Contoured solar generator

A contoured solar generator whose solar cells and their associated electrical terminals and connecting lines are embedded in a laminate including at least the solar cells, an elastic thermosetting adhesive foil and a glass pane. To adapt the solar generator to a given external contour or to fit it into a given contour, the solar generator is configured as a curved laminate including at least one-dimensionally bent solar cells.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a contoured solar generator whose solar 
cells, together with associated electrical terminals and connecting lines, 
are embedded in a laminate composed of a substrate, an elastic 
thermosetting adhesive film and a glass plate. 
2. Technology Review 
Solar generators are generally known for terrestrial applications. They are 
installed on sailboats, motor yachts or the like in which the solar 
generators are components of a maintenance-free charging system for 
on-board batteries. It is also known to equip automobiles with solar 
generators. In the future, solar generators will be used more frequently 
in automobile construction, initially to supply, for example, additional 
fans. These additional fans are able to run, in particular, if the vehicle 
is standing still and thus protect the vehicle against excessive 
overheating. It is also possible to charge the vehicle battery by means of 
solar generators, with these batteries being utilized, for example, to 
drive the vehicle by means of electric motors (solar automobile). 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention makes it possible, in an advantageous manner, to 
dispose a solar generator also at contoured surfaces of an automobile, a 
mobile home, or a boat where such surfaces are in the most flow enhancing 
location or to integrate the solar cell in the vehicle at these surfaces. 
Advantageously, it is also assured that already existing vehicles can be 
retrofitted. 
It is an object of the invention to provide a solar generator of the 
above-mentioned type which can be adapted to a given external contour or 
can be fitted into such a contour. 
This object is accomplished by the invention in that the solar generator is 
configured as a curved laminate equipped with at least one-dimensionally 
bent solar cells. 
The drawing figures illustrate one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
In FIG. 1, the roof 3 of a vehicle is provided with a sun roof 2 in which a 
solar generator 1 is integrated. The solar generator is designed as a 
curved laminate of some one-dimensionally bent solar cells and some 
two-dimensionally bent solar cells. It includes a substrate 7 and a glass 
pane 4 which are thermally preformed and manufactured in pairs between 
which an elastic thermosetting adhesive foil 5 and the bent solar cells 6 
are arranged (see FIG. 2). A glass pane, a piece of sheet metal, a thin 
sheet, preferably a thin transparent sheet or the like are each suitable 
as substrate 7. 
The curved solar generator laminate may be an integral component of a 
vehicle, for example a passenger vehicle, a truck, a mobile home, or a 
boat. In addition to use as a sun roof, it can be used, for example, as a 
spoiler, a vehicle roof, a trunk lid, or a partial component of a vehicle 
window. The latter example is shown in FIG. 3, where a curved solar 
generator 8 is a partial component of a vehicle rear window 9. The vehicle 
roof in this example bears the reference numeral 10. 
The invention contemplates adapting the shape of the curved solar generator 
to the aerodynamic shape of a vehicle. The use of chemically hardened 
glass panes is also contemplated, which will reduce thickness and weight 
of the generator. 
A curved solar generator can be produced, for example, by preforming 
substrate 7 and glass pane 4 to correspond to the desired curvature of the 
laminate. The solar cells 6 and the thermosetting adhesive foils 5 are 
then inserted between substrate 7 and glass pane 4 with the inserted 
components being approximately adapted to the curvature of the laminate by 
external mechanical pressure on substrate 7 and glass pane 4. In a vacuum 
heating process, melt-adhesive foil 5 and solar cells 6 are adapted in 
shape to curved substrate 7 and curved glass pane 4 and are bonded to 
these components to form a curved laminate. It should also be mentioned 
that the thermosetting adhesive foils 5 form practically a single foil 
after melting. 
Instead of the above-mentioned chemically hardened glass panes 4, glass 
panes 4 can also be used which are thermally hardened. Instead of glass 
panes 4, thin transparent sheets may also be used. White glass, that is, 
glass which exhibits practically no absorption in the range of light waves 
for which the solar cells are particularly sensitive, is suitable as the 
glass material. The glass can have for example a low iron content of 
0.028%-0.033% and thus a solar light transmission of between 91% and 92%. 
If amorphous thin-film solar cells are employed, substrate 7 may be 
omitted. The frontal glass pane 4 can then serve as support for the at 
least one-dimensionally bent solar cells 6. 
It is understood that various other modifications will be apparent to and 
can readily be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the 
scope and spirit of this invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that 
the scope of the claims appended hereto be limited to the description as 
set forth herein, but rather that the claims be construed as encompassing 
all the features of patentable novelty that reside in the present 
invention, including all features that would be treated as equivalents 
thereof by those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains.