Patent ID: 7554346
Filing Date: 2009-06-30
Classification: G01R,H02S,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A test system for identifying a defective region of a photovoltaic cell from among a plurality of photovoltaic cells collectively forming a thin film solar module, the test system comprising: a probe comprising a plurality of test fingers that are arranged to each be substantially simultaneously placed adjacent to an electric contact provided to different regions of one or more of the plurality of photovoltaic cells, wherein a light source that emits light to be converted by the photovoltaic cells into the electrical output during testing; a measurement circuit that measures a property of the electrical output received from the different regions of the photovoltaic cells and transmits a measured value signal indicative of the property measured by the measurement circuit; and a control unit operatively coupled to the measurement circuit for receiving the measured value signal and generating a visible display indicating that at least one of the different regions of the solar module is a defective region based at least in part on the measured value signal and indicating a location of the defective region on the solar module.