roofing shingle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The solar roofing shingle of claim 4, wherein said conducting terminal is electrically connected to said semiconductor layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The solar roofing shingle of claim 4, wherein said waterproofing layer comprises at least one layer of a laminate foil.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
84 words
A solar energy generating roofing shingle comprising: a roofing shingle element having an upper and lower portion; a photovoltaic solar cell assembly attached to the surface of the lower portion of said roofing shingle; a connector positioned on the upper portion of said roofing shingle, said connector being electrically connected to said photovoltaic solar cell assembly and being for connecting adjacent solar energy generating roofing shingles electrically together, said connector being located away from the vertical center line and the edges of said shingle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
84 words
A solar energy generating roofing shingle comprising: a roofing shingle element having an upper and lower portion; a photovoltaic solar cell assembly attached to the surface of the lower portion of said roofing shingle; a connector positioned on the upper portion of said roofing shingle, said connector being electrically connected to said photovoltaic solar cell assembly and being for connecting adjacent solar energy generating roofing shingles electrically together, said connector being located away from the vertical center line and the edges of said shingle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The solar energy generating roofing shingle of claim 9, wherein said photovoltaic solar cell assembly includes a plurality of photovoltaic solar cells with a transparent covering on top of said plurality of photovoltaic solar cells.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The solar energy generating roofing shingle of claim 9, further comprising a finishing strip that covers a horizontal portion of said roofing shingle element between said upper and lower portions of said roofing shingle element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The solar energy generating roofing shingle of claim 9, further comprising a waterproofing laminate between said photovoltaic solar cell assembly and said lower portion of said roofing shingle element.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The solar energy generating roofing shingle of claim 9, further comprising a vapor proofing laminate between said photovoltaic solar cell assembly and said lower portion of said roofing shingle element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
The solar energy generating roofing shingle of claim 9, wherein said connector is positioned such that it will not be located in an intervening space between over lapping roofing shingle elements and will be located under said overlapping roofing shingle elements when said solar energy generating roofing shingle is incorporated into a roof or facade.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The solar energy generating roofing shingle of claim 9, wherein said roofing shingle element comprises fiber cement.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
The solar energy generating roofing shingle of claim 9, wherein said solar energy generating roofing shingle can be connected to a plurality of other solar energy generating roofing shingles in at least one of a parallel and a series circuit layout.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4040867A
Cited
US5232518A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-11-22 | 2003-05-24 | 2003-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-22 | 2007-05-24 | 2007-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-22 | 2011-05-24 | 2011-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |