Reconfigurable photovoltaic laminate(s) and photovoltaic panel(s)

Abstract

Reconfigurable PV panels can have features that include cut lines for separating full panels into smaller subpanels, connector ribbons for assembling several reconfigurable PV panels into a one-dimensional or two-dimensional array and can be stacked upon each other and unstacked by rotating them about a shared connection.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A photovoltaic laminate system comprising:
 a photovoltaic laminate comprising rows and columns of photovoltaic cells, the rows and columns of photovoltaic cells arranged in three or more groupings, wherein a cut line is present between at least two different adjacent groupings of the photovoltaic cells, the cut lines susceptible to mechanical separation of the photovoltaic laminate while maintaining electrical connectivity via at least one diode therebetween adjacent groupings of photovoltaic cells after mechanical separation along the cutline therebetween; and   a microinverter electrically connected to at least one of the groupings of photovoltaic cells.   
     
     
         22 . The photovoltaic laminate system of  claim 21  further comprising:
 a ribbon connector electrically connecting each of the three or more groupings of photovoltaic cells to the microinverter. 
 
     
     
         23 . The photovoltaic laminate system of  claim 21  wherein the cut lines are parallel. 
     
     
         24 . The photovoltaic laminate system of  claim 21  wherein no wire, strand, or trace is exposed after mechanical separation along the cutline between two adjacent groupings of photovoltaic cells. 
     
     
         25 . The photovoltaic laminate system of  claim 21  further comprising a capping bar electrically connected to one of the groupings of photovoltaic cells. 
     
     
         26 . The photovoltaic laminate of  claim 25  further comprising a plurality of rigidity supports, each rigidity support of the plurality mechanically connected to the capping bar. 
     
     
         27 . The photovoltaic laminate system of  claim 26  wherein each of the rigidity supports comprises a channel, the channel receiving one of the groupings of photovoltaic cells. 
     
     
         28 . A photovoltaic laminate system comprising:
 a photovoltaic laminate comprising at least three rows and at least three columns of photovoltaic cells, the rows and columns of photovoltaic cells arranged in a plurality of groupings, wherein a cut line is present between at least two different adjacent groupings of the photovoltaic cells, the cut lines susceptible to mechanical separation of the photovoltaic laminate while maintaining electrical connection after mechanical separation along the cut line via at least one diode.   
     
     
         29 . The photovoltaic laminate system of  claim 28  further comprising:
 a ribbon connector electrically connecting each of the groupings of photovoltaic cells to a microinverter. 
 
     
     
         30 . The photovoltaic laminate system of  claim 28  wherein the cut lines are parallel. 
     
     
         31 . The photovoltaic laminate system of  claim 28  wherein no wire, strand, or trace is exposed after mechanical separation along the cutline between two adjacent groupings of photovoltaic cells. 
     
     
         32 . The photovoltaic laminate system of  claim 28  further comprising a capping bar electrically connected to one of the groupings of photovoltaic cells. 
     
     
         33 . The photovoltaic laminate of  claim 32  further comprising a plurality of rigidity supports, each rigidity support of the plurality mechanically connected to the capping bar. 
     
     
         34 . The photovoltaic laminate system of  claim 33  wherein each of the rigidity supports comprises a channel, the channel receiving one of the groupings of photovoltaic cells. 
     
     
         35 . The photovoltaic laminate system of  claim 33  wherein at least one of the rigidity comprises a ventilation channel, the ventilation channel sized to permit airflow from one side of the photovoltaic laminate to another side of the photovoltaic laminate. 
     
     
         36 . The photovoltaic laminate system of  claim 33  wherein at least one of the rigidity comprises a ventilation channel, the ventilation channel sized to permit airflow from a top face of the photovoltaic laminate to a bottom face side of the photovoltaic laminate. 
     
     
         37 . A photovoltaic laminate system comprising:
 a photovoltaic laminate comprising rows and columns of photovoltaic cells, the rows and columns of photovoltaic cells arranged in a plurality of groupings, wherein a cut line is present between at least two adjacent groupings of the photovoltaic cells, the cut lines predetermined for mechanical separation of the photovoltaic laminate along the cut line while remaining electrically connected after mechanical separation with at least one diode therebetween; and   a microinverter electrically connected to at least one of the groupings of photovoltaic cells.   
     
     
         38 . The photovoltaic laminate system of  claim 37  further comprising:
 a ribbon connector electrically connecting each of the three or more groupings of photovoltaic cells to the microinverter. 
 
     
     
         39 . The photovoltaic laminate system of  claim 37  wherein the cut lines are parallel. 
     
     
         40 . The photovoltaic laminate system of  claim 37  wherein no wire, strand, or trace is exposed after mechanical separation along the cutline between two adjacent groupings of photovoltaic cells.