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Solar Thin Film Photovoltaics
Search All Applications in Solar Thin Film Photovoltaics
Application US20160056319
Published 2016-02-25
Photovoltaic Module With Integrated Current Collection And Interconnection
A photovoltaic module includes a first photovoltaic cell, a second photovoltaic cell, and a collector-connector which is configured to collect current from the first photovoltaic cell and to electrically connect the first photovoltaic cell with the second photovoltaic cell. The collector-connector may include an electrically insulating carrier and at least one electrical conductor which electrically connects the first photovoltaic cell to the second photovoltaic cell.
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- 1. A method of interconnecting photovoltaic cells, comprising:
providing first and second photovoltaic cells, each including a conductive back contact, a photovoltaic film overlying the back contact, and a front electrode layer overlying the photovoltaic film; selectively removing a region of the photovoltaic film from the second cell thus exposing the back contact in that region; providing a carrier film including conductive traces on one side, wherein the conductive traces are configured to contact the front electrode layer of the first cell and to extend to the region of the second cell where the back contact is exposed; and attaching the carrier film to the cells, thus electrically interconnecting the cells by connecting the front electrode of the first cell to the back contact of the second cell.
- 5. An interconnected series of photovoltaic cells, comprising:
first and second photovoltaic cells, each including a conductive back contact, a photovoltaic film overlying the back contact, and a front electrode layer overlying the photovoltaic film, wherein the second cell includes a region where the photovoltaic film has been selectively removed, thus exposing the back contact in that region; and a carrier film overlying the cells, the carrier film including conductive traces on one side, wherein the conductive traces are configured to contact the front electrode layer of the first cell and to extend to the region of the second cell where the back contact is exposed, thus electrically interconnecting the cells.
- 9. A photovoltaic module, comprising:
first and second photovoltaic cells, each including a back contact corresponding to one electrical polarity, a photovoltaic film overlying the back contact, and a front electrode overlying the photovoltaic film and corresponding to another electrical polarity, wherein a region of the photovoltaic film has been removed from each cell to expose the back contact in that region; and a substantially transparent carrier film applied to the first and second cells, the carrier film including conductive traces printed on one side such that the traces contact the front electrode of the first cell and the back contact of the second cell.
