A photovoltaic module, and method of making, is disclosed in which a flexible circuit is electrically coupled to a plurality of photovoltaic cells, where the photovoltaic cells are electrically coupled in series to form a series of cells. Each photovoltaic cell has free-standing metallic articles coupled to the top and bottom surfaces of a semiconductor substrate. A cell interconnection element of each photovoltaic cell is electrically coupled to a free-standing metallic article of an adjacent photovoltaic cell, where the interconnection elements of the initial and final cells in the series serve as contact ends for the series of cells. Contact tabs of the flexible circuit are electrically coupled to the contact ends of the series of cells, and a junction box is electrically coupled to a junction box contact region of the flexible circuit.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a photovoltaic module. The photovoltaic module includes a front-side cover, a back-side cover, and a plurality of angled photovoltaic strings situated between the front- and back-side covers. A respective angled photovoltaic string includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells coupled in series with an offset. The angled photovoltaic strings are couple in parallel and form a geometrical shape of the photovoltaic panel with at least one vertex having an oblique angle.

A wearable power management system includes: a bottom coating layer; a bottom center layer disposed above the bottom coating layer; a circuit layer disposed above the bottom center layer; a top center layer disposed above the circuit layer, and a top coating layer disposed above the top center layer. The bottom center layer and the top center layer are made of an ultra-low Young's modulus material. The Young's modulus of the bottom coating layer and the top coating layer is greater than the Young's modulus of the bottom center layer and the top center layer. The circuit layer includes a device layer and a connection layer disposed above the device layer.

Embodiments of the present invention include a method for manufacturing, and a structure for a thin film solar module. The method of manufacturing includes fabricating a thin film solar cell and fabricating an electronic conversion unit (ECU) on a single substrate. The thin film solar cell has at least one solar cell diode on a substrate. The ECU has at least one transistor on the substrate. The ECU may further comprise a capacitor and an inductor. The ECU is integrated on the substrate monolithically and electrically connected with the thin film solar cell. The ECU and the thin film solar cell interconnect to form a circuit on the substrate. The ECU is electrically connected to a microcontroller on the solar cell module.

An outdoor art-post assembly includes an elongate support pole, an art post, and at least one mounting mechanism. The elongate support pole has a lower portion and an auger disposed at the lower portion. The auger allows for vertical installation of the support pole in soil in response to manual rotation of the support pole. The art post has an inner surface defining a bore. The bore is capable of receiving at least a portion of the elongate support pole. The art post also has an outer surface including decorative indicia thereon. The mounting mechanism is located on the support pole and has protruding portions extending away from the support pole. The protruding portions are configured to contact the inner surface of the art post and affix the art post relative to the support pole. Methods of assembling the same are also disclosed.

A photovoltaic cell mounting substrate includes a substrate; and a plurality of grooves provided at one surface of the photovoltaic cell mounting substrate, the plurality of grooves including a first groove and a second groove that is placed at a circumferential side of the first groove, at the one surface of the substrate, the second groove being formed deeper than the first groove, with respect to the one surface of the substrate.

Aspect of the present disclosure are directed to methods and apparatus producing enhanced radiation characteristics, e.g., wideband behavior, in or for antennas and related components by providing concentric sleeves, with air or dielectric material as a spacer, where the sleeves include one or more conductive layers, at least a portion of which includes fractal resonators closely spaced, in terms of wavelength. A further aspect of the present disclosure is directed to surfaces that include dual-use or multiple-use apertures. Such aperture engine surfaces can include a top (or first) layer of antenna arrays, a middle (or second) layer of a metal-fractal backplane player, and a third (or bottom) layer for solar cell or solar oriented power collection.

The invention is directed to a piezovoltaic energy harvesting laminate that includes a photovoltaic laminar wafer comprised of a plurality of photovoltaic cells and a dielectric wafer that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. A boundary laminate interface is disposed between the photovoltaic laminar wafer and the dielectric wafer. The boundary laminate contains a metallization layer electrical terminal for the photovoltaic cells and a conduction layer of the dielectric wafer.

Process for manufacturing a photovoltaic module placed on an emissive display device, said photovoltaic module comprising an array containing a plurality of photovoltaic cells and a plurality of transparent zones called orifices, and said photovoltaic module comprising an array of optical elements able to focus, by refraction or reflection, the light emitted by the device into the orifices.

A desiccant air conditioning system for heating an air stream entering a building space includes a conditioner having multiple structures arranged in a substantially vertical orientation. The structures are spaced apart from each other with an air stream gap between each pair of adjacent structures. Each structure has at least one outer surface facing an air stream gap across which a liquid desiccant can flow. An air stream flows through the air stream gaps between the structures such that the liquid desiccant humidifies the air stream. Each structure further includes a separate desiccant collector at a lower end of the at least one outer surface for collecting liquid desiccant that has flowed across the at least one outer surface of the structure. The desiccant collectors are spaced apart from each other to permit airflow therebetween. The conditioner also includes a heat source for heating a heat transfer fluid used to heat the liquid desiccant.