A PHOTOVOLTAIC RECEIVER, A METHOD OF ASSEMBLING THE SAME AND PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE INCORPORATING SUCH RECEIVERS
The present invention in general relates to a photovoltaic receiver, a method of assembling the same and a high concentration photovoltaic module incorporating a plurality of such receivers. The present invention, in particular relates to construction of a photovoltaic receiver assembly having at least a high efficiency multi-junction photovoltaic/solar cell equipped with an electrical conductor having improved electrical attachment facility, for its connection with a plurality of similar receivers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is traditionally known that photovoltaic cells, or solar ceils as they are popularly known, constitute an important source of Renewal Energy, pertaining to generation of electricity. A plurality of such photovoltaic cells are connected to form a photovoltaic module, while an array constitutes a plurality of photovoltaic modules.
High concentration photovoltaic modules, apply a concentrator such as a mirror to concentrate sunlight on the solar cells, unlike the flat- plate modules, which do not apply any such concentrator. Each high concentration photovoltaic module comprises a plurality of interconnected receivers, each receiver having one or more photvoltaic cells adapted to be connected to similar receivers, electrically. That apart, each photovoltaic receiver also includes heat spreader, prismatic top as energy concentrator and encapsulant for encapsuling the solar cells.
Traditionally, the adaptation in photovoltaic cells for ensuring connection with receivers, in a photovoltaic module is achieved by soldering of wire directly on one electrical element such as a PCB and crimping between adjacent wires of two receivers. Since crimping is a manual process there are multiple disadvantages which crop up due to this . It has been observed that this type of

adaptation gives rise to frequent electric short circuits due to leakage of current. Furthermore, other disadvantages such as high assembly cost, break downs due to effect of moisture , low durability and longevity and high cycle time are very common. Additionally and very importantly, due to the complexity involved in the procedure, the issues such as lack of reliabililty and lack of ease of mass manufacturing have become very significant.
Accordingly, there was a long felt need for developing a photovoltaic receiver having one or more photovoltaic cells, each having adaptations for its connection with similar receivers in a photovoltaic module, whereby the reliability of the product is subtsantially increased, ease of mass manufacturing is achieved, cycle time and assembly cost are reduced and the other drawbacks as stated aforesaid are nullified subtsantially.
The present invention meets the aforesaid long felt need.
All through out the specification including the claims, reference has been made to "PCB", "connector", "receiver", "assembly", "photovoltaic/solar cells" for the sake of understanding, but is not to limited to those and the present invention embraces all similar items in the field referred to by other names, as may be understood by persons skilled in the art.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a photovoltaic receiver, having one or more photovoltaic cells, each photovoltaic cell having improved electrical attachment facility for its connection with a plurality of similar receivers in a photovoltaic module, whereby the reliability of the product is subtsantially increased and ease of mass manufacturing is achieved.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a photovoltaic receiver having one or more photvoltaic cells in connectivity with similar receivers in a

photovoltaic module, whereby frequent electric short circuits due to leakage of current is substantially reduced.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a photovoltaic receiver having one or more photvoltaic cells in connectivity with similar receivers in a photovoltaic module, whereby the assembly cost is substantially reduced.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a photovoltaic receiver having one or more photovoltaic cells in connectivity with similar receivers in a photovoltaic module, whereby problems such as high cycle time, frequent breakdowns due to effect of moisture, low durability and longevity are susbtantially reduced.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a photovoltaic cell having improved electrical attachment facility for its connection with a plurality of similar receivers in a photovoltaic module, whereby the objects of the present invention, as stated aforesaid are achieved.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a photvoltaic module incorporating a plurality of interconnected photovoltaic receivers, each receiver having one or more photovoltaic cells, each photovoltaic cell having improved electrical attachment facility for its connection with a plurality of similar receivers in a photovoltaic module, whereby the aforesaid objects of the present invention are achieved.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method of assembling a photovoltaic receiver having one or more photovoltaic cells such that each photovoltaic cell has an improved electrical attachment facility for its connection with a plurality of similar receivers in a photovoltaic module, whereby the aforesaid objects of the present invention are achieved.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide simplified interconnection between adjacent receivers in a photovoltaic module.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method for fabricating a photovoltaic module having a plurality of interconnected photovoltaic receivers, each photovoltaic receiver having an improved electrical attachment facility for its connection with a plurality of similar receivers in a photovoltaic module, whereby the aforesaid objects of the present invention are achieved.
How the foregoing objects are achieved and the other aspects of the present invention will be clear from the following description which is purely by way of understanding and not by way of any sort of limitation.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention provides a photovoltaic receiver including one or more electrically connected photovoltaic cells, each photovoltaic cell having energy concentrator such as a prismatic top, heat spreader and encapsulant for encapsulating said cells, wherein said cell is equipped with a flexible electrical conductor having a suitable connecting facility for establishing connectivity with adjacent said receiver(s) having one or more said cells, whereby simplified interconnection between adjacent receivers in a photvoltaic module is achieved together with ease of mass manufacturing, low assembly cost, high product reliability and reduction in cycle time.
In accordance with preferred embodiments of the photovoltaic receiver of the present invention;
-said electrical conductor comprises a flexible PCB.
-said connecting facility comprises, push fit type connectors.
-said connecting facility further comprises insulated bush for assembling from bottom side of said heat spreader.

-said connectors are provided with a locking mechanism for locking said connectors with said bush.
-said flexible PCB and push fit type connector have metal to metal contact.
The present invention also provides a photovoltaic module including a plurality of interconnected photovoltaic receivers, each receiver having one or more electrically connected photovoltaic cells, each photovoltaic cell having energy concentrator such as a prismatic top, heat spreader and encapsulant for encapsulating said cells, wherein said cell is equipped with a flexible electrical conductor having a suitable connecting facility for establishing connectivity with adjacent said receiver(s) having one or more said cells, whereby simplified interconnection between adjacent receivers in a photvoltaic module is achieved together with ease of mass manufacturing, low assembly cost, high product reliability and reduction in cycle time.
The present invention also provides a method for assembling a photovoltaic receiver including designing one or more photovoltaic cells by operatively coupling heat spreader, energy concentrator such as a prismatic top and encapsulant for encapsulating said cells wherein said method further includes equipping said cells with flexible electrical conductors having a suitable connecting facility such as push-fit type connectors for establishing electrical connectivity with adjacent receivers having one or more said photovoltaic cells.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the aforesaid method , said method further comprises locking each said connectors with an insulated bush.
The present invention also provides a method for fabricating a photovoltaic module including designing one or more photovoltaic cells by operatively coupling heat spreader, energy concentrator such as a prismatic top and encapsulant for encapsulating said cells wherein said method further includes equipping said cells with flexible electrical conductors having a suitable

connecting facility such as push-fit type connectors and electrically connecting a plurality of said receivers along said connecting facility.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The nature and scope of the present invention will be better understood from the accompanying drawings, which are by way of illustration of some preferred embodiments and not by way of any sort of limitation. In the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 illustrates an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the photovoltaic receiver, in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 2 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the electrical attachment facility, in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 3 illustrates an exploded view of a preferred embodiment showing a portion of the connectivity between photovoltaic receivers, in accordance with the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The following describes some preferred embodiments of the present invention, which are purely for the sake of understanding the performance of the invention, and not by way of any sort of limitation.
As stated before, traditionally, the adaptation in photovoltaic cells for ensuring connection with receivers, in a photovoltaic module is achieved by soldering of wire directly one one electrical element such as a PCB and crimping between adjacent wires of two receivers. This connectivity has cropped up a series of serious drawbacks, details of which have been already narrated before.
The present invention proposes to sort out the problems by providing a photovoltaic assembly having one or more photvoltaic cells, wherein each

photovoltaic cell is equipped with an electrical conductor having improved electrical attachment facility, for its connection with a plurality of similar receivers in a photovoltaic module.
It is common knowledge that a high concentration photovoltaic module comprises a plurality of interconnected receivers, each receiver having one or more photvoltaic cells adapted to be connected to similar receivers, electrically. That apart, each photovoltaic receiver also includes heat spreader, energy concentrator such as a prismatic top and encapsulant for encapsuling the solar cells. The present invention is focused on designing an improved electrical attachment facility for photvoltaic cells including a flexible electrical conductor such as a Printed Circuit Board(hereinafter referred to as PCB) having a suitable connecting facility, such as push fit type connectors, for establishing connectivity with adjacent receivers. This has been illustrated in the accompanying figure 1, which illustrates a photvoltaic cell having a flexible PCB(1), equipped with male terminal connectors(2). That apart, the photvoltaic cell includes heat spreader(3) and insulated bush(4) for assembling from bottom side of heat spreader(3).
The flexible nature of the electrical conductor such as PCB(1) and the simplified connecting facility such as male terminals (2) it is equipped with, unequivocally facilitate simplified interconnection between adjacent receivers, in a photvoltaic module. This in turn ensures ease of mass manufacturing, high product reliability and reduction in cycle time. The other advantages as stated hereinbefore, are also ensured by this technical construction. The technical advancement and economic significance were hitherto unknown and not achievable by persons skilled in the art.
The accompanying figure 2 illustrates the electrical attachment facility in accordance with the present invention, in the form of metal to metal contact(5) between push fit type connector (2) and flexible PCB(1).

The accompanying figure 3 illustrates, a portion of the connectivity between photovoltaic receivers, in accordance with the present invention. As can be seen from figure 3, the insulated bush (4) assembles from bottom side of heat spreader (3). The push fit type connectors (2) are provided with a locking mechanism (6), for locking such connectors with insulated bush (4). This ensures assembling of the bush from bottom side of heat spreader. As stated before, the flexible electrical conductors such as PCB of the individual photovoltaic cells are equipped with the push fit type connectors (4) for establishing connectivity, with adjacent photovoltaic receivers in a photovoltaic module.
The method for assembling a photovoltaic receiver in accordance with the present invention basically includes designing one or more high efficiency photovoltaic cells by operatively coupling heat spreader, energy concentrator such as a prismatic top and encapsulant for encapsulating said cells wherein said method further includes equipping said cells with flexible electrical conductors having a suitable connecting facility such as push-fit type connectors for electrical connectivity with adjacent receivers having one or more said photovoltaic cells.
The method for fabricating a photovoltaic module in accordance with the present invention includes interconnecting a plurality of photvoltaic receivers obtained by the method as described in the preceding paragraph.
The advantages achieved by the present invention may be summarized as follows:
i) It facilitates simplified interconnection between adjacent receivers in a photovoltaic module.
ii)lt facilitates ease of mass manufacturing and substantial rise in the reliability of the product.


iv) It reduces the assembly cost.
v) Problems such as high cycle time, frequent breakdowns due to effect of moisture, low durability and longevity are susbtantially reduced.
The present invention has been described with reference to some drawings and preferred embodiments, purely for the sake of understanding and not by way of any limitation and the present invention includes all legitimate developments within the scope of what has been described hereinbefore and what has been claimed hereinafter.

WE CLAIM
1. A photovoltaic receiver including one or more electrically connected photovoltaic cells, each photovoltaic cell having energy concentrator such as a prismatic top heat spreader and encapsulant for encapsulating said cells, wherein said cell is equipped with a flexible electrical conductor having a suitable connecting facility for establishing connectivity with adjacent said receiver(s) having one or more said cells, whereby simplified interconnection between adjacent receivers in a photvoltaic module is achieved together with ease of mass manufacturing, low assembly cost, high product reliability and reduction in cycle time.
2. The photovoltaic receiver as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrical conductor comprises a flexible PCB.
3. The photovoltaic receiver as claimed in claim 1 wherein said connecting facility comprises, push fit type connectors.
4. The photovoltaic receiver as claimed in claim 3 wherein said connecting facility further comprises insulated bush for assembling from bottom side of said heat spreader.
5. The photovoltaic receiver as claimed in claims 3 and 4 wherein said connectors are provided with a locking mechanism for locking said connectors with said bush.
6. The photovoltaic recover as claimed in claims 2 to 5 wherein said flexible PCB and push fit type connector have metal to metal contact.
7. A photovoltaic module including a plurality of interconnected photovoltaic receivers, each receiver having one or more electrically connected photovoltaic cells, each photovoltaic cell having energy concentrator such as a prismatic top,
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heat spreader and encapsulant for encapsulating said cells, wherein said cell is equipped with a flexible electrical conductor having a suitable connecting facility for establishing connectivity with adjacent said receiver(s) having one or more said cells, whereby simplified interconnection between adjacent receivers in a photvoltaic module is achieved together with ease of mass manufacturing, low assembly cost, high product reliability and reduction in cycle time.
8. A method for assembling a photovoltaic receiver including designing one or
more photovoltaic cells by operatively coupling heat spreader, energy
concentrator such as a prismatic top and encapsulant for encapsulating said
cells wherein said method further includes equipping said cells with flexible
electrical conductors having a suitable connecting facility such as push-fit type
connectors for establishing electrical connectivity with adjacent receiver(s),
having one or more said photovoltaic cells.
9. The method for assembling a photovoltaic receiver as claimed in claim 8
wherein said method further comprises locking each of said connectors with an
insulated bush.
10. A method for fabricating a photovoltaic module including designing one or
more photovoltaic cells by operatively coupling heat spreader, energy
concentrator such as a prismatic top and encapsulant for encapsulating said
cells wherein said method further includes equipping said cells with flexible
electrical conductors having a suitable connecting facility such as push-fit type
connectors and electrically connecting a plurality of said receivers along said
connecting facility.