Patent ID: 6384317
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: H01L,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
A solar cell comprising:a semiconductor substrate of a material wherein the diffusion length of minority carriers is lower than at least one of the dimensions of the substrate, said substrate comprising at least a radiation receiving front surface and a second surface, said substrate comprising a first region of one type conductivity, and a second region of the opposite conductivity type with at least a first part of said second region located over at least a part of the front surface and with at least a second part of said second region located over at least a part of the second surface, said front surface having conductive contacts to said second region and said second surface having separated contacts to said first region and to said second part of said second region wherein said second part of said second region is extending adjacent to the second surface beyond the contact area of the contacts to said second part of said second region and wherein the contacts to said second region at the second surface are connected to the contacts at the front surface through a limited number of vias.