Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT APPLICANT: A.C Impex Pty Ltd INVENTION TITLE: SOLAR WINDOW GLASS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: - -2 Solar Window Glass Field of the Invention The invention generally relates to solar technology and more particularly is concerned with solar technology used in window glass and panels made using 5 solar window glass. Background to the Invention Solar window glass is a completely new technology for Australian green energy market. The difference of solar window glass and traditional monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels is solar window glass can be used as tint for all 10 commercial and residential buildings. Traditional monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels generally are used on the roof and must face to North to generate electricity. Therefore, these products cannot be used for apartments or commercial buildings. Summary of the Invention 15 Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to at least partly overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art. The invention provides a solar window glass panel which is formed by at least one sheet of glass, the solar window glass panel includes a solar panel formed using amorphous silicon which is carried by the at least one sheet of glass; the 20 at least one sheet of glass is covered with a sheet of encapsulation material; the encapsulation material is coloured thereby to provide tinting to the at least one sheet of glass; wherein the solar panel is configured to provide a transmittance factor in which a selected amount of visible light in use is allowed to be transmitted through the solar panel; and wherein the transmittance factor 25 is linked to the power rating of the to decrease so that an increase in the transmittance factor results in a decrease in the power rating.
-3 The invention also provides a solar window glass panel which is formed by at least one sheet of glass, the solar window glass panel includes a solar panel formed using amorphous silicon which is carried by the at least one sheet of glass; the at least one sheet of glass is covered with a sheet of encapsulation 5 material; the encapsulation material is coloured thereby to provide tinting to the at least one sheet of glass; wherein the solar panel is configured to provide a transmittance factor in which a selected from a range of between 5% to 20% and a power rating which is selected from a range of between 90W and 78W; the transmittance factor allows an amount of visible light in use is allowed to be 10 transmitted through the solar panel; and wherein the transmittance factor is linked to the of the to decrease so that an increase in the transmittance factor results in a decrease in the power rating. In one embodiment, the invention extends to a solar window glass panel which 15 includes at least a first sheet of glass and a semi-transparent solar panel which is associated to the first sheet of glass wherein the semi-transparent solar panel includes ribbons and a junction box to which the ribbons is electrically connected thereby allowing for the conducting of electricity generated by the semi-transparent solar panel to the junction box; wherein the ribbons are 20 positioned at a periphery of the solar panel thereby to minimise the impact the ribbons have on the transparency of the semi-transparent solar panel; and wherein the junction box is positioned at a periphery of the at least first sheet of glass thereby to allow the first sheet of glass to be fitted to a window frame so that the junction box is hidden inside the window frame and to minimise the 25 impact the junction box has on the transparency of the central portion of the solar panel. The junction box may be of a pen-type to allow for easy fitment inside the window frame. The semi-transparent solar panel may be layered onto the first sheet of glass. 30 The semi-transparent solar panel may be layered onto an inner side of the first sheet of glass.
-4 The solar window glass panel may further include a second sheet of glass which substantially matches dimensions of the first sheet of glass and which overlies the first sheet of glass; wherein the first and second sheets of glass overly each other and are spaced apart from each other thereby forming an 5 insulation section between the first and second sheets of glass; the insulation section insulates the second sheet of glass from the second sheet of glass to reduce the amount of heat, generated in use by exposure of the semi transparent solar panel to the sun, being transferred to the second sheet of glass. 10 The first and second sheets of glass may be spaced apart with the spacers which are encapsulated with an encapsulation layer thereby to form the solar window glass panel to have a frameless body; wherein the frameless body is capable of being fitted to a window frame so that the junction box is hidden inside the window frame. 15 The invention also extends to a solar window glass panel which includes a first sheet of glass and a second sheet of glass which substantially matches dimensions of the first sheet of glass and which overlie the first sheet of glass; a semi-transparent solar panel is mounted to the first sheet of glass; the 20 transparent solar panel includes conductor ribbons and a junction box to which the ribbons is electrically connected to conduct electricity generated by the transparent solar panel to the junction box; the ribbons are positioned at a periphery of the solar panel thereby to not obstruct the transparency of a central portion of the semi-transparent solar panel, the junction box is 25 positioned at a periphery of the first sheet of glass thereby to allow the junction box not to obstruct the transparency of the central portion of the semi transparent solar panel and to allow the first sheet of glass to be fitted to a window frame so that the junction box is hidden inside the window frame; wherein the first and second sheets of glass overly each other and are spaced 30 apart from each other thereby forming an insulation section between the first and second sheets of glass; the insulation section insulates the second sheet of glass from the second sheet of glass to reduce the amount of heat, -5 generated in use by exposure of the semi-transparent solar panel to the sun, being transferred to the second sheet of glass. The junction box may be of a pen-type to allow for easy fitment inside the window frame. 5 The invention further provides a solar window glass panel having a frameless body; the solar window panel includes a first sheet of glass and a second sheet of glass which substantially matches dimensions of the first sheet of glass and which overlie the first sheet of glass; a semi-transparent solar panel is mounted to the first sheet of glass; the transparent solar panel includes conductor 10 ribbons and a junction box to which the ribbons is electrically connected to conduct electricity generated by the transparent solar panel to the junction box; wherein the first and second sheets of glass overly each other and are spaced apart from each other using spacers thereby to form an insulation section between the first and second sheets of glass; the insulation section insulates 15 the second sheet of glass from the second sheet of glass to reduce the amount of heat, generated in use by exposure of the semi-transparent solar panel to the sun, being transferred to the second sheet of glass; wherein the ribbons are positioned at a periphery of the solar panel thereby to not obstruct the transparency of a central portion of the semi-transparent solar panel, wherein 20 the junction box is positioned at a periphery of the first sheet of glass thereby to allow the junction box not to obstruct the transparency of the central portion of the semi-transparent solar panel; wherein the first and second sheets of glass spaced apart with the spacers are encapsulated with an encapsulation layer thereby to form the frameless body; and wherein the frameless body is capable 25 of being fitted to a window frame so that the junction box is hidden inside the window frame. The junction box may be of a pen-type to allow for easy fitment inside the window frame. A method of forming a solar window glass panel which includes a solar panel; 30 the method including the steps of: -6 a. Selecting of a transmittance factor allows an amount of visible light in use is allowed to be transmitted through the solar panel; b. Adjusting an optical data factor in light of the transmittance factor in which the percentage of visible light is allowed to be 5 transmitted through the solar panel thereby adjusting a power rating of the solar panel; wherein the power rating decreases as the transmittance factor increases. In a further form, the invention provides a solar window glass panel which is 10 formed by at least one sheet of glass, the solar window glass panel includes a solar panel formed using thin-film amorphous silicon which is carried by the at least one sheet of glass; the solar panel having a configuration providing varying tinting through adjustment of the amount of thin-film amorphous silicon present 15 in the solar panel to cause the solar panel to have a transmittance in a range of between 5% to 20% so that a power output by the solar panel is in a range of between 90W and 78W, an amount of visible light transmitted across the 20 solar panel is in a range of between 2% and 14%, an amount total solar energy transmitted across the solar panel is in a range of between 2% and 10%, an amount total solar energy absorbed by the solar panel is in a range of between 75% and 81%, and 25 an amount of total solar energy reflected is in a range of between 15% to 17%; wherein in the solar panel configuration an increase in transmittance causes an increase in visible light transmitted and total solar energy transmitted so that more light is allowed to pass through the 30 solar panel as the transmittance increases; wherein in the solar panel configuration an increase in transmittance causes less thin-film amorphous silicon to be in the solar -7 panel thereby causing a decrease in power output, total solar energy absorbed and in total solar energy reflected by the solar panel; and wherein varying the tinting causes the adjustment of the transmittance of the solar window glass panel by adjusting the amount of 5 thin-film amorphous silicon present in the solar panel so that an increase in transmittance allows more light to pass through the solar panel and a decrease causes less light to pass through the solar panel. The invention also extends to a solar window glass panel which is formed by at 10 least one sheet of glass, the solar window glass panel includes: a solar panel formed using thin-film amorphous silicon which is carried by the at least one sheet of glass; the solar panel is configured, by providing varying tinting through adjustment of the amount of thin-film amorphous silicon present in the 15 solar panel, to adjust transmittance of the solar panel in which a selected amount of visible light transmitted and total solar energy transmitted is allowed to pass through the solar panel; wherein the transmittance is linked to the power output of the solar panel so that an increase in transmittance results in a decrease of power output. 20 The solar window glass panel according may be constructed to have a frameless body; the solar window panel includes a first sheet of glass and a second sheet of glass which substantially matches dimensions of the first sheet of glass and which 25 overlie the first sheet of glass; the solar panel is mounted to the first sheet of glass; the solar panel includes conductor ribbons and a junction box to which the ribbons is electrically connected to conduct electricity generated by the solar panel to the junction box; 30 wherein the first and second sheets of glass overly each other and are spaced apart from each other using spacers thereby to form an insulation section between the first and second sheets of glass; the -8 insulation section insulates the second sheet of glass from the second sheet of glass to reduce the amount of heat, generated in use by exposure of the solar panel to the sun, being transferred to the second sheet of glass; 5 wherein the ribbons are positioned at a periphery of the solar panel thereby to minimise the impact the ribbons have on the transparency of the solar panel; wherein the junction box is positioned at a periphery of the first sheet of glass thereby to minimise the impact the junction box has on 10 the transparency of the central portion of the solar panel; wherein the first and second sheets of glass spaced apart with the spacers encapsulated with an encapsulation layer thereby to form the frameless body; and wherein the frameless body is capable of being fitted to a 15 window frame so that the junction box is hidden inside the window frame. The invention further provides A method of forming a solar window glass panel which includes a solar panel; the method including the step of: 20 altering a transmittance of a solar panel thereby to allow adjustment of an amount of visible light transmitted and total solar energy transmitted in use through the solar panel thereby adjusting an amount of thin-film amorphous silicon present in the solar panel to vary the tinting provided by the solar. Brief Description of the Drawings 25 In order that the invention can be more readily understood one or more embodiments of the invention are further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a front view showing a schematic representation of solar window glass according to the invention. 30 Figure 2 is a side view showing in cross-section a schematic representation of the solar window glass of Figure 1.
-9 Figure 3 are side views showing in photographs three different solar window glass portions each having a different transmittance. Figure 4 are various views showing in photographs different applications of use of the solar window glass portions. 5 Description of Illustrated Embodiment of the Invention Referring to the accompanying representations, Figure 1 illustrates a solar window glass panel 10 according to the invention. The solar window glass panel includes a semi-transparent solar panel 12 in the form of a thin-film amorphous silicon photovoltaic cells which is capable of generating an 10 electrical current through exposure to the sun. The semi-transparent solar panel 12 includes a ribbon 14 which extends around a periphery 16 of the solar panel and is connected to a pen-type junction box 18. Thus, the ribbon is capable of conducting the electrical current from the semi-transparent solar panel to the junction box. 15 The junction box 18 is positioned at a periphery of the solar window glass panel 10. Referring to Figure 2, the solar window glass panel 10 has a frameless body 20 to which is constructed from a first sheet of glass 24, a second sheet of glass 26 which overlie the first sheet of glass, and a number of spaces which are 20 positioned in between the first and second sheets of glass. The first and second sheets of glass are spaced apart thereby to form an insulation section 30 between the sheets of glass. The spacers are used to maintain the positioning of the first and second sheets of glass relative to each other. An encapsulated in layer 32 in the form of a PVB (polyvinyl butyral) layer is 25 used to encapsulate the first and second sheets of glass spaced apart with the spacers thereby to form the frameless body 20. In use the first sheet of glass 24 is used to form an outside layer of the solar window glass panel 10 with the second sheet of glass 26 forming a back layer. The ribbons 14 are positioned at the periphery 16 of the solar panel 12 thereby - 10 to minimise the impact the ribbons have on the transparency of the semi transparent solar panel. The junction box 18 is positioned at the periphery 16 of the first sheet of glass thereby to allow the first sheet of glass to be fitted to a window frame so that the junction box is hidden inside the window frame and to 5 minimise the impact the junction box has on the transparency of the central portion of the solar panel. The first and second sheets of glass 24 and 26 overly each other and are spaced apart from each other thereby forming in insulation section 30 between the first and second sheets of glass. The insulation section insulates the 10 second sheet of glass from the second sheet of glass to reduce the amount of heat, generated in use by exposure of the semi-transparent solar panel to the sun, being transferred to the second sheet of glass. The junction box is at the centre of the back panel, while the junction box of a solar glass is pen-type shaped and placed at the side. This allows the junction 15 box to be inside a window frame. A laser pattern is used which in the form of an extra horizontal laser-scribing process to make the solar panel 12 semi-transparent. This is achieved by removing part (5%, 10% or 20%) of the amorphous layer silicone photovoltaic cells. The removed area therefore becomes more transparent. 20 Solar window glasses are designed to install as tint windows on the building, therefore, no requirement of installation on roof with facing North direction. Solar window glass 10 is type of thin film with 5% transmittance of 90W power output, 10% transmittance of 86W power output and 20% transmittance with 78W power output based on customer's needs. Solar window glass requires 25 less silicon materials and better performed under low-irradiation condition compare to traditional monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels. Module structure * Glass-glass construction - 11 * Pen-type junction box * ribbons at side * PVB encapsulation BIPV application 5 e PV window * curtain wall * skylight * greenhouse roofing * swimming pool roofing 10 More information The surface of the module may reach up to 50* under the sun. Please take this characteristic into consideration when designing your BIPV project The pin-type junction-box shown in figure 1 is made to facilitate window applications. It does not obstruct the view, and can be easily hidden inside a 15 window frame. The back glass heats while the module is on duty. To avoid overheating the indoor area, extra installation procedures are necessary for PV window applications. A recommended installation structure shown in Figure 2. Transparent modules are ultimately suitable for greenhouse and pool roofing, 20 as they filter excess irradiation and reduce the cost of artificial heating in the room Area using non-insulated modules is required to maintain constant airflow. As an example, the solar window glass panel in could have the following specifications: - 12 Module Specifications Semi-transparent Single Junction Transmittance 5% 10% 20% Electrical Specifications Maximum Power (Pmax) ±5% 90w 86W 78W Maximum Power Voltage (Vmpp) * 10% 72.9V 72.9V 72.9V Maximum Power Current (Impp) ± 10% 1.24A 1.19A 1.07A open Circuit Voltage (Voc) ± 10% 95V 95V 95V Short Circuit Current (1sc) ± 10% 1.50A 1.45A 1.32A Optical Data Visible Ught -Transmitted 4% 7% 14% Absorbed 8% 8% 8% Total Solar Energy -Transmitted 2% 5% 10% Reflected 17% 16% 15% Absorbed 81% 79% 75% UV Transmitted <1% <1%<1% Thermal Data Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (g-value) 17% 19% 24% Shading Coefficient 0.19 0.22 0.28 U-Value (W/m2K) - Winter Night Time 2.7 2.7 2.7 Summer Day Time 2.8 2.8 2.8 IMechanical Characteristics Dimensions (L*W*D)) (J-Box excluded) 1299mm * 1099mm * 7.5mm Weight 29kg Cell Type Amorphous Silicon Glass Type 3.2mm annealed front glass and 6mm tempered back glass Encapsulation PVB (Polyvinyl Butyral) Frame Material Frameless Output Cables/ Connectors To be confirmed All the values here are measured from light-stabilized modules, under Standard Test Conditions: Radiation strength IOOW/m. Spectral Distribution AM 1.5, Temperature 25'C. Temperature Coefficients Maximum Power (Pmax) -0.23%/'C pen Circuit Voltage (Voc) -0.3%/'C Short Circuit Current (Isc) +0.08%/ 'C Limits Maximum System Voltage 1000V Bypass Diode 10A Maximum Series Fuse 3A Operating Module Temperature -40 'C - 85 'C Clearly tinting is linked to the transmittance of the solar panel. The invention provides a solar window glass panel of which the solar panel is semi-transparent and is configured to be able to conduct an electrical current 5 generated by the solar panel to exposure to sun while at the same time to minimise the impact which the ribbons and the junction box may have on the transparency of the solar panel. The junction box is furthermore positioned on -13 a periphery of the solar window glass panel thereby to hide the junction box inside a window frame to which the solar window glass panel may be fitted. Additionally, the solar window glass panel has a frameless body which assists in the installation of the solar window glass panel into a window frame. The 5 solar window glass panel also has an installation section which reduces the amount of heat which may be conducted across the solar window glass panel when the solar panel is heated during exposure to sun. While we have described herein a particular embodiment of a solar window glass, it is further envisaged that other embodiments of the invention could 10 exhibit any number and combination of any one of the features previously described. However, it is to be understood that any variations and modifications which can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof are included within the scope of this invention.