Patent ID: 7238878
Filing Date: 2007-07-03
Classification: B32B,H01L,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A solar cell module comprising: a back cover; a transparent front cover overlying and spaced from said back cover; a plurality of solar cells disposed between said front and back covers, said cells being spaced from one another and predetermined areas of said back cover being free of said solar cells; and a light-transmitting material encapsulating said cells and bonded to said front and back covers; characterized by said back cover comprising a sheet of an ionomer/nylon alloy having a plurality of light-reflecting facets facing said front cover and spanning beneath the plurality of solar cells, said facets having an angular relationship with respect to said front cover such that light (i) passing through said front cover and said light-transmitting material and (ii) impinging on said facets is reflected back through said light-transmitting material toward said front cover at an angle relative to said front cover which is greater than the critical angle, said reflected light being internally reflected back through said light-transmitting material toward said solar cells to produce a power output percentage increase of a least about 47% to about 70% over what same solar cell module produces where the module has no internal reflection capability, the plurality of solar cells being electrically isolated from the light-reflecting facets.