Systems, circuits and methods for a solar system that incorporates tiled solar cells

Abstract

A solar power system may comprise a back sheet that comprises an interconnect circuit coupling a plurality of cell tiles. A tiled solar cell, comprising a solar cell and encapsulating and glass layers, is inserted into the cell tiles of the back sheet. Each solar cell is individually addressable through the use of the interconnect circuit. Moreover, the interconnect circuit of the back sheet is programmable and allows for dynamic interconnect routing between solar cells.

1 . A solar system comprising:
 a plurality of tiled solar cells, each tiled solar cell comprising at least one solar cell;   a back sheet comprising a current carrying grid, with programmable routes, for electrically coupling the tiled solar cells to harvest energy from the tiled solar cells; and   control system for programming the current carrying grid to electrically couple a number of the tiled solar cells to create a solar cell string compatible with a voltage specification.   
     
     
         2 . The solar system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the back sheet further comprises:
 a plurality of cell tiles comprising mechanical holders that secure the tiled solar cells when inserted therein.   
     
     
         3 . The solar system as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the mechanical holders for cell tiles are configured such that turning one of the tiled solar cells in one direction secures the tiled solar cell into the cell tile and turning one of the tiled solar cells, inserted and secured in the cell tiles, in the opposite direction releases the tiled solar cell from the cell tile. 
     
     
         4 . The solar system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the back sheet further comprises a control circuit for individually accessing the tiled solar cells to perform monitoring and reconfiguration of the solar cell sting. 
     
     
         5 . The solar system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the back sheet comprises a busbar to couple the tiled solar cells to the current carrying grid. 
     
     
         6 . The solar system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the tiled solar cells further comprise:
 a first encapsulation layer stacked on top of the solar cell;   a glass layer stacked on top of the first encapsulation layer;   a second encapsulation layer, stacked immediately below the solar cell;   a polyvinyl fluoride (TEDLAR) layer stacked below the second encapsulation layer; and   a pair of cell pins coupled to the encapsulated solar cell and protruding out of the TEDLAR layer.   
     
     
         7 . The solar system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the tiled solar cells further comprise:
 a first encapsulation layer stacked on top of the solar cell;   a first glass layer stacked on top of the first encapsulation layer;   a second encapsulation layer, stacked immediately below the solar cell;   a polyvinyl fluoride (TEDLAR) layer stacked below the second encapsulation layer;   a second glass layer on the bottom of the solar cell; and   a pair of cell pins coupled to the encapsulated solar cell and protruding out of the second glass layer.   
     
     
         8 . The solar system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the tiled solar cells further comprise:
 a first encapsulation layer stacked on top of the solar cell;   a second encapsulation layer, stacked immediately below the solar cell;   a glass layer on the bottom of the solar cell; and   a pair of cell pins coupled to the encapsulated solar cell and protruding out of the glass layer.   
     
     
         9 . The solar system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the tiled solar cells further comprise a plurality of edge sealants on each edge of the tiled solar cell. 
     
     
         10 . The solar system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the tiled solar cells further comprise an optically tuned glass layer in order to realize concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) cells. 
     
     
         11 . The solar system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a contact resistance between one of the tiled solar cells and the current carrying grid of the back sheet is matched to prevent loss of energy in the form of heat dissipation. 
     
     
         12 . A method for assembling a solar system comprising:
 providing a plurality of tiled solar cells, each tiled solar cell comprising at least one solar cell;   providing a back sheet comprising a current carrying grid, with programmable routes, for electrically coupling the tiled solar cells to harvest energy from the tiled solar cells; and   programming the current carrying grid to electrically couple a number of the tiled solar cells to create a solar cell string compatible with a voltage specification.   
     
     
         13 . The method as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the back sheet further comprises:
 a plurality of cell tiles comprising mechanical holders that secure the tiled solar cells when inserted therein.   
     
     
         14 . The method as set forth in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 turning one of the tiled solar cells in a one direction to secure the tiled solar cell into the cell tile; and   turning one of the tiled solar cells, inserted and secured in the cell tiles, in the opposite direction releases the tiled solar cell from the cell tile.   
     
     
         15 . The method as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the back sheet further comprises a control circuit for individually accessing the tiled solar cells to perform monitoring and reconfiguration of the solar cell sting. 
     
     
         16 . The method as set forth in  claim 12 , further comprising coupling the tiled solar cells to the current carrying grid through a busbar on the backsheet. 
     
     
         17 . The method as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the tiled solar cells further comprise:
 a first encapsulation layer stacked on top of the solar cell;   a glass layer stacked on top of the first encapsulation layer;   a second encapsulation layer, stacked immediately below the solar cell;   a polyvinyl fluoride (TEDLAR) layer stacked below the second encapsulation layer; and   a pair of cell pins coupled to the encapsulated solar cell and protruding out of the TEDLAR layer.   
     
     
         18 . The method as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the tiled solar cells further comprise:
 a first encapsulation layer stacked on top of the solar cell;   a first glass layer stacked on top of the first encapsulation layer;   a second encapsulation layer, stacked immediately below the solar cell;   a polyvinyl fluoride (TEDLAR) layer stacked below the second encapsulation layer;   a second glass layer on the bottom of the solar cell; and   a pair of cell pins coupled to the encapsulated solar cell and protruding out of the second glass layer.   
     
     
         19 . The method as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the tiled solar cells further comprise:
 a first encapsulation layer stacked on top of the solar cell;   a second encapsulation layer, stacked immediately below the solar cell;   a glass layer on the bottom of the solar cell; and   a pair of cell pins coupled to the encapsulated solar cell and protruding out of the glass layer.   
     
     
         20 . The method as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the tiled solar cells further comprise a plurality of edge sealants on each edge of the tiled solar cell.