PHOTOVOLTAIC CELL ASSEMBLY
First Claim
1. A photovoltaic cell assembly comprising:
- a plurality of photovoltaic cells comprising;
a photoactive portion with a top surface;
a top collection structure on the top surface andan opposing conductive substrate layer on a side of the photoactive portion opposite the top surfacea first conductive element with a first surface and wherein the first conductive element is bent at least once along its longest dimension and wherein the at least one bend forms an angle α
from 0° and
45°
;
wherein the first surface is in contact with the top collection structure and/or the top surface of a first photovoltaic cell and the opposing conductive substrate layer of an adjacent second photovoltaic cell;
further wherein at least a portion of the first surface is held in contact to the cells by an adhesive.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is premised upon an improved photovoltaic cell assembly that include at least plurality of photovoltaic cells with a photoactive portion with a top surface, a top collection structure on the top surface and an opposing conductive substrate layer on a side of the photoactive portion opposite the top surface. Also including a first conductive element with a first surface and wherein the first conductive element is bent at least once and wherein the first surface is in contact with the top collection structure and/or the top surface of a first photovoltaic cell and the opposing conductive substrate layer of an adjacent second photovoltaic cell; further wherein at least a portion of the first surface is held in contact to the cells by an adhesive.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A photovoltaic cell assembly comprising:
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a plurality of photovoltaic cells comprising; a photoactive portion with a top surface; a top collection structure on the top surface and an opposing conductive substrate layer on a side of the photoactive portion opposite the top surface a first conductive element with a first surface and wherein the first conductive element is bent at least once along its longest dimension and wherein the at least one bend forms an angle α
from 0° and
45°
;wherein the first surface is in contact with the top collection structure and/or the top surface of a first photovoltaic cell and the opposing conductive substrate layer of an adjacent second photovoltaic cell;
further wherein at least a portion of the first surface is held in contact to the cells by an adhesive. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic assembly, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing at least two solar cells, the solar cells including a photoactive portion with a top surface, a top collection structure, and a bottom conductive substrate, further wherein the cell includes a leading edge and a trailing edge; b) providing a at least one conductive element, each with a first surface; c) providing, at least one terminal bar; d) placing a first cell such that a bottom surface of the conductive substrate near the leading edge of a first of the plurality of solar cells contacts a first terminal bar; (e) connecting a first terminal bar to the first cell using a conductive component; folding a first conductive element at least once about an axis along its longest dimension and wherein the at least one bend forms an angle α
from 0° and
45°
;(g) applying the folded conductive element to the top of the first cell near the trailing edge and precisely placed such that the conductive element contacts the top surface of the solar con and/or the top collection structure; and (h) placing a second cell on the folded conductive element that has already been applied to the first solar cell such that a bottom surface of the conductive substrate of the second solar cell contacts the folded conductive element, thus producing a string having a first cell and an end cell, (i) optionally folding an additional conductive element at least once about an axis, applying the additional folded conductive element to the top of the end cell near the trailing edge and precisely placed such that the conductive element contacts the top surface of the solar cell and/or the top collection structure; and
placing an additional cell on the folded conductive element that has already been applied to the end solar cell such that a bottom surface of the conductive substrate of the additional solar cell contacts the folded conductive element, to form a string with a first cell and at least one intermediate cell and an end cell, wherein the previous end cell becomes an intermediate cell,(j) optionally repeating step (i), (k) placing a second terminal bar such that it contacts the top surface of the last of the end solar cell on a buss line that is part of the collection structure edge of the end solar cell; (l) connecting the second terminal bar to the last cell using a conductive component.
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Specification