Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] This patent application claims priority and benefit from US 63/381,144, filed on October 27, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0002] At least for the purposes of the United States, the following priority rights and/or benefit rights are also claimed for the present application, and the following status as Continuation and/or as Continuation-in-Part (CIP) is also claimed for the present application: [0003] This patent application is also a Continuation-in-Part (CIP) of, and claims benefit and/or priority from: patent application US 18/129,865, filed on April 2, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0004] The above-mentioned US 18/129,865 is a Continuation of PCT international patent application number PCT/IL2021/051202, having an international filing date of October 7, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0005] The above-mentioned PCT/IL2021/051202 claims priority and benefit: (i) from US 63/088,535, filed on October 7, 2020, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety; and (ii) from US 17/353,867, filed on June 22, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0006] The above-mentioned US 18/129,865 is also a Continuation-in-Part (CIP) of US 17/353,867, filed on June 22, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0007] The above-mentioned US 17/353,867 is a Continuation-in-Part (CIP) of US 16/362,665, filed on March 24, 2019, now patent number US 11,081,606 (issued on August 3, 2021), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety; which claims priority and benefit from US 62/785,282, filed on December 27, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0008] The above-mentioned US 17/353,867 is also a Continuation-in-Part (CIP) of PCT international application number PCT/IL2019/051416, having an international filing date of December 26, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0009] The above-mentioned PCT/IL2019/051416 claims priority and benefit: (i) from US 16/362,665, filed on March 24, 2019, now patent number US 11,081,606 (issued on August 3, 2021), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, and (ii) from US 62/785,282, filed on December 27, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. [0010] The above-mentioned US 18/129,865 is also a Continuation-in-Part (CIP) of US 17/802,335, filed on August 25, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety; which is a National Stage of PCT international application number PCT/IL2021/050217, having an international filing date of February 25, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety; which claims priority and benefit from US 62/982,536, filed on February 27, 2020, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0011] This patent application is also a Continuation-in-Part (CIP) of, and claims benefit and/or priority from: patent application US 18/372,720, filed on September 26, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0012] The above-mentioned US 18/372,720 is a Continuation of PCT international application number PCT/IL2022/050339, having an international filing date of March 29, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0013] The above-mentioned PCT/IL2022/050339 claims priority and benefit from US 63/167,660, filed on March 30, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. [0014] The above-mentioned PCT/IL2022/050339 also claims priority and benefit from PCT international application number PCT/IL2021/051202, having an international filing date of October 8, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0015] The above-mentioned PCT/IL2022/050339 also claims priority and benefit from PCT international application number PCT/IL2021/051269, having an international filing date of October 27, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0016] The above-mentioned PCT/IL2022/050339 also claims priority and benefit from PCT international application number PCT/IL2022/050030, having an international filing date of January 10, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0017] The above-mentioned PCT/IL2022/050339 also claims priority and benefit from patent application US 17/353,867, filed on June 22, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0018] The above-mentioned US 18/372,720 is also a Continuation-in-Part (CIP) of US 18/136,359, filed on April 19, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The above-mentioned US 18/136,359 is a Continuation of PCT international application number PCT/IL2021/051269, having an international filing date of October 27, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The above-mentioned PCT/IL2021/051269 claims priority and benefit: (i) from US 63/106,666, filed on October 28, 2020, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety; and also, (ii) from US 17/353,867, filed on June 22, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. [0019] The above-mentioned US 18/372,720 is also a Continuation-in-Part (CIP) of US 18/217,620, filed on July 3, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety; which is a Continuation of the above-mentioned PCT international application number PCT/IL2022/050030, having an international filing date of January 10, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Field

[0020] Some embodiments relate to the field of solar panels and photovoltaic (PV) devices.

Background

[0021] The photovoltaic (PV) effect is the creation of voltage and electric current in a material upon exposure to light. It is a physical and chemical phenomenon.

[0022] The PV effect has been used in order to generate electricity from sunlight. For example, PV solar panels absorb sunlight or light energy or photons, and generate electricity through the PV effect.

Summary

[0023] Some embodiments provide an intermediate article includes a plurality of a flexible and rollable and non-brittle solar cells; each of them is capable of being flexed or curved or rolled without becoming broken or non-operational. The plurality of flexible solar cells are interconnected via internal electrical conductors that are embedded or imbedded in a flexible polyimide film; which also extends outwardly and holds external electrical conductors that transport photovoltaic-generated electricity away from the plurality of solar cells. The intermediate article is sandwiched within thermoforming layers, or is utilized as an insert in a molding process, to form a generally-firm article that has the intermediate article embedded therein, providing to the final article the capability to generate electricity using the photovoltaic effect.

[0024] Some embodiments may provide other and/or additional benefits and/or advantages.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0025] Fig. 1A is a schematic illustration of a side-view of an intermediate article being a generally-flexible solar panel which can be embedded or integrated as an intermediate product into (or within) an outer / surface layer of a vehicular part, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments. [0026] Fig. IB is a schematic illustration of a side-view of another intermediate article being a generally-flexible solar panel which can be embedded or integrated as an intermediate product into (or within) an outer / surface layer of a vehicular part, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

[0027] Fig. 1C is a schematic illustration of a cross-sectional view (or a side-view) of a portion of a vehicular component having embedded therein an intermediate article, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

[0028] Fig. ID is a schematic illustration of a cross-sectional view (or a side-view) of a portion of a vehicular component having embedded therein another intermediate article, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

[0029] Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of pre -prepared isolated electrical contacts that can be used in conjunction with a generally-flexible solar panel that is embedded within or into a vehicular part (or other generally-rigid object), in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

[0030] Fig. 3 is an illustration of a portion of a vehicular part, such as a vehicular roof or vehicular hood or vehicular trunk cover or vehicular door or other vehicular panel, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

[0031] Figs. 4 A to 4C are photographs of components that can be produced and utilized in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

[0032] Fig. 5 is a schematic illustration of an arrangement of multiple generally-flexible solar cells that are embedded within a vehicular hood or hood-cover, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

[0033] Fig. 6A is a schematic illustration of a top-view of a vehicle, having vehicular components with embedded generally-flexible solar cells, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

[0034] Fig. 6B is a schematic illustration of a cross-section view of a vehicle, having vehicular components with embedded generally-flexible solar cells, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

Detailed Description of Some Demonstrative Embodiments

[0035] The Applicants have realized that some conventional solar panels are typically rigid, heavy, cumbersome, brittle and/or fragile units, that are typically installed on roofs or in other locations (e.g., a solar energy park, a solar energy farm, a solar power plant). [0036] The Applicants have realized that it may be beneficial to produce and to utilize a solar panel that is flexible and rollable (e.g., can be rolled and later un-rolled, repeatedly for several or many iterations, substantially without breaking, or substantially without becoming non-functional, or without substantial reduction in operational efficiency, or without any reduction in operational efficiency), and is carrier-less and is freestanding (e.g., does not require a carrier layer or a supporting article), and is also thin and light-weight; and which may optionally, in some embodiments, float on water (e.g., in a natural or artificial body of water, ocean, sea, lake, river, pool, water reservoir, or the like).

[0037] In some embodiments, the solar panel has a set of innovative isolated contacts, such that electrical current / voltage that is produced at the solar panel can be gathered and accumulated efficiently, and/or can be transported efficiently out of (or away from) the solar panel to a nearby (or remote) energy consumption unit (e.g., an electric device) and/or energy storage unit (e.g., rechargeable battery or power cell). Some embodiments further include method and systems for producing solar panels and PV devices that include or embed or incorporate therein such isolated electrical contacts. In some embodiments, the solar panel or PV device with the integrated isolated electrical contacts is flexible and/or rollable and/or foldable and/or non-fragile and/or non-brittle; whereas, in other embodiments, the solar panel or PV device with the integrated isolated electrical contacts is rigid or semi-rigid, or is incorporated as a partially-flexible / forces-absorbing / shock-absorbing solar panel or PV device within a generally-rigid object or article (e.g., a roof of a building or other structure; a roof or door or panel of a vehicle or marine vessel or aircraft; or the like). In some embodiments, the solar panel or PV device, having the integrated isolated electrical contacts, is part of a curved / concave / convex / non-planar generally-rigid or generally-firm object or article (e.g., a roof of a building or other structure; a roof or door or panel of a vehicle or marine vessel or aircraft; or the like), or is an integral part of a vehicular part or “auto part” or a vessel part or an aircraft part.

[0038] The Applicant has realized that incorporating flexible solar panels into or within vehicular parts can be a challenging task for conventional vehicle production system, and particularly with regard to providing and ensuring reliable and efficient electrical connectivity of the solar panels. For example, realized the Applicant, a solar panel may be incorporated into a vehicular part, in a conventional production system, through harsh mechanical / chemical procedures such as Resin Transfer Molding (RTM), which may damage the electrical contacts and/or may degrade their performance and/or may even cause danger or hazard if electrical contacts are transferred through conventional holes. [0039] Some embodiments provide a vehicle or vehicular-part surface layer, which is transparent or semi-transparent or at least partially transparent or is translucent or semi- translucent or at least partially translucent, such that it allows at least 51 or 66 or 75 or 80 or 90 percent of incoming light or sunlight to enter therein; having an embedded or integrated solar panel or PV cell, which is singulated or divided into micro-cells or that has nontranscending gaps or craters in its semiconductor wafer that provide mechanical resilience and shock absorbance properties and mechanical force dissipation properties as solar cell regions that are adjacent to each such crater or non-transcending gap may slightly move relative to each other and/or may enable the entirety (or a region) of the solar panel to curve or to bend without breaking mechanically and without degrading its electrical functionality; wherein such craters or gaps are filled, partially or mostly or entirely, with a filler material such as elastomer, which provides additional properties of flexibility and/or shock absorption and/or forces dissipation and/or thermal resilience and/or mechanical resilience to the solar panel and/or to the PV cell regions that neighbor such craters or gaps.

[0040] The vehicular part may have a surface layer or a coating layer that is infused with, or has embedded or integrated therein, such PV cell or solar panel; such as, as a part of a coating of an external surface of a vehicle or a vehicular part or other structure or object (e.g., a part of a vehicle, a marine vessel, an aircraft or aerial vehicle, a spacecraft, a drone, a roof, a roof shingle, a building, a side-panel of such object or structure, a trunk or hood or wing, or the like, including but not limited to Electric Vehicle (EV), autonomous driving vehicle, selfdriving vehicle, or the like).

[0041] In some embodiments, the solar panel is flexible and even rollable (and un-rollable) and/or foldable in its stand-alone state; and once it is infused or embedded in a coating layer or an external surface of a vehicular part (or other, generally-rigid / generally-firm object or article or structure), the solar panel still maintains at least some of its original flexibility properties; such that even though it may not necessarily be capable of entirely rolling, it can still absorb mechanical forces and shocks and may still flex and bend and curve its shape without breaking mechanically and without substantially (or at all) degrading its electricity-generation capability; for example, being an integral / embedded solar panel of a hood or a trunk or a roof of a vehicle, which is generally rigid / generally firm, yet can still slightly bend or curve without breaking if a force is applied on such vehicular part (e.g., if a person or a heavy object is placed on top of such vehicular part).

[0042] The singulated and generally-flexible solar cell is electrically interconnected via flexible electric conductors; whereas, the surface layer filler / coating material, that is surrounding and supporting the singular sub-cells and conductors, is composed of a structurally durable plastic, polymer, silicon, glass, bio-fiber, synthetic fiber, or some composition including one or more of the above materials. The electric conductors of the singulated solar cells aggregate electric current and/or voltage from the microcells into one or more sets of vehicular power terminals, through which electric power generated in the solar cell (via the PV effect) is conveyed or transported to an electrical system of a host vehicle, or to a particular component of the host vehicle (e.g., a battery or power-cell of the host vehicle; a computer or illumination system or entertainment system of the host vehicle; a vehicular power outlet that provides electric power to devices of vehicular passengers; or the like). The singulated solar cell infused surface layer can be produced at least partially by performing or introducing trenches or craters or channels or non-transcending gaps in the bulk silicon or in the semiconductor wafer; such that a thin layer of unified silicon or semiconductor wafer remains non-trenched, having a height that is less than 50 percent (or less than 33 percent, or less than 25 percent, or less than 20 percent, or less than 15 percent, or less than 10 percent, or less than 5 percent, or less than 3 percent, or less than 1 percent; or in the range of 1 to 50 percent; or in the range of 1 to 25 percent; or in the range of 1 to 10 percent) of the entire depth (or height) of the semiconductor wafer or silicon.

[0043] Reference is made to Fig. 1A, which is a schematic illustration of a side-view of an intermediate article being a generally-flexible solar panel 100 which can be embedded or integrated as an intermediate product into (or within) an outer / surface layer of a vehicular part, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments. For example, the generally-flexible solar panel 100 has a plurality of flexible solar cells (shown as FSC 101, FSC 102, FSC 103) or generally-flexible PV units or PV cells, each of them having the above-mentioned nontranscending gaps or craters or gaps that provide flexibility properties and shock absorption properties and mechanical forces dissipation properties and mechanical resilience. The set or series or array of such FSC units may be encapsulated or laminated within (or by) a multi-layer encapsulation / lamination arrangement; for example, by a Top-Side Encapsulant 153 and/or a Bottom-Side Encapsulant 154; and/or by a topsheet 151 and/or a backsheet 152.

[0044] In some embodiments each of said layers (151, 152, 153, 154) may encapsulate and/or laminate together the entire plurality of FSC units (101, 102, 103), rather than each one of those FSC units separately in its separate encapsulation / lamination; such that the entire set or array of the entire plurality of FSC units (101, 102, 103) is laminated and/or encapsulated by a single Top-Side Encapsulant 153 and/or by a single a Bottom-Side Encapsulant 154 and/or by a single topsheet 151 and/or by a single backsheet 152. In some embodiments, the solar panel 100 may exclude, and may not include at all, any Top-Side Encapsulant 153 and/or any Bottom-Side Encapsulant 154 and/or any topsheet 151 and/or any backsheet 152.

[0045] The generally-flexible FSC units 111-113 are interconnected by, or fitted with, electrical connectors / conductors that collect or gather or accumulate or aggregated electric current and/or electric voltage, and that transport such generated electric current / voltage to one or more power recipients / consumers / storage units. For example, Internal electrical contacts 105 inter-connect the PV cells among themselves, in series and/or in parallel and/or in accordance with other electricity-aggregating structure; whereas External electrical contacts 107 transport the aggregated current / voltage to the power recipients / consumers / storage units, and particularly to the vehicular power recipients / consumers / storage units.

[0046] The Applicant has realized that some conventional production system had attempted to drill holes within the multiple layers in which the PV cells or the FSC units 101- 103 are embedded, and/or through the PV cells or FSC units 101-103 themselves, in an attempt to allow threading of electrical wires through such drilled holes. However, realized the Applicant, such conventional attempts sometimes fail, and/or cause mechanical degradation to the entirety of the solar panel 100 or to regions thereof, and/or cause performance degradation to entirety of the solar panel 100 or to regions thereof, and/or degrade the mechanical resilience of the generally-flexible PV cells or FSC units 101-103, and/or degrade the mechanical resilience of the solar panel 100 or of regions thereof, and/or degrade the mechanical shock absorption properties of the solar panel 100 or of regions thereof, and/or degrade the mechanical forces dissipation properties of the solar panel 100 or of regions thereof, and/or reduce the general resilience and operational life of the solar panel 100 or of regions thereof. The Applicant has realized that conventional attempts to utilize pre -prepared electrical contacts or post threaded electrical contacts similarly fail or cause performance degradation, since the solar panel is going through harsh procedures (such as RTM or other thermo-forming processes) during manufacturing of the vehicular part, that include direct exposure to high heat and/or mechanical pressure and/or mechanical forces that can damage or break the solar panel. [0047] Some embodiments of the present invention avoid or obviate the need to make holes in the PV cells or the FSC units 101-103 and/or in between them and/or in the layers that encapsulate / laminate / protect them; and/or avoid or obviate the need to thread or insert electrical wires in such holes; by providing an innovative arrangement of isolated electrical contacts, both internally (interconnecting the PV cells or FSC units 101-103) within the solar panel 100 and externally (transporting the PV-generated electricity outwardly from the solar panel 100); such that the solar panel 100 remains fully-functional and fully-operational even when coated / laminated / encapsulated, and such that no power loss and no performance degradation are suffered; while also avoiding a cumbersome or fragile wiring scheme.

[0048] Reference is made to Fig. 2, which is a schematic illustration of pre-prepared isolated electrical contacts 200 that can be used in conjunction with a generally-flexible solar panel that is embedded within or into a vehicular part (or other generally-rigid object), in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

[0049] For example, a flexible polyimide substrate or strip or strap, such as a flexible polyimide film 201, is provided; having cavities or holes or apertures or openings on one side or on both of its sides, that are adapted or configured or structured to receive therein electrical pads 203 or electrical vias, and further comprising electrical conductors 202 that are configured to enable electric current / voltage pass through when connected to electric terminals. The flexible polyimide film 201 is particularly selected to act as a flexible substrate for the electrical conductors 202 for this particular purpose, due to its physical characteristics and/or mechanical characteristic and/or thermal characteristics, and/or due to its heat endurance, and/or due to its resilience to withstand harsh manufacturing productions such as RTM that may involve high temperature and/or high pressure and/or high mechanical forces.

[0050] When the generally-flexible solar cell 100 is embedded within the vehicular part, in a Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) process, it is embedded within the entirety of the stack of multiple layers that form the vehicular part. The pre-prepared isolated electrical contacts are being embedded within the relevant layers of he vehicular part, in accordance with the appropriate locations or connection-points of the external electrical contacts; while the RTM processing is performed, or immediately prior to the RTM process, or immediately after the RTM process; such that the electrical contacts remain intact, stable, accurately-connected, and un-damaged.

[0051] Reference is made to Fig. IB, which is a schematic illustration of a side-view of an intermediate article being a generally-flexible solar panel 100B which can be embedded or integrated as an intermediate product into (or within) an outer / surface layer of a vehicular part, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments. The generally-flexible solar panel 100B of Fig. IB is similar to the generally-flexible solar panel 100 of Fig. 1A; however, Fig. IB shows a possible location of the flexible polyimide film 201, depicted at intentionally exaggerated thickness for demonstrative purposes even though in reality it is much thinner than depicted; such that the flexible polyimide film 201 is glued or bonded or laminated or encapsulated or attached, for example, beneath the FSC units 101-103, supporting and holding the internal electrical contacts 105 and the external electrical contacts 107 that run on the flexible polyimide film 201.

[0052] Referring again to both Fig. 1A and Fig. IB, the intermediate article (100 and 100B, respectively) is intended to be embedded within a vehicular component or other object, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments. There are shown a plurality of solar panels or solar cells, for example, Flexible Solar Cell (FSC) 101 and FSC 102 and FSC 103. Since this is a side-view or a cross-sectional view, the three FSC units (101 to 103) may represents columns or rows of similar FSC units, such that an array or matrix or mash of FSC units may be used in a single intermediate article 100.

[0053] Internal electrical contacts 105, such as metal wires or conductors, may connect or interconnect two (or more) neighboring FSC units (or rows of FSC units, or columns of FSC units); and may collect or aggregate or accumulate PV-generated electricity from a plurality of FSC units. External electrical contacts 107, such as metal wires or conductors, may transport the PV-generated electricity from the plurality of FSC units to a target recipient; for example, a vehicular battery that is recharged, or an electric-consuming component of the vehicle or other electricity-storing vehicular component or electricity-receiving vehicular component. The flexible polyimide film 201 supports and holds the internal and external electric contacts 105 and 107, and ensures that they remain near or beneath or neighboring to the FSC units 101- 103, and allows them to slightly flex or curve or bend (without breaking) in response to mechanical shocks or mechanical forces or vibrations, since the flexible polyimide film 201 operates to absorb and/or dissipate at least some of such mechanical shocks or mechanical forces or vibrations and alleviates their mechanical effect on the electric contacts 105 and 107. [0054] The intermediate article 100 or 100B is produced by encapsulating the electrically- connected mesh (or chain(s), or group(s), or array, or matrix) of FSC units within a multi-layer laminate that includes: a backsheet 152 and a topsheet 151, which sandwich or surround a bottom-side encapsulant 154 and a top-side encapsulant 153, which in turn sandwich or surround the plurality of interconnected FSC units 101-103. The encapsulants (112 and/or 113) may be or may include, for example, Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate (EVA) or poly(Ethylene- Vinyl Acetate) (PEVA), Polyolefin Elastomer (POE), or other suitable materials.

[0055] In some embodiments, backsheet 152 may be optional; and other embodiments may exclude any backsheet or any backsheet layer. In some embodiments, topsheet 151 may be optional; and other embodiments may exclude any topsheet or any topsheet layer. In some embodiments, the top-side encapsulant 153 may be optional; and other embodiments may exclude any such top-side encapsulant. In some embodiments, the bottom-side encapsulant 154 may be optional; and other embodiments may exclude any such bottom-side encapsulant. In some embodiments, a combination of two or more of the above features may be applied; such that, for example, the intermediate article may lack a backsheet and may also lack a top- side encapsulant. Other suitable combinations of layers may be used.

[0056] In some embodiments, the external electrical contacts 107 may be connected to the plurality of FSC units prior to their encapsulation or lamination or other “sandwiching” process. In other embodiments, the external electrical contacts 107 may be connected to the plurality of FSC units subsequent to their encapsulation or lamination or other “sandwiching” process.

[0057] Reference is made to Fig. 1C, which is a schematic illustration of a cross-sectional view (or a side-view) of a portion of a vehicular component 100C having embedded therein the intermediate article (such as article 100 or 100B discussed above), in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

[0058] For example, once the intermediate article was produced and is ready, it is introduced or embedded or incorporated or sandwiched between two layers of thermoformable plastic sheets; and a thermoforming process is performed on a top layer 121 and a bottom layer 122 that together sandwich or contain the intermediate article (which, in turn, encapsulates therein the plurality of interconnected FSC units). The top layer 121 and the bottom layer 122 are indicated as “thermoformable / thermoformed”, representing their state as “thermoformable” prior to the thermoforming process, and representing their state as “thermoformed” after the thermoforming process.

[0059] The thermoforming process may include, for example, providing a plastic sheet; heating the plastic sheet (e.g., using an oven, or using a heating device); using a mold to three- dimensionally shape or structure the heated plastic sheet to make it acquire a particular three- dimensional shape or structure (e.g., which corresponds to the three-dimensional shape or structure of the mold), or by using a mating mold and a pressure-box close together on the heated plastic sheet. Optionally, vacuum or suction units may be used in the thermoforming process to remove trapped air and/or to pull the heated plastic material into the mold; optionally, pressurized air may be used and/or plug-assists may be used, to facilitate the insertion or movement of the heated plastic sheet and/or to achieve a particular material distribution and thickness). Optionally, reverse air pressure may be used to enable air-based ejection of the thermoformed article; or other suitable ejection techniques may be used (e.g., using a stripper plate or ejector elements). Optionally, a trim station or a trim press unit may cut or trim the thermoformed article, or may produce a plurality of smaller discrete units from a larger thermoformed object.

[0060] The Applicant has realized that a material that may be suitable for the thermoformable / thermoformed layers (121 and/or 122) is polycarbonate, which is transparent or translucent, and is thermoformable, and can result in a thermoformed object that is sufficiently tough or sufficiently rigid or sufficiently firm (e.g., for utilization as a vehicular component). The Applicant has further realized that due to its toughness, thermoformed components made of polycarbonate can pass crash tests that are relevant to the automotive industry. Thermoformable polycarbonate sheets can be selected from a range of various thicknesses values (e.g., ranging from 2 to 15 millimeters) to accommodate a particular application. In some embodiments, clear or transparent or translucent polycarbonate sheets may be used. In some embodiments, Abrasion Resistant (AR) polycarbonate sheets may be used, and they may be clear or transparent or translucent.

[0061] The Applicant has also realized that other thermoformable polymers that may be suitable for thermoforming the top layer 121 and/or the bottom layer 122, instead of polycarbonate or in addition to it, such as: acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), high impact polystyrene (HIPS), Polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), high density polyethylene (HDPE), or a combination of two or more of the above. In accordance with some embodiments, clear or partially-clear or mostly-clear thermoformable material(s) can be used; or transparent or partially-transparent or mostly-transparent thermoformable material(s) can be used; or translucent or partially-translucent or mostly-translucent thermoformable material(s) can be used.

[0062] In accordance with some embodiments, the production process may include producing a three-layer structure of: the thermoformable top layer plastic sheet, the thermoformable bottom layer plastic sheet, and the intermediate article that is sandwiched between them; and then performing the thermoforming process on that three-layer structure, by utilizing thermoforming molds and tools that are configured or structured or shaped according to the shape or contour of a particular make-and-model of a vehicle; thereby producing a rigid or semi-rigid product in which a generally-flexible solar panel is embedded, wherein the internally-embedded generally-flexible solar panel is not the most outer layer of the vehicular component, but rather, the internally-embedded generally-flexible solar panel is embedded within at least a thermoformed layer (which is at least partially clear or transparent or translucent), and is optionally further protected by a topsheet and by a top-side encapsulant. [0063] Reference is made to Fig. 3, which is an illustration of a portion of a vehicular part 300, such as a vehicular roof or vehicular hood or vehicular trunk cover or vehicular door or other vehicular panel, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments. It includes a plurality or set or array of PV sub-units 301, that are interconnected by a plurality of internal electrical contacts embedded within (or mounted on, or glued or bonded to) a flexible polyimide film strip or layer that thus enable aggregation or accumulation of the PV-generated electricity, and are further connected to external electrical contacts embedded in (or mounted on, or glued or bonded to) that same flexible polyimide film strip or layer (e.g., indicated with arrows 302) to transport the aggregated electric power to the vehicle itself and/or to a power storage unit and/or to a power-consuming device or system.

[0064] For example, the solar panel that is infused in the outer surface of the vehicular part comprises strings or strips or columns or sets of the above-mentioned PV cells; such strings being connected in parallel, and organized longitudinally across the vehicular part (e.g., the hood or the roof) in a single flexible polyimide film or layer or band, with embedded metal wiring or having electric conductor wiring arrangement. In some embodiments, external or outer regions of the vehicular part may include a greater number of solar cells, to compensate for possible losses occurring due to sharp inclinations and shadings.

[0065] In some embodiments, the electrical conductors that carry the positive charge are incorporated within a first flexible polyimide film; whereas, the electrical conductors that carry the negative charge are incorporated within a second, nearby or parallel, yet separate, flexible polyimide film. In other embodiments, the electrical conductors that carry the positive charge, and also the electrical conductors that carry the negative charge, are incorporated within a single, unified, flexible polyimide film that maintains spatial separation between the negativecharge carrying wires and the positive-charge carrying wires.

[0066] In accordance with some embodiments, the external connections of the PV subunits 301 of the vehicular part 300 are inter-connected to each other using the internal connectors of the flexible polyimide film, which provides an isolated electrical contact; the positive terminals are linked together, and the negative terminals are (separately) linked together, and all are connected to a power storage / power recipient of the host vehicle. The electrical contacts are isolated from each other and from their surrounding (e.g., from the vehicular part itself which may be formed of conductive metal), and remain operably reliable, without a need to drill or puncture the PV cells and/or to thread delicate wires within drilled holes. [0067] In accordance with some embodiments, the generally-flexible PV units / solar panels exhibit reduced sensitivity to vibrations and/or compression forces and/or and other mechanical stresses imposed upon the final product, relative to a similar product that attempts to incorporate a conventional solar panel with conventional wiring.

[0068] In some embodiments, thermoforming and/or other processes may be used to embed a generally-flexible solar panel or PV unit, or an array or matrix or string(s) thereof, into a generally-rigid or semi-rigid product or object or article (such as a vehicular part, a vehicular roof, a vehicular trunk cover, a vehicular hood, a vehicular door). Such processes may include, for example, Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) using epoxy and/or polyester as the resin; injection molding of raw plastic material(s) using the mechanically-resilient PV units as “inserts” within the injection mold; and/or other processes using thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers as the matrix material.

[0069] Reference is made to Figs. 4A to 4C, which are photographs of components that can be produced and utilized in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments. Fig. 4A shows a bottom side 411 of a flexible polyimide film strip; Fig. 4B shows a top side 412 of a flexible polyimide film strip; and Fig. 4C shows isolated electrical contacts 413 of such flexible polyimide film strip.

[0070] Reference is made to Fig. ID, which is a schematic illustration of a cross-sectional view (or a side-view) of a portion of a vehicular component 100D having embedded therein another type of intermediate article, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

[0071] As demonstrated in Fig. ID, thermoformable sheets (e.g., polycarbonate, or other suitable thermoformable material(s) as discussed above) may be utilized to replace the topsheet and backsheet; such that the intermediate article lacks or exclude a topsheet and a backsheet. The plurality of electrically-connected FSC units (101-103) are sandwiched between, and are encapsulated by, the top-side encapsulant 153 and the bottom-side encapsulant 154; thereby forming an intermediate article that is topsheet-free and is backsheet-free, yet still has encapsulant layers (153 and 154) that protect and/or hold the FSC units (101-103). The intermediate article is sandwiched between the thermoformable top layer 121 and the thermoformable bottom layer 122 (e.g., thermoformable polycarbonate sheets, or other thermoformable material(s) as discussed above). The laminated structure shown in Fig. ID is ready to undergo the thermoforming process, which provides to the structure the desired three- dimensional shape that accommodates (or corresponds to) a particular vehicular component of a particular make-and-model of vehicle. [0072] In some embodiments, optionally, the flexible solar cells (all of them, or most of them, or at least some of them) are not necessarily pre-encapsulated and/or pre-laminated; but rather, they may be introduced into the final product as an array of bare flexible solar cells that are electrically inter-connected to thus produce a PV module or sub-module that is capable of generating electricity, according to a pre-defined specification or arrangement or structure that corresponds to the structure of the relevant vehicular component. In some embodiments, optionally, a single vehicular component may incorporate or embed therein a combination of both (i) bare non-pre-encapsulated / non-pre-laminated flexible solar cells, and (ii) preencapsulated / pre-laminated flexible solar cells; for example, in order to provide a variety of solar cell types, as some types (e.g., pre-encapsulated / pre-laminated solar cells) may be more resilient to weather conditions or mechanical forces, whereas other types (e.g., not preencapsulated, not pre-laminated) may be less resilient yet may have a greater electricitygeneration capability; and a mixture or combination of both types of flexible solar cell may be utilized to achieve a particular level of mechanical resilient as well as electricity-generation capability, per vehicular component or per vehicle.

[0073] In some embodiments, some or all of the flexible solar cells may be embedded within a vehicular component via a Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) process or other closed molding process, in which the flexible solar cell is embedded within a stack of layers that form the vehicular component via RTM. For example, a preform or fiber-based reinforcement (e.g., glass fiber, carbon fiber, aramid fiber, or the like) is created, and is provided into a mold cavity (e.g., between a female mold part and a male mold part) that has the shape of the desired vehicular component; the flexible solar cells are one of the layers that are inserted into the mold cavity; optionally, the internal sides of the mold cavity are gel-coated, to provide a high-quality finish; the mold cavity is closed and clamped (e.g., perimeter clamping, press clamping), the mold is heated, and a resin (e.g., a low-viscosity resin, Unsaturated Polyester Resin (UPR), epoxy, polyester, thermoplastic materials, or the like) is injected or pumped with pressure into the heated mold, while air exits from vent port(s), until the mold is filled; a curing cycle follows while the injected resin (and the flexible solar cells) are still within the mold, and the resin polymerizes to become rigid plastic that embed therein the generally-flexible solar cell. In some embodiments, flexible solar cells are embedded within layers of glass fibers and/or carbon fibers (and/or other fibers), and are inserted into the mold cavity to be part of the RTM-based fabrication of the vehicular component. In some embodiments, the resin is clear or at least partially (or mostly) transparent or translucent, to enable passage of at least some light towards the embedded solar cells. In some embodiments, optionally, injection molding may be performed in order to embed generally-flexible solar cells into a vehicular component that is being fabricated; for example, by placing or burying or inserting the generally-flexible solar cells as an insert during the injection molding process. In some embodiments, other suitable production methods may be used; particularly, processes that utilize thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers as a matrix material.

[0074] In some embodiments, the preparation of the stack of layers that include the flexible solar cell, may take into account the final desired shape or contour of the vehicular component and its intended or expected curvatures or curved regions or non-planar regions; such that, for example, one or more flexible solar cells may be positioned or placed at a particular location or position or angular position or slanting that enables increased reception of incoming right, and/or to increase the surface of flexible solar cell that are intended to efficiently receive incoming right for PV-generation of electricity.

[0075] Reference is made to Fig. 5, which is a schematic illustration of an arrangement 550 of multiple, generally-flexible, solar cells 410 that are embedded within a vehicular hood or hood-cover, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments. The arrangement 550 in this demonstrative example comprises four groups or strings 401-404 of solar cells that are connected in parallel, arranged longitudinally across the vehicular hood. In some embodiments, external or outer regions of the vehicular hood (e.g., regions of the vehicular hood that are closer to the outer edges of the vehicle itself) may include an increased number of flexible solar cells in order to compensate for possible losses of incoming light (that is converted to electricity) which may occur due to sharp inclinations and/or shadings.

[0076] In some embodiments, the flexible solar panels that are embedded within the vehicular component may be sandwiched by two plastic sheets (e.g. polycarbonate sheets) that are colored or tinted, for aesthetic purposes and/or to match the general color of the vehicle or the vehicular component; while such colored plastic sheets are still at least partially transparent and/or translucent to still enable passage of light therethrough. In some embodiments, the flexible solar panels that are embedded within the vehicular component may be sandwiched by one plastic sheets (e.g. polycarbonate sheet) that is colored or tinted, and another plastic sheet (e.g. polycarbonate sheet) that is not colored or not tinted. In some embodiments, one or more of the plastic sheets (e.g., polycarbonate sheet) may optionally include or have a design element or a functional element that provides a particular functionality; for example, a printed region, a logo, a slogan, a printed text, a texture, a color effect, a patterning effect (e.g., stripes, polygons), or the like; optionally being at least partially clear or transparent or translucent. [0077] In some embodiments, the flexible solar cells and/or solar panels that are embedded within or into the vehicular component may optionally be sandwiched between layers of prepreg or pre-preg, or other composite material made from pre-impregnated fibers and a partially cured polymer matrix, and may be produced as a composite element or a composite material. The one or more layer(s) on the “sunny side” or the “active side” or the “sun-facing” side or the “light-facing side” of the solar cell(s) or panel(s) or element(s) are at least partially transparent and/or at least partially translucent, to enable passage therethrough of at least some (or most, or all) of the incoming light; and may be based upon (or may be formed of, or may include) glass fibers in a thermosetting matrix, such as epoxy, polyester, polyurethane, vinyl ester, and/or similar materials. The one or more layer(s) on the “back side” or the “dark side” or the “non-active side” of the solar cell(s) or panel(s) or element(s), or the side that is opposite to said “sunny side”, or the side that is not intended to directly receive incoming light, may optionally be transparent or translucent, or may be opaque or non-transparent or non- translucent, and need not necessarily enable passage of light therethrough; and may be based upon (or may be formed of, or may include) glass fibers, carbon fibers, basalt fibers, natural fibers, and/or a combinations thereof, in a thermosetting matrix such as epoxy, polyester, polyurethane, vinyl ester, and/or similar materials. The multilayered structure may be cured at ambient conditions, or may be cured in an oven or in a press, or by placement near or within a heating unit or in an autoclave at elevated temperatures and/or pressures. In some embodiments, the optional prepreg layer(s) may be curved or non-planar, or may have curved regions or curvatures or non-planar regions; which may correspond to, or may follow, similar curvature(s) of the relevant vehicular component.

[0078] In some embodiments, said optional prepreg layer(s) may be utilized instead of one or more of the following: the top-side encapsulant; the bottom-side encapsulant; the topsheet; the backsheet; the thermoformed top-layer; the thermoformed bottom-layer. In other embodiments, said optional prepreg layer(s) may be used instead of two or more of the following: following: the top-side encapsulant; the bottom-side encapsulant; the topsheet; the backsheet; the thermoformed top-layer; the thermoformed bottom-layer. In other embodiments, said optional prepreg layer(s) may be used as an additional layer which may directly touch, from above or from beneath, one of the following: the top-side encapsulant; the bottom-side encapsulant; the topsheet; the backsheet; the thermoformed top-layer; the thermoformed bottom-layer. In other embodiments, said optional prepreg layer(s) may be sandwiched as part of the stack-of-layers, beneath (or above) one of the following: the top-side encapsulant; the bottom-side encapsulant; the topsheet; the backsheet; the thermoformed top- layer; the thermoformed bottom-layer. In some embodiments, said optional prepreg layer(s) may be may be an additional layer, or may be several additional layers, of any other “sandwich” or stack of layers that is shown in any of the drawings and/or that is described above and/or herein.

[0079] In some embodiments, the flexible solar cells and/or solar panels that are embedded within (or into) the vehicular component may optionally be sandwiched between layers of fiber sheets and resins in a wet layup (or wet lay-up) process as a composite material or composite element. The one or more layer(s) on the “sunny side” or the “active side” or the “sun-facing” side or the “light-facing side” of the solar cell(s) or panel(s) or element(s) are at least partially transparent and/or at least partially translucent, to enable passage therethrough of at least some (or most, or all) of the incoming light; and may be based upon (or may be formed of, or may include) glass fibers in a thermosetting matrix such as epoxy, polyester, polyurethane, vinyl ester, and/or similar materials. The one or more layer(s) on the “back side” or the “dark side” or the “non-active side” of the solar cell(s) or panel(s) or element(s), or the side that is opposite to said “sunny side”, or the side that is not intended to directly receive incoming light, may optionally be transparent or translucent, or may be opaque or non-transparent or non- translucent, and need not necessarily enable passage of light therethrough; and may be based upon (or may be formed of, or may include) glass fibers, carbon fibers, basalt fibers, natural fibers, and/or a combinations thereof in a thermosetting matrix such as epoxy, polyester, polyurethane, vinyl ester, and/or similar materials. The multilayered structure may be cured at ambient conditions, or may be cured in an oven or in a press, or by placement near or within a heating unit or in an autoclave at elevated temperatures and/or pressures. In some embodiments, the optional layer(s) of fiber sheets and resins in a wet layup may be curved or non-planar, or may have curved regions or curvatures or non-planar regions; which may correspond to, or may follow, similar curvature(s) of the relevant vehicular component.

[0080] In some embodiments, said optional layer(s) of fiber sheets and resins in a wet layup may be utilized instead of one or more of the following: the top-side encapsulant; the bottomside encapsulant; the topsheet; the backsheet; the thermoformed top-layer; the thermoformed bottom-layer. In other embodiments, said optional layer(s) of fiber sheets and resins in a wet layup may be used instead of two or more of the following: following: the top-side encapsulant; the bottom-side encapsulant; the topsheet; the backsheet; the thermoformed top-layer; the thermoformed bottom-layer. In other embodiments, said optional layer(s) of fiber sheets and resins in a wet layup may be used as an additional layer which may directly touch, from above or from beneath, one of the following: the top-side encapsulant; the bottom-side encapsulant; the topsheet; the backsheet; the thermoformed top-layer; the thermoformed bottom-layer. In other embodiments, said optional layer(s) of fiber sheets and resins in a wet layup may be sandwiched as part of the stack-of-layers, beneath (or above) one of the following: the top-side encapsulant; the bottom-side encapsulant; the topsheet; the backsheet; the thermoformed top- layer; the thermoformed bottom-layer. In some embodiments, said optional layer(s) of fiber sheets and resins in a wet layup may be an additional layer, or may be several additional layers, of any other “sandwich” or stack of layers that is shown in any of the drawings and/or that is described above and/or herein.

[0081] In some embodiments, and particularly when the vehicular component that embeds therein the solar cell is intended to be placed relative to other vehicular components (which may also have embedded solar cells, or which may lack any embedded solar cells), such vehicular component (e.g., a vehicular roof or roof cover, or vehicular trunk or trunk cover) may be structured or shaped to have a protruding edge or a curved edge or a particularly-shaped edge or bordering region, that corresponds to a gap that may occur between that vehicular component and the other vehicular component(s), such as between the vehicular roof and the vehicular doors (or windows, or facades), to ensure a snug fit of that vehicular component (that embeds therein the flexible solar cells) to the vehicle and its other / nearby vehicular components, and/or to facilitate the installation.

[0082] In some embodiments, the generally-flexible solar cells are embedded within a vehicular component that may have one or more functional coating layer(s), for example, antiultraviolet or anti-UV coating or UV-reducing coating or UV-filtering coating or UV-blocking coating, anti-scratch coating or scratch-resistant coating or scratch-reducing coating, anti-rust coating or rust-reducing coating, one or more coating layer(s) that increase mechanical durability and/or mechanical resilience and/or longevity, or the like. In some embodiments, optionally, the vehicular roof (or other vehicular component), that has flexible solar cells embedded therein, may be covered with a thermoplastic urethane (TPU) film or a Paint Protection Film (PPF); which may be applied before and/or the installation of the vehicular roof (or other vehicular component) and/or before its attachment to one or more other vehicular components.

[0083] In some embodiments, the vehicular component that has the generally-flexible solar cells embedded therein, may be an integrated vehicular component or a singular vehicular component, such as, an entire vehicular roof or an entire vehicular hood or an entire vehicular trunk-cover or an entire vehicular side -panel or door. In other embodiments, the vehicular component that has the generally-flexible solar cells embedded therein, may be fabricated as a separate or an add-on component or cover or covering layer or covering component, that is then attached (or, is non-removably attached; or non-detachably attached) to a corresponding vehicular component, on or onto the external side of such corresponding vehicular component (e.g., the side the is facing outwardly or away from the vehicle, and not the side that is facing inwardly or internally towards the interior of the vehicle). The attachment may be performed via one or more mechanical connection means or attachments means; for example, screws, nails, male-female connectors, double-sided adhesive tape strips or tape sheets or adhesive tapes or adhesive sheets, glue, adhesive, bonding agent, or other type of permanent or non- reversible or non-detachable attachment mechanism, or other type of temporary or reversible or detachable mechanism.

[0084] In some embodiments, similar to embedding flexible solar cells via thermoforming into a vehicular roof or a vehicular component, flexible solar cells may be similarly embedded via thermoforming into other articles; for example, a roof of a bus-stop or a train station or a gas station, a roof of a gazebo or balcony or porch, a greenhouse, a roof of a shack or shed or toolshed or storage shed or storage shack, a roof or a top-side cover or a parking spot or a parking lot or a parking infrastructure, a roof of an electric charging stations for vehicles, a roof or cover of a playground or a stadium or a sporting venue, a roof or cover of an agricultural machinery or construction machinery (e.g., tractor, bulldozer, excavator, cement truck, crane, garbage collection truck, cargo truck), a shipping container, a storage pod, or the like. In some embodiments, such embedded solar cells may provide PV-generated electricity that may be utilized for a variety of goals; for example, to provide PV-generated electricity to a cooling system that in turn reduces the temperature within such article (e.g., top-layer shipping containers on a cargo ship) or within such venue (e.g., cooling of a roofed yard or backyard or playground or tennis court or sporting venue); to provide PV-generated electricity for charging or recharging a vehicle or electrical equipment or electrical appliances; or for other electricity storage devices or electricity consuming devices.

[0085] In accordance with some embodiments, the flexible or generally-flexible solar cells or solar panels, are flexible and/or generally-flexible at least prior to their embedded into the vehicular component (or other article). In some embodiments, such flexible or generally- flexible solar cells maintain at least some (but not necessarily all) of their flexing capability or their curving capability or their mechanical resilience properties, upon and/or after their embedding into the vehicular component (or other article); even if the immediately surrounding of the embedded solar cells may be rigid, or may partially limit or constrain the ability of such embedded solar panels to fully flex or to fully curve in response to mechanical forces; and such embedded flexible or generally-flexible solar cells may maintain at least some of their curving capability or flexing capability, or their capability to remain functional or mostly functional even after their embedding into such generally-rigid surrounding article or vehicular component. It is noted that in some embodiments, for example, the vehicular component that surrounds the embedded flexible or generally-flexible solar cells, may have some level of curving / flexing capability of its own; such as, if such vehicular component is formed of steel or other metal. In some embodiments, the flexible or generally-flexible solar cells may exhibit less sensitivity to (or, increased resilience to) vibrations and/or mechanical forces and/or mechanical other stresses that may be applied on the vehicular component (or other article), in comparison to a conventional, non-flexible, glass-covered, fragile or brittle solar panel.

[0086] Reference is made to Fig. 6A, which is a schematic illustration of a top-view of a vehicle 500, having vehicular components with embedded generally-flexible solar cells, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments. For example, the hood of vehicle 500 has a polygon-shaped region 501 which has embedded therein a plurality of inter-connected generally-flexible solar cells; the roof of vehicle 500 has a trapezoid-shaped region 502 which has embedded therein another plurality of inter-connected generally-flexible solar cells; the trunk cover of vehicle 500 has another polygon-shaped region 503 which has embedded therein another plurality of inter-connected generally-flexible solar cells. The generally-flexible solar cells that are embedded in the vehicular components, generate electricity from light via the PV effect, and provide the PV-generated electricity to the battery or batteries or power cell(s) of the vehicle itself, and/or to the electrical system of the vehicle itself (e.g., for storage and/or for immediate consumption), and/or to batteries or power cells of devices within the vehicle (e.g., to provide PV-generated electricity to a smartphone or a tablet or a laptop that is located within the vehicle and that received electricity via a cable from an electric socket within the vehicle). Each one of the regions (501, 502, 503) may have other structure or shapes; and the top- view as depicted in Fig. 6A is a two-dimensional representation while the actual arrangement of embedded flexible solar cells may be non-planar or non-flat or may have curvatures or curved regions that correspond to the curved or non-planar contour of the vehicle.

[0087] Reference is made to Fig. 6B, which is a schematic illustration of a cross-section view of a vehicle 600, having vehicular components with embedded generally-flexible solar cells, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments. For example, a vehicular hood has a first set 601 of Flexible Solar Cell (FSC) units embedded therein; a vehicular roof has a second set 602 of FSC units embedded therein; a vehicular trunk cover has a third set 603 of FSC units embedded therein. For demonstrative purposes, the FSC units are shown oversized; whereas in some embodiments the thickness of each FSC can be (for example) in the range of 0.1 to 10 millimeters, or other suitable thickness values. For demonstrative purposes, the FSC are shown as discrete units, which they indeed are; yet they are typically interconnected electrically and/or mechanically. For demonstrative purposes, some of the FSC units are shown as being planar or linear, whereas some other of the FSC units are intentionally shown as being curved or having one or more curvatures, to demonstrate that the FSC units may indeed have such non-planar shape or non-linear cross section, to conform to (or to follow, or to match) the three-dimensional contour of the relevant vehicular part or vehicular region.

[0088] Additional / Optional Features:

[0089] In some embodiments, a solar cell that is utilized may be an autonomously flexible and/or rollable and/or foldable solar cell, that does not break and does not brittle when flexed or curved or bent or folded or rolled, and that is resilient to mechanical forces, and that can autonomously absorb and/or dissipate and/or withstand mechanical forces and mechanical shocks; for example, by being segmented or grooved or trenched with non-transcending gaps or “blind gaps” or craters or grooves or trenches, that penetrate some - but not all - of the thickness (or the depth) of a silicon layer or a semiconductor body or a semiconductor wafer; and optionally by having filler material(s) in such grooves or trenches or non-transcending gaps or non-transcending craters, to further absorb and/or dissipate mechanical forces and shocks. [0090] Optionally, some embodiments may be utilized in conjunction with PV devices and/or solar panels and/or components and/or methods that are described in patent number US 11,081,606, titled “Flexible and rollable photovoltaic cell having enhanced properties of mechanical impact absorption”, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety; and/or in conjunction with components, structures, devices, methods, systems and/or techniques that are described in patent application number US 17/353,867, filed on June 22, 2021, published as US 2021/0313478, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety; and/or with solar panels or solar cells or PV devices that are singulated or segmented or trenched or grooved, or that are flexible and/or rollable and/or foldable, and/or that include “blind gaps” or non-transcending gaps or craters. Some embodiments may provide a flexible and rollable PV cell or solar cell; wherein a silicon body or semiconductor body or semiconductor substrate or semiconductor wafer has non-transcending craters or “blind gaps” that penetrate into between 75 percent and 99 percent of a total thickness of the semiconductor body (or wafer, or substrate), and that do not penetrate into an entirety of the total thickness of the semiconductor body (or wafer, or substrate); wherein said non-transcending craters or “blind gaps” increase flexibility/or and mechanical resilience and/or mechanical shock absorption of the PV cell. In some embodiments, some, or most, or all of the non-transcending craters or “blind gaps” contain a filler material having mechanical force absorption properties, which provides mechanical shock absorption properties and/or mechanical force dissipation properties to the PV cell.

[0091] In some embodiments, each of the solar cells is rollable and flexible by itself; and is a single PV device or is a single PV article, that is comprised of a single semiconductor substrate or a single semiconductor wafer or a single semiconductor body; which is monolithic, e.g., is currently, and has been, a single item or a single article or a single component that was formed as (and remained) a single component; such that each solar cell is not formed as a collection or two or more separate units or as a collection of two or more entirely-separated or entirely-discrete or entirely-gapped units that were arranged or placed together in proximity to each other yet onto a metal foil or onto a metal film or onto a flexible or elastic foil or film.

[0092] In some embodiments, each single solar cell that is flexible and rollable by itself, is not a collection and is not an arrangement and is not an assembly of multiple discrete solar cells of PV modules, that each one of them has its own discrete and fully separated semiconductor substrate and/or its own discrete and fully separated semiconductor wafer and/or its own discrete and fully separated semiconductor body, and that have been merely placed to assembled or arranged together (or mounted together, or connected together) onto or beneath a flexible foil or a flexible film; but rather, the each single solar cell has a single unified semiconductor substrate or semiconductor body or semiconductor wafer that is common to, and is shared by, all the sub-regions or areas or portions of that single solar cell which includes therein (in that unified single semiconductor substrate or wafer or body) those nontranscending craters or non-transcending gaps or “blind gaps” that penetrate only from one side (and not from both sides), which do not reach all the way through and do not reach all the way to the other side of the unified single semiconductor substrate or wafer or body.

[0093] In some embodiments, each solar cell may be, or may include, a mono-crystalline PV cell or solar panel or solar cell, a poly-crystalline PV cell or solar panel or solar cell, a flexible PV cell or solar cell that is an Interdigitated Back Contact (IBC) solar cell having said semiconductor wafer with said set of non-transcending gaps, and/or other suitable type of PV cell or solar cell.

[0094] Some portions of the discussion above and/or herein may relate to regions or segments or areas, of the semiconductor body or substrate or wafer (or PV cell, or PV device); yet those “segments” are still touching each other and/or inherently connected to each other and/or non-separated from each other, as those “segments” are still connected by at least a thin portion or a thin bottom-side surface of the semiconductor substrate (or wafer, or body), which still holds and includes at least 1 (or at least 2, or at least 3, or at least 5, or at least 10, or at least 15, or at least 20, or at least 25, or at least 33; but not more than 50, or not more than 40) percent of the entire depth or the entire thickness (or the maximum thickness or depth) of the semiconductor substrate or body or wafer; as those “segments” are still connected at their base through such thin layer, and those “segments” have between them (or among them) the nontranscending gaps or the “blind gaps” or the non-transcending craters that thus separate those “segments” but that do not fully divide or fully break or fully isolate any two such neighboring “segments” from each other. Upon its production, and prior to attaching the solar cells onto the floating medium layer, each such flexible and rollable solar cell is freestanding and carrier-less and non- supported.

[0095] In some embodiments, the non-transcending gaps or the “blind gaps” or craters or slits or grooves, are introduced and are formed only at a first side or at a first surface of the semiconductor substrate or body or wafer, and are not formed at both of the opposite surfaces (or sides) thereof.

[0096] In some embodiments, the non-transcending gaps or the “blind gaps” or craters or slits or grooves, are introduced and are formed only at a first side or at a first surface of the semiconductor substrate or body or wafer, that is intended to face the sunlight or the light, or that is the active side of the PV device or PV cell, or that is intended to be the active side of the PV device or PV cell, or that is intended to be the electricity-generating side or surface that would generated electricity based on incoming sunlight or light or based on the PV effect; and they are not formed at the other (e.g., opposite, non-active) side or surface (e.g., the side that is not intended to be facing the sunlight or the light, or the side that is not intended to be producing electricity based on the PV effect).

[0097] In other embodiments, the non-transcending gaps or the “blind gaps” or craters or slits or grooves, are not introduced and are not formed at the side or surface of the semiconductor substrate or body or wafer, that is intended to face the sunlight or the light, or that is the active side of the PV device or PV cell, or that is intended to be the active side of the PV device or PV cell, or that is intended to be the electricity-generating side or surface that would generated electricity based on incoming sunlight or light or based on the PV effect; but rather, those non-transcending gaps or the “blind gaps” or craters or slits or grooves are formed at the other (e.g., opposite, non-active) side or surface, which is the side that is not intended to be facing the sunlight or the light, or the side that is not intended to be producing electricity based on the PV effect. Some implementations with this structure may advantageously provide the mechanical shock absorption and the mechanical forces dissipation capability, yet may also provide or maintain or achieve an increased level of PV-based electricity production since the gaps do not reduce the area of the light-exposed side or the light-facing side of the PV device. [0098] In still other embodiments, the non-transcending gaps or the “blind gaps” or craters or slits or grooves, are introduced and are formed at both sides or at both surfaces of the semiconductor substrate or body or wafer; yet with an offset among the gaps of the first side and the gaps of the second side, in a zig-zag pattern of those gaps which zig-zag across the two sides of the semiconductor wafer or substrate or body; for example, a first gap located at the top surface on the left; then, a second gap located at the bottom surface to the right side of the first gap and not overlapping at all with the first gap; then, a third gap located at the top surface to the right side of the second gap and not overlapping at all with the second gap; then, a fourth gap located at the bottom surface to the right side of the third gap and not overlapping at all with the third gap; and so forth. In such structure, for example, any single point or any single location or any single region of the remaining semiconductor wafer or substrate or wafer, may have a gap or a crater or a “blind gap” only on one of its two sides, but not on both of its sides. [0099] In yet other embodiments, the non-transcending gaps or the “blind gaps” or craters or slits or grooves, are introduced and are formed at both sides or at both surfaces of the semiconductor substrate or body or wafer; not necessarily with an offset among the gaps of the first side and the gaps of the second side, and not necessarily in a zig-zag pattern; but rather, by implementing any other suitable structure or pattern that still provides the mechanical shock resilience, and while also maintaining a sufficiently-thin layer of semiconductor substrate or body or wafer that is not removed and that is resilient to mechanical shocks and mechanical forces due to the craters or gaps that surround it.

[00100] Some embodiments may include and/or may utilize one or more units, devices, connectors, wires, electrodes, and/or methods which are described in United States patent application publication number US 2016/0308155 Al, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. For example, some embodiments may include and may utilize an electrode arrangement which is configured to define or create a plurality of electricity collection regions, such that within each of the collection regions, at least two sets of conducting wires are provided such that they are insulated from each other, and the at least two sets of conducting wires are connected either in parallel or in series between the collection regions to thus provide accumulating voltage of charge collection. Some embodiments may include an electric circuit for reading-out or collection or aggregation of the generated electricity, configured as an electrode arrangement, including conducting wires arranged in the form of nets covering zones of a pre-determined area. The electrodes arrangement may be configured or structured to be stretched (e.g., rolled out) along the surface of the PV cell, and may be formed by at least two sets of conducting wires, and may cover a plurality of collection zones or collection regions.

[00101] Within each of the electricity collection zones or electricity aggregation zones, the different conducting wires are insulated from each other, to provide a certain voltage between them. At a transition between zones, the negative charges collecting conductive wire of one zone, is electrically connected to the positive charges collecting conductive wire of the adjacent or the consecutive zone. Thus, within each of the collection zones, the different sets of conducting wires are insulated from each other, while being connected in series between the zones. This configuration of the electrode arrangement allows accumulation or aggregation of electric voltage generated by charge collection along the surface of the PV device. The configuration of the electrode arrangement provides a robust electric collection structure.

[00102] The internal connections between the sets of conducting wires allow energy collection even if the surface being covered is not continuous, e.g., if a perforation occurs in the structure of the net. This feature of the electrode arrangement allows for using this technique on any surface exposed to photon radiation, while also allowing discontinuity if needed and without limiting or disrupting the electric charge collection.

[00103] For demonstrative purposes, some portions of the discussion relate to utilization of the flexible polyimide film (or strips, or bands, or straps, or surfaces) as part of a vehicular component or a vehicle; however, some embodiments may similarly provide a solution that can be utilized with, or in, or in conjunction with, other objects or articles or structures; for example, a roof, a roof shingle, a wall, a panel, a side-panel, a horizontal panel, a vertical panel, a slanted panel, an aircraft part, an aircraft, a drone part, a drone, a spacecraft part, a spacecraft, a marine vessel part, a marine vessel, a boat, a ship, a yacht, a floating device, a swimming pool cover or a lake cover, a submarine vessel part, a submarine vessel, a construction equipment or vehicle or agricultural machinery (e.g., bulldozer, tractor, harvester, cotton collector, crane), a bus-stop roof or structure, a gazebo roof, a patio roof, an awning, a greenhouse, a parking spot cover or a parking lot cover, a playground cover, a stadium cover or roof, a shed or a toolshed, a road divider, a road sign, a billboard, a shipping container (e.g., enabling the integration of the solar panel in a roof or side -panel of a shipping container, to provide electric power to electric devices within the container and/or to cooling systems or fans that can cool or can reduce the temperature of top-layer containers on ships), and/or other suitable objects or structures. [00104] The term “vehicle” as used herein may comprise, for example, a car, a sedan car, a sport utility vehicle (SUV), a truck, a bus, a van, a minivan, a train, a wagon of a train, a car of a train, a military vehicle (e.g., a tank, an armored fighting vehicle (AFV), a combat vehicle, or the like), a first responder or law enforcement vehicle (e.g., police car, ambulance, firetruck), a cargo vehicle, a trailer, a mini-trailer, a vehicle for transporting persons and/or animals and/or other cargo, an agricultural vehicle or mobile agricultural equipment (e.g., a tractor, a combine harvester, a cotton harvester, a harvester, a crop sprayer, a hay baler, or the like), a vehicle having a generally flat roof, a vehicle having a curved roof, an autonomous car or vehicle, a self-driving car or vehicle, a remote-controlled car or vehicle, a remotely-controlled car or vehicle, an Electric Vehicle (EV), an Electric Utility Vehicle (EUV), an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicle or a gasoline vehicle that utilizes the solar panel to recharge its battery and/or to provide power to devices within the vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or the like.

[00105] Some embodiments provide an article comprising: a vehicular component, that is configured to be a part of a vehicle; wherein the vehicular component has an outwardly-facing non-planar surface, which has embedded therein a plurality of electrically inter-connected generally-flexible solar cells; wherein the electrically inter-connected generally-flexible solar cells that are embedded within said vehicular component, generate electricity from light and provide electricity to at least one of: (i) said vehicle, (ii) a battery of said vehicle, (iii) an electric device within said vehicle; wherein the plurality of generally-flexible solar cells are electrically connected within said vehicular component via electric conductors that are embedded in a flexible polyimide film that holds said electric conductors and enables the electric conductors to slightly flex and dissipates mechanical forces and mechanical shocks applied to said electric conductors.

[00106] In accordance with some embodiments, the electric conductors are entirely embedded within or are ‘buried” within (or are entirely coated or surrounded by) the flexible polyimide film. In some embodiments, the entirety of length of the electric conductors, that run above or beneath the PV regions of the PV device, are buried within (or coated by, or embedded within) the flexible polyimide film; and only an externally-facing connector of the electric conductors, which provides the aggregated / collected PV-generated electricity to another device or to a power recipient, is not entirely coated by (or not entirely embedded within) the flexible polyimide film. In other embodiments, the entirety of length of the electric conductors, that run above or beneath the PV regions of the PV device, are buried within (or coated by, or embedded within) the flexible polyimide film; and even an externally-facing connector of the electric conductors, which provides the aggregated / collected PV-generated electricity to another device or to a power recipient, is coated by (or embedded within) the flexible polyimide film.

[00107] In some embodiments, L denotes the total or aggregate length of electric conductors that run within the solar panel or PV device, and/or that collect PV-generated electric current / electric voltage from PV regions of the PV device. In some embodiments, the full length L of such electric conductors is embedded within (or coated by, or buried within) the flexible polyimide film. In other embodiments, at least 99 or 98 or 95 or 90 percent of the full length L of such electric conductors is embedded within (or coated by, or buried within) the flexible polyimide film.

[00108] In some embodiments, D denotes the total or aggregate length of electric conductors that run within the solar panel or PV device, and that collect PV-generated electric current / electric voltage from PV regions of the PV device, and that also output or transfer the aggregated electric current or voltage to an outside / external recipient or co-located unit (e.g., a rechargeable battery). In some embodiments, the full length D of such electric conductors is embedded within (or coated by, or buried within) the flexible polyimide film. In other embodiments, at least 99 or 98 or 95 or 90 percent of the full length D of such electric conductors is embedded within (or coated by, or buried within) the flexible polyimide film.

[00109] In some embodiments, said flexible polyimide film extends outwardly from a region that includes said plurality of electrically inter-connected generally-flexible solar cells, and further holds an external electric conductor that transports photovoltaic-generated electricity away from the plurality of electrically inter-connected generally-flexible solar cells.

[00110] In some embodiments, the generally-flexible solar cells are inter-connected as strips; wherein each strip of generally-flexible solar cells is attached to a separate flexible polyimide film strap that separately interconnects the solar cells of each said strip; wherein a set of external electric conductors aggregate photovoltaic-generated electricity from a plurality of flexible polyimide film straps.

[00111] In some embodiments, the generally-flexible solar cells are electrically interconnected to each other, and are also electrically connected to an external recipient of photovoltaic-generated electricity, only by the electric conductors that are embedded in the flexible polyimide film; wherein the generally-flexible solar cells, and any lamination layer and encapsulation layer around them, exclude and do not utilize any drilled holes for electric connectivity, and exclude and do not utilize any threaded wires for electric connectivity. [00112] In some embodiments, photovoltaic-generated electricity is collected from the generally-flexible solar cells only by internal electrical conductors that are embedded in said flexible polyimide film, and not by any hole-threaded wires.

[00113] In some embodiments, photovoltaic-generated electricity is collected from the generally-flexible solar cells only by internal electrical conductors that are embedded in said flexible polyimide film which runs generally parallel to a surface having said generally-flexible solar cells; wherein the generally-flexible solar cells are sandwiched between (I) a holes-free top-side encapsulant that lacks holes, and (II) a holes-free bottom-side encapsulant that lacks holes.

[00114] In some embodiments, photovoltaic-generated electricity is collected from the generally-flexible solar cells only by internal electrical conductors that are embedded in said flexible polyimide film which runs generally parallel to a surface having said generally-flexible solar cells; wherein the generally-flexible solar cells are sandwiched between (I) a holes-free lamination topsheet that lacks holes, and (II) a holes-free lamination backsheet that lacks holes. [00115] In some embodiments, the generally-flexible solar cells and the flexible polyimide film and the internal electrical conductors and the external electrical conductors, are postthermoformed components that had been exposed as an insert in a thermoforming process that sandwich them between a top thermoforming layer and a bottom thermoforming layer.

[00116] In some embodiments, at least said thermoformed top-layer is formed of polycarbonate.

[00117] In some embodiments, at least said thermoformed top-layer is formed of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), high impact polystyrene (HIPS), Polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), high density polyethylene (HDPE).

[00118] In some embodiments, the generally-flexible solar cells are embedded within the outwardly-facing non-planar surface of said vehicular component, and they are not directly touching the air that surrounds said vehicle.

[00119] In some embodiments, the generally-flexible solar cells are embedded within the outwardly-facing non-planar surface of said vehicular component, and they are not directly touching the air that surrounds said vehicle, and they are sandwiched between a top-side encapsulant and a bottom-side encapsulant that hold and mechanically protect said generally- flexible solar cells; wherein at least the top-side encapsulant is at least mostly transparent or at least mostly translucent to light, and enables passage of incoming light from an external surrounding of the vehicle towards an active surface of the generally-flexible solar cells.

[00120] In some embodiments, at least one of said generally-flexible solar cells is flexible and rollable and is non-brittle prior to its embedding into said vehicular component, and maintains most of its capability to convert light into electricity even upon flexing or rolling of its structure.

[00121] In some embodiments, the at least one of said generally-flexible solar cells, continues to have at least some flexing and curving capability and continues to remain functional and non-brittle, upon and subsequent to its embedding into said vehicular component.

[00122] In some embodiments, the at least one of said generally-flexible solar cells, comprises a semiconductor wafer that is trenched or grooved by non-transcending craters, that penetrate into between 51 to 99 percent of an entire thickness of said semiconductor wafer; wherein said non-transcending craters provide mechanical resilience and flexing capability to said solar cell, and absorb and dissipate mechanical forces that are applied to said solar cell.

[00123] In some embodiments, said non-transcending craters are filled, at least partially, with a filler material; wherein said filler material further absorbs and dissipates mechanical forces that are applied to said solar cell; wherein said filler material provides further mechanical resilience and flexing capability to said solar cell.

[00124] In some embodiments, the generally-flexible solar cells are embedded within a molded sandwich of two molded layers of said vehicular component, wherein each of said two molded layers is a Resin Transfer Molded layer; wherein the generally-flexible solar cells are solar cells that have underwent insertion into a heated mold cavity of a Resin Transfer Molding machine.

[00125] In some embodiments, the generally-flexible solar cells are embedded within a molded sandwich of two molded layers of said vehicular component, wherein each of said two molded layers is an Injection Molded layer; wherein the generally-flexible solar cells are solar cells that have underwent insertion into a heated mold cavity of an Injection Molding machine. [00126] In some embodiments, the generally-flexible solar cells are embedded within the outwardly-facing non-planar surface of said vehicular component which comprises: at least one prepreg layer made from pre-impregnated fibers and a partially cured polymer matrix.

[00127] In some embodiments, the generally-flexible solar cells are embedded within the outwardly-facing non-planar surface of said vehicular component which comprises: at least one layer of a composite material of fiber sheets and resins formed in a wet layup process. [00128] In some embodiments, said generally-flexible solar cells are integrally, permanently, non-removably and non-detachably embedded within said vehicular component. [00129] In some embodiments, the vehicular component is a component selected from the group consisting of: a non-planar vehicular roof, a non-planar vehicular hood cover, a non- planar vehicular trunk cover, a non-planar vehicular door, a non-planar vehicular side -panel.

[00130] In some embodiments, said article is said vehicle which comprises said vehicular component.

[00131 ] Some embodiments provide a method of manufacturing a vehicular component. For example, the method comprises: producing a plurality of generally-flexible solar cells, that are flexible and rollable and non-brittle, and that remain functional even upon flexing or curving or rolling; electrically inter-connecting the plurality of generally-flexible solar cells by electrical conductor wires that are embedded in a flexible polyimide film; three-dimensionally structuring the plurality of generally-flexible solar cells, in accordance with a pre-defined three- dimensional structure that matches and follows a three-dimensional contour of said vehicular component; non-detachably embedding the plurality of generally-flexible solar cells into an outwardly-facing non-planar surface of said vehicular component; providing electrical connectors that transfer photovoltaic-generated electricity, from said plurality of generally- flexible solar cells that are embedded within said vehicular component, to an electricity-storing device or an electricity-consuming device of a vehicle that includes said vehicular component. [00132] In some embodiments, the embedding comprises: performing a thermoforming process that produces a stacked sandwich of at least: (i) a top-side thermoformed layer, and (ii) said generally-flexible solar cells, and (iii) a bottom-side thermoformed layer.

[00133] In some embodiments, the embedding comprises: producing said stacked sandwich that further includes at least one of: a top-side encapsulant that is sandwiched between (I) a top-side of the generally-flexible solar cells and (II) said top-side thermoformed layer; a bottom-side encapsulant that is sandwiched between (i) a bottom-side of the generally-flexible solar cells and (ii) said bottom-side thermoformed layer;

[00134] In some embodiments, the embedding comprises: producing said stacked sandwich that further includes at least one of: a top-side encapsulant that is sandwiched between (I) a top- side of the generally-flexible solar cells and (II) a topsheet that is located beneath said topside thermoformed layer; a bottom-side encapsulant that is sandwiched between (I) a bottomside of the generally-flexible solar cells and (II) a backsheet that is located over said bottomside thermoformed layer. [00135] The terms “plurality” and “a plurality”, as used herein, include, for example, “multiple” or “two or more”. For example, “a plurality of items” includes two or more items. [00136] References to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “demonstrative embodiment”, “various embodiments”, “some embodiments”, and/or similar terms, may indicate that the embodiment(s) so described may optionally include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Furthermore, repeated use of the phrase “in one embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may. Similarly, repeated use of the phrase “in some embodiments” does not necessarily refer to the same set or group of embodiments, although it may.

[00137] As used herein, and unless otherwise specified, the utilization of ordinal adjectives such as “first”, “second”, “third”, “fourth”, and so forth, to describe an item or an object, merely indicates that different instances of such like items or objects are being referred to; and does not intend to imply as if the items or objects so described must be in a particular given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other ordering manner.

[00138] Functions, operations, components and/or features described herein with reference to one or more embodiments, may be combined with, or may be utilized in combination with, one or more other functions, operations, components and/or features described herein with reference to one or more other embodiments. Some embodiments may thus comprise any possible or suitable combinations, re-arrangements, assembly, re-assembly, or other utilization of some or all of the modules or functions or components that are described herein, even if they are discussed in different locations or different chapters of the above discussion, or even if they are shown across different drawings or multiple drawings.

[00139] While certain features of some demonstrative embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, various modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the claims are intended to cover all such modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents.