Patent ID: 6459032
Filing Date: 2002-10-01
Classification: H01L,Y02E

Abstract:
In combination, multiple series connected photovoltaic cells and a substrate structure,said photovoltaic cells including a supporting electrically conductive cell foil having a top surface and a bottom surface separated by a thickness, said photovoltaic cells further comprising semiconductor material positioned on at least a portion of said top foil surface, said cell foil having a foil length and foil width, the extent of said foil width specifying a linear dimension whose endpoints define first and second terminal edges of said cells, said substrate structure comprising one or more conductive substrate regions having an electrically conductive top surface, said conductive top surface having a conductive top surface width dimension defined as being in the direction of net current flow between series connected cells, the endpoints of said conductive top surface width dimension defining first and second terminal edges of said conductive top surface, said substrate further comprising one or more insulating regions having a nonconductive top surface, said combination characterized by having said bottom surface of said cell foil of a first of said cells attached to said conductive top surface of a first of said conductive regions and having said bottom surface of said cell foil of a second of said cells being attached to said non-conductive surface of a first of said insulating substrate regions, said combination further characterized by having cell positioning of said cells on said substrate such that a line drawn in said conductive top surface width direction between said terminal edges of any selected of said conductive top surfaces extends across a said cell terminal edge of at most a single cell.