Solar Roof Panel System with Edge and Surface Treatments

Abstract

A roof-mounted solar power system for generating electrical power that includes a plurality of solar modules adapted for generating electrical power from sunlight, and with each of the plurality of solar modules having substantially the same size, aspect ratio and surface coloring. The plurality of solar modules are mounted on the deck of a roof to form a bank of solar modules having at least one irregular edge. The solar power system further includes one or more non-power generating edge treatments having substantially the same size, aspect ratio and surface coloring as the solar modules and that are adapted for installation along the irregular edge. Each edge treatment is adapted for a cutting away of at least one corner thereof to smooth the irregular edge of the bank of solar modules to a regular edge.

1 .- 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A roof-mountable solar energy system for generating electricity when exposed to sunlight, the solar energy system comprising:
 a plurality of solar modules configured to be arranged on a roof in an interconnected array of solar modules;   each solar module comprising at least a supporting structure, a plurality of photovoltaic cells mounted atop the supporting structure with spaces defined between adjacent photovoltaic cells, and a protective covering overlying the plurality of photovoltaic cells and the spaces therebetween;   the protective covering having an upper exposed surface and being made of a material that protects the photovoltaic cells below from environmental damage while allowing solar energy impinging on the upper exposed surface of the protective covering to pass through the protective covering and illuminate the photovoltaic cells below;   the top surface of the protective covering having one or more surface treatments thereon, the one or more surface treatments being configured to produce the appearance from a distance of a plurality of smaller solar modules, shingles, or roofing tiles in order to break up or hide visually the true size of the solar modules.   
     
     
         21 . A roof-mountable solar energy system as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the material from which the protective coating is made comprises glass. 
     
     
         22 . A roof-mountable solar energy system as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the one or more surface treatments comprises shapes or textures or both etched on the upper exposed surfaces of the protective coverings. 
     
     
         23 . A roof-mountable solar energy system as claimed in  claim 22  wherein the shapes or textures or both include elements that simulate the appearance of shadows or shading of shingles or tiles. 
     
     
         24 . A roof-mountable solar energy system as claimed in  claim 22  wherein the shapes or textures or both include elements that simulate edges of shingles or tiles. 
     
     
         25 . A roof-mountable solar energy system as claimed in  claim 22  wherein the shapes or textures or both include first elements that simulate the appearance of shadows or shading of shingles or tiles and second elements that simulate edges of shingles or tiles. 
     
     
         26 . A roof-mountable solar energy system as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the one or more surface treatments comprise paint applied to the upper exposed surfaces of the protective coverings, the paint being applied in such a way that the paint creates the appearance of frosting elements representing shadows or shading of shingles or tiles and linear elements representing edges of shingles or tiles. 
     
     
         27 . A roof-mountable solar energy system as claimed in  claim 26  wherein the paint is applied in the formed of individual dots and wherein the density of the dots is varied to create the appearance of frosting elements and linear elements. 
     
     
         28 . A roof-mountable solar energy system as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the one or more surface treatments comprises channels or grooves or both formed across the expanse of the upper exposed surfaces of the protective coverings. 
     
     
         29 . A roof-mountable solar energy system as claimed in  claim 28  wherein the channels or grooves or both mimic horizontal edges and vertical edges of the solar modules to break up the panels visually into apparent smaller segments. 
     
     
         30 . A roof-mountable solar energy system as claimed in  claim 28  wherein one group of the channels or grooves or both extend in a first direction and another group of the channels or grooves or both extending in a second direction different from the first direction. 
     
     
         31 . A roof-mountable solar energy system as claimed in  claim 28  wherein the channels or grooves or both extend only in a horizontal direction to create the appearance of elongated strips of shingles or tiles. 
     
     
         32 . A roof-mountable solar energy system as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the one or more surface treatments comprise channels or grooves or both formed in the upper exposed surfaces of the protective coverings visually emulating edges of shingles or tiles and shapes or textures or both etched on the upper exposed surfaces of the protective coverings visually emulating shadows or shading of shingles or tiles.