Patent ID: 7732243
Filing Date: 2010-06-08
Classification: H01L,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method contributing to the facile manufacture of an array of photovoltaic cells, said method comprising the steps of, production of photovoltaic cells having structure comprising semiconductor material supported on a first metal-based foil and having a top surface facing in an upward direction and a conductive bottom surface formed by said first metal-based foil and facing in a downward direction, said cell production employing at least one continuous processing step wherein said first metal-based foil is provided in a continuous form, providing a unit of interconnecting substrate comprising materials in addition to those incorporated into said cells, said additional materials comprising both conductive and non-conductive materials forming respective conductive and non-conductive upper surface regions of said unit, said unit having a sheetlike structure, combining said unit and a first of said cells such that a first portion of said additional conductive material is positioned under the metal based foil of the first cell and a second portion of the conductive material is positioned outside a terminal edge of the first cell to supply an upward facing surface to which electrical contact may be achieved.