Interconnection of solar cells in a solar cell module

• US 20050268959A1
• Filed: 05/27/2005
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maxeon Solar Pte Limited
• Original Assignee: Sunpower Corporation (Totalenergies Se)
• Inventors: Coughlin, Stephen J., Rose, Douglas H., Daroczi, Shandor G., Aschenbrenner, Peter, Gay, Charles F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,390,961 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/244
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0508 the interconnection means having a particular shape
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0516 specially adapted for interconnection of back-contact solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

In one embodiment, a solar cell module comprises a plurality of solar cells interconnected as a solar cell array. An interconnect assembly electrically connects the backsides of two adjacent solar cells. The interconnect assembly may have an interconnect that electrically connects a contact point on a backside of a solar cell to a contact point on a backside of another solar cell. The interconnect assembly may further include an interconnect shield placed between the solar cells and the interconnect.

Claims

1. A solar cell module comprising:

a first backside-contact solar cell;

a second backside-contact solar cell;

an interconnect electrically coupling a backside of the first backside-contact solar cell to a backside of the second backside-contact solar cell; and

a shield placed between the interconnect and the first and second backside contact solar cells, the shield comprising a material which visually blocks the interconnect.

2. The solar cell module of claim 1 wherein the shield comprises a tape.

3. The solar cell module of claim 1 wherein the shield comprises a coating integral to the interconnect.

4. The solar cell module of claim 1 wherein the shield comprises a three-dimensional body that presses on the backsides of the first and second backside contact solar cells and fills a gap between the first and second backside contact solar cells.

5. The solar cell module of claim 1 wherein the interconnect comprises a first strip of interconnect material electrically coupling a first contact point on the backside of the first backside-contact solar cell to a first contact point on the backside of the second backside-contact solar cell.

6. The solar cell module of claim 1 wherein the interconnect comprises a single continuous interconnect having a plurality of strain relief features.

7. The solar cell module of claim 6 wherein the interconnect comprises a plurality of tabs extending from the body of the interconnect to electrically couple contact points on the backside of the first backside-contact solar cell to corresponding contact points on the backside of the second backside-contact solar cell.

8. The solar cell module of claim 1 further comprising:

a first protection layer placed over front sides of first and second backside contact solar cells, the first protection layer being configured to allow solar energy to reach the front sides of the first and second backside-contact solar cells.

9. The solar cell module of claim 8 further comprising:

a second protection layer over the first protection layer, the second protection layer being configured to protect from environmental elements while allowing solar energy to reach the first and second backside-contact solar cells.

10. The solar cell module of claim 9 further comprising:

a third protection layer placed over the interconnect.

11. The solar cell module of claim 10 wherein the first and third protection layers comprise poly-ethyl-vinyl-acetate (EVA) and the second protection layer comprises glass.

12. The solar cell module of claim 10 further comprising a back sheet on a side of the third protection layer away from the interconnect.

13. A solar cell module comprising:

a first solar cell;

a second solar cell; and

an interconnect assembly electrically coupling a backside of the first solar cell to a backside of the second solar cell, the interconnect assembly including an interconnect and an interconnect shield, the interconnect shield being configured to block from view the interconnect as viewed from front sides of the first and second solar cells.

14. The solar cell module of claim 13 wherein the interconnect comprises a single continuous piece of electrically conducting material having a plurality of tabs for contacting contact points on the backsides of the first and second solar cells.

15. The solar cell module of claim 14 wherein the interconnect further comprises:

a plurality of slits for providing strain relief to the interconnect.

16. The solar cell module of claim 13 further comprising:

a first encapsulant over front sides of the first and second solar cells;

a second encapsulant over the backsides of the first and second solar cells;

a transparent cover over the first encapsulant; and

a back sheet over the second encapsulant.

17. The solar cell module of claim 13 wherein the interconnect shield fills a gap between the first and second solar cells to control spacing between the first and second solar cells.

18. A solar cell module comprising:

interconnect means for electrically coupling a backside of a first backside-contact solar cell to a backside of a second backside-contact solar cell; and

shielding means for covering the interconnect means such that the interconnect means are not visible through a gap between the first and second backside-contact solar cells.

19. The solar cell module of claim 18 wherein the shielding means comprises a an electrically insulating double-sided tape.

20. The solar cell module of claim 18 wherein the interconnect means comprises a single continuous interconnect having a plurality of tabs for contacting contact points on the backsides of the first and second backside-contact solar cells.