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.
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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.
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Citations
31 Claims
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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:
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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)
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7. A solar cell assembly including a solar cell and a bypass diode, said solar cell assembly comprising:
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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)
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13. A solar cell array including at least two solar cell assemblies, said solar cell array comprising:
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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.
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16. A solar cell assembly including a solar cell, said solar cell assembly comprising:
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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.
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25. A solar cell assembly comprising:
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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.
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26. A method of interconnecting a solar cell with a bypass diode, said method comprising the acts of:
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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.
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29. A solar cell assembly including a solar cell and a bypass diode, said solar cell assembly comprising:
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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.
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Specification