Patent Publication Number: US-2019199281-A1

Title: Combined solar cell module

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority benefits of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/609,349, filed on Dec. 22, 2017, and Taiwan application serial no. 107136884, filed on Oct. 19, 2018. The entirety of each of the above-mentioned patent applications is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The disclosure relates to a combined solar cell module. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Under the theme of globalization, using emerging energy sources and energy saving green technologies have become the focus of attention. Among these energy sources, solar energy is a clean, pollution-free and inexhaustible energy. Therefore, a solar cell module that can directly convert solar energy into electrical energy has become the focus of current development in utilizing solar energy. 
     In general, multiple solar cell modules are connected together in order to provide greater output power. However, in order to make the combined solar cell modules firm and stable, a complicated and relatively difficult assembly method is required, so it is relatively uneasy to disassemble such solar cell modules. 
     However, if quick disassembly of the solar cell modules is required, the connection strength between the solar cell modules is usually not high enough, and thus, such solar cell modules are easily disconnected. 
     SUMMARY 
     The disclosure provides a combined solar cell module, which can be quickly combined to achieve the effects of easy installation, easy disassembly, stable connection, and uneasy falling off horizontally. 
     The combined solar cell module of the disclosure includes at least one solar cell module, an end connection device and an output connection device. The solar cell module includes a substrate, a plurality of solar cells, a first connection portion, a second connection portion, a plurality of first connection parts, a plurality of second connection parts and a plurality of first connection lines. The substrate has a first opposite side and a second opposite side opposite to each other. The solar cells are located on the substrate. The first connection portion is disposed on the first opposite side of the substrate, and has a first holding space therein. The first holding space is recessed. The second connection portion is disposed on the second opposite side of the substrate, and has a second holding space therein. The first connection parts are respectively disposed in the first holding space. The second connection parts respectively disposed in the second holding space. A shape of the second holding space disposed with the second connection parts matches a shape of the first holding space disposed with the first connection parts in an up-and-down manner, so that exposed surfaces of the second connection parts correspond to exposed surfaces of the first connection parts in an up-and-down manner, and at least one of the first connection parts and the second connection parts is a magnetic material, and another one of the first connection parts and the second connection parts is a magnetic material or a magnetically attractable material. The first connection lines connect the solar cells to the first connection parts and connect the solar cells to the second connection parts, respectively, so as to transmit current generated by the solar cells to the first connection parts and the second connection parts via first connection lines. The end connection device is detachable and connectable to the first connection portion, and configured to electrically connect the first connection parts. The output connection device is detachable and connectable to the second connection portion, and configured to electrically connect the second connection parts and output the current generated by the solar cells. 
     Several exemplary embodiments accompanied with figures are described in detail below to further describe the disclosure in details. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide further understanding, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 1A  is a top exploded view of a combined solar cell module in accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1B  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line B-B′ of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 2A  is a top view of a combined solar cell module in accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2B  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line B-B′ of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of a combined solar cell module in accordance with a third embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of an output connection device in accordance with a third embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line V-V′ of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic cross-sectional view of another output connection device in accordance with the third embodiment. 
         FIG. 7A  is a top exploded view of a combined solar cell module in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7B  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line B-B′ of  FIG. 6A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS 
     The disclosure is described below with reference to the drawings, but the disclosure may be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the description of the embodiments. In the drawings, for clarity, the dimensions and relative dimensions of the various layers and regions may not be drawn to scale. 
       FIG. 1A  is a top exploded view of a combined solar cell module in accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 1B  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line B-B′ of  FIG. 1A . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B  simultaneously, the combined solar cell module  100  of the first embodiment includes a solar cell module  102 , an end connection device  104 , and an output connection device  106 . In the first embodiment, the number of the solar cell module  102  is one, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The number of the solar cell module  102  may be plural, and may be connected in series, in parallel, or in mixed series-parallel relationship, for expanding and achieving the effect of the solar cell module  102 . Each solar cell module  102  includes a substrate  108 , a plurality of solar cells  110  on the substrate  108 , a first connection portion  112 , a second connection portion  114 , a plurality of first connection parts  116 , a plurality of second connection parts  118 , and a plurality of first connection lines  120 . The first connection lines  120  connect the solar cells  110  to the first connection parts  116 , and connect the solar cells  110  to the second connection parts  118 , respectively. Specifically, multiple solar cells  110  can be connected to the same first connection part  116  by the same first connection line  120 , and connected to the same second connection part  118  by the same first connection line  120 , so as to form a single solar cell group. However, this single solar cell group is not connected to another first connection line  120 , another first connection part  116  and another second connection part  118 . That is, in the same solar cell group, multiple solar cells  110  are connected to the same first connection line  120 , the same first connection part  116  and the same second connection part  118 , but between different solar cells groups, their respective first connection lines  120 , the first connection parts  116  and the second connection parts  118  are not connected. The substrate  108  has a first opposite side  108   a  and a second opposite side  108   b  which are disposed opposite to each other, the first connection portion  112  is disposed on the first opposite side  108   a  of the substrate  108  and has a first holding space  122  therein. The first holding space  122  is recessed. Besides, in addition to the rectangular shape illustrated in  FIG. 1A , the shape of the first connection portion  112  may also be a square shape, a rounded rectangle shape, a polygonal shape, a circular shape, an elliptical shape, a T-shape, or the like. The second connection portion  114  is disposed on the second opposite side  108   b  of the substrate  108  and has a second holding space  124  therein. Besides, in addition to the rectangular shape illustrated in  FIG. 1A , the shape of the second connection portion  114  may also be a square shape, a rounded rectangle shape, a polygonal shape, a circular shape, an elliptical shape, a T-shape, or the like. The first connection parts  116  are respectively disposed in the first holding space  122 , and the second connection parts  118  are respectively disposed in the second holding space  124 . It is noted that, the first connection parts  116  do not occupy the entire first holding space  122 , the second connection parts  118  do not occupy the entire second holding space  124 , and the shape of the second holding space  124  disposed with the second connection parts  118  matches the shape of the first holding space  122  disposed with the first connection part  116  in an up-and-down manner, so that the exposed surfaces  118   a  of the second connection parts  118  correspond to the exposed surfaces  116   a  of the first connection parts  116  in an up-and-down manner. In this embodiment, the second connection portion  114  and the first connection portion  112  are both disposed on the same surface of the substrate  108 , the first connection portion  112  is a convex portion, the second connection portion  114  is a cover member having a corresponding shape covering the first connection portion  112 , and the second connection parts  118  are located on the top inner surface of the cover member. Therefore, in the first embodiment, the connection strength between the first connection portion  112  and the second connection portion  114  is high, and lateral displacement or slip does not occur. In another embodiment, the shape of the first connection portion  112  and the shape of the second connection portion  114  may also be exchanged; that is, the first connection portion  112  may be a cover member, and the second connection portion  114  may be a convex portion, as long as the structures of the first and second connection portions  112  and  114  correspond to the structures of the end connection device  104  and the output connection device  106 . The structures are not limited to those listed. 
     The first connection lines  120  connect the solar cells  110  to the first connection parts  116 , and connect the solar cells  110  to the second connection parts  118 , so as to transmit the current generated by the solar cells  110  to the first connection parts  116  and the second connection parts  118  via the first connection lines  120 , respectively. Therefore, the first connection parts  116  and the second connection parts  118  can serve as a connection device and a current output terminal at the same time. The first connection parts  116  and the second connection parts  118  have a resistivity of less than 10 −2  ohm-cm, for facilitating the current transmission. For example, the first connection parts  116  and the second connection parts  118  have a resistivity of less than 10 −4  ohm-cm. In  FIG. 1B , the first connection lines  120  are in contact with the solar cells  110  in a schematic manner, and it is understood that, the first connection lines  120  may be connected to bus lines (not shown) of the solar cells  110 , and each first connection part  116  and/or each second connection part  118  may be connected to one or more first connection lines  120 . For example, each of the first connection lines  120  can be designed to have two wires or four wires, for providing voltage and current transmission functions, as well as for providing other module application functions. 
     In an embodiment, the first connection parts  116  and the second connection parts  118  are both magnetic materials (such as magnets), and the magnetic poles of the first connection parts  116  are different from the magnetic poles of the second connection parts  118 . Alternatively, respective first connection parts  116  have different magnetic poles and respective second connection parts  118  have different magnetic poles. For example, the magnetic materials on the same side (i.e., the same opposite side) of the solar cell module  102  may have different magnetic poles (N, S or S, N), and the magnetic materials on another side of the solar cell module  102  may have corresponding magnetic poles (S, N or N, S). Alternatively, the magnetic materials on the same side of the solar cell module  102  may have the same magnetic pole (N, N or S, S), and the magnetic materials on another side of the solar cell module  102  may have the corresponding magnetic pole (S, S or N, N). In another embodiment, one of the first connection parts  116  and the second connection parts  118  is a magnetic material (N, S or S, N or S, S or N, N), and another one of the first connection parts  116  and the second connection parts  118  is a magnetically attractable material (e.g., a ferromagnetic material, such as iron, nickel, cobalt or a metal material), and the magnetic materials may have the same or different magnetic poles. The magnetic material can be one of ferrite, neodymium iron boron, alnico alloy, iron chrome cobalt alloy, samarium cobalt, samarium iron nitrogen, and the like; alternatively, a conductive layer (not shown) is used to cover a typical magnetic material, serving as the first connection part  116  and/or the second connection part  118 . 
     In the first embodiment, a positive electrode and a negative electrode is disposed on the same side (i.e., the same opposite side) of the solar cell module  102 , and the corresponding negative electrode and the corresponding positive electrode are disposed on another side of the solar cell module  102 . That is, the first connection parts  116  on the first opposite side  108   a  are configured to have a positive electrode and a negative electrode, and the second connection parts  118  on the second opposite side  108   b  are configured to have a negative electrode and a positive electrode. In this way, respective solar cell groups can be operated in series. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and any line capable of outputting the current generated by the solar cells  110  can be applied to the solar cell module  102  of the present disclosure. 
     Continue referring to  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B , the end connection device  104  is detachable and connectable to the first connection portion  112 , and configured to electrically connect the first connection parts  116 , and the output connection device  106  is detachable and connectable to the second connection portion  114 , and configured to electrically connect the second connection parts  118 , and thus, an output loop is generated to output the current generated by the solar cells  110 . The end connection device  104  of the first embodiment includes an end connection portion  126 , a plurality of end connection parts  128 , and a second connection line  130 . The end connection parts  128  are disposed on the end connection portion  126 , and the exposed surfaces  128   a  of the end connection parts  128  correspond to the exposed surfaces  116   a  of the first connection parts  116  in an up-and-down manner, wherein the number of end connection parts  128  may be the same as the number of first connection parts  116 . The second connection lines  130  connect these end connection parts  128 , so that the end connection parts  128  are connected in series. In the present embodiment, at least one of the first connection parts  116  and the end connection parts  128  is a magnetic material, and another one is a magnetic material or a magnetically attractable material. That is, when the first connection parts  116  are magnetic materials, the end connection parts  128  are magnetic materials or magnetically attractable materials; when the first connection parts  116  are magnetically attractable materials, the end connection parts  128  are magnetic materials, and vice versa. In an embodiment, the end connection parts  128  have a resistivity of less than 10 −2  ohm-cm, for example. 
     The output connection device  106  of the first embodiment may include an output connection portion  132 , a plurality of output connection parts  134 , and a plurality of third connection lines  136  that connect the output connection parts  134 . The output connection parts  134  are disposed on a first adjacent side  132   a  and a second adjacent side  132   b  adjacent to the output connection portion  132 . However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The number and position of the output connection parts  134  can be adjusted as needed, as long as the exposed surface  134 a of the output connection parts  134  correspond to the exposed surfaces  118   a  of the second connection parts  118  in an up-and-down manner, and the effect of outputting the current generated by the solar cells  110  can be achieved. In the present embodiment, at least one of the second connection parts  118  and the output connection parts  134  is a magnetic material, and another one is a magnetic material or a magnetically attractable material. That is, when the second connection parts  118  are magnetic materials, the output connection parts  134  are magnetic materials or magnetically attractable materials; when the second connection parts  118  are magnetically attractable materials, the output connection parts  134  are magnetic materials, and vice versa. In an embodiment, the connection output parts  134  have a resistivity of less than 10 −2  ohm-cm, for example. The third connection lines  136  are connected to the output connection parts  134 . Specifically, the third connection lines  136  respectively connect portions of the output connection parts  134  corresponding to the second connection parts  118  and portions of the output connection parts  134  not corresponding to the second connection parts  118 . 
       FIG. 2A  is a top view of a combined solar cell module in accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 2B  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line B-B′ of  FIG. 2A . The same reference numerals in the first embodiment are used to denote the same or similar components, so the same or similar components may also be referred to the first embodiment, and the details are not iterated herein. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B , the combined solar cell module  200  is composed of two solar cell modules  102 , an end connection device  104 , and an output connection device  106 . In the second embodiment, although only two solar cell modules  102  are shown, it is understood that, according to the requirements, the number of solar cell modules  102  can be increased to more than two, and a boost circuit or a typical wiring can be added to boost the voltage. When the solar cell modules  102  are assembled to each other, the first connection portion  112  of one solar cell module  102  is connected to the second connection portion  114  of the other solar cell module  102 , and the second connection parts  118  and the first connection parts  116  are connected by magnetic attraction in an up-and-down manner, so as to transmit the current. At the same time, the end connection device  104  installed at the end of the combined solar cell module  200  can be electrically connected to the first connection parts  116  of the first connection portion  112  of one solar cell module  102 , and the output connection device  106  installed at the output of the combined solar cell module  200  can be electrically connected to the second connection parts  118  of the second connection portion  114  of the other solar cell module  102 , so as to output the current generated by the solar cells  110 . In addition, four corners of the solar cell modules  102  can also be provided with fixing members  202 , such as grommets, eyelets, collars, buckles, etc., in order to fix the combined solar cell module  200  to other facilities (such as buildings, vehicles, walls, floors, etc.) after completing the combination of the solar cell module  102 , the end connection device  104  and the output connection device  106 . 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of a combined solar cell module in accordance with a third embodiment of the present disclosure. The same reference numerals in the first embodiment are used to denote the same or similar components, so the same or similar components may also be referred to the first embodiment, and the details are not iterated herein. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the combined solar cell module  300  of the third embodiment includes nine solar cell modules  102 , three end connection devices  104 , and three output connection devices  302 . Every three solar cell modules  102  are coupled together and connected in series by an end connection device  104  and then connected to an output connection device  302 . Since the output connection devices  302  can be connected to each other, a set of three solar cell modules  102  connected in series can form a parallel circuit with other two sets of three solar cell modules  102  connected in series by the output connection devices  302 . In addition, the output connection devices  302  can be provided with a display (not shown) to display the voltage and current; or can be connected to the required output terminals, so as to increase the flexibility of use. 
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the output connection device  302  in the third embodiment. 
     In  FIG. 4 , the output connection device  302  includes an output connection portion  400 , a plurality of first output connection parts  402 , a plurality of second output connection parts  404 , a plurality of third output connection parts  406 , and a plurality of third connection lines  408 . The first output connection parts  402  are disposed on one side  400   a  of the output connection portion  400 , and the exposed surfaces of the first output connection parts  402  correspond to the exposed surfaces of the second connection parts ( 118  of  FIG. 3 ) in an up-and-down manner. In the output connection device  302  of the third embodiment, the second and third output connection parts  404  and  406  connected to the same first output connection part  402  are of the same polarity (positive or negative) for respectively connecting the positive and negative electrodes of the solar cell module  102 , for serving as connection output terminals or for using as a parallel expansion. 
     Moreover, at least one of the second connection parts ( 118  of  FIG. 3 ) and the first output connection parts  402  is a magnetic material, and another one is a magnetic material or a magnetically attractable material. That is, when the second connection parts  118  are magnetic materials, the first output connection parts  402  are magnetic materials or a magnetically attractable materials; when second connection parts  118  are magnetically attractable materials, the first output connection parts  402  are magnetic materials, and vice versa. The second output connection parts  404  are disposed on a first adjacent side  400   b  adjacent to the one side  400   a , and the third output connection parts  406  are disposed on a second adjacent side  400   c  adjacent to the one side  400   a . The second output connection parts  404  of one output connection device  302  and the third output connection parts  406  of another output connection device  302  are detachable and connectable. Each of the third connection lines  408  connects one of the first output connection parts  402 , and connects the second output connection part  404  and the third output connection part  406  that connect the same first output connection part  402 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 3 , if the second output connection parts  404  and the third output connection parts  406  between two output connection devices  302  are connected by magnetic attraction, a connection device  304  may be added, as shown in  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line V-V′ of  FIG. 3 , showing that the connection device  304  has connection parts  306  electrically connected to each other. When the second output connection parts  404  and the third output connection parts  406  are magnetic materials, the connection parts  306  are magnetic materials or magnetically attractable materials; when the second output connection parts  404  and the third output connection parts  406  are magnetically attractable materials, the connection parts  306  are magnetic materials, and vice versa. 
     In addition, the second output connection parts  404  and the third output connection parts  406  may also adopt other connection manners, such as the connection manner between the first connection portion  112  and the second connection portion  114  of the first embodiment, so that one of the second output connection parts  404  and the third output connection parts  406  is a convex portion and another one is a cover member; or the connection manner with an engaged structure as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     In  FIG. 6 , the second output connection parts  404  are located in the convex portion of the output connection portion  400 , and the third output connection parts  406  are located in the concave portion of the output connection portion  400 . The shapes of the convex portion and the concave portion of the output connection portion  400  can be matched to each other, so that the second output connection parts  404  and the third output connection parts  406  between two output connection devices  302  are simultaneously connected and current-transmitted in the form of a male-female joint, and an additional connection part is not required. 
     In another embodiment, the output connection device  302  may also be a single entity (e.g., wires and connectors, etc.) configured to provide an electrical parallel connection for all of the solar cell modules  102  connected in series. 
       FIG. 7A  is a top exploded view of a combined solar cell module in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 7B  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line B-B′ of  FIG. 7A . The same reference numerals in the first embodiment are used to denote the same or similar components, so the same or similar components may also be referred to the first embodiment, and the details are not iterated herein. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7A  and  FIG. 7B  simultaneously, the combined solar cell module  700  of the fourth embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment. It is noted that, the second connection portion  702  and the first connection portion  112  are disposed on different surfaces of the substrate  108 , the second connection parts  118  are located on the second connection portion  702  and are slightly convex, so that the exposed surfaces  118   a  of the second connection parts  118  correspond to the exposed surfaces  116   a  of the first connection parts  116  in an up-and-down manner. 
     After the solar cell modules  102  are assembled to each other, the first connection portion  112  of the solar cell module  102  is connected to the second connection portion  702  of another one solar cell module  102 , and the second connection parts  118  and the first connection parts  116  are connected by magnetic attraction such that the second connection parts  118  correspond to the first connection parts  116  in an up-and-down manner for electrical connection and current transmission. In addition, in the fourth embodiment, the end connection device  104  and the first connection portion  112  are detachable and connectable to electrically connect to the first connection parts  116 ; the output connection device  106  and the second connection portion  702  are detachable and connectable to electrically connect the second connection parts  118  and output the current generated by the solar cells  110 . Moreover, the shape of the output connection device  106  may vary depending on the shape of the second connection portion  702 , and is not limited to the drawing. Other components of the combined solar cell module  700  can be referred to those described in the first embodiment. 
     The following examples are provided to verify the effects of the present disclosure, but the present disclosure is not limited to the following. 
     &lt;Experimental Example&gt; 
     Two solar cell modules as shown in  FIG. 1A  are manufactured, which are module A and module B. Their electrical characteristics are then measured respectively, as shown in Table 1 below. 
     The end connection device and the output connection device as shown in  FIG. 1A  are manufactured. The module A and the module B are connected in series by magnetic attraction, and the end connection device and the output connection device are assembled to obtain the combined solar cell module as shown in  FIG. 2A . The electrical characteristics after the series connection are measured, as shown in Table 1 below. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Area 
                 V OC   
                 V max   
                 I SC   
                 I max   
                 F.F. 
                 P max   
               
               
                 module 
                 (cm 2 ) 
                 (V) 
                 (V) 
                 (A) 
                 (A) 
                 (%) 
                 (W) 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 A 
                 720 
                 2.87 
                 1.92 
                 3.44 
                 2.36 
                 45.91 
                 4.52 
               
               
                 B 
                 720 
                 2.89 
                 1.93 
                 3.48 
                 2.41 
                 49.09 
                 4.64 
               
               
                 A + B 
                 1440 
                 5.75 
                 3.62 
                 3.4 
                 2.34 
                 43.25 
                 8.45 
               
               
                 (series connection) 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     As seen from Table 1, the power of module A and module B before the series connection is about 4.5 W to 4.6 W, and the actual power of the combined solar cell module after serial connection is about 8.45 W. Thus, such magnetic connection is workable for power generation and operation. 
     In summary, the combined solar cell modules of the present disclosure are connected by magnetic attraction, and the connected device have corresponding shapes and can provide the functions of electrical connection and current transmission, and therefore, respective solar cell modules can be quickly combined together, and achieve the effects of easy installation, easy disassembly, stable connection, and uneasy falling off horizontally. The end connection device and output connection device can be connected, in series or in parallel, to the modules by magnetic attraction, in order to facilitate the rapid assembly and expansion of the solar cell modules. As the result, the combined solar cell module can be adjusted according to the desired voltage or current, and can be easily stored and assembled. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made to the structure of the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the disclosure cover modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.