Patterned Solar Cover Plate With Interference Layer for Angle-Stable Color
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solar modules face challenges in achieving a homogeneous color impression with minimal angular dependence while maintaining high efficiency, particularly when designed with non-black colors, due to angle-dependent light reflection and absorption characteristics, which are not suitable for industrial-scale production at reasonable costs.
Innovation Solution
A solar module with a patterned cover plate featuring an optical interference layer that reflects light within a predefined wavelength range, combined with a patterned surface structure to enhance light reflection and minimize angular dependence, ensuring a homogeneous color impression and high efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a solar module is designed with a non-black color to achieve aesthetic requirements, then the color impression is improved, but the light absorption efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies an optical interference layer on the cover plate that creates a non-black color appearance through constructive and destructive interference of light waves. This interference-based coloring allows the module to reflect specific wavelengths while transmitting others, achieving aesthetic color effects without the light absorption penalties of pigment-based coloring. The color is generated by optical path differences rather than material absorption, resolving the contradiction between appearance and efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the optical interference layer with the cover plate glass to create a composite optical system. This composite structure integrates the coloring function into the protective cover plate itself, allowing the glass to maintain its high transparency and anti-reflection properties while the interference layer provides the desired color effect. The composite design ensures that the base material's optical efficiency is preserved while adding aesthetic functionality.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a multi-ply interference layer is applied on the inner side of the front glass to reflect defined spectral range, then the color homogeneity is improved, but the production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the interference layer application from the interior of the module and relocates it to the outer surface of the cover plate. This extraction simplifies the manufacturing process by allowing the interference layer to be applied during cover plate production or installation, rather than requiring complex internal layer assembly. The coloring function is separated from the module's internal structure, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining color homogeneity through the interference effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the optical interference layer to the cover plate in advance, before the cover plate is installed on the solar module. This preliminary application allows the interference pattern to be established on the cover plate itself, ensuring uniform color distribution across the entire surface. By pre-applying the layer, the patent avoids the need for complex post-assembly manufacturing steps, reducing production costs while achieving homogeneous coloring.
3Shape
If a color layer is applied on the cover glass to achieve desired color impression, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the light absorption efficiency is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs optical interference rather than pigment absorption to generate color. The interference layer creates color through wavelength-selective reflection and transmission based on optical path differences, not through absorption by colored materials. This approach allows the cover plate to appear colored while remaining highly transparent to the wavelengths needed for photovoltaic conversion, thereby maintaining electrical power generation efficiency while achieving desired aesthetic appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical interference layer acts as an intermediary between the incident light and the solar module components. It selectively manipulates light wavelengths through interference effects, reflecting certain wavelengths to create color while transmitting the solar spectrum wavelengths needed for energy conversion. This intermediary layer decouples the aesthetic coloring function from the light absorption function, allowing both to coexist without significant efficiency loss.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a solar module with a stable, homogeneous color appearance and reduced efficiency loss across varying viewing angles, suitable for industrial-scale production and integration into building envelopes.
Implementation Method 1
at least one optical interference layer for reflecting light within a predefined wavelength range is arranged on the patterned region
Implementation Method 2
the patterned region has, perpendicular to the plane of the cover plate, a height profile with hills and valleys
Data Source
AI summary
A solar module having on the front a cover plate with an outer surface and an inner surface is described. The outer surface has a patterned region, on which an optical interference layer for reflecting light within a predefined wavelength range is arranged. The patterned region has a height profile with hills and valleys, and a portion of the patterned region is composed of flat segments that are inclined relative to a plane of the cover plate.