Patent ID: 6274804
Filing Date: 2001-08-14
Classification: H01L,Y02E

Abstract:
A solar cell module formed from integrated thin-film technology having a plurality of solar cells tandem mounted and series-connected on a common substrate and a plurality of diodes tandem mounted and series-connected on the common substrate, the diodes being parallel and adjacent to the solar cells, the solar cells and the diodes each having a front electrode layer, a back electrode layer and an intermediate photovoltaically active layer located between the front and back electrode layers, wherein:the front electrode layers of the solar cells and the diodes are bonded to the substrate and the individual back electrode layers of the solar cells and the diodes are separated by grooves;the front and back electrode layers of adjacent diodes are not directly electrically connected to each other;a plurality of overlap zones are formed by projecting edge areas of the electrode layers of the solar cells or diodes wherein:each overlap zone of a solar cell electrode layer engages in a recess in the corresponding electrode layer of the adjacent diode: andeach overlap zone of a diode electrode layer engages in a recess in the corresponding electrode layer of the adjacent solar cellso that:the overlap zones formed by the front electrode layers overlap subadjacent zones of the back electrode layers of the adjacent diode or solar cell that the front electrode layer overlap zones engage; orthe overlap zones formed by the back electrode layers overlap superadjacent zones of the front electrode layers of the adjacent diode or solar cell that the back electrode overlap zones engage;each diode is connected to a reverse bias orientation to the adjacent solar cell in at least two overlap zones, wherein:in a first one of the overlap zones, the front electrode layer of the diode is electrically connected to the back electrode of the adjacent solar cell; andin a second one of the overlap zones, the back electrode layer of the diode is electrically connected to the front electrode layer of the adjacent solar cell; andthe photovoltaically active layers forming of the individual solar cells and diodes are separated from each other by grooves that are in registration with the grooves that separate the back electrode layers.