Abstract:
A device to generate electricity from solar rays is provided. A photovoltaic solar cell unit comprises a first cover and a second cover. The second cover is generally parallel to the first cover and the second cover is spaced from the first cover. The first and the second cover have a longitudinal axis. The photovoltaic solar cell unit also includes a solar cell disposed between the first cover and the second cover with the solar cell being disposed at a predetermined angle relative to the longitudinal axis.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The instant patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/276,386 to Luo et al. filed on Sep. 12, 2009, and which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/276,387 to Luo et al., which has common inventors and filed on Sep. 12, 2009, and which is also herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates generally to a solar photovoltaic panel, particularly to a building-integrated photovoltaic panel. 
         [0004]    2. Background 
         [0005]    The efficiency of solar photovoltaic panel is dependent on the angle of the light radiated on the solar cell. For application in building-integrated photovoltaic, to maximize solar access and power output, the orientation and the tilt angle of the arrays are optimized. The orientation and the tilt angle of the arrays can be optimized relative to the geographical location. Demonstrations have shown that a system installed at a tilt angle equivalent to the site latitude produces the greatest amount of electricity on an annual basis. In comparison to a system&#39;s performance at latitudes angle, the annual performance losses for vertical façade systems can be as high as 50%, while annual performance losses for façade systems can be as high as 10% for horizontal installation. 
         [0006]    Facades offer a large area for solar panels. Besides generating electricity, solar facades can be integrated with window, day lighting, shading schemes to provide multiple benefits. The typical building skin façade is vertical and has a face that faces southwards. However, vertical oriented solar panels mostly have much reduced electricity output compared to panels sloped towards the sun. The reduction in output is greatest in the summer when the sun is high in the sky. Coincidentally, summer is also when electricity is the most valuable. Optimizing solar panel performance in building wall applications will usually require more complex detailing and therefore higher construction costs in order to accommodate optimal orientations to the sun. Currently there are a number of solutions in an attempt to improve efficiency and energy output of solar panel used in building. Some of these solutions attempt to make a sloped wall. The solutions of the prior art generally have drawbacks and reduce the effective floor areas at perimeter of the building. The prior solutions also reduce building area per site area and the solutions increase cost to construct. Other solutions attempt to use a saw tooth configuration or an accordion wall configuration, but these solutions have complex curtain wall constructions, which are hard to manufacture and also potentially has problems, when cleaning. Still other solutions seek to use solar cell blind to track the sun. But this configuration also has performance loss from shading effects. This configuration also has reliability issues. 
         [0007]    For installation on a flat roof top, solar panels are tilted at a favorable angle by using mounting structures. The mounting structures cause detrimental issues. These may include a high system cost and a complex installation or a large weight load. Sometimes mounting of the panels may even cause mechanical damage to the roof. Also the shading on a panel from adjacent panels will cause performance loss, as well as reliability issues. To avoid this problem, panels are placed separated from one other by a large distance from each other to avoid shading, which can block the solar cell. As a result, the effective area from the sun to expose the solar panels is reduced. Also for a fixed roof area and a fixed shape, due to the fixed dimension of a solar cell panel, there will be wasted area on the edges. This can result in losses, which can be high due to the large dimension of a solar panel. 
         [0008]    For locations with latitude at 0 degrees, most roof tops are constructed to be sloped due to rain and drainage. However, the solar energy efficiency is the highest when the solar cell is horizontal. 
         [0009]    It would be desirable to have a solar panel that has less performance dependency on design. More often than not, the strong performance dependency on design makes designers view the solar cell design as a limitation rather than an opportunity to exploit. Many architects and clients feel that solar architecture implies rigid design limitations. These limitations are regarding orientation, placement of windows, sloping roof elements, sun spaces and so on. This is not necessarily true as discovered by the present inventors. 
         [0010]    It would be desirable to have a device that generate electricity from solar, which has high efficiency even at a standard vertical building structure, without adding complexity in building design. 
         [0011]    It would be desirable to have a solar panel that has high solar efficiency with a standard building construction, which has lower cost, better appearance, standard dimension, and a better design flexibility. 
         [0012]    Furthermore, it would also be desirable to have a solar panel that has a high solar efficiency without sacrificing building floor area as compared with a sloped building wall with a conventional solar panel. Building floor area is a precious commodity. In some cases, such as sloped curtain wall, the solar panel configurations reduce the amount of usable perimeter floor area. This is attributed to the fact that the wall effectively ‘cuts back’ on floor area as the building gets taller. Any reduction in usable floor area needs to be considered when evaluating the life-cycle costs of a solar system. 
         [0013]    Furthermore, it would be desirable to have a solar panel to form the building structure with accessibility for frequent maintenance and cleaning of the panels from the exterior of the building. It is critical to ensure that panel stays clean or can be cleaned to keep efficiency. Solar panel performance is highly dependent upon its ability to remain clean. Complicated construction designs, such as “saw tooth”, or “accordion”, have issues in that these configurations are difficult to clean. This in turn may affect the provision for cleaning tracks or fasteners in curtain wall systems and may increase operating costs. 
         [0014]    Furthermore, it would be desirable to have a solar panel that can be installed on roof top with the panel having optimized energy efficiency without any special mounting system to tilt the panel against the roof top. The present disclosure provides that the solar cell can be tilted to optimum angle while panel is simply mounted on the roof top. 
         [0015]    Still further, it would be desirable to have solar panels in a building structure, which would not lose significant energy efficiency from the partial shading from adjacent panel. Even partial shading on the panel will decrease the energy output. Profiled mounting constructions, in particular such as awnings, can produce shade. This shade falls along the edge of the adjacent panel. The shade will result in a loss of efficiency. This also may cause reliability problems. In general, panels need a large distance between the panels. This large distance avoids this shading effect. However, the configuration has some major drawbacks, including that the total area of solar panels is reduced, the configuration has a lower sun angle in spring and fall, there is too much sun exposed through the large distance. 
         [0016]    Still further, it would be desirable to have solar panels that are adjustable to optimize heat load. It is desirable to have solar cells with a high angled direct sunlight parameter to reduce heat load. 
         [0017]    Still further, it would be desirable to have solar panels that are adjustable to optimize the daylight. The present disclosure may provide that the solar cells preferably shade high angle direct sunlight and allow diffuse light in through the space between solar cells. Diffuse light provides more comfortable lighting. 
         [0018]    Still further, it would also be desirable to have a solar panel that has more solar cell area, so the cell can generate more electricity. Standard panel has a solar cell area at panel area minus empty space on panel surface. With angled solar cells inside panels, solar cell area can be larger than the panel area. 
         [0019]    Still further, it would also be desirable to have a solar panel using reflector. The reflector may collect sunlight on empty spaces between adjacent solar cells to improve panel efficiency. With angled and spaced solar cells, angled reflectors that are inserted in between adjacent solar cells can guide the sunlight to the surface of solar cells. 
         [0020]    Still further, it would be desirable to have a device that can form a curved solar panel to provide the flexibility in architectural design. Still further, it would be desirable to have a curved solar panel with internal solar cells having similar angles of incidence to avoid mismatch. Patterns can be designed to align solar cells. This design may point to the sun at the same angle even when the panel is curved. 
         [0021]    Still further, it is desirable to have solar panels that optimize solar cell orientation as well. A vertical saw tooth design is used to obtain good solar performances in certain orientations. However, this design created multiple “corner” windows, which is not favorable. With the present disclosure, a vertical straight curtain wall can be built, and the internal solar cells will form the preferred orientation. 
         [0022]    Still further, it is desirable to have reliable solar panel. There was solution to have solar sunscreen within a window to track sun. However, due to the moving parts of the design, this configuration includes reliability issues. The present disclosure includes solar cells, which are fully encapsulated in a panel, and thus there is no reliability concern. 
         [0023]    Still further, it is desirable to have solar panel without self shading from an adjacent cell. In a solar sunscreen system, as result of tracking the sun, the shading from the above solar cell strongly limits energy yield. The present disclosure uses fixed designed angles and spaces to eliminate or to minimize the self-shading impact from an above or an upper solar cell. The space between solar cells is used to be transparent, as well as avoiding shading on an adjacent solar cell. 
         [0024]    Therefore, there currently exists a need in the industry for a device and associated method that has a number of solar cells that are angled and that are spaced inside the panel. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    The present disclosure advantageously fills the aforementioned deficiencies by providing a method to make solar photovoltaic panels with internal angled solar cells. The present disclosure device is unique when compared with other known devices and solutions because the present disclosure provides: a solar cell is strip shaped and rotated along the strip to form an angle with the surface of the solar panel. The solar cell points to sunlight at a favorable angle with a simple construction and solar cells are spaced to minimize shading from an adjacent cell and connectors are patterned to assemble with the angled solar cells. The solar cell may also include a patterned holder, or a front cover, or a back cover, which can be used to support the solar cell. The solar cell may further include an insert unit. The insert unit can be added in the space between solar cells for functions of insulation, lights, or light collection. 
         [0026]    According to a first aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a photovoltaic solar cell unit comprising a first cover and a second cover. The second cover is generally parallel to the first cover. The second cover is spaced from the first cover and the first and the second cover have a longitudinal axis. The photovoltaic solar cell unit also includes a solar cell. The solar cell disposed between the first cover and the second cover with the solar cell being disposed at a predetermined angle relative to the longitudinal axis. 
         [0027]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a photovoltaic solar cell unit comprising a first cover having a longitudinal axis and a solar cell disposed at a predetermined angle relative to the longitudinal axis. 
         [0028]    According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a photovoltaic solar cell unit comprising a first cover and a second cover being generally parallel to the first cover. The second cover is spaced from the first cover and the first and the second cover have a longitudinal axis. The second cover is adapted to be supported on an inclined surface and a solar cell is disposed between the first cover and the second cover. The solar cell is disposed at a predetermined angle relative to the inclined surface. The solar cell is generally horizontal notwithstanding the inclined surface. 
         [0029]    In another embodiment there is provided a photovoltaic solar cell unit comprising a first cover and a second cover being generally parallel to the first cover. The second cover is spaced from the first cover and the first and the second cover having a longitudinal axis and a solar cell is disposed between the first cover and the second cover and the solar cell is supported on a curved surface. 
         [0030]    In another embodiment there is provided a photovoltaic solar cell unit comprising a first cover and a second cover being generally parallel to the first cover with the second cover being spaced from the first cover and the first and the second cover have a longitudinal axis. The photovoltaic solar cell unit has a solar cell disposed between the first cover and the second cover with the solar cell being disposed at a predetermined angle relative to the longitudinal axis. The photovoltaic solar cell unit also has a holder between the first cover and the second cover for supporting the solar cell. 
         [0031]    The present disclosure now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are intended to be read in conjunction with both this summary, the detailed description and any preferred and/or particular embodiments specifically discussed or otherwise disclosed. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of illustration only and so that this disclosure will be thorough, complete and will fully convey the full scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0032]      FIG. 1A  shows a simplified three dimensional sketch of prior art solar panel. 
           [0033]      FIG. 1B  shows a simplified three dimensional sketch of solar panel of the present disclosure. 
           [0034]      FIG. 2A  shows a simplified three dimensional sketch of building wall with saw tooth or accordion construction using prior art solar panel. 
           [0035]      FIG. 2B  shows a simplified three dimensional sketch of vertical façade wall using the present solar panel. 
           [0036]      FIG. 3A  shows a simplified three dimensional sketch of solar array on a flat roof top using prior art solar panel. 
           [0037]      FIG. 3B  shows a simplified three dimensional sketch of solar array on a flat roof top using the present solar panel. 
           [0038]      FIG. 4A  shows a simplified three dimensional sketch of solar array on a sloped roof top using prior art solar panel. 
           [0039]      FIG. 4B  shows a simplified three dimensional sketch of solar array on a sloped roof top using the present solar panel. 
           [0040]      FIG. 5A  shows a simplified three dimensional sketch of curved solar panel, comprising of curved front cover, solar cell, curved back cover. 
           [0041]      FIG. 5B  shows simplified three dimensional sketch of curved solar panel with internally angled solar cells pointing to same direction. 
           [0042]      FIG. 6  shows a simplified three dimensional sketch of a solar panel using connectors to assemble solar cells. 
           [0043]      FIG. 7  shows a simplified three dimensional sketch of a solar panel with a patterned holder to support solar cells to a predetermined placement. 
           [0044]      FIG. 8  shows a simplified three dimensional sketch of a solar panel using patterned back cover to support solar cells to a predetermined placement. 
           [0045]      FIG. 9  shows a simplified three dimensional sketch of an embodiment of the disclosure, with pattern on the front side of front cover. 
           [0046]      FIG. 10  shows a simplified three dimensional sketch of a solar panel with insert unit in a space between solar cells. 
           [0047]      FIG. 11  shows a simplified three dimensional sketch of a solar panel with a thin film solar cell on a patterned back cover. 
           [0048]      FIG. 12  shows a simplified three dimensional sketch of a solar panel with a reflective layer covering the exposed back cover. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0049]    The present disclosure is directed to a method to make a solar panel, particularly for building integrated photovoltaic panel. The present disclosure is directed to a solar panel with an internal angled and spaced number of solar cells, which is made up of the following components, but not limited to: a) at least one solar cell, b) connector, c) a front cover, d) a back cover and e) encapsulant. The processes to make the solar panel include a) a process to design angles of solar cells, b) a process to design the width of solar cell, c) a process to design the space between solar cells, d) a process to assemble solar cells and e) a process to form a solar panel. 
         [0050]    Examples related to the disclosure are disclosed. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, to one having ordinary skill in the art, it will be apparent that the specific detail need not be employed to practice the present disclosure. Well-known methods related to the implementation are not described in detail in order to obscuring the present disclosure. 
         [0051]      FIG. 1A  shows a simplified three dimensional sketch of prior art solar panel  100 . The panel  100  has a front cover  101 , an encapsulant  102 , a solar cell  103 , and a back cover  104 . The solar cell  103  is generally a wafer cell with dimension 125 mm by 125 mm or 156 mm×156 mm. Various configurations are possible. The front surface  105  of the solar cell  103  is in parallel with the front surface  106  of the solar panel  100 . As the thickness of the whole panel is generally below 20 mm, it is impossible to tilt a full wafer cell to an obvious angle. 
         [0052]      FIG. 1B  shows a simplified three dimensional sketch of present disclosure. The solar panel  100 ′ has a front cover  101 , an encapsulant  102 , a solar cell  103 ′, and a back cover  104 . The solar cell  103 ′ is a strip. The strip has a width pf 1 to 20 mm, which can be obtained by cutting a solar wafer cell. The solar cell strip  103 ′ rotates along the strip to form an angle with the front surface  106  of solar panel  100 ′. The surface  105 ′ of the solar cell  103 ′ forms an angle, which is between 0 degree and 90 degree, with the surface  106  of the solar panel  100 ′. The encapsulant  102  may be many different elements include polymers, air, vacuum, inert gas, or similar materials, depending on the manufacturing process of the solar panel  100 ′. Front cover  101  and back cover  104  may be made of glass, polycarbonate, acrylic, laminated sheet, any combination thereof or similar materials. Solar panels may be directly laminated with insulation or can be incorporated into a multi-layer air or gas-filled insulating units. Processes to make the panel include, but not limited to: lamination, cast in place resin, and an insulating glass process. As can be seen from  FIG. 1A , the present disclosure includes a front cover  101  and a back cover  104  that are generally orthogonal or rectangular shaped members that include a longitudinal axis that is generally parallel to one another. The solar cells  105 ′ are captured between the front cover  101  and the back cover  104  and may be in an encapsulant  102 . Preferably, the solar cells  105 ′ are each tilted at a predetermined angle with regard to the longitudinal axis of the front cover  101  and the back cover  104  so that an edge of the solar cells  105 ′ points to the front cover  101  while a second edge points to the back cover  104 . The predetermined angle is preferably any angle that can result in an increased energy collection from the solar cells  105 ′ as previously described and known while keeping the front cover  101  generally flat and the back cover  104  generally flat as well. 
         [0053]      FIG. 2A  shows a simplified three dimensional sketch of a building wall with saw tooth or an accordion construction  200  using a solar panel  201 , which is vertical at the floor  204 , and which has a number spaced sloped sections  202  on the wall. Solar panel  201  is installed on the sloped portion  202  to tilt at an angle relative to the horizontal floor  204 . Solar cell  203  is as result tilted at an angle to horizontal  204 .  FIG. 2B  shows a simplified three dimensional sketch of vertical wall  200 ′ using the present solar panels  201 ′. By using the solar panel  201 ′, for a straight vertical façade wall  200 ′, solar cells  203 ′ are tilted at an angle to horizontal floor  204 . As can be seen from  FIG. 2B , the present disclosure includes a front cover vertical wall  200 ′ and a back cover that are generally orthogonal or rectangular shaped members that include a longitudinal axis that is generally parallel to one another and are vertically disposed. The solar cells  203 ′ are captured within the vertical wall  200 ′ and may be in an encapsulant  102 . Preferably, the solar cells  203 ′ are each tilted at a predetermined angle with regard to the longitudinal axis of the wall  200 ′. The predetermined angle is preferably any angle that can result in an increased energy collection from the solar cells  203 ′ as previously described and known while keeping the wall  200 ′ generally flat while the cells  203 ′ can be spaced from one another within the wall  200 ′ so they do not block one another in a vertical arrangement. Further, the outer wall  200 ′ is easier to clean. 
         [0054]      FIG. 3A  shows a solar array  300  on a flat roof top  305  using prior art solar panel  301 . To optimize energy generation, the solar panel  301  is mounted on a frame  302  to tilt the panel  301  to a favorable angle. To avoid the shading from adjacent panel, a space  304  is left between panels  301 . For the length of the roof top shown here, about three panels are installed.  FIG. 3B  shows a solar array  300 ′ on a flat roof top  305  using the solar panel  301 ′. The solar panel  301 ′ is mounted flat on the roof top  305  without using frame. The solar cell  303 ′ is at an angle with a solar panel surface, and the solar cell  303 ′ therein is tilted at an angle. As the solar panel is flat and there is no shading from adjacent panel, and there is no need of spaces located between panels to avoid the shading. For the length of the roof top shown here, four panels are installed, instead of three panels for the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A . Clearly for the panels with the same power, the array with present disclosure solar panel has 33% higher power than array with prior art solar panel. For the flat roof top solar array, this embodiment has several advantages, such as saving cost of tilt mounting frame, simplifying the installation, avoiding loading and avoiding possible damage to roof, as well as higher coverage area ratio and resulted higher electricity generation. As can be seen from  FIG. 3B , the present disclosure includes a structure similar to those discussed above that is generally orthogonal or rectangular shaped that include a longitudinal axis. The solar cells  303 ′ are captured therein and may be in an encapsulant  102 . Preferably, the solar cells  303 ′ are each tilted at a predetermined angle with regard to the longitudinal axis so that an edge of the solar cells  303 ′ points to a top side while a second edge points to the bottom side. The predetermined angle is preferably any angle that can result in an increased energy collection from the solar cells  303 ′ as previously described and known while keeping the structure generally flat to support it on a roof  305  as shown. Solar cells  303 ′ preferably are also not blocked by an adjacent solar cell and include a better ease of operation and installation. 
         [0055]      FIG. 4A  shows a simplified three dimensional sketch of solar array  400  on a sloped roof top  402  using prior art solar panel  401 . To reduce accumulation of rain or snow, lots of roof tops are constructed to be sloped. For prior art solar panel, the solar panel  401  mounted on the sloped roof top has solar cell  403 . Solar cell  403  is tilted at the angle of sloped roof top. This may cause loss of electricity generation as explained above. As an example, for location with latitude around 0 degrees, this may cause about 10% electricity losses.  FIG. 4B  shows a simplified three dimensional sketch of solar array  400 ′ disposed on a sloped roof top  402  using the present disclosure solar panel  401 ′. Due to the internal angle of solar cell  403 ′, when the solar panel  401 ′ mounted on the sloped roof top, the solar cells is generally disposed horizontal or not aligned with the sloped roof top, which is advantageous. For location with latitude around 0 degrees, solar cell  403 ′ has about 10% higher electricity than that measured with prior art solar panel shown in  FIG. 4A . The present disclosure can be used to tilt solar cell to a favorable angle without the constraint of the solar panel installation, which is very advantageous. As can be seen from  FIG. 4B , the present disclosure includes a generally rectangular shaped member  401 ′ that include a longitudinal axis. The solar cells  403 ′ are captured therein and may be in an encapsulant  102 . Preferably, the solar cells  403 ′ are each tilted at a predetermined angle with regard to the longitudinal axis so that an edge of the solar cells  403 ′ points a top side of the structure  401 ′ while a second edge points to the bottom side of the structure  401 ′. The predetermined angle is preferably any angle that can result in an increased energy collection from the solar cells  403 ′ as previously described and known while keeping the structure  401 ′ generally flat. As can be seen regardless of the inclined surface, the solar cells  403 ′ can be disposed generally horizontally or at zero degrees while keeping the top side of the structure  401 ′ generally flat for ease of operation. 
         [0056]    Furthermore, the method associated with the present disclosure may also include a process for producing a curved solar panel.  FIG. 5A  shows a simplified three dimensional sketch of a curved solar panel  500 . The curved solar panel  500  includes a curvature along at least one axis of the solar panel  500 . The solar panel  500  has a curved front cover  501 , a solar cell  502 , and a curved back cover  503 . The solar cells  502  form a curve surface or plane, which is disposed in parallel to the panel surface  501 . The solar cell efficiency strongly depends on solar incident angle. The solar cells  502  pointing to sun at different angles then there is mismatch between them, which results in efficiency loss and hot spots, which may cause reliability problems.  FIG. 5B  shows a simplified three dimensional sketch of curved solar panel  500 ′. The curved solar panel  500 ′ includes a curved front cover  501 , a solar cell  502 ′, and a curved back cover  503 . Solar cells  502 ′ are tilted internally so the solar cells  502 ′ point to the sun at the same angle. As can be seen from  FIG. 5A , the present disclosure includes a curved front cover  502  and a back cover  503  that is also curved by a predetermined amount to form two U shaped members. The solar cells  502  are supported by a curved surface  503  and may be in an encapsulant  102 . Preferably, the solar cells  502 ′ are each tilted at a predetermined angle. The predetermined angle is preferably any angle that can result in an increased energy collection from the solar cells  502 ′ as previously described.  FIG. 5A  shows that the solar cells  502 ′ are generally aligned with one another while  FIG. 5   b  shows that the solar cells  502 ′ are staggered from one another. Each solar cell  502 ′ may be angled depending on a location on the curved surface. 
         [0057]      FIG. 6  shows a simplified three dimensional sketch of one embodiment of the present disclosure using a number of connectors to assemble solar cells. The solar panel  600  is comprised of a front cover  601 , an encapsulant  602 , a back cover  603 , a front connector  604 , a solar cell  605 , and a back connector  606 . The connectors  604  and  606  are patterned and hold solar cells to the designed placement as shown in  FIG. 6 . The connectors  604  and  606  are used to assemble solar cells  605  together and to form solar cell assembly. The connectors  604 ,  606  and the solar cells  605  are combined with front cover  601  and back cover  603  to make a solar panel  600 . As can be seen from  FIG. 6 , the present disclosure includes a front cover  601  and a back cover  603  that are generally orthogonal or rectangular shaped members that include a longitudinal axis that is generally parallel to one another and are vertically disposed. The solar cells  605  are captured between the front cover  601  and the back cover  603  and may be in an encapsulant  602 . Preferably, the solar cells  605  are each tilted at a predetermined angle with regard to the longitudinal axis of the front cover  601  and the back cover  603  so that an edge of the solar cells  605  points to the front cover  601  while a second edge points to the back cover  603 . The predetermined angle is preferably any angle that can result in an increased energy collection from the solar cells  605  as previously described and known while keeping the front cover  601  generally flat and the back cover  603  generally flat as well. Preferably, the connectors  604  and  606  are resilient members that hold the solar cells  605  in place. 
         [0058]      FIG. 7  shows a simplified three dimensional sketch of another embodiment with a patterned holder. The patterned holder  707  preferably is used to support solar cells to a predetermined placement. The solar panel  700  includes a front cover  701 , an encapsulant  702 , a back cover  703 , a front connector  704 , a solar cell  705 , a back connector  706  and a patterned holder  707 . The connectors  704  and  706  are patterned to match the pattern of the patterned holder  707 . The connectors  704  and  706  and solar cells  605  are assembled and then combined with front cover  701 , back cover  703 , and holder  707  to form a solar panel  700 . The patterned holder  707  can be manufactured with varying materials, such as metal, plastic, glass, and PCB and any combination thereof. The solar cells can be connected together by independent connectors, or by connectors embedded in the holder, such as PCB board, or similar materials. 
         [0059]    Another embodiment of the present disclosure includes a solar panel with pattern  807  on a front cover or a back cover to support solar cells. As an example, the patterned glass can be used as a front cover or a back cover. The pattern supports solar cells.  FIG. 8  shows a simplified three dimensional sketch of another embodiment of the present disclosure using a patterned back cover to support the solar cells in the desired designed placement. The solar panel  800  includes a front cover  801 , an encapsulant  802 , a back cover  803 , a front connector  804 , a solar cell  805 , and a back connector  806 . The back cover  803  is patterned on the internal side with the pattern  807  to support the solar cells. The connectors  804  and  806  are patterned to match the pattern  807  of the back cover  803 . Patterned of the back cover can be made with varying materials, such as a patterned glass, patterned plastic sheet. The example here is a patterned back cover. Another option is a similarly patterned front cover on the internal side. Preferably, the patterned front cover on the internal side is to hold solar cells in the designed placement. 
         [0060]    Furthermore, the subject matter of the present disclosure is a process for producing a solar panel. The process makes available a body comprising a number of solar cell units with the solar cell units being parallel to each other, while cell surface is tilted to the panel surface at an angle. The solar cell is preferred to be strips and the solar cell can be rotated along the strip. There are different options within the scope of the present disclosure. One example is that crystalline Si solar cell is sliced into a number of strips. Another example is that the present disclosure may include a number of flat thin film solar cell is sliced into strips. Another example is that the present disclosure may include a thin film solar cell being directly formed on strips. 
         [0061]    In additional to changing tilted angle, the present disclosure may include a differently configured solar cell orientation as well. The current vertical saw tooth design is preferably used to obtain an improved solar performance in certain orientations. However, this design created multiple “corner” windows, which is not favorable. With the present disclosure, the vertical straight curtain wall can be built, while internal solar cells form a preferred orientation. 
         [0062]    Another embodiment of the present disclosure includes a pattern on the front side of the front cover. Pattern preferably is intended to reduce the reflective light loss at the panel surface. Due to the refractive index mismatch between air and glass, a portion of the sunlight is reflective back to air at the interface of the air and the glass. The ratio of reflection increases with a decrease of the angle between the light and the interface. For a standard solar glass, the reflection percentage is 4.0% at 90°, 5.77% at 50°, and 8.9% at 60°. With the pattern on the panel surface, the glass interface is tilted toward the sun. This reduces the incidence angle by the tilted angle of the pattern.  FIG. 9  shows a simplified three dimensional sketch of an embodiment of the present disclosure with a pattern  907  on a front side of the front cover  901 . The panel includes a patterned front cover  901 , an encapsulant  902 , a patterned back cover  903 , a front connector  904 , a solar cell  905  and a back connector  906 . The front cover  901  and back cover  903  can be a patterned glass sheet. 
         [0063]    Solar cells are separated from each other by a space having a predetermined distance. The space preferably avoids the shading from an adjacent cell. When the panel is translucent, such as glass-on-glass, the space provides for daylight control and heat load control. The amount of sunlight may be controlled and the solar panel may receive more diffused light, and less direct light, or more light in the summer, or more light in morning and afternoon, and less night at noon. Heat load may also be controlled. For example, more heat load in winter, or less heat load in summer, or more heat load in morning and afternoon, and less heat load at noon. 
         [0064]    Furthermore, the method associated with the present disclosure may also include inserting a unit  1005  into the space between solar cells to provide functionality. The insert unit  1005  can be different types, such as insulator, bypass diode, LED diode, or light reflector or any other unit  1005  that provides functionality.  FIG. 10  shows a simplified three dimensional sketch of a panel comprising a front cover  1001 , an encapsulant  1002 , a solar cell  1003 , a back cover  1004 , and an insert unit  1005 . As an example, the insert unit  1005  can be insulating unit to insulate front connect and back connector  1006 . The insert unit  1005  can also be semiconductor device to form both isolation and functional device. As an example, a diode chip can be inserted. The diode chip may act as bypass diode for the solar cell. This eliminates the current limited from a bad cell. The diode is operatively connected to solar cell in a way that there is only low leakage current during normal operation. However, when the cell is malfunctioning and become reverse biased, then the diode activates and leads the current through the diode. As another example, the insert unit  1005  can be a LED chip, which provides an illumination in night. As another example, the insert unit  1007  can be a reflective unit, which reflects light onto the surface of solar cell  1003  to improve energy generation by the solar cell  1003 . 
         [0065]    Furthermore, the method may also include a process for producing a thin film solar cell on a patterned front cover or a back cover. The benefit is higher energy output and efficiency. This results in a larger solar access of the solar cell and an improved sun incident angle and improved thin film solar cell area.  FIG. 11  shows a simplified three dimensional sketch of the thin film solar panel  1100 . The thin film solar panel  1100  has a front cover  1101 , an encapsulant  1102 , a solar cell  1103 , and a back cover  1104 . Solar cell  1103  is disposed on the pattern back cover  1104 . The thin film solar cell can be formed on the pattern back cover by deposition, spray or any other process known in the art. The space between cells can be formed by cutting, shuttering during deposition, laser cutting or other process. The solar cell can be applied to pattern front cover or can be applied to the holder as well. 
         [0066]    Furthermore, the method associated with the present disclosure may also include a process to direct light in a space formed in the solar cell so that same electricity generation can be realized by fewer solar cells.  FIG. 12  shows a simplified three dimensional sketch of a solar panel  1200  with a reflective layer  1205  covering exposed back cover  1204 . In this example, the reflective layer  1205  is on the patterned back cover  1204  and the reflective layer  1205  is exposed between the solar cells  1203 . The reflection layer  1205  can be formed on the pattern back cover by a coating, a deposition process, a spray or other process known in the art to provide a reflection. Reflection layer  1205  can cover the space between the solar cells, or disposed on the whole surface of the back cover. The same idea can be applied to pattern front cover or to pattern the holder with the layer. Reflection layer  1205  may be titanium dioxide, a mirror or the like. 
         [0067]    While the present disclosure has been described above in terms of specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to these disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and other embodiments of the disclosure will come to mind of those skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains, and which are intended to be and are covered by both this disclosure and the appended claims. It is indeed intended that the scope of the disclosure should be determined by proper interpretation and construction of the appended claims and their legal equivalents, as understood by those of skill in the art relying upon the disclosure in this specification and the attached drawings.