Abstract: Injection molded, blow molded, and rotational molded articles that integrally incorporate an operable photovoltaic device, and method and system for producing such articles. A method includes: placing an operable photovoltaic device at an inner-side of a mold cavity of a mold; performing injection molding or reaction injection molding or blow molding or rotational molding, of raw plastic materials or raw polymeric materials; and forming a single or singular, monolithic, unified or uniform, molded article that integrally incorporates and fixedly holds and tightly secures, therein or thereon, the operable photovoltaic device, directly and securely and tightly via the solidified molded plastic or the solidified molded polymer that are adjacent to it.

Abstract: A hybrid photovoltaic (PV) device includes: a rigid PV segment, having one or more PV cells that convert light to electricity, wherein the rigid PV segment is non-foldable and non-bendable; and a co-located flexible PV segment, wherein the flexible PV segment is foldable or bendable without being damaged; electric connectors, that connect between (i) electric current or voltage generated by the rigid PV segment, and (ii) electric current or voltage generated by the flexible PV segment; a unified encapsulation layer, encapsulating together both the rigid PV segment and the co-located flexible PV segment. The rigid PV segment, the co-located flexible PV segment, the electric connectors, and the unified encapsulation layer, form together the hybrid PV device as a single stand-alone PV device that converts light to electricity, and has at least one rigid region corresponding to the rigid PV segment and at least one flexible region corresponding to the co-located flexible PV segment.

Abstract: A flexible photovoltaic (PV) cell having enhanced properties of mechanical impact absorption, includes: a semiconductor wafer that is freestanding and carrier-less; having a thickness, and having a first surface, and a having second surface that is opposite to that first surface; and non-transcending gaps within the semiconductor wafer. Each non-transcending gap penetrates from the first surface towards the second surface, but reaches to a depth of between 50 to 99 percent of the thickness of the semiconductor wafer, and does not reach said second surface. Each non-transcending gap does not entirely penetrate through an entirety of the thickness of the semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer maintains between 1 to 50 percent of the thickness of the semiconductor wafer as an intact and non-penetrated thin layer of semiconductor wafer that remains intact and non-penetrated by the non-transcending gaps.

Abstract: A photovoltaic article, that is configured to generate electricity from light, includes: a flexible and rollable and non-brittle solar cell, that is capable of being flexed and being rolled without becoming broken or non-operational; and an integrated, functional, backing layer that is non-detachably attached to a back side of that flexible and rollable and non-brittle solar cell. The backing layer is formed of foamed polymer, and can be flexible and rollable while also providing mechanical support to the solar cell.

Abstract: A system includes a rollable photovoltaic awning having an array of flexible and rollable photovoltaic cells that convert incoming light to electricity. The rollable photovoltaic awning is configured to transit between a rolled-out state and a rolled-in state. In the rolled-in state, the rollable photovoltaic awning has a cylindrical form-factor with a diameter that is smaller than 30 centimeters. In the rolled-out state, the rollable photovoltaic awning has a surface area of at least 2 square meters. The rollable photovoltaic awning is structured to withstand at least 1,000 cycles of rolling and unrolling with not more than 15 percent degradation of operational photovoltaic efficiency. A rolling and unrolling unit is configured to deploy the rollable photovoltaic awning by transitioning it from the rolled-in state to the rolled-out state, and also configured to store the rollable photovoltaic awning by transitioning it from the rolled-out state to the rolled-in state.

Abstract: A hybrid photovoltaic (PV) device includes: a rigid PV segment, having one or more PV cells that convert light to electricity, wherein the rigid PV segment is non-foldable and non-bendable; and a co-located flexible PV segment, wherein the flexible PV segment is foldable or bendable without being damaged; electric connectors, that connect between (i) electric current or voltage generated by the rigid PV segment, and (ii) electric current or voltage generated by the flexible PV segment; a unified encapsulation layer, encapsulating together both the rigid PV segment and the co-located flexible PV segment. The rigid PV segment, the co-located flexible PV segment, the electric connectors, and the unified encapsulation layer, form together the hybrid PV device as a single stand-alone PV device that converts light to electricity, and has at least one rigid region corresponding to the rigid PV segment and at least one flexible region corresponding to the co-located flexible PV segment.

Abstract: A flexible photovoltaic (PV) cell having enhanced properties of mechanical impact absorption, includes: a semiconductor wafer that is freestanding and carrier-less; having a thickness, and having a first surface, and a having second surface that is opposite to that first surface; and non-transcending gaps within the semiconductor wafer. Each non-transcending gap penetrates from the first surface towards the second surface, but reaches to a depth of between 50 to 99 percent of the thickness of the semiconductor wafer, and does not reach said second surface. Each non-transcending gap does not entirely penetrate through an entirety of the thickness of the semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer maintains between 1 to 50 percent of the thickness of the semiconductor wafer as an intact and non-penetrated thin layer of semiconductor wafer that remains intact and non-penetrated by the non-transcending gaps.

Abstract: Improved flexible solar panels and photovoltaic devices, and methods and systems for producing them. A solar cell has non-transcending grooves or trenches, that penetrate some, but not all, of a silicon layer or semiconductor wafer of the solar cell. The non-transcending grooves or trenches are segmenting the solar cell into regions, and provide flexibility and mechanical resilience. Selective and localized region-constrained doping of an opposite polarity is performed at particular regions or locations of a surface or front region of the solar cell; as well as selective and localized placement of metallized electrical contacts. Grooving or trenching operations can be performed via a dopant-containing layer, to prevent or reduce recombination at or near exposed surfaces.

Abstract: A self-floating, rollable, flexible, photovoltaic article includes: (a) a plurality of flexible and rollable and mechanically-resilient solar cells that are inter-connected as a generally planar array that is also flexible and rollable; and (b) a self-buoyant low-density rollable and flexible floating-capability providing layer, that is integrally attached and is non-removably connected, via a non-detachable connection mechanism, to a bottom side or a top side or the generally planar array of flexible and rollable solar cells, or integrally encapsulates the flexible and rollable solar cells, or is integrally sandwiched within the flexible and rollable solar cells. The overall Specific Weight of an entirety of the photovoltaic article is smaller than 1.00.

Abstract: A flexible solar module has an integral and internal thin metal foil, which is an integral layer of the solar cell stack. The thin metal foil collects and transports photovoltaic (PV) generated electric power from a plurality of regions of the solar module. A single metal foil can mechanically connect, and can collect PV-generated electric power, from multiple such solar cells; and is further coated from beneath by lamination or encapsulation layers. A plurality of solar modules are mounted on top of a support structure or a polymeric support substrate, that has metal wires running integrally therein. The metal wires are arranged in accordance with a pre-defined layout, such that most of the length of each metal wire is concealed and is protected within the support structure or the polymeric support substrate.

Abstract: Enhanced flexible solar panels and photovoltaic devices, and methods and systems for producing them. A flexible Photovoltaic (PV) device includes: a flexible PV cell, configured to generate electricity from light; and a stretchable and compressible Patterned Metal Wiring Mesh, that is attached to a surface of said flexible PV cell, and that is configured to collect and aggregate PV-generated electricity from said flexible PV cell. The stretchable and compressible Patterned Metal Wiring Mesh is capable of stretching or compressing in response to mechanical forces that are applied to said flexible PV cell, while generally maintaining physical connectivity and electrical connectivity to electricity-generating regions of said PV cell. The Patterned Metal Wiring Mesh is embedded or attached onto, or at least partially embedded within, a Flexible Polymeric Support Foil that supports both the Patterned Metal Wiring Mesh and the flexible PV cell.

Abstract: Conjoined solar module, and a joining unit for conjoining multiple solar panels. A mechanical joining unit has two back-to-back elongated rails. The first elongated rail has an elongated hollow cavity, and receives therein a set of beads or mushroom-shaped protrusions or lollipop-shaped protrusions that are connected to an edge of a first solar panel. Similarly, the second elongated rail has an elongated hollow cavity, and receives therein a set of beads or mushroom-shaped protrusions or lollipop-shaped protrusions that are connected to an edge of a second solar panel. Optionally, the mechanical joining unit has an additional elongated rail that defines an elongated cavity for storing metal wires that transport electricity generated by the solar panels. Optionally, each solar panel is flexible or rollable.

Abstract: A flexible photovoltaic (PV) cell having enhanced properties of mechanical impact absorption, includes: a semiconductor wafer that is freestanding and carrier-less; having a thickness, and having a first surface, and a having second surface that is opposite to that first surface; a set of non-transcending gaps within the semiconductor wafer. Each non-transcending gap penetrates from the first surface towards the second surface but reaches to a depth of between 80 to 99 percent of the thickness of the semiconductor wafer, and does not reach said second surface. Each non-transcending gap does not entirely penetrate through an entirety of the thickness of the semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer maintains at least 1 percent of the thickness of the semiconductor wafer as an intact and non-penetrated thin layer of semiconductor wafer that remains intact and non-penetrated by the non-transcending gaps. The intact and non-penetrated thin layer of semiconductor wafer absorbs and dissipates mechanical forces.

Abstract: Rubber molded articles that integrally incorporate an operable photovoltaic device, and method and system for producing such articles. An apparatus includes a rubber body, formed of one or more solidified, compacted, previously-heated rubber materials, selected from the group consisting of: virgin unused rubber material, recycled rubber, scrap rubber, rubber pellets, rubber granules, rubber lumps, rubber strips. The apparatus also includes an operable photovoltaic device, that is configured to generate electricity from light via the photovoltaic effect; and which is optionally flexible and rollable. The operable photovoltaic device is integrally held on top of the rubber body, via a molded connection and holding mechanism which molds together the rubber body and the operable photovoltaic device.

Abstract: A flexible and mechanically-resilient Photovoltaic (PV) cell is formed of a single semiconductor wafer. It includes non-transcending craters or bling gaps, that penetrate upwardly from a dark-side surface towards a sunny-side surface but do not reach the sunny-side surface. The craters segment the wafer into miniature sub-regions, and provide mechanical resilience and mechanical shock absorption. A set of conducting wires are located on each side of the PV cell; one set collects the negative electric charge, and the other set collects the positive electric charge. The conducting wires are embedded in an adhesive transparent flexible plastic foil. Optionally, a bi-facial PV cell is similarly provided, as well as methods and systems for producing such PV cells.

Abstract: Injection molded, blow molded, and rotational molded articles that integrally incorporate an operable photovoltaic device, and method and system for producing such articles. A method includes: placing an operable photovoltaic device at an inner-side of a mold cavity of a mold; performing injection molding or reaction injection molding or blow molding or rotational molding, of raw plastic materials or raw polymeric materials; and forming a single or singular, monolithic, unified or uniform, molded article that integrally incorporates and fixedly holds and tightly secures, therein or thereon, the operable photovoltaic device, directly and securely and tightly via the solidified molded plastic or the solidified molded polymer that are adjacent to it.

Abstract: A hybrid photovoltaic (PV) device includes: a rigid PV segment, having one or more PV cells that convert light to electricity, wherein the rigid PV segment is non-foldable and non-bendable; a co-located flexible PV segment, wherein the flexible PV segment is foldable or bendable without being damaged; electric connectors, that connect between (i) electric current or voltage generated by the rigid PV segment, and (ii) electric current or voltage generated by the flexible PV segment; a unified encapsulation layer, encapsulating together both the rigid PV segment and the co-located flexible PV segment. The rigid PV segment, the co-located flexible PV segment, the electric connectors, and the unified encapsulation layer, form together the hybrid PV device as a single stand-alone PV device that converts light to electricity, and has at least one rigid region corresponding to the rigid PV segment and at least one flexible region corresponding to the co-located flexible PV segment.

Abstract: A flexible photovoltaic (PV) cell having enhanced properties of mechanical impact absorption, includes: a semiconductor wafer that is freestanding and carrier-less; having a thickness, and having a first surface, and a having second surface that is opposite to that first surface; a set of non-transcending gaps within the semiconductor wafer. Each non-transcending gap penetrates from the first surface towards the second surface but reaches to a depth of between 80 to 99 percent of the thickness of the semiconductor wafer, and does not reach said second surface. Each non-transcending gap does not entirely penetrate through an entirety of the thickness of the semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer maintains at least 1 percent of the thickness of the semiconductor wafer as an intact and non-penetrated thin layer of semiconductor wafer that remains intact and non-penetrated by the non-transcending gaps. The intact and non-penetrated thin layer of semiconductor wafer absorbs and dissipates mechanical forces.

Abstract: Semiconductor substrates and semiconductor devices produced from such substrates, such as photovoltaic (PV) cells, may exhibit toughened physical characteristics making them more suitable for use in mechanically challenging or stressful environments. Semiconductor substrates and semiconductor devices produced from such substrates, such as photovoltaic (PV) cells, may exhibit toughened thermal characteristics making them more suitable for use in environmentally challenging applications. Semiconductor substrates and semiconductor devices produced from such substrates, such as photovoltaic (PV) cells, may exhibit sufficiently toughened characteristics and increase impact resistance to permit packaging in non-rigid and light weight encapsulating layer(s). Semiconductor substrates and semiconductor devices produced from such substrates may exhibit sufficient flexibility to permit for rolling up during shipment and or for non-destructive deformation during deployment over uneven surfaces.

Abstract: Semiconductor substrates and semiconductor devices produced from such substrates, such as photovoltaic (PV) cells, may exhibit toughened physical characteristics making them more suitable for use in mechanically challenging or stressful environments. Semiconductor substrates and semiconductor devices produced from such substrates, such as photovoltaic (PV) cells, may exhibit toughened thermal characteristics making them more suitable for use in environmentally challenging applications. Semiconductor substrates and semiconductor devices produced from such substrates, such as photovoltaic (PV) cells, may exhibit sufficiently toughened characteristics and increase impact resistance to permit packaging in non-rigid and light weight encapsulating layer(s). Semiconductor substrates and semiconductor devices produced from such substrates may exhibit sufficient flexibility to permit for rolling up during shipment and or for non-destructive deformation during deployment over uneven surfaces.