US 12,015,374 B2
Photovoltaic modules integrated with building siding and fencing
Richard Perkins, San Jose, CA (US); Thierry Nguyen, San Francisco, CA (US); Brian West, San Francisco, CA (US); and Henry Pham, San Jose, CA (US)
Assigned to GAF Energy LLC, Parsippany, NJ (US)
Filed by GAF Energy LLC, Parsippany, NJ (US)
Filed on Sep. 21, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/471,776.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/410,047, filed on Sep. 26, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0106386 A1, Mar. 28, 2024
Int. Cl. H02S 20/26 (2014.01); H02S 40/36 (2014.01)
CPC H02S 20/26 (2014.12) [H02S 40/36 (2014.12)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
10. A system, comprising:
a plurality of photovoltaic modules installed on an exterior wall of a structure,
wherein the photovoltaic modules are arranged in an array on the exterior wall,
wherein the plurality of photovoltaic modules comprises at least a first photovoltaic module and a second photovoltaic module,
wherein each of the photovoltaic modules includes:
at least one solar cell,
a first encapsulant encapsulating the at least one solar cell,
wherein the first encapsulant includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and
a frontsheet juxtaposed with the first surface of the first encapsulant,
wherein the frontsheet includes a glass layer; and
a plurality of siding panels installed on the exterior wall,
wherein each of the plurality of photovoltaic modules includes a side lap portion,
wherein the second photovoltaic module overlays at least a part of the side lap portion of the first photovoltaic module wherein the plurality of siding panels is adjacent to the plurality of photovoltaic modules.