Solar cell having a front-mounted bypass diode
First Claim
1. An efficient method of interconnecting a solar cell having at least two front surface contacts with a diode mounted on a front surface of said solar cell, said method comprising the acts of:
- forming at least a first recess on a front surface of said solar cell;
forming a first solar cell contact on said front surface in said first recess;
forming a second solar cell contact on said front surface;
positioning at least a first bypass diode at least partly within said recess, said bypass diode having a first diode contact and a second diode contact;
interconnecting said first solar cell contact with said first diode contact; and
interconnecting said second solar cell contact with said second diode contact.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An efficient method of interconnecting a solar cell having at least two front surface contacts with a diode mounted on a front surface of the solar cell includes the act of forming at least a first recess on a front surface of the solar cell. A first solar cell contact is formed on the front surface in the first recess. A second solar cell contact is formed on the front surface. At least a first bypass diode is positioned at least partly within the recess. The bypass diode has a first diode contact and a second diode contact. The first solar cell contact is interconnected with the first diode contact. The second solar cell contact is interconnected with the second diode contact.
40 Citations
31 Claims
-
1. An efficient method of interconnecting a solar cell having at least two front surface contacts with a diode mounted on a front surface of said solar cell, said method comprising the acts of:
-
forming at least a first recess on a front surface of said solar cell;
forming a first solar cell contact on said front surface in said first recess;
forming a second solar cell contact on said front surface;
positioning at least a first bypass diode at least partly within said recess, said bypass diode having a first diode contact and a second diode contact;
interconnecting said first solar cell contact with said first diode contact; and
interconnecting said second solar cell contact with said second diode contact. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A solar cell assembly including a solar cell and a bypass diode, said solar cell assembly comprising:
-
at least a first solar cell having a front surface, said front surface having at least a first recessed region;
a first solar cell contact formed on at least said first recessed region of said front surface;
a second solar cell contact formed on said front surface;
a bypass diode positioned at least partly in said first recessed region, said bypass diode having a first diode contact and a second diode contact;
a first interconnect coupling said first diode contact with said first solar cell contact; and
a second interconnect coupling said second diode contact to said second solar cell contact. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 30, 31)
-
-
13. A solar cell array including at least two solar cell assemblies, said solar cell array comprising:
-
a first solar cell assembly, said first solar cell assembly including;
a first solar cell having a first surface, said first surface having at least a first recessed region;
a first solar cell contact formed on at least said first recessed region of said first surface;
a second solar cell contact formed on said first surface;
a first bypass diode positioned on said front surface, said first bypass diode having a first diode contact and a second diode contact;
a first interconnect coupling said first diode contact with said first solar cell contact;
a second interconnect coupling said second diode contact to said second solar cell contact;
a second solar cell assembly, said second solar cell assembly including;
a second solar cell having a second surface, said second surface having at least a second recessed region;
a third solar cell contact formed on at least said second recessed region of said second surface;
a fourth solar cell contact formed on said second surface;
a second bypass diode positioned on said second surface, said second bypass diode having a third diode contact and a fourth diode contact;
a third interconnect coupling said third diode contact with said third solar cell contact; and
a fourth interconnect coupling said fourth diode contact to said fourth solar cell contact;
and a top-level interconnect electrically coupling said first solar cell assembly and said second solar cell assembly.
-
-
16. A solar cell assembly including a solar cell, said solar cell assembly comprising:
-
at least a first solar cell having a front surface, said front surface having at least a first recessed region shaped to receive a diode;
a first solar cell contact formed on at least said first recessed region of said front surface, said first solar cell contact configured to be electrically coupled to a first diode contact; and
a second solar cell contact formed on said front surface, said second solar cell contact configured to be electrically coupled to a second diode contact.
-
-
25. A solar cell assembly comprising:
-
at least one means for converting solar energy into electrical energy having a first face, said first face having at least one means for receiving a means for protecting said at least one means for converting solar energy;
a first means for electrically coupling to said means for converting solar energy, said first means for electrically coupling located on said means for receiving;
a second means for electrically coupling to said means for converting solar energy, said second means for electrically coupling located on said first face;
a means for protecting said means for converting solar energy located on said means for receiving, said means for protecting having a third means for electrically coupling to said means for protecting and a fourth means for electrically coupling to said means for protecting;
a means for electrically interconnecting said first means for electrically coupling to said third means for electrically coupling;
a means for electrically interconnecting said second means for electrically coupling to said fourth means for electrically coupling; and
a means for covering at least a portion of said means for converting solar energy into electrical energy.
-
-
26. A method of interconnecting a solar cell with a bypass diode, said method comprising the acts of:
-
forming at least a first recess through said front surface of said solar cell to at least a first selected cell layer;
positioning at least a first bypass diode on said solar cell front surface; and
interconnecting said bypass diode to said first selected layer via said recess.
-
-
29. A solar cell assembly including a solar cell and a bypass diode, said solar cell assembly comprising:
-
at least a first solar cell having a front surface, said front surface having at least a first recessed region extending down to at least a first selected layer;
a solar cell contact formed on at least a portion of said front surface;
a diode positioned on said front surface, said diode having a first diode contact and a second diode contact;
a first interconnect coupling said first diode contact with said solar cell contact; and
a second interconnect coupling said second diode contact to said selected first layer via said recess.
-
Specification