Patent ID: 8802479
Filing Date: 2014-08-12
Classification: H01L,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method for interconnecting thin film solar cells, comprising: (a) attaching a first surface of a thin flat metallic mesh to a first thin film solar cell material to form a current collection grid on the first thin film solar cell material, wherein a metal foil comprises a slit region forming the thin flat metallic mesh and a tab region that is contiguously formed with the slit region, wherein the first thin film solar cell material and the metal foil are provided in rolls; (b) unrolling the roll of first thin film solar cell material and the roll of metal foil; (c) heating a pair of rollers, wherein one of the rollers is dispersed adjacent to the unrolled first surface of the thin flat metallic mesh and the other roller is disposed adjacent to the unrolled first thin film solar cell material; (d) connecting a second surface of the tab region directly to a backside of a second thin film solar cell material having a flat metallic mesh to form a serial electrical connection between the first and the second thin film solar cell materials, wherein the first surface of the thin flat metallic mesh and the second surface of the tab region are on opposing sides of the metal foil, wherein the second thin film solar cell material is provided in a roll; (e) connecting successive thin film solar cell material to the first and second thin film solar cell material with the attached flat metallic meshes to form an electrically integrated roll of interconnected thin film solar cell material; and (f) cutting the electrically integrated roll of interconnected thin film solar cell material into an electrically integrated string of interconnected thin film solar cells; (g) integrating the string of interconnected thin film solar cells into a solar cell module.