Photovoltaic solar panel for attachment to a roof tile and method of manufacture thereof

Abstract

A photovoltaic solar panel for attachment to a roof tile can include a printed circuit board, a plurality of photovoltaic solar cells each electrically connected to the printed circuit board, and a front sheet comprising a layer of plastic. The printed circuit board, the photovoltaic solar cells, and the layer of plastic can be at least part of a laminated structure attachable to the roof tile. The layer of plastic can be a layer of transparent, UV-resistant plastic. The layer of plastic can be a layer of ethylene tetrafluoroethylene. A method of manufacture of a photovoltaic solar panel for attachment to a roof tile can include forming a laminated structure by laminating one or more sheets that include a printed circuit board, a plurality of photovoltaic solar cells, and a front sheet. The front sheet can include a layer of plastic that can include ethylene tetrafluoroethylene.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A photovoltaic solar panel comprising:
 a printed circuit board;   a plurality of photovoltaic solar cells each electrically connected to the printed circuit board; and   a front sheet comprising a layer of plastic, wherein the printed circuit board, the photovoltaic solar cells, and the front sheet are at least part of a laminated structure attachable to a roof tile.   
     
     
         30 . The photovoltaic solar panel of  claim 29 , wherein the layer of plastic is a layer of transparent, UV-resistant plastic. 
     
     
         31 . The photovoltaic solar panel of  claim 29 , wherein the layer of plastic is a layer of ethylene tetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         32 . The photovoltaic solar panel of  claim 29 , the photovoltaic solar panel further comprising:
 a first layer of ethylene-vinyl acetate covering at least a surface of the printed circuit board; and   a second layer of ethylene-vinyl acetate covering the photovoltaic solar cells, wherein the first layer and the second layer are at least part of the laminated structure attachable to the roof tile.   
     
     
         33 . The photovoltaic solar panel of  claim 32 , wherein the layer of plastic covers a front surface of the second layer of ethylene-vinyl acetate. 
     
     
         34 . The photovoltaic solar panel of  claim 29 , the photovoltaic solar panel further comprising a rigid back plate. 
     
     
         35 . The photovoltaic solar panel of  claim 34 , further comprising an adhesive sealant layer in adjacent contact with the rigid back plate, the adhesive sealant layer adherable to the roof tile. 
     
     
         36 . The photovoltaic solar panel of  claim 29 , wherein the printed circuit board, the photovoltaic solar cells, and the front sheet are at least part of a laminated structure attachable to a roof tile, the roof tile which comprises at least one of concrete, clay, metal, and plastic. 
     
     
         37 . The photovoltaic solar panel of  claim 29 , wherein the photovoltaic solar panel is substantially rectangular and has area dimensions smaller than the area dimensions of a front face of the roof tile. 
     
     
         38 . A method of manufacture of a photovoltaic solar panel for attachment to a roof tile, the method comprising forming a laminated structure by laminating one or more sheets that include a printed circuit board, a plurality of photovoltaic solar cells, and a front sheet, wherein laminating a front sheet includes laminating a layer of plastic. 
     
     
         39 . The method of manufacture of  claim 38 , wherein laminating a layer of plastic includes laminating a layer of transparent, UV-resistant plastic. 
     
     
         40 . The method of manufacture of  claim 38 , wherein laminating a layer of plastic includes laminating a layer of ethylene tetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         41 . The method of manufacture of  claim 38 , wherein laminating one or more sheets to form a laminated structure further includes laminating a first layer of ethylene-vinyl acetate covering at least a surface of the printed circuit board, and laminating a second layer of ethylene-vinyl acetate covering the photovoltaic solar cells. 
     
     
         42 . The method of manufacture of  claim 41 , wherein laminating a layer of plastic includes laminating a layer of plastic to cover a front surface of the second layer of ethylene-vinyl acetate. 
     
     
         43 . The method of manufacture of  claim 38 , wherein forming a laminated structure by laminating one or more sheets includes laminating a rigid back plate. 
     
     
         44 . The method of manufacture of  claim 43 , the method further comprising applying an adhesive sealant layer in adjacent contact with the rigid back plate, the adhesive sealant layer adherable to the roof tile. 
     
     
         45 . The method of manufacture of  claim 44 , wherein applying an adhesive sealant layer in adjacent contact with the rigid back plate includes applying an adhesive sealant layer adherable to a roof tile, the roof tile which comprises at least one of concrete, clay, metal, and plastic. 
     
     
         46 . The method of manufacture of  claim 38 , wherein forming a laminated structure by laminating one or more sheets that include a printed circuit board, a plurality of photovoltaic solar cells, and a front sheet includes forming a laminated structure that is substantially rectangular and has area dimensions smaller than the area dimensions of a front face of the roof tile.