Patent ID: 8338690
Filing Date: 2012-12-25
Classification: H01L,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A photovoltaic device comprising: a plurality of substantially spherical photovoltaic elements, each comprising: a spherical first semiconductor; a second semiconductor layer covering the surface of the first semiconductor; a conductive anti-reflection coating covering the surface of the second semiconductor layer, said anti-reflection coating and said second semiconductor layer having an opening in common through which a part of the first semiconductor is exposed; and an electrode formed on the exposed part of the first semiconductor; a support having a plurality of adjacent recesses for receiving said photovoltaic elements one by one on a frontside thereof, each of the recesses having an aperture in a bottom thereof, the aperture being smaller than each of said photovoltaic elements, said support serving as a second conductor layer that is electrically connected to the second semiconductor layers of the respective photovoltaic elements disposed in said recesses, with said anti-reflection coating interposed therebetween, wherein: each of said photovoltaic elements is fixed to each of said recesses with a conductive adhesive such that the exposed part of the first semiconductor protrudes through a backside of the support, and that said anti-reflection coating is physically and electrically connected to each recess, said anti-reflection coating functioning as a connecting electrode electrically connecting the second semiconductor layer and the support, an electrical insulator layer and a first conductor layer that are provided on the backside of the support such that said electrical insulator layer insulates the support from the first conductor layer, and said electrical insulator layer and said first conductor layer have a plurality of through-holes, each of the plurality of through-holes is provided over the electrode of said photovoltaic elements so as to expose the electrode, and said first conductor layer is electrically connected to said electrode of said photovoltaic elements via a conductive paste disposed in each of the through-holes of said electrical insulator layer and said first conductor layer.