Solar cell system

• US 5,660,643 A
• Filed: 09/24/1996
• Issued: 08/26/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nunzio La Vecchia
• Original Assignee: Hlusuisse Technology & Management Limited
• Inventors: Toggweiler, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Weisstuch, Aaron
• Application Number:
  US08/628,769
• Time in Patent Office: 336 Days
• Field of Search: 136/244, 136/256, 136/293, 323/906
• US Class Current: 136/244
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/022425 for solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/046 PV modules composed of a plurality of thin film solar cells deposited on the same substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/32 comprising DC/AC inverter means associated with the PV module itself, e.g. AC modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

A solar cell system including at least one large-area, amorphous, thin-layer solar cell, at least one electrical voltage converter for increasing the level of the electrical voltage of the electrical current, which is produced by the solar cell, to a level required by a load, and a plurality of current collectors connecting the solar cell with the voltage converter.

Claims

1. A solar cell system, comprising:

at least one solar cell having a semiconductor layer having front and rear sides;

first and second current collector means respectively provided on rear and front sides of the at least one solar cell;

and means for connecting the first and second current collector means to an external element;

wherein the first current collector means comprises a first substantially homogeneous conductive layer in contact with the rear side of said semiconductor layer, and the second currant collector means comprises a second substantially homogeneous conductive layer below said first conductive layer and separated therefrom by an insulating layer;

said second current collector means further comprising a plurality of transverse collectors on the first surface of said semiconductor layer, the plurality of transverse collectors being connected to a longitudinal conductor extending along a longitudinal extent of the semiconductor body, and means electrically connecting said longitudinal conductor to said second conductive layer.

2. A solar cell system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one solar cell comprises a thin-layer solar cell.

3. A solar cell system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the thin-layer solar cell has a continuous surface area.

4. solar cell system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the thin-layer solar cell comprises a strip section having the continuous surface area.

5. A solar cell system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting means comprises a plurality of lead-throughs, the lead-throughs perforating the first conductive layer and being insulated therefrom, and the lead-throughs projecting through the insulating layer.

6. A solar system as claimed in claim 1, which further comprises a voltage converter for increasing the voltage of said system to between 10 and 400 v.

7. A solar cell system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the voltage converter is directly connected with the first and second conductive layers.

8. A solar system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a DC/AC transformer for producing an alternating current.

9. A solar cell system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the semiconductor layer comprises several p-n junctions.

10. A solar cell system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the external element comprises a voltage converter.

11. A solar cell system, comprising:

at least one pair of identical solar cells each having a semiconductor layer having front and rear surfaces, connected in parallel with each other and having longitudinal sides thereof, arranged in closely spaced adjacency;

first and second current collector means respectively provided on rear and rear and front sides of each of the solar cells; and

means for connecting the current collector means to an external element;

wherein the first current collector means comprises a first sustantially homogenous conductive layer, and the second current collector means comprises a second substantially homogenous conductive layer below said first conductive layer and separated therefrom by an insulating layer;

the second current collector means further comprising a common central longitudinal conductor arranged between adjacent longitudinal conductors arranged on respective remote sides of the solar cells;

first transverse current collectors on said front sides of said semiconductor layers and extending from opposite sides of the common central longitudinal conductor, and second transverse current collectors extending from a respective remote side longitudinal conductor and spaced from the first transverse current collectors.

12. A solar cell system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the semiconductor layer of each solar cell has a positive pole arranged at one of the front or rear sides.

13. A solar cell system as claimed in claim 12, wherein both solar cells have a common second conductive layer.

14. A solar cell system as claimed in claimed in claim 11 wherein both solar cells have a common first conductive layer.

15. A solar cell system as claimed in claim 14, further including a voltage converter with two supply terminals, and wherein the first conductive layer is connected to one of the terminals, and the second conductive layer is connected to another of the terminals.

16. A solar cell system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the solar cells of the pair are connected with a perforated second conductive layer.

17. A solar cell system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the external element comprises a voltage converter.