1. An information center for use in connection with an appliance, the information center comprising:
an image display; and
a base comprising:
a first support member adapted to connect the image display to the appliance;
a second support member adapted to alternatively support the base on a horizontal surface separate from the appliance; and
a connector for receiving data;
wherein the image display is removably mounted to the base and is adapted to receive and display data from the connector when the image display is connected to the appliance or when the base is supported on the horizontal surface.
2. The information center of claim 1, wherein the second support member comprises a retractable stand that supports the base and the image display on any generally horizontal surface.
3. The information center of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a receptacle for a USB device.
4. The information center of claim 1, wherein the connector further comprises a power connector for receiving power.
5. The information center of claim 1, wherein the image display is coupled to the base by a fixed coupling.
6. The information center of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a writing surface.
7. The information center of claim 6, wherein the base comprises a white board.
8. The information center of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a physical storage compartment.
9. The information center of claim 1, wherein the image display provides schedule information.
10. The information center of claim 1, wherein the image display provides messages.
11. The information center of claim 1, wherein the image display is further adapted to receive and display data from the appliance when the image display is connected to the appliance and not when the base is supported on the horizontal surface.
12. The information center of claim 1, wherein the first support member adapted to hang the image display on the appliance.
13. The information center of claim 1, wherein the image display comprises a digital image display.
14. The information center of claim 1, wherein the image display is removably coupled to the base.
15. The information center of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a data communication device mounted in the base.
16. The information center of claim 1, wherein the appliance is a refrigerator.
17. An information center for use in connection with an appliance performing a useful cycle of operation and having an appliance service interface, the information center comprising:
an image display; and
a base supporting the image display and comprising;
a support member to mount the base to the appliance and having an integrated service interface that couples to the appliance service interface to provide data to the image display when the base is mounted to the appliance; and
a connector for receiving data;
wherein the image display receives and displays data from at least one of the appliance service interface and the connector when the image display is connected to the appliance, and the image display receives and displays data from the connector and not the service interface when the base is not connected to the appliance service interface.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A photovoltaic module comprising, in order from front to back:
a) a transparent glazing material;
b) solar cells
c) a thermoformable backsheet comprising a thermoplastic composition layer having a Tg of greater than 110\xb0 C., and optionally a thin fluoropolymer layer on the outer side exposed to the environment.
2. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein said thermoformable backsheet composition is selected from the group consisting of a methacrylic-based polymer, polycarbonate, a blend of polycarbonatemethacrylate polymers, a blend of polycarbonatepolyester polymers, and a fiber-reinforced composite.
3. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein said thermoformable backsheet composition comprises a methacrylic-based polymer.
4. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein said photovoltaic module is a concentrating photovoltaic module or a thin film photovoltaic module.
5. The photovoltaic module of claim 4, comprising an acrylic concentrating lens.
6. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein said thermoformable backsheet is white.
7. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein said thermoformable backsheet is transparent.
8. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein said thermoformable backsheet composition has a Tg of 115\xb0 C. or greater.
9. The photovoltaic module of claim 8, wherein said backsheet composition has a Tg of 120\xb0 C. or greater.
10. The photovoltaic module of claim 9, wherein said backsheet composition has a Tg of 125\xb0 C. or greater.
11. The photovoltaic module of claim 3, wherein said methacrylic-based composition is a copolymer comprising at least 50 percent by weight of methyl methacrylate units, and from 3 to 25 weight percent of one or more monomer units selected from the group consisting of methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, itatonic acid, substituted styrenes, alpha methyl styrene, maleic anhydride, isobornyl methacrylate, norbornyl methacrylate, t-butyl methacrylate, cyclohexyl methacrylate, phenyl methacrylate, maleimide, substituted maleimides, glutarimide, methacrylamide, N-isopropylacrylamide, and acrylamide.
12. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein said thermoformable backsheet composition comprises a blend of a methacrylic polymer or copolymer and a polymer that is misciblesemi-misciblecompatible with said methacrylic polymer or copolymer, wherein at least one of the blend polymers has a Tg of greater than 110\xb0 C.
13. The photovoltaic module of claim 1 wherein said thermoformable backsheet composition layer has a thickness of from 0.5 to 5 mm.
14. The photovoltaic module of claim 1 wherein said thermoformable backsheet composition layer has a thickness of from 1.5 to 2.5 mm.
15. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein said fluoropolymer layer is from 5 to 150 microns thick.
16. The photovoltaic module of claim 15, wherein said fluoropolymer layer is from 10 to 50 microns thick.
17. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein said fluoropolymer layer comprises at least 50 weight percent of vinylidene fluoride units.
18. The photovoltaic module of claim 17, wherein said fluoropolymer comprises from 75 to 95 weight percent of vinylidene fluoride units and from 5 to 40 weight percent of hexafluoropropylene units.
19. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein said fluoropolymer is an acrylic modified fluoropolymer.
20. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein said fluoropolymer layer or thermoplastic composition layer contains from 0 to 40 volume percent of titanium dioxide or BaSO4 particles, based on the volume of pigments and fluoropolymer.
21. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein said fluoropolymer layer is crosslinkable.
22. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein said thermoplastic composition layer is crosslinkable, and reactive with multi-functional groups.