Patent ID: 7682544

Claim:
A method of fabricating a photovoltaic panel which is formed by arranging a number of granular photovoltaic devices in an array and forming the array into the shape of a panel from a transparent resin and includes each photovoltaic device having a part protruding from the resin, the method employing a forming die having a forming cavity in which a number of bowl-shaped recesses are formed so that the photovoltaic devices are accommodated in the recesses respectively, each bowl-shaped recess having a bottom formed with a circular through hole through which the part of each photovoltaic device protrudes downward, the method further employing a receiver including a part which is opposed at least to the through hole and is formed with an escape recess, the method comprising: filling the escape recess of the receiver with a plastic sealing material; setting the forming die on the receiver; accommodating the photovoltaic devices in the bowl-shaped recesses of the forming die respectively; pressing the photovoltaic devices accommodated in the bowl-shaped recesses from above so that lower portions of the photovoltaic devices are fitted into the through holes of the bowl-shaped recesses thereby to be thrust inside the plastic sealing material substantially by a predetermined amount, respectively; pouring a liquid phase of the transparent resin into the forming cavity of the forming die; hardening the liquid resin in the forming cavity of the forming die so that the photovoltaic devices are integrated by the transparent resin into a photovoltaic panel; and taking the photovoltaic panel out of the forming cavity of the forming die.