Patent Publication Number: US-2010122730-A1

Title: Power-loss-inhibiting current-collector

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to the field of photovoltaic technology. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the quest for renewable sources of energy, photovoltaic technology has assumed a preeminent position as a cheap renewable source of clean energy. In particular, solar cells based on the compound semiconductor copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) used as an absorber layer offer great promise for thin-film solar cells having high efficiency and low cost. Of comparable importance to the technology used to fabricate thin-film solar cells themselves, is the technology used to collect current from solar cells, solar-cell modules and solar-cell arrays, and to collect current from these without power loss. 
     Solar-cells are impacted by shunt defects. A significant challenge is the development of solar-cell current-collection and interconnection schemes that minimize the effects of power losses that can occur if such shunt defects are present. Reliability and efficiency of solar-cells protected from shading effects in the presence of adventitious shunt defects determines the useful life and performance of solar-cells, and the solar-cell modules and solar-cell arrays that depend upon them. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the present invention include a power-loss-inhibiting current-collector. The power-loss-inhibiting current-collector includes a trace for collecting current from a solar cell. The power-loss-inhibiting current-collector further includes a current-limiting portion of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector. The current-limiting portion of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector is coupled to the trace. The current-limiting portion of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector is configured to regulate current flow through the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the embodiments of the invention: 
         FIG. 1A  is a cross-sectional elevation view of a layer structure of a solar cell, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1B  is a schematic diagram of a model circuit of a solar cell, electrically connected to a load, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a model circuit of a solar-cell module, electrically connected to a load, that shows the interconnection of solar cells in the solar-cell module, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a model circuit of a solar-cell module, electrically connected to a load, that details model circuits of interconnect assemblies, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4A  is a schematic diagram of a model circuit of an interconnect assembly for connecting two solar cells of a solar-cell module, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4B  is a plan view of the interconnect assembly of  FIG. 4A  that shows the physical interconnection of two solar cells in the solar-cell module, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4C  is a cross-sectional, elevation view of the interconnect assembly of  FIG. 4B  that shows the physical interconnection of two solar cells in the solar-cell module, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4D  is a cross-sectional, elevation view of an alternative interconnect assembly for  FIG. 4B  that shows an edge-conforming interconnect assembly for the physical interconnection of two solar cells in the solar-cell module, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4E  is a cross-sectional, elevation view of an alternative interconnect assembly for  FIG. 4B  that shows a shingled-solar-cell arrangement for the physical interconnection of two solar cells in the solar-cell module, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4F  is a plan view of an alternative interconnect assembly for  FIG. 4A  that shows the physical interconnection of two solar cells in the solar-cell module, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5A  is a plan view of the combined applicable carrier film, interconnect assembly that shows the physical arrangement of a trace with respect to a top carrier film and a bottom carrier film in the combined applicable carrier film, interconnect assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional, elevation view of the combined applicable carrier film, interconnect assembly of  FIG. 5A  that shows the physical arrangement of a trace with respect to a top carrier film in the combined applicable carrier film, interconnect assembly prior to disposition on a solar cell, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5C  is a cross-sectional, elevation view of the interconnect assembly of  FIG. 5B  that shows the physical arrangement of a trace with respect to a top carrier film in the combined applicable carrier film, interconnect assembly after disposition on a solar cell, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6A  is a plan view of an integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector that shows the physical interconnection of a terminating solar cell with a terminating busbar in the integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6B  is a cross-sectional, elevation view of the integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector of  FIG. 6A  that shows the physical interconnection of the terminating solar cell with the terminating busbar in the integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7A  is a combined cross-sectional elevation and perspective view of a roll-to-roll, interconnect-assembly fabricator for fabricating the interconnect assembly from a first roll of top carrier film and from a dispenser of conductive-trace material, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7B  is a combined cross-sectional elevation and perspective view of a roll-to-roll, laminated-interconnect-assembly fabricator for fabricating a laminated-interconnect assembly from the first roll of top carrier film, from a second roll of bottom carrier film and from the dispenser of conductive-trace material, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is flow chart illustrating a method for roll-to-roll fabrication of an interconnect assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is flow chart illustrating a method for interconnecting two solar cells, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a plan view of a solar-cell module combined with external-connection mechanism mounted to respective edge regions and in-laminate-diode assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11A  is a schematic diagram of a diode used to by-pass current around a solar cell and electrically coupled in parallel with the solar cell, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11B  is a schematic diagram of a diode used to by-pass current around a plurality of solar cells and electrically coupled in parallel with the plurality of solar cells that are electrically coupled in parallel, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11C  is a schematic diagram of a diode used to by-pass current around a plurality of solar cells and electrically coupled in parallel with the plurality of solar cells that are electrically coupled in series, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11D  is a schematic diagram of a diode used to by-pass current around a plurality of solar cells and electrically coupled in parallel with the plurality of solar cells that are electrically coupled in series and in parallel, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12A  is a plan view of a solar-cell array including a plurality of solar-cell modules combined with centrally-mounted junction boxes and in-laminate-diode assemblies, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12B  is a plan view of a solar-cell array including a plurality of solar-cell modules combined with external-connection mechanism mounted to respective edge regions and in-laminate-diode assemblies, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a combined perspective-plan and expanded view of in-laminate-diode sub-assemblies showing an arrangement of a diode therein, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a combined plan and perspective view of a lead at a cut corner of a back glass of a solar-cell module, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15A  is a plan view of a first junction box of a first solar-cell module with a female receptacle and a second junction box of a second solar-cell module with a male connector configured to allow interconnection with the first solar-cell module, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15B  is a plan view of an interconnector with a male connector integrally attached to the second junction box of the second solar-cell module and configured to allow interconnection with the first junction box with the female receptacle of the first solar-cell module, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15C  is a plan view of an interconnector with a female receptacle integrally attached to the first junction box of the first solar-cell module, and of the interconnector with the male connector integrally attached to the second junction box of the second solar-cell module and configured to allow interconnection with the first junction box, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a first cross-sectional elevation view of a combined solar-cell, power-loss-inhibiting current-collector that shows the physical arrangement of a power-loss-inhibiting current-collector, including a trace and current-limiting portion of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector, which includes an example positive-temperature-coefficient-of-electrical-resistance (PTCR) structure, in a low-electrical-resistance state under normal operating conditions, on a light-facing side of the solar cell, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 17  is a second cross-sectional elevation view of a combined solar-cell, power-loss-inhibiting current-collector that shows the physical arrangement of a power-loss-inhibiting current-collector, including a trace and current-limiting portion of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector, which includes the example PTCR structure, in a high-electrical-resistance state that develops with occurrence of a shunt defect in the solar cell in proximity to a contact between a segment of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector and the solar cell, on a light-facing side of the solar cell, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 18A  is a cross-sectional, elevation view of a first example of a power-loss-inhibiting current-collector that shows the physical structure of the trace, including an electrically conductive core, and the PTCR structure in the current-limiting portion of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector, including a low-conductivity matrix portion and a plurality of high-conductivity portions dispersed in the matrix portion, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 18B  is a cross-sectional, elevation view of a second example of a power-loss-inhibiting current-collector that shows the physical structure of the trace, including an electrically conductive core and at least one overlying layer, and the PTCR structure in the current-limiting portion of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector, including a low-conductivity matrix portion and a plurality of high-conductivity portions dispersed in the matrix portion, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 18C  is a cross-sectional, elevation view of a third example of a power-loss-inhibiting current-collector that shows the physical structure of power-loss-inhibiting current-collector for a current-limiting portion of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector integrated with the trace, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 18D  is a cross-sectional, elevation view of a fourth example of a power-loss-inhibiting current-collector that shows the physical structure of the trace, including an electrically conductive core, and the current-limiting portion of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 18E  is a cross-sectional, elevation view of a fifth example of a power-loss-inhibiting current-collector that shows the physical structure of the trace, including an electrically conductive core and at least one overlying layer, and the current-limiting portion of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     The drawings referred to in this description should not be understood as being drawn to scale except if specifically noted. 
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the various embodiments of the present invention. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the various embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     Furthermore, in the following description of embodiments of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it should be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure embodiments of the present invention. 
     Overview  
     Section I describes in detail various embodiments of the present invention for an interconnect assembly (Sub-Section A), methods of fabricating the same (Sub-Section B), methods of interconnecting solar-cells (Sub-Section C), as well as a trace used in solar cells (Sub-Section D), that are incorporated as elements of a solar cell and a solar-cell module combined with a power-loss-inhibiting current-collector.  FIGS. 1 through 9  illustrate specific embodiments of the present invention for the interconnect assembly so incorporated as an element of the solar-cell module combined with a power-loss-inhibiting current-collector. In particular,  FIGS. 5A through 5C  illustrate specific embodiments of the present invention for the collection of current from a solar cell and solar cells in the solar-cell module that may be combined with a power-loss-inhibiting current-collector. 
     Section II provides a detailed description of various embodiments of the present invention for the solar-cell module combined with in-laminate diodes and external-connection mechanisms mounted to respective edge regions that are incorporated as elements of a solar-cell module and a solar-cell array combined with a power-loss-inhibiting current-collector.  FIGS. 10 through 15  illustrate detailed arrangements of element combinations for the solar-cell module combined with in-laminate diodes and external-connection mechanisms mounted to respective edge regions that are incorporated as elements of a solar-cell module and a solar-cell array that may be combined with a power-loss-inhibiting current-collector, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
     Section III provides a detailed description of various embodiments of the present invention for the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector and the combined solar-cell, power-loss-inhibiting current-collector.  FIGS. 16 ,  17  and  18 A through  18 E illustrate detailed arrangements of element combinations for the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector and the combined solar-cell, power-loss-inhibiting current-collector, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
     Section I: 
     Sub-Section A: Physical Description of Embodiments of the Present Invention  for an Interconnect Assembly  
     With reference to  FIG. 1A , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a cross-sectional elevation view of a layer structure of a solar cell  100 A is shown. The solar cell  100 A includes a metallic substrate  104 . In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an absorber layer  112  is disposed on the metallic substrate  104 ; the absorber layer  112  may include a layer of the material copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) having the chemical formula Cu(In 1−x Ga x )Se 2 , where x may be a decimal less than one but greater than zero that determines the relative amounts of the constituents, indium, In, and gallium, Ga. Alternatively, semiconductors having the chalcopyrite crystal structure, for example, chemically homologous compounds with the compound CIGS having the chalcopyrite crystal structure, in which alternative elemental constituents are substituted for Cu, In, Ga, and/or Se, may be used as the absorber layer  112 . Moreover, in embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that semiconductors, such as silicon and cadmium telluride, as well as other semiconductors, may be used as the absorber layer  112 . 
     As shown, the absorber layer  112  includes a p-type portion  112   a  and an n-type portion  112   b . As a result, a pn homojunction  112   c  is produced in the absorber layer  112  that serves to separate charge carriers that are created by light incident on the absorber layer  112 . To facilitate the efficient conversion of light energy to charge carriers in the absorber layer  112 , the composition of the p-type portion  112   a  of the absorber layer  112  may vary with depth to produce a graded band gap of the absorber layer  112 . Alternatively, the absorber layer  112  may include only a p-type chalcopyrite semiconductor layer, such as a CIGS material layer, and a pn heterojunction may be produced between the absorber layer  112  and an n-type layer, such as a metal oxide, metal sulfide or metal selenide, disposed on its top surface in place of the n-type portion  112   b  shown in  FIG. 1A . However, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to pn junctions fabricated in the manner described above, but rather a generic pn junction produced either as a homojunction in a single semiconductor material, or alternatively a heterojunction between two different semiconductor materials, is within the spirit and scope of embodiments of the present invention. Moreover, in embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that semiconductors, such as silicon and cadmium telluride, as well as other semiconductors, may be used as the absorber layer  112 . 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, on the surface of the n-type portion  112   b  of the absorber layer  112 , one or more transparent electrically conductive oxide (TCO) layers  116  are disposed, for example, to provide a means for collection of current from the absorber layer  112  for conduction to an external load. As used herein, it should be noted that the phrase “collection of current” refers to collecting current carriers of either sign, whether they be positively charged holes or negatively charged electrons; for the structure shown in  FIG. 1A  in which the TCO layer is disposed on the n-type portion  112   b , the current carriers collected under normal operating conditions are negatively charged electrons; but, embodiments of the present invention apply, without limitation thereto, to solar cell configurations where a p-type layer is disposed on an n-type absorber layer, in which case the current carriers collected may be positively charged holes. The TCO layer  116  may include zinc oxide, ZnO, or alternatively a doped conductive oxide, such as aluminum zinc oxide (AZO), Al x Zn 1−x O y , and indium tin oxide (ITO), In x Sn 1−x O y , where the subscripts x and y indicate that the relative amount of the constituents may be varied. Alternatively, the TCO layer  116  may be composed of a plurality of conductive oxide layers. These TCO layer materials may be sputtered directly from an oxide target, or alternatively the TCO layer may be reactively sputtered in an oxygen atmosphere from a metallic target, such as zinc, Zn, Al—Zn alloy, or In—Sn alloy targets. For example, the zinc oxide may be deposited on the absorber layer  112  by sputtering from a zinc-oxide-containing target; alternatively, the zinc oxide may be deposited from a zinc-containing target in a reactive oxygen atmosphere in a reactive-sputtering process. The reactive-sputtering process may provide a means for doping the absorber layer  112  with an n-type dopant, such as zinc, Zn, or indium, In, to create a thin n-type portion  112   b , if the partial pressure of oxygen is initially reduced during the initial stages of sputtering a metallic target, such as zinc, Zn, or indium, In, and the layer structure of the solar cell  100 A is subsequently annealed to allow interdiffusion of the zinc, Zn, or indium, In, with CIGS material used as the absorber layer  112 . Alternatively, sputtering a compound target, such as a metal oxide, metal sulfide or metal selenide, may also be used to provide the n-type layer, as described above, on the p-type portion  112   a  of the absorber layer  112 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 1A , in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention, a conductive backing layer  108  may be disposed between the absorber layer  112  and the metallic substrate  104  to provide a diffusion barrier between the absorber layer  112  and the metallic substrate  104 . The conductive backing layer  108  may include molybdenum, Mo, or other suitable metallic layer having a low propensity for interdiffusion with an absorber layer  112 , such as one composed of CIGS material, as well as a low diffusion coefficient for constituents of the substrate. Moreover, the conductive backing layer  108  may provide other functions in addition to, or independent of, the diffusion-barrier function, for example, a light-reflecting function, for example, as a light-reflecting layer, to enhance the efficiency of the solar cell, as well as other functions. The embodiments recited above for the conductive backing layer  108  should not be construed as limiting the function of the conductive backing layer  108  to only those recited, as other functions of the conductive backing layer  108  are within the spirit and scope of embodiments of the present invention, as well. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 1B , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a schematic diagram of a model circuit  100 B of a solar cell that is electrically connected to a load is shown. The model circuit  100 B of the solar cell includes a current source  158  that generates a photocurrent, i L . As shown in  FIG. 1A , the current source  158  is such as to produce counterclockwise electrical current, or equivalently an clockwise electron-flow, flowing around each of the loops of the circuit shown; embodiments of the present invention also apply, without limitation thereto, to solar-cell circuits in which the electrical current flows in a clockwise direction, or equivalently electrons flow in a counterclockwise direction. The photocurrent, i L , is produced when a plurality of incident photons, light particles, of which one example photon  154  with energy, hv, is shown, produce electron-hole pairs in the absorber layer  112  and these electron-hole pairs are separated by the pn homojunction  112   c , or in the alternative, by a pn heterojunction as described above. It should be appreciated that the energy, hv, of each incident photon of the plurality of photons should exceed the band-gap energy, E g , that separates the valence band from the conduction band of the absorber layer  112  to produce such electron-hole pairs, which result in the photocurrent, i L . 
     The model circuit  100 B of the solar cell further includes a diode  162 , which corresponds to recombination currents, primarily at the pn homojunction  112   c , that are shunted away from the connected load. As shown in  FIG. 1B , the diode is shown having a polarity consistent with electrical current flowing counterclockwise, or equivalently electron-flow clockwise, around the loops of the circuit shown; embodiments of the present invention apply, without limitation thereto, to a solar cell in which the diode of the model circuit has the opposite polarity in which electrical current flows clockwise, or equivalently electron-flow flows counterclockwise, around the loops of the circuit shown. In addition, the model circuit  100 B of the solar cell includes two parasitic resistances corresponding to a shunt resistor  166  with shunt resistance, R Sh , and to a series resistor  170  with series resistance, R S . The solar cell may be connected to a load represented by a load resistor  180  with load resistance, R L . Thus, the circuit elements of the solar cell include the current source  158 , the diode  162  and the shunt resistor  166  connected across the current source  158 , and the series resistor  170  connected in series with the load resistor  180  across the current source  158 , as shown. As the shunt resistor  166 , like the diode  162 , are connected across the current source  158 , these two circuit elements are associated with internal electrical currents within the solar cell shunted away from useful application to the load. As the series resistor  170  connected in series with the load resistor  180  are connected across the current source  158 , the series resistor  170  is associated with internal resistance of the solar cell that limits the electrical current to the load. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 1  B, it should be recognized that the shunt resistance may be associated with surface leakage currents that follow paths at free surfaces that cross the pn homojunction  112   c ; free surfaces are usually found at the edges of the solar cell along the side walls of the device that define its lateral dimensions; such free surfaces may also be found at discontinuities in the absorber layer  112  that extend past the pn homojunction  112   c . The shunt resistance may also be associated with shunt defects which may be present that shunt electrical current away from the load. A small value of the shunt resistance, R Sh , is undesirable as it lowers the open circuit voltage, V OC , of the solar cell, which directly affects the efficiency of the solar cell. Moreover, it should also be recognized that the series resistance, R S , is associated with: the contact resistance between the p-type portion  112   a  and the conductive backing layer  108 , the bulk resistance of the p-type portion  112   a , the bulk resistance of the n-type portion  112   b , the contact resistance between the n-type portion  112   b  and TCO layer  116 , and other components, such as conductive leads, and connections in series with the load. These latter sources of series resistance, conductive leads, and connections in series with the load, are germane to embodiments of the present invention as interconnect assemblies, which is subsequently described. A large value of the series resistance, R S , is undesirable as it lowers the short circuit current, I SC , of the solar cell, which also directly affects the efficiency of the solar cell. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 2 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a schematic diagram of a model circuit  200  of a solar-cell module  204  that is coupled to a load is shown. The load is represented by a load resistor  208  with load resistance, R L , as shown. The solar-cell module  204  of the model circuit  200  includes a plurality of solar cells: a first solar cell  210  including a current source  210   a  that generates a photocurrent, i L1 , produced by example photon  214  with energy, hv 1 , a diode  210   b  and a shunt resistor  210   c  with shunt resistance, R Sh1 ; a second solar cell  230  including a current source  230   a  that generates a photocurrent, i L2 , produced by example photon  234  with energy, hv 2 , a diode  230   b  and a shunt resistor  230   c  with shunt resistance, R Sh2 ; and, a terminating solar cell  260  including a current source  260   a  that generates a photocurrent, i L3 , produced by example photon  264  with energy, hv n , a diode  260   b  and a shunt resistor  260   c  with shunt resistance, R Shn . Parasitic series internal resistances of the respective solar cells  210 ,  230  and  260  have been omitted from the schematic diagram to simplify the discussion. Instead, series resistors with series resistances, R S1 , R S2  and R Sn  are shown disposed in the solar-cell module  204  of the model circuit  200  connected in series with the solar cells  210 ,  230  and  260  and the load resistor  208 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the current sources are such as to produce counterclockwise electrical current, or equivalently an clockwise electron-flow, flowing around each of the loops of the circuit shown; embodiments of the present invention also apply, without limitation thereto, to solar-cell circuits in which the electrical current flows in a clockwise direction, or equivalently electrons flow in a counterclockwise direction. Similarly, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the diode is shown having a polarity consistent with electrical current flowing counterclockwise, or equivalently electron-flow clockwise, around the loops of the circuit shown; embodiments of the present invention apply, without limitation thereto, to a solar cell in which the diode of the model circuit has the opposite polarity in which electrical current flows clockwise, or equivalently electron-flow flows counterclockwise, around the loops of the circuit shown. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 2 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the series resistors with series resistances R S1  and R S2  correspond to interconnect assemblies  220  and  240 , respectively. Series resistor with series resistance, R S1 , corresponding to interconnect assembly  220  is shown configured both to collect current from the first solar cell  210  and to interconnect electrically to the second solar cell  230 . Series resistor with series resistance, R Sn , corresponds to an integrated solar-cell, current collector  270 . The ellipsis  250  indicates additional solar cells and interconnect assemblies (not shown) coupled in alternating pairs in series in model circuit  200  that make up the solar-cell module  204 . Also, in series with the solar cells  210 ,  230  and  260  are a first busbar  284  and a terminating busbar  280  with series resistances R B1  and R B2 , respectively, that carry the electrical current generated by solar-cell module  204  to the load resistor  208 . The series resistor with resistance R Sn , corresponding to the integrated solar-cell, current collector  270 , and R B2 , corresponding to the terminating busbar  280 , in combination correspond to a integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector  290  coupling the terminating solar cell  260  with the load resistor  208 . In addition, series resistor with resistance R S1 , corresponding to interconnect assembly  220 , and first solar cell  210  in combination correspond to a combined solar-cell, interconnect assembly  294 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2  and as used herein, it should be noted that the phrases “to collect current,” “collecting current” and “current collector” refer to collecting, transferring, and/or transmitting current carriers of either sign, whether they be positively charged holes or negatively charged electrons; for the structures shown in  FIGS. 1A-B ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 A-F,  5 A-C and  6 A-B, in which an interconnect assembly is disposed above and electrically coupled to an n-type portion of the solar cell, the current carriers collected under normal operating conditions are negatively charged electrons. Moreover, embodiments of the present invention apply, without limitation thereto, to solar cell configurations where a p-type layer is disposed on an n-type absorber layer, in which case the current carriers collected may be positively charged holes, as would be the case for solar cells modeled by diodes and current sources of opposite polarity to those of  FIGS. 1A-B ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 A-F,  5 A-C and  6 A-B. Therefore, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a current collector and associated interconnect assembly that collects current may, without limitation thereto, collect, transfer, and/or transmit charges associated with an electrical current, and/or charges associated with an electron-flow, as for either polarity of the diodes and current sources described herein, and thus for either configuration of a solar cell with an n-type layer disposed on and electrically coupled to a p-type absorber layer or a p-type layer disposed on and electrically coupled to an n-type absorber layer, as well as other solar cell configurations. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 2 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the series resistances of the interconnect assemblies  220  and  240 , integrated solar-cell, current collector  270 , and the interconnect assemblies included in ellipsis  250  can have a substantial net series resistance in the model circuit  200  of the solar-cell module  204 , unless the series resistances of the interconnect assemblies  220  and  240 , integrated solar-cell, current collector  270 , and the interconnect assemblies included in ellipsis  250  are made small. If a large plurality of solar cells are connected in series, the short circuit current of the solar-cell module, I SCM , may be reduced, which also directly affects the solar-cell-module efficiency analogous to the manner in which solar-cell efficiency is reduced by a parasitic series resistance, R S , as described above with reference to  FIG. 1 . Embodiments of the present invention provide for diminishing the series resistances of the interconnect assemblies  220  and  240 , integrated solar-cell, current collector  270 , and the interconnect assemblies included in ellipsis  250 . 
     With reference now to  FIG. 3 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a schematic diagram of a model circuit  300  of a solar-cell module  304  is shown that illustrates embodiments of the present invention such that the series resistances of the interconnect assemblies  320  and  340 , integrated solar-cell, current collector  370 , and the interconnect assemblies included in ellipsis  350  are made small. The solar-cell module  304  is coupled to a load represented by a load resistor  308  with load resistance, R L , as shown. The solar-cell module  304  of the model circuit  300  includes a plurality of solar cells: a first solar cell  310  including a current source  310   a  that generates a photocurrent, i L1 , produced by example photon  314  with energy, hv 1 , a diode  310   b  and a shunt resistor  310   c  with shunt resistance, R Sh1 ; a second solar cell  330  including a current source  330   a  that generates a photocurrent, i L2 , produced by example photon  334  with energy, hv 2 , a diode  330   b  and a shunt resistor  330   c  with shunt resistance, R Sh2 ; and, a terminating solar cell  360  including a current source  360   a  that generates a photocurrent, i L3 , produced by example photon  364  with energy, hv n , a diode  360   b  and a shunt resistor  360   c  with shunt resistance, R Shn . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 3 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the interconnect assemblies  320  and  340  and the integrated solar-cell, current collector  370 , with respective equivalent series resistances R S1 , R S2  and R Sn  are shown disposed in the solar-cell module  304  of the model circuit  300  connected in series with the solar cells  310 ,  330  and  360  and the load resistor  308 . The ellipsis  350  indicates additional solar cells and interconnect assemblies (not shown) coupled in alternating pairs in series in model circuit  300  that make up the solar-cell module  304 . Also, in series with the solar cells  310 ,  330  and  360  are a first busbar  384  and a terminating busbar  380  with series resistances R B1  and R B2 , respectively, that carry the electrical current generated by solar-cell module  304  to the load resistor  308 . The integrated solar-cell, current collector  370  with resistance R Sn , and the series resistor with series resistance R B2 , corresponding to the terminating busbar  380 , in combination correspond to an integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector  390  coupling the terminating solar cell  360  with the load resistor  308 . In addition, interconnect assembly  320  with resistance, R S2 , and solar cell  310  in combination correspond to a combined solar-cell, interconnect assembly  394 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 3 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the interconnect assembly  320  includes a trace including a plurality of electrically conductive portions, identified with resistors  320   a ,  320   b ,  320   c , and  320   m  with respective resistances, r P11 , r P12 , r P13  and r P1m , and the ellipsis  320 i indicating additional resistors (not shown). It should be noted that although the plurality of electrically conductive portions of the trace are modeled here as discrete resistors the interconnection with solar cell  330  is considerably more complicated involving the distributed resistance in the TCO layer of the solar cell, which has been omitted for the sake of elucidating functional features of embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that embodiments of the present invention may also include, without limitation thereto, the effects of such distributed resistances on the trace. The plurality of electrically conductive portions, without limitation thereto, identified with resistors  320   a ,  320   b ,  320   c ,  320   i , and  320   m , are configured both to collect current from the first solar cell  310  and to interconnect electrically to the second solar cell  330 . The plurality of electrically conductive portions, identified with resistors  320   a ,  320   b ,  320   c ,  320   i , and  320   m , are configured such that upon interconnecting the first solar cell  310  and the second solar cell  330  the plurality of electrically conductive portions are connected electrically in parallel between the first solar cell  310  and the second solar cell  330 . 
     Thus, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of electrically conductive portions is configured such that equivalent series resistance, R S1 , of the interconnect assembly  320  including the parallel network of resistors  320   a ,  320   b ,  320   c ,  320   i , and  320   m , is less than the resistance of any one resistor in the parallel network. Therefore, upon interconnecting the first solar cell  310  with the second solar cell  330 , the equivalent series resistance, R S1 , of the interconnect assembly  320 , is given approximately, omitting the effects of distributed resistances at the interconnects with the first and second solar cells  310  and  330 , by the formula for a plurality of resistors connected electrically in parallel, viz. R S1 =1/[Σ(1/r P1i )], where r P1i  is the resistance of the ith resistor in the parallel-resistor network, and the sum, Σ, is taken over all of the resistors in the network from i=1 to m. Hence, by connecting the first solar cell  310  to the second solar cell  330 , with the interconnect assembly  320 , the series resistance, R S1 , of the interconnect assembly  320  can be reduced lowering the effective series resistance between solar cells in the solar-cell module  304  improving the solar-cell-module efficiency. 
     Moreover, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the configuration of the plurality of electrically conductive portions due to this parallel arrangement of electrically conductive portions between the first solar cell  310  and the second solar cell  330  provides a redundancy of electrical current carrying capacity between interconnected solar cells should one of the plurality of electrically conductive portions become damaged, or its reliability become impaired. Thus, embodiments of the present invention provide that the plurality of electrically conductive portions is configured such that solar-cell efficiency is substantially undiminished in an event that any one of the plurality of electrically conductive portions is conductively impaired, because the loss of electrical current through any one electrically conductive portion will be compensated for by the plurality of other parallel electrically conductive portions coupling the first solar cell  310  with the second solar cell  330 . It should be noted that as used herein the phrase, “substantially undiminished,” with respect to solar-cell efficiency means that the solar-cell efficiency is not reduced below an acceptable level of productive performance. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 3 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the interconnect assembly  340  includes a trace including a plurality of electrically conductive portions identified with resistors  340   a ,  340   b ,  340   c , and  340   m  with respective resistances, r P2   1 , r P22  , r P23  and r P2m , and the ellipsis  340 i indicating additional resistors (not shown). The plurality of electrically conductive portions, without limitation thereto, identified with resistors  340   a ,  340   b ,  340   c ,  340   i , and  340   m , are configured both to collect current from a first solar cell  330  and to interconnect electrically to a second solar cell, in this case a next adjacent one of the plurality of solar cells represented by ellipsis  350 . From this example, it should be clear that for embodiments of the present invention a first solar cell and a second solar cell refer, without limitation thereto, to just two adjacent solar cells configured in series in the solar-cell module, and need not be limited to a solar cell located first in line of a series of solar cells in a solar-cell module, nor a solar cell located second in line of a series of solar cells in a solar-cell module. The resistors  340   a ,  340   b ,  340   c ,  340   i , and  340   m , are configured such that upon interconnecting the first solar cell  330  and the second solar cell, in this case the next adjacent solar cell of the plurality of solar cells represented by ellipsis  350 , the resistors  340   a ,  340   b ,  340   c ,  340   i , and  340   m , are coupled electrically in parallel between the first solar cell  330  and the second solar cell, the next adjacent solar cell of the plurality of solar cells represented by ellipsis  350 . 
     Thus, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of electrically conductive portions is configured such that series resistance, R S2 , of the interconnect assembly  340  including the parallel network of resistors  340   a ,  340   b ,  340   c ,  340   i , and  340   m , is less than the resistance of any one resistor in the network. Hence, the series resistance, R S2 , of the interconnect assembly  340  can be reduced lowering the effective series resistance between solar cells in the solar-cell module improving the solar-cell-module efficiency of the solar-cell module  304 . Moreover, the plurality of electrically conductive portions, identified with resistors  340   a ,  340   b ,  340   c ,  340   i , and  340   m , may be configured such that solar-cell efficiency is substantially undiminished in an event that any one of the plurality of electrically conductive portions is conductively impaired. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 3 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the combined solar-cell, interconnect assembly  394  includes the first solar cell  310  and the interconnect assembly  320 ; the interconnect assembly  320  includes a trace disposed above a light-facing side of the first solar cell  310 , the trace further including a plurality of electrically conductive portions, identified with resistors  320   a ,  320   b ,  320   c , and  320   m  with respective resistances, r P21 , r P22 , r P23  and r P2m , and the ellipsis  320   i  indicating additional resistors (not shown). All electrically conductive portions of the plurality of electrically conductive portions, without limitation thereto, identified with resistors  320   a ,  320   b ,  320   c ,  320   i , and  320   m , are configured to collect current from the first solar cell  310  and to interconnect electrically to the second solar cell  330 . In addition, the plurality of electrically conductive portions, identified with resistors  320   a ,  320   b ,  320   c ,  320   i , and  320   m , may be configured such that solar-cell efficiency is substantially undiminished in an event that any one of the plurality of electrically conductive portions is conductively impaired. Also, any of the plurality of electrically conductive portions, identified with resistors  320   a ,  320   b ,  320   c ,  320   i , and  320   m , may be configured to interconnect electrically to the second solar cell  330 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 3 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector  390  includes the terminating busbar  380  and the integrated solar-cell, current collector  370 . The integrated solar-cell, current collector  370  includes a trace including a plurality of electrically conductive portions, identified with resistors  370   a ,  370   b ,  370   l , and  370   m  with respective resistances, r Pn1 , r Pn2 , r Pnl  and r Pnm , and the ellipsis  370 i indicating additional resistors (not shown). The plurality of electrically conductive portions, without limitation thereto, identified with resistors  370   a ,  370   b ,  370   i ,  370   l  and  370   m , are configured both to collect current from the first solar cell  310  and to interconnect electrically to the terminating busbar  380 . The resistors  370   a ,  370   b ,  370   i ,  370   l  and  370   m , are coupled electrically in parallel between the terminating solar cell  360  and the terminating busbar  380  series resistor with series resistance, R B2 . Thus, the plurality of electrically conductive portions is configured such that series resistance, R Sn , of the interconnect assembly  340  including the parallel network of resistors  370   a ,  370   b ,  370   i ,  370   l  and  370   m , is less than the resistance of any one resistor in the network. 
     In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the integrated solar-cell, current collector  370  includes a plurality of integrated pairs of electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions. Resistors  370   a ,  370   b ,  370   l  and  370   m  with respective resistances, r Pn1 , r Pn2 , r Pnl  and r Pnm , and the ellipsis  370 i indicating additional resistors (not shown) form such a plurality of integrated pairs of electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions when suitably paired as adjacent pair units connected electrically together as an integral unit over the terminating solar cell  360 . For example, one such pair of the plurality of integrated pairs of electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions is pair of resistors  370   a  and  370   b  connected electrically together as an integral unit over the terminating solar cell  360 , as shown. The plurality of integrated pairs of electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions are configured both to collect current from the terminating solar cell  360  and to interconnect electrically to the terminating busbar  380 . Moreover, the plurality of integrated pairs of electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions is configured such that solar-cell efficiency is substantially undiminished in an event that any one electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portion, for example, either one, but not both, of the resistors  370   a  and  370   b  of the integral pair, of the plurality of integrated pairs of electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions is conductively impaired. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 3 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the solar-cell module  304  includes the first solar cell  310 , at least the second solar cell  330  and the interconnect assembly  320  disposed above a light-facing side of an absorber layer of the first solar cell  310 . The interconnect assembly  320  includes a trace including a plurality of electrically conductive portions, identified with resistors  320   a ,  320   b ,  320   c , and  320   m  with respective resistances, r P11 , r P12  , r P13  and r P1m , and the ellipsis  320   i  indicating additional resistors (not shown). The plurality of electrically conductive portions is configured both to collect current from the first solar cell  310  and to interconnect electrically to the second solar cell  330 . The plurality of electrically conductive portions is configured such that solar-cell efficiency is substantially undiminished in an event that any one of the plurality of electrically conductive portions is conductively impaired. 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  4 C, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a schematic diagram of a model circuit  400 A of an interconnect assembly  420  connecting a first solar cell  410  to a second solar cell  430  of a solar-cell module  404  is shown. The interconnect assembly  420  includes a trace including a plurality of electrically conductive portions, identified with resistors  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c , and  420   m  with respective resistances, r P11 , r P12  , r P13  and r P1m , and the ellipsis  420 i indicating additional resistors (not shown). The plurality of electrically conductive portions, without limitation thereto, identified with resistors  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i , and  420   m , are configured both to collect current from the first solar cell  410  and to interconnect electrically to the second solar cell  430 . The plurality of electrically conductive portions, identified with resistors  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i , and  420   m , are configured such that, upon interconnecting the first solar cell  410  and the second solar cell  430 , the plurality of electrically conductive portions are connected electrically in parallel between the first solar cell  410  and the second solar cell  430 . The plurality of electrically conductive portions is configured such that equivalent series resistance, R S1 , of the interconnect assembly  420  including the parallel network of resistors  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i , and  420   m , is less than the resistance of any one resistor in the parallel network. Therefore, by connecting the first solar cell  410  to the second solar cell  430 , with the interconnect assembly  420 , the series resistance, R S1 , of the interconnect assembly  420  can be reduced lowering the effective series resistance between solar cells in the solar-cell module  404  improving the solar-cell-module efficiency. 
     Moreover, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the configuration of the plurality of electrically conductive portions due to this parallel arrangement of electrically conductive portions between the first solar cell  410  and the second solar cell  430  provides a redundancy of electrical current carrying capacity between interconnected solar cells should any one of the plurality of electrically conductive portions become damaged, or its reliability become impaired. Thus, embodiments of the present invention provide that the plurality of electrically conductive portions is configured such that solar-cell efficiency is substantially undiminished in an event that any one of the plurality of electrically conductive portions is conductively impaired, because the loss of electrical current through any one electrically conductive portion will be compensated for by the plurality of the unimpaired parallel electrically conductive portions coupling the first solar cell  410  with the second solar cell  430 . It should be noted that as used herein the phrase, “substantially undiminished,” with respect to solar-cell efficiency means that the solar-cell efficiency is not reduced below an acceptable level of productive performance. In addition, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of electrically conductive portions may be configured in pairs of electrically conductive portions, for example, identified with resistors  420   a  and  420   b . Thus, the plurality of electrically conductive portions may be configured such that solar-cell efficiency is substantially undiminished even in an event that, in every pair of electrically conductive portions of the plurality of electrically conductive portions, one electrically conductive portion of the pair is conductively impaired. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, each member of a pair of electrically conductive portions may be electrically equivalent to the other member of the pair, but need not be electrically equivalent to the other member of the pair, it only being necessary that in an event one member, a first member, of the pair becomes conductively impaired the other member, a second member, is configured such that solar-cell efficiency is substantially undiminished. 
     With further reference to  FIGS. 4B and 4C , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a plan view  400 B of the interconnect assembly  420  of  FIG. 4A  is shown that details the physical interconnection of two solar cells  410  and  430  in the solar-cell module  404 . The solar-cell module  404  includes the first solar cell  410 , at least the second solar cell  430  and the interconnect assembly  420  disposed above a light-facing side  416  of the absorber layer of the first solar cell  410 . The interconnect assembly  420  includes a trace including a plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m , previously identified herein with the resistors  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  described in  FIG. 400A , where the ellipsis of  420   i  indicates additional electrically conductive portions (not shown). The plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  is configured both to collect current from the first solar cell  410  and to interconnect electrically to the second solar cell  430 . The plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  is configured such that solar-cell efficiency is substantially undiminished in an event that any one of the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  is conductively impaired. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 4B , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the detailed configuration of the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  is shown. The plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  further includes a first portion  420   a  of the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  configured both to collect current from the first solar cell  410  and to interconnect electrically to the second solar cell  430  and a second portion  420   b  of the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  configured both to collect current from the first solar cell  410  and to interconnect electrically to the second solar cell  430 . The first portion  420   a  includes a first end  420   p  distal from the second solar cell  430 . Also, the second portion  420   b  includes a second end  420   q  distal from the second solar cell  430 . The second portion  420   b  is disposed proximately to the first portion  420   a  and electrically connected to the first portion  420   a  such that the first distal end  420   p  is electrically connected to the second distal end  420   q , for example, at first junction  420   r , or by a linking portion, such that the second portion  420   b  is configured electrically in parallel to the first portion  420   a  when configured to interconnect to the second solar cell  430 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 4B , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  may further include the second portion  420   b  including a third end  420   s  distal from the first solar cell  410  and a third portion  420   c  of the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  configured both to collect current from the first solar cell  410  and to interconnect electrically to the second solar cell  430 . The third portion  420   c  includes a fourth end  420   t  distal from the first solar cell  410 . The third portion  420   c  is disposed proximately to the second portion  420   b  and electrically connected to the second portion  420   b  such that the third distal end  420   s  is electrically connected to the fourth distal end  420   t , for example, at second junction  420   u , or by a linking portion, such that the third portion  420   c  is configured electrically in parallel to the second portion  420   b  when configured to interconnect with the first solar cell  430 . 
     With further reference to  FIGS. 4B and 4C , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that the nature of the parallel connection between electrically conductive portions interconnecting a first solar cell and a second solar cell is such that, for distal ends of electrically conductive portions not directly joined together, without limitation thereto, the metallic substrate of a second solar cell and a TCO layer of the first solar cell may provide the necessary electrical coupling. For example, distal ends  420   v  and  420   s  are electrically coupled through a low resistance connection through a metallic substrate  430   c  of second solar cell  430 . Similarly, for example, distal ends  420   w  and  420   q  are electrically coupled through the low resistance connection through the TCO layer  410   b  of first solar cell  410 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 4B , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, an open-circuit defect  440  is shown such that second portion  420   b  is conductively impaired.  FIG. 4B  illustrates the manner in which the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  is configured such that solar-cell efficiency is substantially undiminished in an event that any one of the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  is conductively impaired, for example, second portion  420   b . An arrow  448  indicates the nominal electron-flow through a third portion  420   c  of the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  essentially unaffected by open-circuit defect  440 . In the absence of open-circuit defect  440 , an electron-flow indicated by arrow  448  would normally flow through any one electrically conductive portion of the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m , in particular, second portion  420   b . However, when the open-circuit defect  440  is present, this electron-flow divides into two portions shown by arrows  442  and  444 : arrow  442  corresponding to that portion of the normal electron-flow flowing to the right along the second portion  420   b  to the second solar cell  430 , and arrow  444  corresponding to that portion of the normal electron-flow flowing to the left along the second portion  420   b  to the first portion  420   a  and then to the right along the first portion  420   a  to the second solar cell  430 . Thus, the net electron-flow represented by arrow  446  flowing to the right along the first portion  420   a  is consequently larger than what would normally flow to the right along the first portion  420   a  to the second solar cell  430  in the absence of the open-circuit defect  440 . 
     It should be noted that open-circuit defect  440  is for illustration purposes only and that embodiments of the present invention compensate for other types of defects in an electrically conductive portion, in general, such as, without limitation to: a delamination of an electrically conductive portion from the first solar cell  410 , corrosion of an electrically conductive portion, and even complete loss of an electrically conductive portion. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, in the event a defect completely conductively impairs an electrically conductive portion, the physical spacing between adjacent electrically conductive portions, identified with double-headed arrow  449 , may be chosen such that solar-cell efficiency is substantially undiminished. Nevertheless, embodiments of the present invention embrace, without limitation thereto, other physical spacings between adjacent electrically conductive portions in the event defects are less severe than those causing a complete loss of one of the electrically conductive portions. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 4B , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  may be connected electrically in series to form a single continuous electrically conductive line. Moreover, the trace that includes the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  may be disposed in a serpentine pattern such that the interconnect assembly  420  is configured to collect current from the first solar cell  410  and to interconnect electrically to the second solar cell  430 , as shown. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 4C , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a cross-sectional, elevation view  400 C of the interconnect assembly  420  is shown that further details the physical interconnection of two solar cells  410  and  430  in the solar-cell module  404 . Projections  474  and  478  of planes orthogonal to both of the views in  FIGS. 4B and 4C , and coincident with the ends of the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  show the correspondence between features of the plan view  400 B of  FIG. 4B  and features in the cross-sectional, elevation view  400 C of  FIG. 4C . Also, it should be noted that although the solar-cell module  404  is shown with separation  472  between the first solar cell  410  and the second solar cell  430 , there need not be such separation  472  between the first solar cell  410  and the second solar cell  430 . As shown in  FIGS. 4B and 4C , a combined solar-cell, interconnect assembly  494  includes the first solar cell  410  and the interconnect assembly  420 . The interconnect assembly  420  includes the trace disposed above the light-facing side  416  of the first solar cell  410 , the trace further including the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m . All electrically conductive portions of the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  are configured to collect current from the first solar cell  410  and to interconnect electrically to the second solar cell  430 . In addition, the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  may be configured such that solar-cell efficiency is substantially undiminished in an event that any one of the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  is conductively impaired. Also, any of the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  may be configured to interconnect electrically to the second solar cell  430 . The first solar cell  410  of the combined solar-cell, interconnect assembly  494  may include a metallic substrate  410   c  and an absorber layer  410   a . The absorber layer  410   a  of the first solar cell  410  may include copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS). Alternatively, other semiconductors having the chalcopyrite crystal structure, for example, chemically homologous compounds with the compound CIGS having the chalcopyrite crystal structure, in which alternative elemental constituents are substituted for Cu, In, Ga, and/or Se, may be used as the absorber layer  410   a . Moreover, in embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that semiconductors, such as silicon and cadmium telluride, as well as other semiconductors, may be used as the absorber layer  410   a.    
     With further reference to  FIG. 4C , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  of the combined solar-cell, interconnect assembly  494  further includes the first portion  420   a  of the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  configured to collect current from the first solar cell  410  and the second portion  420   b  of the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  configured to collect current from the first solar cell  410 . The first portion  420   a  includes the first end  420   p  distal from an edge  414  of the first solar cell  410 . The second portion  420   b  includes the second end  420   q  distal from the edge  414  of the first solar cell  410 . The second portion  420   b  is disposed proximately to the first portion  420   a  and electrically connected to the first portion  420   a  such that the first distal end  420   p  is electrically connected to the second distal end  420   q  such that the second portion  420   b  is configured electrically in parallel to the first portion  420   a  when configured to interconnect to the second solar cell  430 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 4C , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the interconnect assembly  420  further includes a top carrier film  450 . The top carrier film  450  includes a first substantially transparent, electrically insulating layer coupled to the trace and disposed above a top portion of the trace. The first substantially transparent, electrically insulating layer allows for forming a short-circuit-preventing portion  454  at an edge  434  of the second solar cell  430 . The first substantially transparent, electrically insulating layer allows for forming the short-circuit-preventing portion  454  at the edge  434  of the second solar cell  430  to prevent the first portion  420   a  from short circuiting an absorber layer  430   a  of the second solar cell  430  in the event that the first portion  420   a  buckles and rides up a side  432  of second solar cell  430 . The edge  434  is located at the intersection of the side  432  of the second solar cell  430  and a back side  438  of the second solar cell  430  that couples with the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m , for example, first portion  420   a  as shown. The second solar cell  430  may include the absorber layer  430   a , a TCO layer  430   b , and the metallic substrate  430   c ; a backing layer (not shown) may also be disposed between the absorber layer  430   a  and the metallic substrate  430   c . Above a light-facing side  436  of the second solar cell  430 , an integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector (not shown in  FIG. 4C , but which is shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B ) may be disposed and coupled to the second solar cell  430  to provide interconnection with a load (not shown). Alternatively, above the light-facing side  436  of the second solar cell  430 , another interconnect assembly (not shown) may be disposed and coupled to the second solar cell  430  to provide interconnection with additional solar-cells (not shown) in the solar-cell module  404 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 4C , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the interconnect assembly  420  further includes a bottom carrier film  460 . The bottom carrier film  460  may include a second electrically insulating layer coupled to the trace and disposed below a bottom portion of the trace. Alternatively, The bottom carrier film  460  may include a carrier film selected from a group consisting of a second electrically insulating layer, a structural plastic layer, and a metallic layer, and is coupled to the trace and is disposed below a bottom portion of the trace. The second electrically insulating layer allows for forming an edge-protecting portion  464  at the edge  414  of the first solar cell  410 . Alternatively, a supplementary isolation strip (not shown) of a third electrically insulating layer may be disposed between the bottom carrier film  460  and the first portion  420   a  of the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m , or alternatively between the bottom carrier film  460  and the edge  414 , to provide additional protection at the edge  414 . The supplementary isolation strip may be as wide as 5 millimeters (mm) in the direction of the double-headed arrow showing the separation  472 , and may extend along the full length of a side  412  of the first solar cell  410 . The edge  414  is located at the intersection of the side  412  of the first solar cell  410  and a light-facing side  416  of the first solar cell  410  that couples with the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m , for example, first portion  420   a  as shown. The first solar cell  410  may include the absorber layer  410   a , the TCO layer  410   b , and the metallic substrate  410   c ; a backing layer (not shown) may also be disposed between the absorber layer  410   a  and the metallic substrate  410   c . Below a back side  418  of the first solar cell  410 , a first busbar (not shown) may be disposed and coupled to the first solar cell  410  to provide interconnection with a load (not shown). Alternatively, below the back side  418  of the first solar cell  410 , another interconnect assembly (not shown) may be disposed and coupled to the first solar cell  410  to provide interconnection with additional solar-cells (not shown) in the solar-cell module  404 . 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 4D and 4E , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, cross-sectional, elevation views  400 D and  400 E, respectively, of two alternative interconnect assemblies that minimize the separation  472  (see  FIG. 4B ) between the first solar cell  410  and the second solar cell  430  to improve the solar-cell-module efficiency of the solar-cell module  404  are shown. In both examples shown in  FIGS. 4D and 4E , the side  412  of the first solar cell  410  essentially coincides with the side  432  of the second solar cell  430 . It should be noted that as used herein the phrase, “essentially coincides,” with respect to the side  412  of the first solar cell  410  and the side  432  of the second solar cell  430  means that there is little or no separation  472  between the first solar cell  410  and the second solar cell  430 , and little or no overlap of the first solar cell  410  with the second solar cell  430  so that there is less wasted space and open area between the solar cells  410  and  430 , which improves the solar-collection efficiency of the solar-cell module  404  resulting in improved solar-cell-module efficiency.  FIG. 4D  shows an edge-conforming interconnect assembly for the physical interconnection of the two solar cells  410  and  430  in the solar-cell module  404 .  FIG. 4E  shows a shingled-solar-cell arrangement for the physical interconnection of the two solar cells  410  and  430  in the solar-cell module  404 . For both the edge-conforming interconnect assembly of  FIG. 4D  and the shingled-solar-cell arrangement of  FIG. 4E , the interconnect assembly  420  further includes the bottom carrier film  460 . The bottom carrier film  460  includes a second electrically insulating layer coupled to the trace and disposed below a bottom portion of the trace. Alternatively, The bottom carrier film  460  may include a carrier film selected from a group consisting of a second electrically insulating layer, a structural plastic layer, and a metallic layer, and is coupled to the trace and is disposed below a bottom portion of the trace. The second electrically insulating layer allows for forming the edge-protecting portion  464  at the edge  414  of the first solar cell  410 . In the case of the edge-conforming interconnect assembly shown in  FIG. 4D , the bottom carrier film  460  and the first portion  420   a  of the interconnect assembly  420  may be relatively flexible and compliant allowing them to wrap around the edge  414  and down the side  412  of the first solar cell  410 , as shown. The edge  414  is located at the intersection of the side  412  of the first solar cell  410  and the light-facing side  416  of the first solar cell  410  that couples with the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m , for example, first portion  420   a  as shown. The first solar cell  410  may include the absorber layer  410   a , a TCO layer  410   b , and the metallic substrate  410   c ; a backing layer (not shown) may also be disposed between the absorber layer  410   a  and the metallic substrate  410   c . Below the back side  418  of the first solar cell  410 , another interconnect assembly (not shown) or first busbar (not shown) may be disposed and coupled to the first solar cell  410  as described above for  FIG. 4C . If an additional solar cell (not shown) is interconnected to the back side  418  of the first solar cell  410  as in the shingled-solar-cell arrangement of  FIG. 4E , the first solar cell  410  would be pitched upward at its left-hand side and interconnected to another interconnect assembly similar to the manner in which the second solar cell  430  is shown interconnected with solar cell  410  at side  412  in  FIG. 4E . 
     With further reference to  FIGS. 4D and 4E , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the interconnect assembly  420  further includes the top carrier film  450 . The top carrier film  450  includes a first substantially transparent, electrically insulating layer coupled to the trace and disposed above a top portion of the trace. The first substantially transparent, electrically insulating layer allows for forming the short-circuit-preventing portion  454  at the edge  434  of the second solar cell  430  to prevent the first portion  420   a  from short circuiting the absorber layer  430   a  of the second solar cell  430  in the event that the first portion  420   a  rides up the side  432  of second solar cell  430 . The edge  434  is located at the intersection of the side  432  of the second solar cell  430  and the back side  438  of the second solar cell  430  that couples with the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m , for example, first portion  420   a  as shown. In the case of the edge-conforming interconnect assembly shown in  FIG. 4D , the top carrier film  450  may be relatively flexible and compliant allowing it to follow the conformation of the bottom carrier film  460  and the first portion  420   a  of the interconnect assembly  420  underlying it that wrap around the edge  414  and down the side  412  of the first solar cell  410 , as shown. The second solar cell  430  may include the absorber layer  430   a , the TCO layer  430   b , and the metallic substrate  430   c ; a backing layer (not shown) may also be disposed between the absorber layer  430   a  and the metallic substrate  430   c . Also, in the case of the edge-conforming interconnect assembly, the absorber layer  430   a , TCO layer  430   b , and metallic substrate  430   c  of the second solar cell  430  may be relatively flexible and compliant allowing them to follow the conformation of the underlying interconnect assembly  420  that wraps around the edge  414  and down the side  412  of the first solar cell  410 . Above the light-facing side  436  of the second solar cell  430 , an integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector (not shown in  FIG. 4C , but which is shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B ), or alternatively another interconnect assembly (not shown), may be disposed on and coupled to the second solar cell  430 , as described above for  FIG. 4C . 
     With reference now to  FIG. 4F , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a plan view  400 F of an alternative interconnect assembly for the interconnect assembly  420  of  FIG. 4A  is shown that details the physical interconnection of two solar cells  410  and  430  in the solar-cell module  404 . The solar-cell module  404  includes the first solar cell  410 , at least the second solar cell  430  and the interconnect assembly  420  disposed above the light-facing side  416  of the absorber layer of the first solar cell  410 . The edges  414  and  434  of the solar cells  410  and  430  may be separated by the separation  472  as shown in  FIG. 4F ; or alternatively, the edges  414  and  434  of the solar cells  410  and  430  may essentially coincide as discussed above for  FIGS. 4D and 4E . The interconnect assembly  420  includes a trace including a plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m , previously identified herein with the resistors  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  described in  FIG. 400A , where the ellipsis of  420   i  indicates additional electrically conductive portions (not shown). The plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  is configured both to collect current from the first solar cell  410  and to interconnect electrically to the second solar cell  430 . The plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  is configured such that solar-cell efficiency is substantially undiminished in an event that any one of the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  is conductively impaired. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 4F , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the detailed configuration of the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  is shown without electrically connecting trace portions, for example, junctions formed in the trace or linking portions of the trace. For example, in the case where electrically connecting trace portions of the trace have been cut away, removed, or are otherwise absent, from the distal ends of the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m , as shown in  FIG. 4F . The plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  may be linked together instead indirectly by the TCO layer  410   b  of the first solar cell  410  at distal ends of the trace disposed over the first solar cell  410 , for example, first distal end  420   p  of first portion  420   a  and second distal end  420   q  of second portion  420   b  by portions of the TCO layer  410   b  of the first solar cell  410  that lie in between the distal ends  420   p  and  420   q . In like fashion, the distal ends  420   w  and  420   q  are electrically coupled through the low resistance connection through the TCO layer  410   b  of first solar cell  410 . Similarly, the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  may be linked together instead indirectly by the metallic substrate  430   c , or intervening backing layer (not shown), of the first solar cell  430  at distal ends of the trace disposed under the second solar cell  430 , for example, third distal end  420   s  of second portion  420   b  and fourth distal end  420   t  of third portion  420   c  by portions of the metallic substrate  430   c  of the second solar cell  430  that lie in between the distal ends  420   s  and  420   t . In like fashion, the distal ends  420   v  and  420   s  are electrically coupled through a low resistance connection through the metallic substrate  430   c  of second solar cell  430 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 4F , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the open-circuit defect  440  is shown such that second portion  420   b  is conductively impaired.  FIG. 4F  illustrates the manner in which the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  is configured such that solar-cell efficiency is substantially undiminished in an event that any one of the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  is conductively impaired, for example, second portion  420   b . An arrow  480  indicates the nominal electron-flow through an m-th portion  420   m  of the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  essentially unaffected by open-circuit defect  440 . In the absence of open-circuit defect  440 , an electron-flow indicated by arrow  480  would normally flow through any one electrically conductive portion of the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m , in particular, second portion  420   b . However, when the open-circuit defect  440  is present, portions of this electron-flow are lost to adjacent electrically conductive portions  420   a  and  420   c  shown by arrows  484   a  and  484   c ; arrow  482  corresponds to that portion of the normal electron-flow flowing to the right along the second portion  420   b  to the second solar cell  430 , and arrow  484   b  corresponds to that portion of the normal electron-flow that would bridge the open-circuit defect  440  by flowing through the higher resistance path of the TCO layer  410   b  bridging across the two portions of second portion  420   b  on either side of the open-circuit defect  440 . Thus, the net electron-flow represented by arrow  486  flowing to the right along the first portion  420   a  is consequently larger than what would normally flow to the right along the first portion  420   a  to the second solar cell  430  in the absence of the open-circuit defect  440 ; and, the net electron-flow represented by arrow  488  flowing to the right along the third portion  420   c  is consequently larger than what would normally flow to the right along the third portion  420   c  to the second solar cell  430  in the absence of the open-circuit defect  440 . 
     Moreover, in the case of the alternative interconnect assembly depicted in  FIG. 4F , as stated before for the interconnect assembly depicted in  FIG. 4B , it should again be noted that open-circuit defect  440  is for illustration purposes only and that embodiments of the present invention compensate for other types of defects in an electrically conductive portion, in general, such as, without limitation to: a delamination of an electrically conductive portion from the first solar cell  410 , corrosion of an electrically conductive portion, and even complete loss of an electrically conductive portion. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, in the event a defect completely conductively impairs an electrically conductive portion, the physical spacing between adjacent electrically conductive portions, identified with double-headed arrow  449 , may be chosen such that solar-cell efficiency is substantially undiminished. Nevertheless, embodiments of the present invention embrace, without limitation thereto, other physical spacings between adjacent electrically conductive portions in the event defects are less severe than those causing a complete loss of one of the electrically conductive portions. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 5A , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a plan view  500 A of the combined applicable carrier film, interconnect assembly  504  is shown.  FIG. 5A  shows the physical arrangement of a trace  520  with respect to a top carrier film  550  and a bottom carrier film  560  in the combined applicable carrier film, interconnect assembly  504 . The combined applicable carrier film, interconnect assembly  504  includes the top carrier film  550  and the trace  520  including a plurality of electrically conductive portions  520   a ,  520   b ,  520   c ,  520   d ,  520   e ,  520   f ,  520   g ,  520   m  and  520   i , the latter corresponding to the ellipsis indicating additional electrically conductive portions (not shown). The plurality of electrically conductive portions  520   a  through  520   m  is configured both to collect current from a first solar cell  510  (shown in  FIG. 5C ) and to interconnect electrically to a second solar cell (not shown). As shown in  FIG. 5A , the plurality of electrically conductive portions  520   a  through  520   m  run over the top of the first solar cell  510  on the left and over an edge  514  of the first solar cell  510  to the right under an edge  534  of, and underneath, the second solar cell (not shown). The top carrier film  550  includes a first substantially transparent, electrically insulating layer  550 A (shown in  FIG. 5B ). The plurality of electrically conductive portions  520   a  through  520   m  is configured such that solar-cell efficiency is substantially undiminished in an event that any one of the plurality of electrically conductive portions  520   a  through  520   m  is conductively impaired. It should be noted that as used herein the phrase, “substantially transparent,” with respect to a substantially transparent, electrically insulating layer means that light passes through the substantially transparent, electrically insulating layer with negligible absorption. The first substantially transparent, electrically insulating layer  550   a  is coupled to the trace  520  and disposed above a top portion of the trace  520  (shown in  FIG. 5B ) as indicated by the dashed portions of the trace  520  on the left of  FIG. 5A . 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 5B and 5C , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a cross-sectional, elevation view of the combined applicable carrier film, interconnect assembly  504  of  FIG. 5A  is shown. As shown in  FIGS. 5B and 5C , the cross-section of the view is taken along a cut parallel to the edge  514  of the first solar cell  510 . The cross-sectional, elevation view of  FIG. 5B  shows the physical arrangement of the trace  520  with respect to the top carrier film  550  in the combined applicable carrier film, interconnect assembly  504  prior to disposition on the first solar cell  510 . On the other hand, the cross-sectional, elevation view of  FIG. 5C  shows the physical arrangement of the trace  520  with respect to the top carrier film  550  and the first solar cell  510  of the combined applicable carrier film, interconnect assembly  504  after it couples with the first solar cell  510 . The top carrier film  550  and the trace  520  are configured for applying to a light-facing side of the first solar cell  510  both to collect current from the first solar cell  510  and to interconnect electrically to the second solar cell (not shown). The first solar cell  510  may include an absorber layer  510   a , a TCO layer  510   b , and a metallic substrate  510   c ; the backing layer (not shown) may also be disposed between the absorber layer  510   a  and the metallic substrate  510   c . The first substantially transparent, electrically insulating layer  550   a  holds the trace  520  down in contact with the first solar cell  510  and allows for forming a short-circuit-preventing portion at an edge of the second solar cell (not shown). The top carrier film  550  further includes a first substantially transparent, adhesive medium  550   b  coupling the trace  520  to the substantially transparent, electrically insulating layer  550   a . As shown in  FIG. 5B , prior to disposition on the first solar cell  510 , the top carrier film  550  lies relatively flat across the top portion of the trace  520 , for example, as for the conformational state of the top carrier film  550  immediately after roll-to-roll fabrication of the combined applicable carrier film, interconnect assembly  504 . In contrast, after disposition on the first solar cell  510 , the top carrier film  550  conforms to the top portion of the trace  520 , as shown in  FIG. 5B . The first substantially transparent, adhesive medium  550   b  allows for coupling the trace  520  to the first solar cell  510  without requiring solder. The first substantially transparent, electrically insulating layer  550   a  may include a structural plastic material, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a first substantially transparent, adhesive medium such as first substantially transparent, adhesive medium  550   b  may be included, without limitation thereto, in a top carrier film of: the combined applicable carrier film, interconnect assembly  504 , the interconnect assembly  320 , the integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector  690  (see  FIG. 6B ), the combined solar-cell, interconnect assembly  494 , or the interconnect assembly  420  of the solar-cell module  404 . 
     With further reference to  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  5 C, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the combined applicable carrier film, interconnect assembly  504  further includes the bottom carrier film  560 . The bottom carrier film  560  includes a second electrically insulating layer, like  550   a , coupled to the trace  520  and disposed below a bottom portion of the trace  520 , as indicated by the solid-line portions of the trace  520  on the right of  FIG. 5A . Alternatively, the bottom carrier film  560  may include a carrier film selected from a group consisting of a second electrically insulating layer, a structural plastic layer, and a metallic layer, and is coupled to the trace  520  and is disposed below a bottom portion of the trace  520 . The second electrically insulating layer, like  550   a , holds the trace  520  down in contact with a back side of the second solar cell (not shown) and allows for forming an edge-protecting portion at the edge  514  of the first solar cell  510 . The bottom carrier film  560  further includes a second adhesive medium, like  550   b , coupling the trace to the second electrically insulating layer, like  550   a . The second adhesive medium, like  550   b , allows for coupling the trace  520  to the back side of the second solar cell (not shown) without requiring solder. The second electrically insulating layer, like  550   a , includes a structural plastic material, such as PET. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a second adhesive medium, like  550   b , may be included, without limitation thereto, in a bottom carrier film of: the combined applicable carrier film, interconnect assembly  504 , the interconnect assembly  320 , the combined solar-cell, interconnect assembly  494 , or the interconnect assembly  420  of the solar-cell module  404 . 
     With further reference to  FIGS. 5A , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the trace  520  may be disposed in a serpentine pattern that allows for collecting current from the first solar cell  510  (shown in  FIG. 5C ) and electrically interconnecting to the second solar cell (not shown). It should be noted that neither the first solar cell  510  nor the second solar cell (not shown) are shown in  FIG. 5A  so as not to obscure the structure of the combined applicable carrier film, interconnect assembly  504 . As shown in  FIG. 5A , the combined applicable carrier film, interconnect assembly  504  includes the trace  520  including the plurality of electrically conductive portions  520   a  through  520   m  that may run in a serpentine pattern back and forth between the first solar cell  510  and the second solar cell (not shown). The serpentine pattern is such that adjacent electrically conductive portions of the plurality of electrically conductive portions  520   a  through  520   m  are configured in pairs of adjacent electrically conductive portions:  520   a  and  520   b ,  520   c  and  520   d ,  520   e  and  520   f , etc. The pairs of adjacent electrically conductive portions may be configured in a regular repeating pattern of equally spaced adjacent electrically conductive portions. The trace  520  including the plurality of electrically conductive portions  520   a  through  520   m  is disposed between the top carrier film  550  disposed above a top portion of the trace  520  and the bottom carrier film  560  disposed below a bottom portion of the trace  520 . The first substantially transparent, electrically insulating layer  550   a  of top carrier film  550  and the second electrically insulating layer, or alternatively, structural plastic layer or metallic layer, of bottom carrier film  560  are coupled to the trace  520  with a first substantially transparent, adhesive medium  550   b  and second adhesive medium which also serve to couple the trace  520  to the first solar cell  510 , which may be located on the left, and the second solar cell, which may be located on the right. In the space between the two solar cells, between the edge  514  of the first solar cell and the edge  534  of the second solar cell, the trace is sandwiched between the two carrier films  550  and  560 ; the overlapping region of the two carrier films  550  and  560  extends somewhat beyond the respective edges  514  and  534  of the first and second solar cells so as to form, respectively, an edge-protecting portion at the edge  514  of the first solar cell, and a short-circuit-preventing portion at the edge  534  of the second solar cell, from the trace  520  that crosses the edges  514  and  534 . 
     With further reference to  FIGS. 5B and 5C , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the trace  520  may further include an electrically conductive line including a conductive core  520 A with at least one overlying layer  520 B. In one embodiment of the present invention, the electrically conductive line may include the conductive core  520 A including a material having greater conductivity than nickel, for example, copper, with an overlying nickel layer  520 B. In another embodiment of the present invention, electrically conductive line may include the conductive core  520 A including nickel without the overlying layer  520 B. The electrically conductive line may also be selected from a group consisting of a copper conductive core clad with a silver cladding, a copper conductive core clad with a nickel coating further clad with a silver cladding and an aluminum conductive core clad with a silver cladding. 
     With further reference to  FIGS. 5B and 5C , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the trace  520  for collecting current from a solar cell, for example, the first solar cell  510 , may include an electrically conductive line including the conductive core  520 A, and the overlying layer  520 B that limits current flow to a proximate shunt defect (not shown) in the solar cell. The proximate shunt defect may be proximately located in the vicinity of an electrical contact between the overlying layer  520 B of the electrically conductive line and the TCO layer  510   b  of the solar cell, for example, first solar cell  510 . The overlying layer  520 B of the electrically conductive line of the trace  520  may further include an overlying layer  520 B composed of nickel. The conductive core  520 A of the electrically conductive line of the trace  520  may further include nickel. The conductive core  520 A may also include a material selected from a group consisting of copper, silver, aluminum, and elemental constituents and alloys having high electrical conductivity, which may be greater than the electrical conductivity of nickel. The TCO layer  510   b  of the solar cell, for example, first solar cell  510 , may include a conductive oxide selected from a group consisting of zinc oxide, aluminum zinc oxide and indium tin oxide. In addition, the absorber layer  510   a , for example, absorber layer  112  of  FIG. 1A , of the solar cell, for example, first solar cell  510 , may include copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS). Alternatively, in embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that semiconductors, such as silicon, cadmium telluride, and chalcopyrite semiconductors, as well as other semiconductors, may be used as the absorber layer  510   a . Moreover, an n-type layer, for example, n-type portion  112   b  of absorber layer  112  of  FIG. 1A , of the solar cell, for example, first solar cell  510 , may be disposed on and electrically coupled to a p-type absorber layer, for example, absorber layer  112  of  FIG. 1A , of the solar cell, for example, first solar cell  510 , and the n-type layer, for example, n-type portion  112   b  of absorber layer  112  of  FIG. 1A , may be selected from a group consisting of a metal oxide, a metal sulfide and a metal selenide. 
     Although the trace  520  is shown as having a circular cross-section having a point-like contact with a solar cell, for example, with the TCO layer  510   b , or, without limitation thereto, to a top surface, of the first solar cell  510 , embodiments of the present inventions include, without limitation thereto, other cross-sectional profiles of the trace  520 , such as a profile including a flattened top portion and a flattened bottom portion, so as to increase the contact area between the trace  520  and a solar cell with which it makes contact. For example, a flattened bottom portion of trace  520  increases the contact area with the light-facing side of the first solar cell  510 ; on the other hand, a flattened top portion of trace  520  increases the contact area with a back side of an adjacent solar cell to which the plurality of electrically conductive portions  520   a  through  520   m  of the trace  520  interconnects. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a trace, such as trace  520 , may be included, without limitation thereto, in: the combined applicable carrier film, interconnect assembly  504 , the interconnect assembly  320 , the integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector  690  (see  FIG. 6B ), the combined solar-cell, interconnect assembly  494 , or the interconnect assembly  420  of the solar-cell module  404 . 
     With reference now to  FIG. 6A , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a plan view  600 A of an integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector  690  is shown.  FIG. 6A  shows the physical interconnection of a terminating solar cell  660  with a terminating busbar  680  of the integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector  690 . The integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector  690  includes the terminating busbar  680  and an integrated solar-cell, current collector  670 . The integrated solar-cell, current collector  670  includes a plurality of integrated pairs  670   a &amp; b ,  670   c &amp; d ,  670   e &amp; f ,  670   g &amp; h , and  670   l &amp; m  and  670   i , the ellipsis indicating additional integrated pairs (not shown), of electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions  670   a - m . Throughout the following, the respective integrated pairs:  670   a  and  670   b ,  670   c  and  670   d ,  670   e  and  670   f ,  670   g  and  670   h , and  670   l  and  670   m , are referred to respectively as:  670   a &amp; b ,  670   c &amp; d ,  670   e &amp; f ,  670   g &amp; h , and  670   l &amp; m ; and the electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions:  670   a ,  670   b ,  670   c ,  670   d ,  670   e ,  670   f ,  670   g ,  670   h ,  670   l  and  670   m , are referred to as  670   a - m . The plurality of integrated pairs  670   a &amp; b ,  670   c &amp; c ,  670   e &amp; f ,  670   g &amp; h ,  670   i  and  670   l &amp; m  of electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions  670   a - m  is configured both to collect current from the terminating solar cell  660  and to interconnect electrically to the terminating busbar  680 . The plurality of integrated pairs  670   a &amp; b ,  670   c &amp; c ,  670   e &amp; f ,  670   g &amp; h ,  670   i  and  670   l &amp; m  of electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions  670   a - m  is configured such that solar-cell efficiency is substantially undiminished in an event that any one electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portion, for example,  670   h , of the plurality of integrated pairs  670   a &amp; b ,  670   c &amp; c ,  670   e &amp; f ,  670   g &amp; h ,  670   i  and  670   l &amp; m  of electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions  670   a - m  is conductively impaired. 
     With further reference to  FIGS. 6A and 6B , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of integrated pairs  670   a &amp; b ,  670   c &amp; c ,  670   e &amp; f ,  670   g &amp; h ,  670   i  and  670   l &amp; m  of electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions  670   a - m  further includes a first electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portion  670   a  of a first integrated pair  670   a &amp; b  of the electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions  670   a - m  configured both to collect current from the terminating solar cell  660  and to interconnect electrically to the terminating busbar  680 , and a second electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portion  670   b  of the first integrated pair  670   a &amp; b  of the electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions  670   a - m  configured both to collect current from the terminating solar cell  660  and to interconnect electrically to the terminating busbar  680 . The first electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portion  670   a  includes a first end  670   p  distal from the terminating busbar  680  located parallel to a side  662  of the terminating solar cell  660 . The second electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portion  670   b  includes a second end  670   q  distal from the terminating busbar  680 . The second electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portion  670   b  is disposed proximately to the first electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portion  670   a  and electrically connected to the first electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portion  670   a  such that the first distal end  670   p  is electrically connected to the second distal end  670   q , for example, at first junction  670   r , or by a linking portion, such that the second electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portion  670   b  is configured electrically in parallel to the first electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portion  670   a  when configured to interconnect to the terminating busbar  680 . In addition, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the terminating busbar  680  may be disposed above and connected electrically to extended portions, for example,  670   x  and  670   y , of the plurality of integrated pairs  670   a &amp; b ,  670   c &amp; c ,  670   e &amp; f ,  670   g &amp; h ,  670   i  and  670   l &amp; m  of electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions  670   a - m  configured such that the terminating busbar  680  is configured to reduce shadowing of the terminating solar cell  660 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 6A , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, an open-circuit defect  640  is shown such that eighth electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portion  670   h  is conductively impaired.  FIG. 6A  illustrates the manner in which the plurality of integrated pairs  670   a &amp; b ,  670   c &amp; c ,  670   e &amp; f ,  670   g &amp; h  and  670   l &amp; m  of electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions  670   a - m  is configured such that solar-cell efficiency is substantially undiminished in an event that any one electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portion, for example, eighth electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portion  670   h , of the plurality of integrated pairs  670   a &amp; b ,  670   c &amp; c ,  670   e &amp; f ,  670   g &amp;h and  670   l &amp; m  of electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions  670   a - m  is conductively impaired. The arrow  648  indicates the nominal electron-flow through a sixth electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portion  670 f of the plurality of integrated pairs  670   a &amp; b ,  670   c &amp; c ,  670   e &amp; f ,  670   g &amp; h  and  670   l &amp; m  of electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions  670   a - m  essentially unaffected by open-circuit defect  640 . In the absence of open-circuit defect  640 , an electron-flow indicated by arrow  648  would normally flow through any one electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portion of the plurality of integrated pairs  670   a &amp; b ,  670   c &amp; c ,  670   e &amp; f ,  670   g &amp; h  and  670   l &amp; m  of electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions  670   a - m , in particular, eighth electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portion  670   h . However, when the open-circuit defect  640  is present, this electron-flow divides into two portions shown by arrows  642  and  644 : arrow  642  corresponding to that portion of the normal electron-flow flowing to the right along the eighth electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portion  670   h  to the terminating busbar  680 , and arrow  644  corresponding to that portion of the normal electron-flow flowing to the left along the eighth electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portion  670   h  to the seventh electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portion  670   g  and then to the right along the seventh electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portion  670   g  to the terminating busbar  680 . Thus, the net electron-flow represented by arrow  646  flowing to the right along the seventh electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portion  670   g  is consequently larger than what would normally flow to the right along the seventh electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portion  670   g  to the terminating busbar  680  in the absence of the open-circuit defect  640 . It should be noted that open-circuit defect  640  is for illustration purposes only and that embodiments of the present invention compensate for other types of defects in an electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portion, in general, such as, without limitation to: a delamination of an electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portion from the terminating solar cell  660 , corrosion of an electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portion, and even complete loss of an electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portion. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, in the event a defect completely conductively impairs an electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portion, the physical spacing between adjacent electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions, identified with double-headed arrow  649 , may be chosen such that solar-cell efficiency is substantially undiminished. Nevertheless, embodiments of the present invention embrace, without limitation thereto, other physical spacings between adjacent electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions in the event defects are less severe than those causing a complete loss of one of the electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 6B  and further reference to  FIG. 6A , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a cross-sectional, elevation view  600 B of the integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector  690  of  FIG. 6A  is shown.  FIG. 6B  shows the physical interconnection of the terminating solar cell  660  with the terminating busbar  680  in the integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector  690 . In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the interconnection approach employing a carrier film is also conducive to coupling the integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector  690  directly to the terminating busbar  680  without requiring solder. Thus, the integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector  690  further includes a top carrier film  650 . The top carrier film  650  includes a first substantially transparent, electrically insulating layer (not shown, but like  550   a  of  FIG. 5B ) coupled to the plurality of integrated pairs  670   a &amp; b ,  670   c &amp; c ,  670   e &amp; f ,  670   g &amp; h ,  670   i  and  670   l &amp; m  of electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions  670   a - m , for example, electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portion  670   a , and disposed above a top portion of the plurality of integrated pairs  670   a &amp; b ,  670   c &amp; c ,  670   e &amp; f ,  670   g &amp; h ,  670   i  and  670   l &amp; m  of electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions  670   a - m.    
     With further reference to  FIGS. 6A and 6B , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the top carrier film  650  further includes a first adhesive medium (not shown, but like  550   b  of  FIGS. 5B and 5C ) coupling the plurality of integrated pairs  670   a &amp; b ,  670   c &amp; c ,  670   e &amp; f ,  670   g &amp; h ,  670   i  and  670   l &amp; m  of electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions  670   a - m  to the electrically insulating layer (like  550   a  of  FIG. 5B ). The first adhesive medium (like  550   b  of  FIGS. 5B and 5C ) allows for coupling the plurality of integrated pairs  670   a &amp; b ,  670   c &amp; c ,  670   e &amp; f ,  670   g &amp; h ,  670   i  and  670   l &amp; m  of electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions  670   a - m  to the terminating solar cell  660  without requiring solder. The terminating solar cell  660  may include an absorber layer  660   a , a TCO layer  660   b , and a metallic substrate  660   c ; a backing layer (not shown) may also be disposed between the absorber layer  660   a  and the metallic substrate  660   c . The plurality of integrated pairs of electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions  670   a - m  may be connected electrically in series to form a single continuous electrically conductive line (not shown). The single continuous electrically conductive line may be disposed in a serpentine pattern (not shown, but like the pattern of trace  520  in  FIG. 5A ) such that the integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector  690  is configured to collect current from the terminating solar cell  660  and to interconnect electrically to the terminating busbar  680 . The plurality of integrated pairs  670   a &amp; b ,  670   c &amp; c ,  670   e &amp; f ,  670   g &amp; h ,  670   i  and  670   l &amp; m  of electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions  670   a - m  may further include a plurality of electrically conductive lines (not shown, but like trace  520  of  FIGS. 5B and 5C ), any electrically conductive line of the plurality of electrically conductive lines selected from a group consisting of a copper conductive core clad with a silver cladding, a copper conductive core clad with a nickel coating further clad with a silver cladding and an aluminum conductive core clad with a silver cladding. 
     With further reference to  FIGS. 6A and 6B , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector  690  may include a supplementary isolation strip (not shown) at an edge  664  of the terminating solar cell  660  and running along the length of the side  662  to provide additional protection at the edge  664  and side  662  of the terminating solar cell  660  from the extended portions, for example,  670   x  and  670   y , of the plurality of integrated pairs  670   a &amp; b ,  670   c &amp; c ,  670   e &amp; f ,  670   g &amp; h ,  670   i  and  670   l &amp; m  of electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions  670   a - m . In another embodiment of the present invention, the extended portions, for example,  670   x  and  670   y , may be configured (not shown) to provide stress relief and to allow folding the terminating busbar  680  along edge  664  under a back side  668  and at the side  662  of terminating solar cell  660 , so that there is less wasted space and open area between the terminating solar cell  660  of one module and the initial solar cell (not shown) of an adjacent module. Moreover, integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector  690  may include a supplementary carrier-film strip (not shown) at the edge  664  of the terminating solar cell  660  and running along the length of the side  662  disposed above and coupled to top carrier film  650  and the terminating busbar  680  to affix the terminating busbar  680  to the extended portions, for example,  670   x  and  670   y . Alternatively, the integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector  690  may include the top carrier film  650  extending over the top of the terminating busbar  680  and extended portions, for example,  670   x  and  670   y , to affix the terminating busbar  680  to these extended portions. Thus, these latter two embodiments of the present invention provide a laminate including the terminating busbar  680  disposed between top carrier film  650 , or alternatively the supplementary carrier-film strip, and the supplementary isolation strip (not shown) along the edge  664  and side  662  of the terminating solar cell  660 . Moreover, the top carrier film  650 , or the supplementary carrier-film strip, is conducive to connecting the terminating busbar  680  without requiring solder to the plurality, itself, or to the extended portions, for example,  670   x  and  670   y , of the plurality of integrated pairs  670   a &amp; b ,  670   c &amp; c ,  670   e &amp; f ,  670   g &amp; h ,  670   i  and  670   l &amp; m  of electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions  670   a - m    
     With reference now to  FIG. 7A , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a combined cross-sectional elevation and perspective view of a roll-to-roll, interconnect-assembly fabricator  700 A is shown.  FIG. 7A  shows the roll-to-roll, interconnect-assembly fabricator  700 A operationally configured to fabricate an interconnect assembly  720 . A top carrier film  716  including an electrically insulating layer, for example, a first substantially transparent, electrically insulating layer, is provided to roll-to-roll, interconnect-assembly fabricator  700 A in roll form from a first roll of material  714 . The roll-to-roll, interconnect-assembly fabricator  700 A includes an first unwinding spool  710  upon which the first roll of material  714  of the top carrier film  716  including the electrically insulating layer is mounted. As shown, a portion of the first roll of material  714  is unrolled. The unrolled portion of the top carrier film  716  including the electrically insulating layer passes to the right and is taken up on a take-up spool  718  upon which it is rewound as a third roll  722  of interconnect assembly  720 , after conductive-trace material  750  is provided from a dispenser  754  and is laid down onto the unrolled portion of the top carrier film  716  including the electrically insulating layer. The dispenser  754  of conductive-trace material  750  may be a spool of wire, or some other container providing conductive-trace material. The conductive-trace material  750  may be laid down onto the unrolled portion of the top carrier film  716  including the electrically insulating layer in an oscillatory motion, but without limitation to a strictly oscillatory motion, indicated by double-headed arrow  758 , to create a first plurality of electrically conductive portions configured both to collect current from a first solar cell and to interconnect electrically to a second solar cell such that solar-cell efficiency is substantially undiminished in an event that any one of the first plurality of electrically conductive portions is conductively impaired. As shown in  FIG. 7A , a portion of the electrically conductive portions overhang one side of the top carrier film  716  to allow the electrically conductive portions of the trace to interconnect electrically to the second solar cell on the exposed top side of the trace, while the exposed bottom side of the trace, here shown as facing upward on the top carrier film  716 , allows the electrically conductive portions of the trace in contact with the top carrier film  716  to interconnect electrically to the first solar cell. Moreover, the conductive-trace material  750  may be disposed in a serpentine pattern to create the plurality of electrically conductive portions configured both to collect current from the first solar cell and to interconnect electrically to the second solar cell. The arrows adjacent to the first unwinding spool  710 , and the take-up spool  718  indicate that these are rotating components of the roll-to-roll, interconnect-assembly fabricator  700 A; the first unwinding spool  710 , and the take-up spool  718  are shown rotating in clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow-heads on the respective arrows adjacent to these components, to transport the unrolled portion of the first roll of material  714  from the first unwinding spool  710  on the left to the take-up spool  718  on the right. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 7B , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a combined cross-sectional elevation and perspective view of a roll-to-roll, laminated-interconnect-assembly fabricator  700 B is shown.  FIG. 7A  shows the roll-to-roll, laminated-interconnect-assembly fabricator  700 B operationally configured to fabricate a laminated-interconnect assembly  740 . The roll-to-roll, laminated-interconnect-assembly fabricator  700 B first fabricates the interconnect assembly  720  shown on the left-hand side of  FIG. 7B  from the first roll of material  714  of the top carrier film  716  including the electrically insulating layer and from conductive-trace material  750  provided from dispenser  754 . Then, the roll-to-roll, laminated-interconnect-assembly fabricator  700 B continues fabrication of the laminated-interconnect assembly  740  by applying a bottom carrier film  736  from a second roll  734 . The bottom carrier film  736  includes a carrier film selected from a group consisting of a second electrically insulating layer, a structural plastic layer, and a metallic layer, and is coupled to the conductive-trace material  750  and is disposed below a bottom portion of the conductive-trace material  750 . If a metallic layer is used for the bottom carrier film  736 , a supplementary isolation strip (not shown) of a third electrically insulating layer is added to the laminated-interconnect assembly  740  configured to allow interposition of the third electrically insulating layer between the bottom carrier film  736  and a top surface of the first solar cell to provide additional protection at an edge of the first solar cell and to prevent shorting out the solar cell in the event that the bottom carrier film  736  including the metallic layer should ride down the side of the first solar cell. The laminated-interconnect assembly  740  passes to the right-hand side of  FIG. 7B  and is taken up on the take-up spool  718  upon which it is wound as a fourth roll  742  of laminated-interconnect assembly  740 . The arrows adjacent to the first unwinding spool  710 , a second unwinding spool  730  and the take-up spool  718  indicate that these are rotating components of the roll-to-roll, laminated-interconnect-assembly fabricator  700 B; the first unwinding spool  710 , and the take-up spool  718  are shown rotating in clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow-heads on the respective arrows adjacent to these components, to transport the unrolled portion of the first roll of material  714  from the first unwinding spool  710  on the left to the take-up spool  718  on the right. The second unwinding spool  730 , and the dispenser  754  are shown rotating in a counterclockwise direction and a clockwise direction, respectively, as indicated by the arrow-heads on the respective arrows adjacent to these components, as they release the bottom carrier layer  736  and the conductive-trace material  750 , respectively, in fabrication of the laminated-interconnect assembly  740 . The double-headed arrow  758  indicates the motion imparted to the conductive trace material by the roll-to-roll, laminated-interconnect-assembly fabricator  700 B creates a first plurality of electrically conductive portions configured both to collect current from a first solar cell and to interconnect electrically to a second solar cell such that solar-cell efficiency is substantially undiminished in an event that any one of the first plurality of electrically conductive portions is conductively impaired. 
     Sub-Sectioin B: Description of Embodiments of the Present Invention for a  Method for Roll-to-Roll Fabrication of an Interconnect Assembly 
     With reference now to  FIG. 8 , a flow chart illustrates an embodiment of the present invention for a method for roll-to-roll fabrication of an interconnect assembly. At  810 , a first carrier film including a first substantially transparent, electrically insulating layer is provided in roll form. At  820 , a trace is provided from a dispenser of conductive-trace material. The dispenser may be a spool of wire or other container of conductive-trace material. At  830 , a portion of the first carrier film including the first substantially transparent, electrically insulating layer is unrolled. At  840 , the trace from the dispenser of conductive-trace material is laid down onto the portion of the first carrier film including the first substantially transparent, electrically insulating layer. At  850 , the trace is configured as a first plurality of electrically conductive portions such that solar-cell efficiency is substantially undiminished in an event that any one of the first plurality of electrically conductive portions is conductively impaired. At  860 , the portion of the first the first carrier film including the substantially transparent, electrically insulating layer is coupled to a top portion of the trace to provide an interconnect assembly. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, configuring the trace also includes: configuring the trace as a second plurality of paired trace portions; configuring a first portion of a paired portion of the second plurality of paired trace portions to allow both collecting current from a first solar cell and electrically interconnecting the first solar cell with a second solar cell; disposing proximately to the first portion, a second portion of the paired portion; and configuring the second portion to allow both collecting current from the first solar cell and electrically interconnecting the first solar cell with the second solar cell. Alternatively, configuring the trace may include disposing the trace in a serpentine pattern that allows for collecting current from the first solar cell and electrically interconnecting to the second solar cell. In an embodiment of the present invention, the method may also include: providing a second carrier film including a second electrically insulating layer; coupling the second carrier film including the second electrically insulating layer to a bottom portion of the trace; and configuring the second electrically insulating layer to allow forming an edge-protecting portion at an edge of the first solar cell. Moreover, the method may include configuring the first substantially transparent, electrically insulating layer to allow forming a short-circuit-preventing portion at an edge of the second solar cell. 
     Sub-Section C: Description of Embodiments of the Present Invention for a  Method of Interconnecting Two Solar Cells  
     With reference now to  FIG. 9 , a flow chart illustrates an embodiment of the present invention for a method of interconnecting two solar cells. At  910 , a first solar cell and at least a second solar cell are provided. At  920 , a combined applicable carrier film, interconnect assembly including a trace including a plurality of electrically conductive portions is provided. At  930 , the plurality of electrically conductive portions of the trace is configured both to collect current from the first solar cell and to interconnect electrically with the second solar cell such that solar-cell efficiency is substantially undiminished in an event that any one of the plurality of electrically conductive portions is conductively impaired. At  940 , the combined applicable carrier film, interconnect assembly is applied and coupled to a light-facing side of the first solar cell. At  950 , the combined applicable carrier film, interconnect assembly is applied and coupled to a back side of the second solar cell. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the method also includes applying and coupling the combined applicable carrier film, interconnect assembly to the light-facing side of the first solar cell without requiring solder. In addition, the method may include applying and coupling the combined applicable carrier film, interconnect assembly to the back side of the second solar cell without requiring solder. Moreover, the method includes applying and coupling the combined applicable carrier film, interconnect assembly to the light-facing side of the first solar cell such that a second electrically insulating layer of the applicable carrier film, interconnect assembly forms an edge-protecting portion at an edge of the first solar cell. The method also includes applying and coupling the combined applicable carrier film, interconnect assembly to the back side of the second solar cell such that a first substantially transparent, electrically insulating layer of the applicable carrier film, interconnect assembly forms a short-circuit-preventing portion at an edge of the second solar cell. The method may also include configuring the trace in a serpentine pattern that allows for collecting current from the first solar cell and electrically interconnecting to the second solar cell. 
     Sub-Section D: Physical Description of Embodiments of the Present Invention  for a Trace  
     In accordance with other embodiments of the present invention, the trace does not need to be used in conjunction with the afore-mentioned serpentine interconnect assembly approach, but could be used for other current collection and/or interconnection approaches used in solar cell technology. A trace including a conductive core with an overlying layer of nickel provides the unexpected result that when placed in contact with the TCO layer of a solar cell it suppresses current in the vicinity of short-circuit defects in the solar cell that might occur in the vicinity of the contact of the nickel layer of the trace with the TCO layer. The nickel increases local contact resistance which improves the ability of the solar cell to survive in the event of the formation of a defect, such as a shunt or a near shunt, located in the adjacent vicinity of the contact of the nickel layer of the trace with the TCO layer. If there is such a defect in the vicinity of the contact of the nickel layer of the trace with the TCO layer, the nickel reduces the tendency of the solar cell to pass increased current through the site of the defect, such as a shunt or a near shunt. Thus, the nickel acts as a localized resistor preventing run-away currents and high current densities in the small localized area associated with the site of the defect, such as a shunt or a near shunt. The current-limiting ability of nickel is in contrast, for example, to a low resistivity material such as silver, where the current density becomes so high at the location of the defect due to the high conductivity of silver that nearly almost all the current of the cell would be passed at the location of the defect causing a hot spot that would result in the melting of the silver with the formation of a hole in the solar cell filling with the silver migrating to the site of the defect to form a super-shunt. In contrast, nickel does not readily migrate nor melt in the presence of elevated localized temperatures associated with the site of increased currents attending formation of the defect, such as a shunt or a near shunt. Moreover, in contrast to silver, copper and tin, which tend to electromigrate, migrate or diffuse at elevated temperatures, nickel tends to stay put so that if the site of a shunt occurs in the vicinity of a nickel coated or nickel trace, the nickel has less tendency to move to the location of the shunt thereby further exacerbating the drop of resistance at the shunt site. In addition, experimental results of the present invention indicate that a nickel trace, or a trace including a nickel layer, may actually increase its resistance due the possible formation of a nickel oxide such that the nickel trace, or the trace including the nickel layer, acts like a localized fuse limiting the current flow in the vicinity of the shunt site. In some cases, the efficiency of the solar cell has actually been observed to increase after formation of the shunt defect when the nickel trace, or the trace including the nickel layer, is used in contact with the TCO layer. 
     With further reference to  FIGS. 5B and 5C , in accordance with other embodiments of the present invention, the trace  520  for collecting current from a solar cell, for example, first solar cell  510 , includes an electrically conductive line including the conductive core  520 A, and the overlying layer  520 B that limits current flow to a proximate shunt defect (not shown) in the solar cell, for example, first solar cell  510 . The proximate shunt defect may be proximately located in the vicinity of an electrical contact between the overlying layer  520 B of the electrically conductive line and the TCO layer  510   b  of the solar cell, for example, first solar cell  510 . The overlying layer  520 B of the electrically conductive line of the trace  520  may further include an overlying layer  520 B composed of nickel. The conductive core  520 A of the electrically conductive line of the trace  520  may further include nickel. The conductive core  520 A may also include a material selected from a group consisting of copper, silver, aluminum, and elemental constituents and alloys having high electrical conductivity, which may be greater than the electrical conductivity of nickel. The TCO layer  510   b  of the solar cell, for example, first solar cell  510 , may include a conductive oxide selected from a group consisting of zinc oxide, aluminum zinc oxide and indium tin oxide. In addition, the absorber layer  510   a , for example, absorber layer  112  of  FIG. 1A , of the solar cell, for example, first solar cell  510 , may include copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS). Alternatively, in embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that semiconductors, such as silicon, cadmium telluride, and chalcopyrite semiconductors, as well as other semiconductors, may be used as the absorber layer  510   a . Moreover, an n-type layer, for example, n-type portion  112   b  of absorber layer  112  of  FIG. 1A , of the solar cell, for example, first solar cell  510 , may be disposed on and electrically coupled to a p-type absorber layer, for example, absorber layer  112  of  FIG. 1A , of the solar cell, for example, first solar cell  510 , and the n-type layer, for example, n-type portion  112   b  of absorber layer  112  of  FIG. 1A , may be selected from a group consisting of a metal oxide, a metal sulfide and a metal selenide. 
     Section II: 
     Physical Description of Embodiments of the Present Invention for a Solar-Cell Module Combined with In-Laminate Diodes and External-Connection Mechanisms Mounted to Respective Edge Regions 
     With reference now to  FIG. 10 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a plan view  1000  is shown of a solar-cell module  1002  combined with external-connection mechanisms (not shown) mounted to respective edge regions and in-laminate-diode assembly  1050 .  FIG. 10  shows the physical arrangement of the solar-cell module  1002  combined with in-laminate-diode assembly  1050  and external-connection mechanisms mounted to respective edge regions, which may be located at edges  1090 ,  1092 ,  1094  and  1096 , or at corners  1080 ,  1082 ,  1084  and  1086 . The solar-cell module  1002  includes a plurality  1010  of solar cells electrically coupled together, for example, solar cells  1012   a - 1017   a  and  1012   b - 1017   b , which may be disposed in at least one solar-cell sub-module, for example, solar-cell sub-modules  1010   a  and  1010   b , respectively. (Throughout the following, solar cells:  1012   a ,  1013   a ,  1014   a ,  1015   a ,  1016   a  and  1017   a ;  1012   b ,  1013   b ,  1014   b ,  1015   b ,  1016   b  and  1017   b ;  1022   a ,  1023   a ,  1024   a ,  1025   a ,  1026   a  and  1027   a ;  1022   b ,  1023   b ,  1024   b ,  1025   b ,  1026   b  and  1027   b ;  1032   a ,  1033   a ,  1034   a ,  1035   a ,  1036   a  and  1037   a ; and,  1032   b ,  1033   b ,  1034   b ,  1035   b ,  1036   b  and  1037   b ; are referred to in aggregate as:  1012   a - 1017   a ,  1012   b - 1017   b ,  1022   a - 1027   a ,  1022   b - 1027   b ,  1032   a - 1037   a  and  1032   b - 1037   b , respectively. Solar-cell sub-modules:  1010   a  and  1010   b ,  1020   a  and  1020   b  and  1030   a  and  1030   b , are referred to as:  1010   a - 1010   b ,  1020   a - 1020   b  and  1030   a - 1030   b , respectively.) The plurality  1010  of solar cells  1012   a - 1017   a  and  1012   b - 1017   b  is electrically interconnected with one another through interconnect assemblies (not shown) similar to those discussed in Section I in  FIGS. 4A through 4F . The solar-cell module  1002  also includes the in-laminate-diode assembly  1050  electrically coupled with the plurality  1010  of solar cells  1012   a - 1017   a  and  1012   b - 1017   b . The in-laminate-diode assembly  1050  is configured to prevent power loss in the solar-cell module  1002 , which can result, from amongst other causes, from shading of a particular solar cell, for example, solar cell  1012   a . In addition, the solar-cell module  1002  includes a protective structure (not shown in  FIG. 10 , but in  FIG. 14 ) at least partially encapsulating the plurality  1010  of solar cells  1012   a - 1017   a  and  1012   b - 1017   b . As shown in  FIG. 14 , the protective structure may include a front glass  1410 , which is disposed over a light-facing side of the solar cells  1012   a - 1017   a  and  1012   b - 1017   b , and a back glass  1414  that encapsulate the plurality  1010  of solar cells  1012   a - 1017   a  and  1012   b - 1017   b . The solar-cell module  1002  also includes a plurality of external-connection mechanisms mounted to a respective plurality of edge regions of the protective structure. An external-connection mechanism of the plurality of external-connection mechanisms is configured to enable collection of current from the plurality  1010  of solar cells  1012   a - 1017   a  and  1012   b - 1017   b  and to allow interconnection with at least one other external device (not shown). The external device may be selected from the group consisting of a solar-cell module, an inverter, a battery charger, an external load, and an electrical-power-distribution system. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 10 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that: a photovoltaic-convertor means for converting radiant power into electrical power may be a solar cell; a photovoltaic-convertor module may be a solar-cell module; a photovoltaic-convertor sub-module may be a solar-cell sub-module; an current-shunting means for by-passing current flow may be a diode; an in-laminate, current-shunting assembly means for by-passing current flow may be an in-laminate-diode assembly; an in-laminate, current-shunting sub-assembly means for by-passing current flow may be an in-laminate-diode sub-assembly; and a junction-enclosure means for protecting and electrically isolating electrical connections may be an external-connection mechanism. Moreover, it should be noted that a photovoltaic-convertor array may be a solar-cell array. With the preceding identifications of terms of art, it should be noted that embodiments of the present invention recited herein with respect to a solar cell, a solar-cell module, a solar-cell sub-module, a diode, an in-laminate-diode assembly, an in-laminate-diode sub-assembly, and an external-connection mechanism apply to a photovoltaic-convertor means for converting radiant power into electrical power, a photovoltaic-convertor module, a photovoltaic-convertor sub-module, an in-laminate, current-shunting means for by-passing current flow, an in-laminate, current-shunting assembly means for by-passing current flow, an in-laminate, current-shunting sub-assembly means for by-passing current flow, and a junction-enclosure means for protecting and electrically isolating electrical connections, respectively. Therefore, it should be noted that the preceding identifications of terms of art do not preclude, nor limit embodiments described herein, which are within the spirit and scope of embodiments of the present invention. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 10 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the solar-cell module  1002 , identified with solar-cell module  1260   b , may be a component of a solar-cell array, for example, solar-cell array  1252  as shown in  FIG. 12B . Embodiments of the present invention also encompass the solar-cell array  1252 , or alternatively a photovoltaic-convertor array, that may include a plurality of electrically coupled solar-cell modules, for example, solar-cell modules  1260   a ,  1260   b  and  1260   c . The solar-cell module, for example, solar-cell modules  1260   b , of a plurality  1260  of electrically coupled solar-cell modules  1260   a ,  1260   b  and  1260   c  may include a plurality of solar cells, at least one solar-cell sub-module, an in-laminate-diode assembly, a protective structure and a plurality of external-connection mechanisms as for embodiments of the present invention described herein. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 10 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the in-laminate-diode assembly  1050  may include at least one in-laminate-diode sub-assembly  1050   a , for example, from a plurality of in-laminate-diode sub-assemblies  1050   a - 1050   b  without limitation thereto. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the in-laminate-diode sub-assemblies  1050   a - 1050   b  are electrically coupled in parallel with the plurality  1010  of solar cells  1012   a - 1017   a  and  1012   b - 1017   b , which may be disposed in solar-cell sub-modules, for example, solar-cell sub-modules  1010   a  and  1010   b , respectively, as shown. (Throughout the following, in-laminate-diode sub-assemblies:  1050   a  and  1050   b ,  1060   a  and  1060   b  and  1070   a  and  1070   b , are referred to as:  1050   a - 1050   b ,  1060   a - 1060   b  and  1070   a - 1070   b , respectively.) At least one in-laminate-diode sub-assembly, for example, in-laminate-diode sub-assembly  1050   a , includes at least one diode (not shown) and is configured to by-pass current flow around the solar-cell sub-module, for example, solar-cell sub-module  1010   a , in an event at least one solar cell, for example, solar cell  1012   a , of the plurality of solar cells  1012   a - 1017   a  develops high resistance to passage of solar-cell-module current, as may occur in case of shading of a solar-cell. As used herein, an in-laminate diode is a diode included in an in-laminate diode assembly or in-laminate-diode sub-assembly, where the term of art “in-laminate” refers to the disposition of the diode within such an assembly or sub-assembly rather than any inherent functionality of the diode itself. In addition, the solar-cell module  1002  may include a plurality of external-connection mechanisms mounted to respective edge regions, for example, external-connection mechanisms  1280   b  and  1282   b  mounted to respective edge regions, for example, corners as shown in  FIG. 12B . At least one external-connection mechanism  1282   b  mounted to respective edge regions of the plurality of external-connection mechanisms  1280   b  and  1282   b  may be disposed at a cut corner of a back glass of the solar-cell module, for example, the solar-cell module  1260   b . The external-connection mechanism  1280   b  and  1282   b  mounted to respective edge regions of the plurality of external-connection mechanisms  280   b  and  1282   b  are configured to collect current from the solar-cell module  1260   b  and to allow interconnection with at least one other external device, for example, the solar-cell module  1260   c.    
     With further reference to  FIG. 10 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the solar-cell module  1002  may include a second plurality  1020  of solar cells  1022   a - 1027   a  and  1022   b - 1027   b . The second plurality  1020  of solar cells  1022   a - 1027   a  and  1022   b - 1027   b  is electrically interconnected with one another through interconnect assemblies (not shown) similar to those discussed in Section I in  FIGS. 4A through 4F . Solar cells may be electrically coupled together in at least one solar-cell sub-module, for example, solar-cell sub-module  1020   a  may include solar cells  1022   a - 1027   a , and solar-cell sub-module  1020   b  may include solar cells  1022   b - 1027   b . The solar-cell module  1002  may also include a second in-laminate-diode assembly  1060  including a second plurality of in-laminate-diode sub-assemblies  1060   a - 1060   b  such that the in-laminate-diode sub-assemblies  1060   a - 1060   b  are electrically coupled in parallel with the second plurality  1020  of solar cells  1022   a - 1027   a  and  1022   b - 1027   b , and which may be electrically coupled in parallel with solar-cell sub-modules  1020   a - 1020   b . At least one in-laminate-diode sub-assembly, for example, in-laminate-diode sub-assembly  1060   a , includes at least one diode (not shown) and is configured to by-pass current flow around the solar-cell sub-module, for example, solar-cell sub-module  1020   a , in an event at least one solar cell, for example, solar cell  1022   a , of the plurality  1020  of solar cells including solar cells  1022   a - 1027   a  develops high resistance to passage of solar-cell-module current. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the in-laminate-diode sub-assembly  1060   a  is also shown with some of its component conductors removed to reveal disposition of a portion of an electrically-insulating-laminate strip with respect to the second in-laminate-diode assembly  1060  and a portion of the second plurality  1020  of solar cells  1022   a - 1025   a , which will be discussed below in greater detail in the description of  FIG. 13 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 10 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the solar-cell module  1002  may include a third plurality  1030  of solar cells  1032   a - 1037   a  and  1032   b - 1037   b . The third plurality  1030  of solar cells  1032   a - 1037   a  and  1032   b - 1037   b  is electrically interconnected with one another through interconnect assemblies (not shown) similar to those discussed in Section I in  FIGS. 4A through 4F . Solar cells may be electrically coupled together in at least one solar-cell sub-module, for example, solar-cell sub-module  1030   a  may include solar cells  1032   a - 1037   a , and solar-cell sub-module  1030   b  may include solar cells  1032   b - 1037   b . The solar-cell module  1002  may also include a third in-laminate-diode assembly  1070  including a third plurality of in-laminate-diode sub-assemblies  1070   a - 1070   b  such that the in-laminate-diode sub-assemblies  1070   a - 1070   b  are electrically coupled in parallel with the third plurality  1030  of solar cells  1032   a - 1037   a  and  1032   b - 1037   b , and which may be electrically coupled in parallel with solar-cell sub-modules  1030   a - 1030   b . At least one in-laminate-diode sub-assembly, for example, in-laminate-diode sub-assembly  1070   a , includes at least one diode (not shown) and is configured to by-pass current flow around the solar-cell sub-module, for example, solar-cell sub-module  1030   a , in an event at least one solar cell, for example, solar cell  1032   a , of the third plurality  1030  of solar cells including solar cells  1032   a - 1037   a  develops high resistance to passage of solar-cell-module current. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the in-laminate-diode sub-assemblies  1070   a  and  1070   b  are also shown with some of their component conductors removed to reveal disposition of respective electrically-insulating-laminate strips with respect to the third in-laminate-diode assembly  1070  and a portion of the third plurality  1030  of solar cells  1032   a - 1037   a  and  1032   b - 1034   b , which will also be discussed below in greater detail in the description of  FIG. 13 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 10 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a solar-cell sub-module  1010   a  includes at least one solar cell  1012   a . Alternatively, the solar-cell sub-module  1010   a  may include a plurality of solar cells  1012   a - 1017   a , as shown. A portion  1012   a - 1017   a  of the plurality  1010  of solar cells  1012   a - 1017   a  and  1012   b - 1017   b  of the solar-cell sub-module  1010   a  is electrically coupled in series. The in-laminate-diode assembly  1050  includes a plurality of in-laminate-diode sub-assemblies  1050   a - 1050   b . At least one in-laminate-diode sub-assembly  1050   a  includes at least one diode (not shown) is configured to by-pass current flow around the solar-cell sub-module  1010   a  to prevent power loss in the solar-cell module  1002 . The in-laminate-diode sub-assembly  1050   a  is configured to by-pass current flow around the solar-cell sub-module  1010   a  such that the diode (not shown) of the in-laminate-diode assembly  1050   a  is electrically coupled in parallel with the solar-cell sub-module  1010   a  with reverse polarity to polarities of the portion  1012   a - 1017   a  of the plurality  1010  of solar cells  1012   a - 1017   a  and  1012   b - 1017   b  of the solar-cell sub-module  1010   a . The plurality of solar-cell sub-modules  1010   a - 1010   b  is electrically coupled in series. In addition, the plurality of in-laminate-diode sub-assemblies  1050   a - 1050   b  is electrically coupled in series. 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 11A-11D , several embodiments of the present invention are shown that illustrate the manner in which a diode may be electrically coupled with at least one or a plurality of solar cells. Within the spirit and scope of embodiments of the present invention, at least one or the plurality of solar cells may be disposed in the solar-cell sub-module, and the diode may be disposed in an in-laminate-diode sub-assembly of an in-laminate diode assembly.  FIG. 11A  shows a schematic diagram  1100 A of a diode  1110  used to by-pass current around a solar cell  1120  and electrically coupled in parallel with one solar cell  1120 . The diode  1110  is electrically coupled in parallel to the solar cell  1120  at a first terminal  1132  and at a second terminal  1130 . To by-pass current around the solar cell  1120  in an event that the solar cell  1120  develops a high resistance to the passage of solar-cell module current, the diode  1110  is coupled to solar cell  1120  with reverse polarity to that of the solar cell  1120 .  FIG. 11B  shows a schematic diagram  1100 B of the diode  1110  used to by-pass current around a plurality of solar cells and electrically coupled in parallel with the plurality of solar cells that are electrically coupled in parallel. The diode  1110  is electrically coupled in parallel to the combination of solar cell  1120  and a parallel solar cell  1122 . The diode  1110  is electrically coupled with the parallel combination of solar cells  1120  and  1122  at first terminal  1132  and at second terminal  1130 . To by-pass current around the parallel combination of solar cells  1120  and  1122  in an event that at least one of the solar cells  1120  or  1122  develops a high resistance to the passage of solar-cell module current, the diode  1110  is coupled to the solar cells  1120  and  1122  with reverse polarity to both of the solar cells  1120  and  1122 .  FIG. 11C  shows a schematic diagram  1100 C of the diode  1110  used to by-pass current around a plurality of solar cells and electrically coupled in parallel with the plurality of solar cells  1120  and  1124  that are electrically coupled in series. The diode  1110  is electrically coupled in parallel to the combination of solar cell  1120  and solar cell  1124  coupled in series with solar cell  1120 . The diode  1110  is electrically coupled with the series combination of solar cells  1120  and  1124  at first terminal  1132  and at second terminal  1130 . To by-pass current around the series combination of solar cells  1120  and  1124  in an event that at least one of the solar cells  1120  or  1124  develops a high resistance to the passage of solar-cell module current, the diode  1110  is coupled to the solar cells  1120  and  1122  with reverse polarity to both of the solar cells  1120  and  1124 .  FIG. 1  ID shows a schematic diagram  1100 D of a diode used to by-pass current around a plurality of solar cells and electrically coupled in parallel with the plurality of solar cells that are electrically coupled in series and in parallel. The diode  1110  is electrically coupled in parallel to the combination of solar cell  1120  and solar cell  1124  coupled in series with solar cell  1120  and the combination of solar cell  1122  and solar cell  1126  coupled in series with solar cell  1122 . The diode  1110  is electrically coupled with the series/parallel combination of solar cells  1120 ,  1124 ,  1122  and  1126  at first terminal  1132  and at second terminal  1130 . To by-pass current around the series/parallel combination of solar cells  1120 ,  1124 ,  1122  and  1126  in an event that at least one of the solar cells  1120 ,  1124 ,  1122  and  1126  develops a high resistance to the passage of solar-cell module current, the diode  1110  is coupled to the solar cells  1120 ,  1124 ,  1122  and  1126  with reverse polarity to the solar cells  1120 ,  1124 ,  1122  and  1126 . In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a solar-cell sub-module may be selected from the group consisting of one solar cell, a parallel combination of solar cells, a series combination of solar cells and a series/parallel combination of solar cells. Moreover, although embodiments of the present invention have been shown as just two solar cells electrically coupled in series, and just two parallel legs of a circuit of solar cells electrically coupled in parallel, embodiments of the present invention include pluralities of series coupled solar cells greater than two, and pluralities of parallel coupled solar cells or parallel coupled pluralities of series coupled solar cells greater than two. Therefore, embodiments of the present invention include a diode electrically coupled in parallel with any network that includes a configuration of interconnected solar cells, in which the diode serves to by-pass current around the network in an event the network, or alternatively a solar cell within the network, develops high resistance to the flow of current through the solar-cell module. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 10 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the solar-cell module  1002  includes at least one pair of first and terminating busbars  1019   a  and  1019   b , respectively, electrically coupled to a first end and a terminating end of the plurality  1010  of solar-cells  1012   a - 1017   a  and  1012   b - 1017   b . The first busbar  1019   a  may be disposed on and electrically coupled to a back side of a first solar cell, for example, solar cell  1012   a . The terminating busbar  1019   b  may be disposed proximately to and electrically coupled to a light-facing side of a terminating solar cell  1017   b . The pair of first and terminating busbars, respectively,  1019   a  and  1019   b  is electrically coupled to the pair of external-connection mechanisms mounted to respective edge regions, respectively, for example, located at corners  1080  and  1082 . Alternatively, the solar-cell module  1002  may also include other pairs of first and terminating busbars (not shown), which may be electrically coupled to a first end and a terminating end of the second plurality  1020  of solar-cells  1022   a - 1027   a  and  1022   b - 1027   b , or the third plurality  1030  of solar-cells  1032   a - 1037   a  and  1032   b - 1037   b . Other first busbars may be disposed on and electrically coupled to back sides of respective first solar cells  1022   a  and  1032   a . Other terminating busbars may be disposed proximately to and electrically coupled to light-facing sides of respective terminating solar cells  1027   b  and  1037   b . The other pairs of first and terminating busbars may also be electrically coupled to the pair of external-connection mechanisms mounted to respective edge regions, respectively, for example, located at corners  1080  and  1082 . The first busbar  1019   a  and the other first busbars may be separate entities that may be separated by one or more gaps; and, the terminating busbar  1019   b  and the other terminating busbars may be separate entities that may be separated by a second set of one or more gaps. In an embodiment of the present invention, the first busbar  1019   a  may be electrically coupled together with the other first busbars and the terminating busbar  1019   b  may be electrically coupled together with the other terminating busbars such that pluralities  1010 ,  1020  and  1030  of solar cells are electrically coupled in parallel. However, as shown in  FIG. 10 , there are no other busbars besides first busbar and terminating busbars  1019   a  and  1019   b ; only a single first busbar  1019   a  and a single terminating busbars  1019   b  electrically couple the pluralities  1010 ,  1020  and  1030  of solar cells in parallel. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 10 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the solar-cell module  1002  may further include an integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector as described above in Section I and shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B . The integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector  690  includes the terminating busbar  680 , identified with the terminating busbar  1019   b  of solar-cell module  1002 , and the integrated solar-cell, current collector  670 . The integrated solar-cell, current collector  670  includes the plurality of integrated pairs  670   a &amp; b ,  670   c &amp; d ,  670   e &amp; f ,  670   g &amp; h , and  670   l &amp; m  and  670   i  of electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions  670   a - m . The plurality of integrated pairs  670   a &amp; b ,  670   c &amp; c ,  670   e &amp; f ,  670   g &amp; h ,  670   i  and  670   l &amp; m  of electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions  670   a - m  is configured both to collect current from the terminating solar cell  660 , identified with solar cell  1017   b , and to interconnect electrically to the terminating busbar  680 . The plurality of integrated pairs  670   a &amp; b ,  670   c &amp; c ,  670   e &amp; f ,  670   g &amp; h ,  670   i  and  670   l &amp; m  of electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions  670   a - m  is configured such that solar-cell efficiency is substantially undiminished in an event that any one electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portion, for example,  670   h , of the plurality of integrated pairs  670   a &amp; b ,  670   c &amp; c ,  670   e &amp; f ,  670   g &amp; h ,  670   i  and  670   l &amp; m  of electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions  670   a - m  is conductively impaired. The terminating busbar  680  may be disposed above, or below, and coupled electrically to extended portions, for example, extended portions  670   x  and  670   y , of the plurality of integrated pairs  670   a &amp; b ,  670   c &amp; c ,  670   e &amp; f ,  670   g &amp; h ,  670   i  and  670   l &amp; m  of electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions  670   a - m  configured such that the terminating busbar  680  is configured to reduce shadowing of the terminating solar cell  660 . The extended portions  670   x  and  670 y of the plurality of integrated pairs of electrically conductive, electrically parallel trace portions  670   a &amp; b ,  670   c &amp; c ,  670   e &amp; f ,  670   g &amp; h ,  670   i  and  670   l &amp; m  allow the terminating busbar  680  to fold under the back side  668  of the terminating solar cell  660 , identified with the terminating solar cell  1017   b  of solar-cell module  1002 . Therefore, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the terminating busbar  680 , identified with the terminating busbar  1019   b  of solar-cell module  1002 , may be folded under the back side  668  of the terminating solar cell  660 , identified with the terminating solar cell  1017   b  of solar-cell module  1002 . Consequently, but without limitation to the folded-under configuration for the terminating busbar  680  described above, the solar-cell module  1002  may be arranged with a configuration to minimize wasted solar-collection space within the solar-cell module  1002  such that solar-cell-module efficiency is greater than solar-cell-module efficiency in the absence of such configuration, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 10 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the solar-cell module  1002  may further include an interconnect assembly  420  as described above in Section I and shown in  FIGS. 4B and 4C . The solar-cell module  404 , identified with solar-cell module  1002 , includes the first solar cell  410 , identified with solar cell  1012   a , at least the second solar cell  430 , identified with solar cell  1013   a , and the interconnect assembly  420  disposed above the light-facing side  416  of the absorber layer of the first solar cell  410 . The interconnect assembly  420  includes the trace including the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m . The plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  is configured both to collect current from the first solar cell  410  and to interconnect electrically to the second solar cell  430 . The plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  is configured such that solar-cell efficiency is substantially undiminished in an event that any one of the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  is conductively impaired. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of electrically conductive portions  420   a ,  420   b ,  420   c ,  420   i  and  420   m  of the interconnect assembly  420  may be coupled electrically in series to form a single continuous electrically conductive line. In addition, the trace of the interconnect assembly  420  may be disposed in a serpentine pattern such that the interconnect assembly  420  is configured to collect current from the first solar cell  410  and to interconnect electrically to the second solar cell  430 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 10 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the trace of the interconnect assembly  420  interconnecting the solar cells  1012   a  and  1013   a  of the solar-cell module  1002  is further described above in Section I and shown in  FIGS. 5B and 5C . The trace  520  may further include an electrically conductive line including a conductive core  520 A and at least one overlying layer  520 B overlying the conductive core  520 A. Alternatively, the trace  520  may include the electrically conductive line including the conductive core  520 A including nickel, without the overlying layer  520 B; or, the trace  520  may include the electrically conductive line including the conductive core  520 A including material having greater conductivity than nickel and the overlying layer  520 B including nickel. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 12B , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a plan view  1200 B of the solar-cell array  1252  including the plurality  1260  of solar-cell modules  1260   a ,  1260   b  and  1260   c  is shown.  FIG. 12B  shows the plurality  1260  of solar-cell modules  1260   a ,  1260   b  and  1260   c  combined with external-connection mechanisms mounted to respective edge regions and in-laminate-diode assemblies. For example, solar-cell module  1260   b  includes a first in-laminate-diode assembly  1270 , a second in-laminate-diode assembly  1271  and a third in-laminate-diode assembly  1272 ; solar-cell module  1260   b  also includes a first busbar  1274  and a terminating busbar  1276  each electrically coupled with the first, second and third in-laminate-diode assemblies  1270 ,  1271  and  1272 . The solar-cell module  1260   b  further includes a first external-connection mechanism  1280   b , for example, a first junction box, mounted to a first edge region, for example, a first corner, of the protective structure and a second external-connection mechanism  1282   b , for example, a second junction box, mounted to a second edge region, for example, a second corner, of the protective structure. The first external-connection mechanism  1280   b  mounted to a first respective edge region is configured to enable collection of current from the solar cells of the solar-cell module  1260   b  and to allow interconnection with at least one other external device, as shown here solar-cell module  1260   a . Similarly, the second external-connection mechanism  1282   b  mounted to a second respective edge region is configured to enable collection of current from the solar-cell sub-modules of the solar-cell module  1260   b  and to allow interconnection with at least one other external device, as shown here solar-cell module  1260   c . In embodiments of the present invention, the solar-cell module  1260   b  is coupled in series with the other solar-cell module  1260   a , and also solar-cell module  1260   c . However, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, solar-cell modules may be interconnected in parallel or series/parallel combinations which are within the spirit and scope of the embodiments of the present invention. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 12B , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, solar-cell module  1260   a  also includes first external-connection mechanism  1280   a , for example, a first junction box, mounted to a first edge region, for example, a first corner, of the protective structure of solar-cell module  1260   a  and a second external-connection mechanism  1282   a , for example, a second junction box, mounted to a second edge region, for example, a second corner, of the protective structure of solar-cell module  1260   a . Similarly, solar-cell module  1260   c  also includes a first external-connection mechanism  1280   c , for example, a first junction box, mounted to a first edge region, for example, a first corner, of the protective structure of solar-cell module  1260   c  and a second external-connection mechanism  1282   c , for example, a second junction box, mounted to a second edge region, for example, a second corner, of the protective structure of solar-cell module  1260   c.    
     With further reference to  FIG. 12B , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the external-connection mechanism  1280   b  mounted to its respective edge region of solar-cell module  1260   b  is disposed in a configuration opposite the external-connection mechanism  1282   b  mounted to its respective edge region of solar-cell module  1260   b  on a lateral side of the solar-cell module  1260   b . This configuration, when applied to the plurality  1260  of all solar-cell modules  1260   a ,  1260   b  and  1260   c , allows the two solar-cell modules  1260   a  and  1260   b  with external-connection mechanisms  1282   a  and  1280   b  mounted to respective edge regions to be disposed on respective lateral sides of the two solar-cell modules  1260   a  and  1260   b . The solar-cell modules  1260   a  and  1260   b , thus configured, may be intercoupled with interconnector  1284 . Thus, the second external-connection mechanism  1282   a  of the first solar-cell module  1260   a  may be disposed proximately to the first external-connection mechanism  1280   b  of the second solar-cell module  1260   b . Alternatively, the first external-connection mechanism  1280   c  of the third solar-cell module  1260   c  may be disposed proximately to the second the second external-connection mechanism  1282   b  of the second solar-cell module  1260   b . Thus, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a first external-connection mechanism of a plurality of external-connection mechanisms of a solar-cell module is disposed proximate to a second external-connection mechanism of a second plurality of external-connection mechanisms of another solar-cell module. Moreover, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a first external-connection mechanism of a plurality of external-connection mechanisms of a solar-cell module, for example, the first external-connection mechanism  1280   c  of third solar-cell module  1260   c , and a second external-connection mechanism of a plurality of external-connection mechanisms of a second solar-cell module, for example, the second external-connection mechanism  1282   b  of solar-cell module  1260   b , are arranged on their respective solar-cell modules  1260   c  and  1260   b  to minimize a length of an interconnector  1288  between the first external-connection mechanism  1280   c  and the second external-connection mechanism  1282   b . Thus, the solar-cell modules  1260   a ,  1260   b  and  1260   c  are intercoupled to form the solar-cell array  1252 . Furthermore, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a first external-connection mechanism of a plurality of external-connection mechanisms of a solar-cell module may be selected from the group consisting of a wire, a connector, a lead, and a junction box. Also, an edge region may be selected from the group consisting of an edge of the solar-cell module and a corner of the solar-cell module, where two edges may meet. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 12A , the embodiments of the present invention described for  FIG. 12B  are contrasted with another embodiment of the present invention that employs centrally-mounted junction boxes  1230   a ,  1230   b  and  1230   c .  FIG. 12A  is a plan view  1200 A of a solar-cell array  1202  including a plurality  1210  of solar-cell modules  1210   a ,  1210   b  and  1210   c  combined with centrally-mounted junction boxes  1230   a ,  1230   b  and  1230   c  and in-laminate-diode assemblies  1220 ,  1212  and  1222  (shown only for solar-cell module  1210   b ). Solar-cell module  1210   b  includes a first in-laminate-diode assembly  1220 , a second in-laminate-diode assembly  1221  and a third in-laminate-diode assembly  1222 . Solar-cell module  1210   b  also includes a first busbar  1224  and a terminating busbar  1226  each electrically coupled with the first, second and third in-laminate-diode assemblies  1220 ,  1221  and  1222 . Because the junction box  1230   b  of solar-cell module  1210   b  is centrally mounted, centrally-mounted junction box  1230   b  requires additional wiring to collect current from the solar-cell module  1210   b . For example, a first supplemental busbar  1228  is electrically coupled to the first busbar  1224 ; and a second supplemental busbar  1229  is electrically coupled to the terminating busbar  1226 . Similarly, because the junction box  1230   b  of solar-cell module  1210   b  is centrally mounted, long interconnectors are required between solar-cell modules. For example, a first interconnector  1234  between centrally-mounted junction boxes  1230   a  and  1230   b  is required to interconnect solar-cell modules  1210   a  and  1210   b ; and, a second interconnector  1238  between centrally-mounted junction boxes  1230   b  and  1230   c  is required to interconnect solar-cell modules  1210   b  and  1210   c . As shown in  FIG. 12A , the first interconnector  1234  includes two portions  1234   a  and  1234   b  which attach respectively to centrally-mounted junction boxes  1230   a  and  1230   b , and are provided with connectors joining the two portions together; and, the second interconnector  1238  includes two portions  1238   a  and  1238   b  which attach respectively to centrally-mounted junction boxes  1230   b  and  1230   c , and are provided with connectors joining the two portions together. This arrangement is contrasted with the short interconnectors  1284  and  1288  shown in  FIG. 12B . Thus, the interconnection arrangement shown in  FIG. 12B  is less costly, because it requires less wiring, and improves solar-cell array efficiency, because there is less parasitic series resistance than would obtain with the additional wiring shown in  FIG. 12A . 
     With further reference to  FIGS. 12A and 12B , another distinguishing feature of embodiments of the present invention of  FIG. 12B  is that the use of an in-laminate-diode assembly facilitates the use of a plurality of external-connection mechanisms mounted to a respective plurality of edge regions. For embodiments of the present invention of  FIG. 12A  having centrally mounted junction boxes, a single diode included in the junction box would typically be employed instead of the in-laminate-diode assemblies, as shown. To the inventors&#39; knowledge, one of the reasons those skilled in the art have not considered using separate junction boxes is because of the difficulty in placing a diode within separated junction boxes to provide the by-pass protection discussed above. Thus, a distinguishing feature of embodiments of the present invention is the use of an in-laminate-diode assembly that allows the use of separate junction boxes without the necessity of including diodes within a junction box. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 13 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a combined perspective-plan and expanded view  1300  of an in-laminate-diode sub-assembly  1302  with diode  1310  is shown at the top and right of the figure. Also, towards the bottom and left of  FIG. 13 , a perspective-plan view of a second in-laminate-diode sub-assembly  1304  in a more fully assembled state is shown. The in-laminate-diode assembly of a solar-cell module, for example, in-laminate-diode assembly  1050  of solar-cell module  1002  of  FIG. 10 , may include a plurality of in-laminate-diode sub-assemblies, for example, in-laminate-diode sub-assemblies  1050   a  and  1050   b . Alternatively, an in-laminate-diode assembly may include at least one in-laminate-diode sub-assembly. The in-laminate-diode sub-assembly  1302 , which may be identified with in-laminate-diode sub-assembly  1050   b , includes the diode  1310 . The in-laminate-diode sub-assembly also includes a first conductor  1320  electrically coupled to the diode  1310 . The first conductor  1320  is configured to couple electrically with a first terminal, which may be electrically coupled to a back side, of a primary solar cell of the solar-cell sub-module. The in-laminate-diode sub-assembly  1302  also includes a second conductor  1330  electrically coupled to the diode  1310 , the second conductor  1330  configured to couple electrically with a second terminal, which may be electrically coupled to a light-facing side, of a last solar cell of the solar-cell sub-module. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 13 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the diode  1310  is disposed between the first conductor  1320  and the second conductor  1330 . In the expanded view at the top and right of  FIG. 13 , the disposition of the diode  1310  between first and second conductors  1320  and  1330  is indicated by a double-headed arrow  1350 . The diode  1310  is disposed between a first tab portion  1320   a  of first conductor  1320  and a second tab portion  1330   a  of second conductor  1330 . In an embodiment of the present invention, the diode may be a simple chip diced from a silicon wafer having a pn junction, as may be the case for an initially homogenously doped wafer with a diffused or implanted dopant profile of opposite type from a dopant species used in growing a boule from which the wafer is sliced. At least one of the first and second conductors  1320  and  1330  may be configured as a heat sink to remove heat generated by the diode  1310 , although a heat-dissipating function may be provided by separate components. Because first and second conductors  1320  and  1330  may have the dual function of both providing an electrical path for, and dissipating heat generated by, current that by-passes a solar-cell sub-module with high resistance, both first conductor  1320  and second conductor  1330  may have a large current-carrying and heat-dissipating portions  1320   b  and  1330   b , respectively. Alternatively, the in-laminate-diode assembly may be made with separate components for the heat-spreading function and the current-carrying function. Therefore, the first and second conductors  1320  and  1330  may be configured to provide an electrical path for current that by-passes a solar-cell sub-module; and, separate heat sinks configured as separate components from the first and second conductors  1320  and  1330  may be provided to dissipate heat generated by current that by-passes a solar-cell sub-module. In addition, both first conductor  1320  and second conductor  1330  may have broad low-contact-resistance portions  1320   c  (not shown for second conductor  1330 ) for making electrical contact and electrically coupling with respective portions of solar cells, or other components, for example, busbars, in the solar-cell sub-module, which the in-laminate-diode sub-assembly protects. In addition, the in-laminate-diode sub-assembly  1302  includes an electrically-insulating-laminate strip  1340 . The electrically-insulating-laminate strip  1340  may be disposed between a plurality of first and second terminals, which may be back sides, of solar cells of the solar-cell sub-module, and the first conductor  1320  and the second conductor  1330 . In an embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of first and second terminals of solar cells may be exclusive of the back side of the primary, or first, solar cell of a solar-cell sub-module. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 13 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the back side of a solar cell may provide electrical coupling to both the light-facing side of one solar cell in the solar-cell sub-module and the back side of an adjacent solar cell in an adjacent solar-cell sub-module as for the interconnect assembly described above for  FIGS. 4A-4F . The first terminal may be electrically coupled to a positive terminal or a negative terminal of a solar cell in the solar-cell sub-module with which the diode is electrically coupled in parallel as described above for  FIGS. 11A-11D . Similarly, the second terminal may be electrically coupled to a positive terminal or a negative terminal of a solar cell in the solar-cell sub-module with which the diode is electrically coupled in parallel, but the second terminal will be electrically coupled to the terminal of the solar cell having opposite polarity to that of the terminal of the solar cell to which the first terminal is electrically coupled. For example, if the first terminal is electrically coupled to a positive terminal of a solar cell, the second terminal will be electrically coupled to a negative terminal of a solar cell. However, the polarity of the diode will always be electrically coupled with opposite to the polarity of the solar cell terminals with which the first and second terminals are electrically coupled as described above for  FIGS. 11A-11D . In an embodiment of the present invention, the back side of a solar cell corresponds to positive terminal of the solar cell, and the light-facing side corresponds to negative terminal of the solar cell, as for the CIGS solar cells described in  FIGS. 1A-1B . However, it should be noted that nothing precludes the application of embodiments of the present invention to solar-cell modules where the back side of a solar cell corresponds to a negative terminal of the solar cell, and the light-facing side corresponds to a positive terminal of the solar cell, or alternatively where both the positive and negative terminals of the solar cell may be disposed on the same side of the solar cell, whether it may be a back side or a light-facing side, so that such embodiments of the present invention are within the spirit and scope of embodiments of the present invention. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 13 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the in-laminate-diode sub-assembly  1302  further includes the electrically-insulating-laminate strip  1340  configured to allow access of at least one of the first and second conductors  1320  and  1330  to a solar cell of the plurality of solar cells of a solar-cell module, or solar-cell sub-module, for electrically coupling with the solar cell. For example, the electrically-insulating-laminate strip  1340  may include a continuous electrically-insulating-laminate strip with an access region  1342  through which the first conductor electrically couples with the back side of the primary solar cell. Alternatively, the electrically-insulating-laminate strip  1340  may include a plurality of separate electrically-insulating-laminate sub-strips separated by gaps corresponding with first and second terminals at which an in-laminate-diode sub-assembly makes contact with solar cells of the solar-cell sub-module. Therefore, the access region  1342  may be selected from the group consisting of a window, an opening, an aperture, a gap, and a discontinuity in the electrically-insulating-laminate strip  1340 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , this also allows the second conductor  1330  to electrically couple with the light-facing side of the last solar cell of the solar-cell sub-module, because the light-facing side of the last solar cell of the solar-cell sub-module may be electrically coupled in common with the back side of the primary solar cell of an adjacent solar-cell sub-module through an interconnect assembly between the back side of the primary solar cell and the light-facing side of the last solar cell of adjacent solar-cell sub-modules (not shown). 
     With further reference to  FIG. 13 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the in-laminate-diode sub-assembly  1302  further includes at least one of the first and second conductors  1320  and  1330  structured to enable a laminated electrical connection between at least one of the first and second conductors  1320  and  1330  and another component of the solar-cell module. Another component of the solar-cell module may be a first busbar, a terminating busbar and the terminal of a solar cell of a solar-cell sub-module. The laminated electrical connection does not require solder, welding, a conducting adhesive or any other material disposed between a first contacting surface of the first conductor  1320  and/or second conductor  1330  and a second contacting surface of the other component of the solar-cell module to which the first conductor  1320  and/or second conductor  1330  are electrically connected. The laminated electrical connection requires only that a mechanical pressure be applied to hold the first conductor  1320  and/or second conductor  1330  in intimate contact with the other component of the solar-cell module to which the first conductor  1320  and/or second conductor  1330  are electrically connected. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 13 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the first conductor  1320  may further include a first electrically-conducting-laminate strip configured to couple electrically with a first terminal of an adjacent last solar cell, for example, solar cell  1017   a , of a first adjacent solar-cell sub-module, for example, solar-cell sub-module  1010   a , and electrically coupled with a first adjacent diode. In an embodiment of the present invention, the first terminal of the adjacent last solar cell of the first adjacent solar-cell sub-module may be a light-facing side of the adjacent last solar cell of the first adjacent solar-cell sub-module. Thus, the first electrically-conducting-laminate strip has the function of both the first conductor  1320  of in-laminate-diode sub-assembly  1302  and the second conductor of second in-laminate-diode sub-assembly  1304 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , the first conductor  1320  of in-laminate-diode sub-assembly  1302  has portions  1320   d ,  1320   e  and  1320   f  that serve, respectively, as a broad low-contact-resistance portion  1320   d , a large current-carrying and heat-dissipating portion  1320   e  and a second tab portion  1320   f  as a second conductor of second in-laminate-diode sub-assembly  1304 . Alternatively, the second conductor of second in-laminate-diode sub-assembly  1304  may be separated from the first conductor  1320  of in-laminate-diode sub-assembly  1302  along dashed line  1352  to provide the functions of the broad low-contact-resistance portion  1320   d , the large current-carrying and heat-dissipating portion  1320   e  and the second tab portion  1320   f  of the second conductor of second in-laminate-diode sub-assembly  1304 . Similarly, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the second conductor  1330  may further include a second electrically-conducting-laminate strip configured to couple electrically with a second terminal of an adjacent primary solar cell, for example, solar cell  1012   b , of a second adjacent solar-cell sub-module, for example, solar-cell sub-module  1010   b , and electrically coupled with a second adjacent diode. In an embodiment of the present invention, the second terminal of the adjacent primary solar cell of the second adjacent solar-cell sub-module may be a back side of the adjacent primary solar cell of the second adjacent solar-cell sub-module. Alternatively, the first terminal and the second terminal may be configured as described in the preceding paragraphs, particularly as described for  FIGS. 11A-11D . 
     With reference now to  FIG. 14 ,  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 12 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a combined plan and perspective view  1400  of a lead  1422  at a cut corner  1418  of the back glass  1414  of a solar-cell module, for example, solar-cell module  1002 , is shown. The lead  1422  is shown here as a folded-over lead, without limitation thereto for embodiments of the present invention. An external-connection mechanism of the solar-cell module is electrically coupled to the lead  1422  at an edge region, for example, the cut corner  1418 , of the plurality of edge regions of the protective structure of the solar-cell module, for example, solar-cell module  1002 . The lead  1422  is electrically coupled to the plurality of solar cells, for example, plurality  1010  of solar cells  1012   a - 1017   a  and  1012   b - 1017   b . As described above, an external-connection mechanism of the solar-cell module may be selected from the group consisting of a wire, a connector, a lead, and a junction box, for example, external-connection mechanism  1282   b  as discussed here; and, an edge region may be selected from the group consisting of an edge of the solar-cell module and a corner of the solar-cell module, where two edges may meet, for example, cut corner  1418  as discussed here. The junction box, for example, external-connection mechanism  1282   b , of the solar-cell module, for example, solar-cell module  1260   b , may be electrically coupled to an interconnector, for example, interconnector  1288 , through the lead  1422  at the cut corner  1418  of the back glass  1414  of the solar-cell module  1260   b . The lead  1422  may be intercoupled with appropriate lugs and internal wiring to an external terminal junction of the junction box, for example, external-connection mechanism  1282   b , to provide this electrical coupling. The lead  1422  may be electrically coupled to the plurality of solar-cell sub-modules, for example, solar-cell sub-modules  1010   a - 1010   b , through a busbar (not shown) to which it is electrically coupled. In embodiments of the present invention, the lead  1422  at the edge region, for example, cut corner  1418 , of the plurality of edge regions of the protective structure, for example, back glass  1414 , may include a copper lead. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 14  and  FIG. 10 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, an edge  1424  of the lead  1422  at the edge region, for example, cut corner  1418 , of the protective structure, for example, front glass  1410  or back glass  1414 , is located at a distance  1428  at least three-eighths of an inch from a nearest externally accessible portion of the protective structure, for example, a joint  1426  between the external-connection mechanism (not shown) and the front glass  1410  or back glass  1414 , proximate to the edge of the lead. For example, the edge  1424  of the lead at the cut corner  1418  of the front glass  1410  or back glass  1414  may be located no closer than the distance  1428  of three-eighths of an inch from the joint  1426  that an external-connection mechanism, for example, a junction box, makes with the protective structure, for example, front glass  1410  or back glass  1414 . Alternatively, the edge region may be a set-off notch (not shown) at an edge, for example, edges  1090 ,  1092 ,  1094  and  1096  as shown in  FIG. 10 , of the protective structure, rather than the cut corner  1418 , at which an external-connection mechanism, for example, a junction box might be disposed. It should be noted that the joint  1426  between the outer surface of the junction box and the front glass  1410  or back glass  1414  is the nearest externally accessible portion of the protective structure. The three-eighths of an inch distance  1428  between this joint  1426  and the edge  1424  of the lead  1422  would provide a safe distance against the intrusive migration of water along the interface between encapsulating adhesives used to attach the junction box to the front glass  1410  or back glass  1414  and potting compounds used in the junction box to electrically insulate the lead  1422 . A distance shorter than the three-eighths of an inch distance  1428  might cause an electrical shock hazard for a potential difference above ground potential, greater than or equal to  600  volts, on the lead  1422 . In addition, the lead  1422  at the edge region, for example, cut corner  1418 , of the protective structure, for example, back glass  1414 , may include a portion of a busbar (not shown) attached to the plurality of solar cells, for example, the plurality  1010  of solar cells  1012   a - 1017   a  and  1012   b - 1017   b . As shown in  FIG. 14 , the front glass  1410  and the back glass  1414  that encapsulate the plurality of solar cells, for example, the plurality  1010  of solar cells  1012   a - 1017   a  and  1012   b - 1017   b , provides a protective structure for the solar-cell module, for example, solar-cell module  1002  as shown in  FIG. 10 . In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the lead  1422  at the edge region, for example, cut corner  1418 , is sealed between the front glass  1410  of the protective structure and a bottom portion, for example, back glass  1414 , of the protective structure with a first layer  1430  of polymeric sealing material and a second layer  1432  of polymeric sealing material. The first layer  1430  of polymeric sealing material is disposed between a lead-facing portion of the front glass  1410  and the lead  1422 , and the second layer  1432  of polymeric sealing material is disposed between a lead-facing portion of the bottom portion of the protective structure and the lead  1422 . In embodiments of the present invention, the polymeric sealing material may be a butyl-based sealing material. The bottom portion of the protective structure may be a back glass  1414  but without limitation thereto for embodiments of the present invention; for example, the bottom portion might be a non-transparent electrically insulating material other than glass. To the inventors&#39; knowledge, the use of this double application of polymeric sealing material to seal a lead emerging from between the edges of the protective structure, for example, front glass  1410  and back glass  1414 , of a solar-cell module has not been used prior to its use in embodiments of the present invention. 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 15A ,  15 B and  15 C, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, various interconnection schemes for interconnecting solar-cell modules having a variety of external-connection mechanisms are shown. The external-connection mechanisms are selected from the group consisting of junction boxes with an integrally attached male connector or an integrally attached female receptacle, and junction boxes with integrally attached leads having an attached male connector or an attached female receptacle. The embodiments of the present invention described for  FIGS. 15A ,  15 B and  15 C are but representative of embodiments of the present invention and are provided without limitation thereto, as other embodiments of the present invention for interconnecting two solar-cell modules are also within the spirit and scope of embodiments of the present invention. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 15A , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a plan view  1500 A of a first junction box  1512  of a first solar-cell module  1510  with a female receptacle  1514   a  and a second junction box  1522  of a second solar-cell module  1520  with a male connector  1524   a  configured to allow interconnection with the first solar-cell module  1510  is shown. An interconnector (not shown) provided with the male connector at one end and a female receptacle at the other end may be used to interconnect first and second solar cell modules  1510  and  1520 . Junction boxes  1512  and  1522  may be mounted on the respective corners of their respective solar-cell modules  1510  and  1520  with adhesives, and the internal wiring and connections with respective leads of their respective solar-cell modules  1510  and  1520  may be protected from the environment with suitable electrical potting compounds. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the separation between first and second solar-cell modules  1510  and  1520 , indicated by a gap between arrows  1550  and  1552 , may also be minimized so as to reduce the length of an interconnector (not shown) between first and second solar-cell modules  1510  and  1520 . Minimizing the separation between solar-cell modules improves solar-cell array efficiency by reducing wasted solar-collection space over the foot-print of the solar-cell array, as well as reducing the parasitic series resistance associated with a long interconnector having to span a large separation between first and second solar-cell modules  1510  and  1520 . Thus, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the solar-cell modules are arranged with a configuration to minimize wasted solar-collection space within the solar-cell array such that solar-cell-array efficiency is greater than solar-cell-array efficiency in the absence of the configuration. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 15B , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a plan view  1500 B of an interconnector  1526   a  with a male connector  1524   b  integrally attached to the second junction box  1522  of the second solar-cell module  1520  and configured to allow interconnection with the first junction box  1512  with the female receptacle  1514   a  of the first solar-cell module  1510  is shown. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the interconnector  1526   a  between the second junction box  1522  of the second solar-cell module  1520  and the first junction box  1512  of the first solar-cell module  1510  may be a flexible interconnector. The interconnector  1526   a  between the second junction box  1522  of the second solar-cell module  1520  and the first junction box  1512  of the first solar-cell module  1510  may also be a rigid interconnector. The interconnector  1526   a  may be integrally attached to the second junction box  1522  of the second solar-cell module  1520  and configured to allow interconnection with the first junction box  1512  of the first solar-cell module  1510  such that the interconnector  1526   a  has the male connector  1524   b  to interconnect to the female receptacle  1514   a  integrally attached to the first junction box  1512  of the first solar-cell module  1510 . 
     With reference now to  FIG. 15C , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a plan view  1500 C of an interconnector  1526   b  with a female receptacle  1514   b  integrally attached to the first junction box  1512  of the first solar-cell module  1510 , and of the interconnector  1526   a  with the male connector  1524   b  integrally attached to the second junction box  1522  of the second solar-cell module  1520  and configured to allow interconnection with the first junction box  1512  is shown. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the interconnector  1526   a  attached to the second junction box  1522  of the second solar-cell module  1520  may be a flexible interconnector. Similarly, the interconnector  1526   b  attached to the first junction box  1512  of the first solar-cell module  1510  may be a flexible interconnector. The interconnector  1526   a  attached to the second junction box  1522  of the second solar-cell module  1520  and the first junction box  1512  of the first solar-cell module  1510  may also be a rigid interconnector. Similarly, the interconnector  1526   b  attached to the first junction box  1512  of the first solar-cell module  1510  may be a rigid interconnector. The interconnectors  1526   a  and  1526   b  may be integrally attached to their respective junction boxes  1522  and  1512  and configured to allow interconnection of the first junction box  1512  of the first solar-cell module  1510  to the second junction box  1522  of the second solar-cell module  1520  through the interconnection of the male connector  1524   b  with the female receptacle  1514   b.    
     Section III: 
     Physical Description of Embodiments of the Present Invention for a Power-Loss-Inhibiting Current-Collector and a Combined Solar-Cell, Power-Loss-Inhibiting Current-Collector  
     With reference now to  FIG. 16 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a first cross-sectional elevation view  1600  of a combined solar-cell, power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1610  is shown.  FIG. 16  shows the physical arrangement of a power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  on a light-facing side of a solar cell  100 A and a first example microstructure of a positive-temperature-coefficient-of-electrical-resistance (PTCR) structure in a current-limiting portion  1620  of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  under normal operating conditions. The combined solar-cell, power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1610  includes the solar cell  100 A and the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614 . The power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  includes a trace  520  for collecting current from the solar cell  100 A and a current-limiting portion  1620  of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  coupled with the trace  520 . The current-limiting portion  1620  is configured to regulate current flow through the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614 . The current-limiting portion  1620  possesses the property that, in the absence of a shunt defect  1730  (see  FIG. 17 ) in the solar cell  100 A, the current-limiting portion  1620  has high conductivity, but, in the presence of the shunt defect  1730  (see  FIG. 17 ) in the solar cell  100 A in proximity to a contact between the current-limiting portion  1620  of a segment of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  and the solar cell  100 A, the current-limiting portion  1620  located in proximity to a contact between the current-limiting portion  1620  of the segment of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  has low conductivity, as will be subsequently described in greater detail. In other words, the current-limiting portion  1620  is designed so that the current-limiting portion  1620  is thin enough and conductive enough that efficiency of the solar cell  100 A, and correspondingly, efficiency of a solar-cell module and efficiency of a solar-cell array incorporating the solar cell  100 A are not lost; but also, the current-limiting portion  1620  is designed so that the thickness and conductivity of the current-limiting portion  1620  are balanced to prevent excessive current flow through the shunt defect  1730  (see  FIG. 17 ). 
     With further reference to  FIG. 16 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, it is noted that the current-limiting portion  1620 , although shown as having the first example microstructure of a PTCR structure, need not have such microstructure, nor indeed even include PTCR material. Therefore, encompassed within the spirit and scope of embodiments of the present invention, are a current-limiting portion  1620  including, and fabricated from, a current-limiting material, or a combination of a PTCR material with a current-limiting material, that provide current-limiting characteristics, or behavior, to the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614 . Furthermore, it is noted that PTCR materials as described herein are current-limiting materials, and that current-limiting materials may have a positive temperature coefficient of electrical resistance, although such current-limiting materials need not have the PTCR structure as subsequently described. Thus, embodiments of the present invention shown in  FIG. 16 , and subsequently  FIG. 17 , should not be construed to preclude the use of current-limiting material, or a combination of a PTCR material with a current-limiting material, in the current-limiting portion  1620  of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 16 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the first example microstructure of the PTCR structure in the current-limiting portion  1620  of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  is shown that imparts low resistance to the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  under normal operating conditions. The current-limiting portion  1620  that includes the PTCR structure having a positive temperature coefficient of electrical resistance includes a low-conductivity matrix portion  1620   a  and a plurality of high-conductivity portions  1620   b , which may include conductive filler, dispersed in the low-conductivity matrix portion  1620   a . In the low-electrical-resistance state, the high-conductivity portions  1620   b  provide a high-conductivity pathway for the flow of current between the trace  520  and the solar cell  100 A. In one embodiment of the present invention, the example microstructure of the PTCR structure in the current-limiting portion  1620  includes high-conductivity portions  1620   b  including a dispersion of filaments of high-conductivity material in the low-conductivity matrix portion  1620   a . The dispersion of filaments of high-conductivity material may be arranged as a percolating network that provides a high-conductivity pathway for the flow of current between the trace  520  and the solar cell  100 A under normal operating conditions, such as conditions occurring during solar illumination. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 16 , and  FIGS. 5B and 5C  as described in Section I above, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the trace  520  may further include an electrically conductive line including an electrically conductive core  520 A with at least one overlying layer  520 B. In one embodiment of the present invention, the electrically conductive line may include the electrically conductive core  520 A including a material having greater conductivity than nickel, for example, copper, with an overlying layer  520 B including nickel. In another embodiment of the present invention, the electrically conductive line may include the electrically conductive core  520 A including nickel without the overlying layer  520 B. The electrically conductive line may also be selected from a group consisting of an electrically conductive copper core clad with a silver cladding, an electrically conductive copper core clad with a nickel coating further clad with a silver cladding and an electrically conductive aluminum core clad with a silver cladding. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 16 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the current-limiting portion  1620  includes a layer of current-limiting material disposed coating at least a portion of the trace  520 . Therefore, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the interconnect assembly, the solar-cell current collector, and the integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector as described in Section I and embodiments of the present invention incorporating the interconnect assembly, the solar-cell current collector, and the integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector as described in Section II may further include the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614 , wherein a trace  520  within, respectively, the interconnect assembly, the solar-cell current collector, and the integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector is configured so that the current-limiting portion  1620  of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  includes the layer of current-limiting material disposed coating at least a portion of the trace  520 . In addition, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the solar-cell module as described in Section I and embodiments of the present invention incorporating the solar-cell module as described in Section II may further include a first combined solar-cell, power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1610  and at least a second combined solar-cell, power-loss-inhibiting current-collector and an interconnect assembly, wherein the trace  520  of the interconnect assembly is configured so that the current-limiting portion  1620  of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  includes the layer of current-limiting material disposed coating at least a portion of the trace  520 . Moreover, as embodiments of the present invention describing a solar-cell array include solar-cell modules, embodiments of the present invention for a solar-cell array incorporate embodiments for a power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  and a combined solar-cell, power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1610  such that the interconnect assemblies of solar-cell modules in the solar-cell array may further include the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614 , wherein the trace  520  of the respective interconnect assemblies is configured so that the current-limiting portion  1620  of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  includes the layer of current-limiting material disposed coating at least a portion of the trace  520 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 16 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that: a photovoltaic-convertor means for converting radiant power into electrical power may be a solar cell  100 A; a system for photovoltaic current-collection may be a power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614 ; an electrical-conduction means for collecting current may be a trace  520 ; a current-regulating means for limiting current to a portion of the system for photovoltaic current-collection may be a current-limiting portion  1620  of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614 . With the preceding identifications of terms of art, it should be noted that embodiments of the present invention recited herein with respect to a solar cell  100 A, a power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614 , a trace  520 , and a current-limiting portion  1620  of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  apply to a photovoltaic-convertor means for converting radiant power into electrical power, a system for photovoltaic current-collection, an electrical-conduction means for collecting current, and a current-regulating means for limiting current to a portion of the system for photovoltaic current-collection, respectively. Therefore, it should be noted that the preceding identifications of terms of art do not preclude, nor limit embodiments described herein, which are within the spirit and scope of embodiments of the present invention. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 16  and as described above in Section I with reference to  FIG. 1A , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the solar cell  100 A includes a metallic substrate  104 , an absorber layer  112  disposed on the metallic substrate  104 , a conductive backing layer  108  that may be disposed between the absorber layer  112  and the metallic substrate  104 , and TCO layers  1616  (identified with the TCO layers  116  of  FIG. 1A ), which may include one or more layers, here shown as  1616   a  and  1616   b , disposed between the absorber layer  112  and the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 16 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the absorber layer  112  may include a layer of the material, copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) having the chemical formula Cu(In 1−x Ga x )Se 2 , as described above in Section I with reference to  FIG. 1A . Moreover, in embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that semiconductors, such as silicon and cadmium telluride, as well as other semiconductors, may be used as the absorber layer  112 . As shown, the absorber layer  112  includes a p-type portion  112   a  and an n-type portion  112   b . As a result, a pn homojunction  112   c  is produced in the absorber layer  112  that serves to separate charge carriers that are created by light incident on the absorber layer  112 . Alternatively, the absorber layer  112  may include only a p-type chalcopyrite semiconductor layer, such as a CIGS material layer, and a pn heterojunction may be produced between the absorber layer  112  and an n-type layer, such as a metal oxide, metal sulfide or metal selenide, disposed on its top surface in place of the n-type portion  112   b  shown in  FIG. 16 . However, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to pn junctions fabricated in the manner described above, but rather a generic pn junction produced either as a homojunction in a single semiconductor material, or alternatively a heterojunction between two different semiconductor materials, is within the spirit and scope of embodiments of the present invention. Moreover, in embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that semiconductors, such as silicon and cadmium telluride, as well as other semiconductors, may be used as the absorber layer  112 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 16 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, TCO layers  1616  are disposed on the surface of the n-type portion  112   b  of the absorber layer  112 . The TCO layers  1616  may include one or more TCO layers  1616   a  and  1616   b , but without limitation to two layers as shown. Moreover, embodiments of the present invention also encompass without limitation within their scope a single TCO layer in place of the TCO layers  1616  shown in  FIG. 16 . In an embodiment of the present invention, a first TCO layer  1616   a  is disposed between the absorber layer  112  and a second TCO layer  1616   b . The first TCO layer  1616   a  may include resistive aluminum zinc oxide (RAZO), r-Al x Zn 1−x O y , where the subscripts x and y indicate that the relative amount of the constituents may be varied. RAZO is also known in the art as reactive aluminum zinc oxide because deposition by reactive sputtering in an oxygen atmosphere may be used to provide an excess of oxygen making the material more resistive. The second TCO layer  1616   b  is disposed between the first TCO layer  1616   a  and the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614 . The second TCO layer  1616   b  may include aluminum zinc oxide (AZO), Al x Zn 1−x O y , where the subscripts x and y indicate that the relative amount of the constituents may be varied. AZO is a more conductive material than RAZO. Alternatively, the second TCO layer  1616   b  may include indium tin oxide (ITO), In x Sn 1−x O y , where the subscripts x and y indicate that the relative amount of the constituents may be varied. In addition, as described above in Section I with reference to  FIG. 1A , the TCO layers  1616  (identified with the TCO layers  116  of  FIG. 1A ), may include other materials, such as zinc oxide, ZnO, and oxides produced by reactively sputtering in an oxygen atmosphere from a metallic target, such as zinc, Zn, Al—Zn alloy, or In—Sn alloy targets. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 16 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, under normal operating conditions that occur, for example, with solar illumination of the solar cell  100 A, electrical current will trickle through the RAZO and will be collected by the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614 . As used herein, it should be noted that the phrases “collecting current” and “current-collector” refers to collecting current carriers of either sign, whether they be positively charged holes or negatively charged electrons; for the structure shown in  FIG. 16  in which the TCO layer  1616  is disposed on the n-type portion  112   b , the current carriers collected are negatively charged electrons; but, embodiments of the present invention apply, without limitation thereto, to solar-cell configurations where a p-type layer is disposed on an n-type absorber layer, in which case the current carriers collected may be positively charged holes. Therefore, the term “current-collector” as used herein does not imply a polarity of current flow, but rather the functionality of collecting charge carriers associated with an electrical current. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 16 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, when the pn junction of the solar cell  100 A is reverse biased, the RAZO acts as a barrier to current flow. In particular, if a shunt defect  1730  (see  FIG. 17 ) is present in the solar cell  100 A in proximity to a contact between a segment of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  and the solar cell  100 A, the RAZO acts as a barrier to current flow. In the absence of the RAZO, the presence of shunt defects degrades the performance of the solar cell  100 A due to the parasitic conductance created in the solar cell  100 A at a site of the shunt defect  1730  (see  FIG. 17 ). If the solar cell  100 A is also shaded, the shunt defects can result in hot spots. However, even for a current collector, integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector, or current-collecting interconnect assembly, lacking the current-limiting portion  1620 , if RAZO is present, and if the solar cell  100 A is shaded and a shunt defect  1730  (see  FIG. 17 ) is present in the solar cell  100 A, but not in proximity to a contact between a segment of the current collector, integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector, or current-collecting interconnect assembly, and the solar cell  100 A, the RAZO may act as a barrier to current flow, reducing this parasitic conductance. By carefully controlling the conductivities and thicknesses of the TCO layer  1616 , including materials selected from the group of materials consisting of intrinsic zinc oxide, i-ZnO, AZO and RAZO, the parasitic conductance can in such cases be limited to a finite region surrounding the site of the shunt defect  1730  (see  FIG. 17 ), even for a current collector, integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector, or current-collecting interconnect assembly, lacking the current-limiting portion  1620 . This approach of controlling the conductivities and thicknesses of the TCO layers  1616  works well, unless the current collector, integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector, or current-collecting interconnect assembly, is located directly above the site of the shunt defect  1730  (see  FIG. 17 ). 
     Therefore, RAZO alone may not be sufficient to prevent the formation of a hot spot at the site of the shunt defect  1730  (see  FIG. 17 ), especially under exacerbating circumstances such as shading of the solar cell  100 A, so that catastrophic melting of the absorber layer  112  may occur at the site of the shunt defect  1730  (see  FIG. 17 ) with the production of a hard short in the solar cell  10 A. As a result of such a shunt defect  1730  (see  FIG. 17 ) and in the event that a hot spot develops in proximity to a contact between a segment of the trace  520  and the solar cell  100 A, solar-cell efficiency, solar-cell module efficiency and solar-cell array efficiency is substantially diminished. As will be discussed next, embodiments of the present invention ameliorate this condition such that power loss is mitigated, and correspondingly solar-cell efficiency, solar-cell module efficiency and solar-cell array efficiency are substantially undiminished, in an event that a hot spot develops in proximity to a contact between a segment of the trace  520  and the solar cell  100 A by regulating current flow through the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614 . It should be noted that as used herein the phrase, “substantially undiminished,” with respect to solar-cell efficiency, solar-cell module efficiency and solar-cell array efficiency means that the solar-cell efficiency, solar-cell module efficiency and solar-cell array efficiency are not reduced below an acceptable level of productive performance. Conversely, as used herein the phrase, “substantially diminished,” with respect to solar-cell efficiency, solar-cell module efficiency and solar-cell array efficiency means that the solar-cell efficiency, solar-cell module efficiency and solar-cell array efficiency are reduced below an acceptable level of productive performance. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 17 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a second cross-sectional elevation view  1700  of a combined solar-cell, power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1610  is shown.  FIG. 17  shows the physical arrangement of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  on the light-facing side of the solar cell  100 A and a second example microstructure of the PTCR structure in the current-limiting portion  1620  of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  that develops with occurrence of the shunt defect  1730  in the solar cell  100 A located in proximity to a contact between the current-limiting portion  1620  of a segment of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  and the solar cell  100 A. As shown in  FIG. 17 , the metallic substrate  104 , the conductive backing layer  108 , the absorber layer  112 , including the p-type portion  112   a , the n-type portion  112   b  and the pn junction  112   c , and TCO layers  1616 , which may include one or more layers, here shown as  1616   a  and  1616   b , are arranged as described above for  FIG. 16 . Similarly, the trace  520 , including the electrically conductive core  520 A with at least one overlying layer  520 B, is also arranged as described above for  FIG. 16 . As noted above, the current-limiting portion  1620  of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  is configured to regulate current flow through the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 17 , in one example embodiment of the present invention, regulation of the current flow occurs by formation of an altered microstructure in the PTCR structure of the current-limiting portion  1620  that develops with occurrence of the shunt defect  1730  in the solar cell  100 A located in proximity to a contact between the current-limiting portion  1620  of a segment of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  and the solar cell  100 A. The second example microstructure, which may be identified with this altered microstructure, of the PTCR structure in the current-limiting portion  1620  of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  imparts high resistance to the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  with occurrence of the shunt defect  1730 . In a high-electrical-resistance state, the PTCR structure in the current-limiting portion  1620  still includes the low-conductivity matrix portion  1620   a  and the plurality of high-conductivity portions  1620   b  dispersed in the low-conductivity matrix portion  1620   a . However, in the high-electrical-resistance state, the high-conductivity pathway for the flow of current between the trace  520  and the solar cell  100 A through the high-conductivity portions  1620   b  is disrupted. Thus, the current-limiting portion  1620  of a segment of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  has a resistance that increases with occurrence of the shunt defect  1730  in the solar cell  100 A located in proximity to a contact between the current-limiting portion  1620  of the segment of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  and the solar cell  100 A. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 17 , in the example embodiment of the present invention, the second example microstructure of the PTCR structure in the current-limiting portion  1620  includes high-conductivity portions  1620   b  including a dispersion of disconnected high-conductivity material in the low-conductivity matrix portion  1620   a . To the inventors&#39; knowledge, the exact nature of the mechanism by which development of the high-electrical-resistance state occurs in not known; but, in one proposed mechanism for the development of the high-electrical-resistance state, the dispersion of disconnected high-conductivity material may be arranged as a non-percolating distribution that inhibits the flow of current between the trace  520  and the solar cell  100 A with occurrence of the shunt defect  1730  in the solar cell  100 A located in proximity to a contact between the current-limiting portion  1620  of the segment of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  and the solar cell  100 A. The current-limiting portion  1620  is configured to regulate current flow through the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  such that solar-cell efficiency, solar-cell module efficiency and solar-cell array efficiency is substantially undiminished in an event that the shunt defect  1730  develops in proximity to a contact between the current-limiting portion  1620  of the segment of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  and the solar cell  100 A. The shunt defect  1730  can produce a hot spot, especially under exacerbating circumstances such as shading of the solar cell  100 A, so that catastrophic melting of the absorber layer  112  and melting, segregation, or at least separation of the high-conductivity material in the low-conductivity matrix  1620   a  occurs causing disruption of the percolating network that provides the low-conductivity pathway present under normal operating conditions. By increasing the resistance of the current-limiting portion  1620  of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614 , shunt current flowing through the shunt defect  1730  is substantially attenuated and power loss in the affected solar cell  100 A is inhibited. It should be noted that as used herein the phrase, “substantially attenuated,” with respect to shunt current flowing through the shunt defect  1730  means that shunt current flowing through the shunt defect  1730  is so reduced as to maintain an acceptable level of productive performance and efficiency of the affected solar cell  100 A, solar-cell module and solar-cell array containing the shunt defect  1730 . With the mitigation of the effects of shunt current through the shunt defect  1730 , a short-circuit of the current collected from productive solar-cells in a solar-cell module and solar-cell array may be effectively reduced, and the power loss associated with the short-circuit is inhibited. Thus, the current-limiting portion  1620  of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  is configured to regulate current flow through the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  by inhibiting the power loss due to a shunt current flowing through the shunt defect  1730  and maintaining solar-cell efficiency, solar-cell module efficiency and solar-cell array efficiency substantially undiminished in an event that the shunt defect  1730  develops in proximity to the contact between the current-limiting portion  1620  of the segment of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  and the solar cell  100 A. Also, a partial shunt defect  1734 , which only shunts current through a portion of the solar cell  100 A, here shown as extending across just the absorber layer  112 , can produce similar effects as described above for the shunt defect  1730 , here shown as a complete shunt across the entire thickness of the solar cell  100 A. Embodiments of the present invention also remedy the effects of these partial shunt defects, for example, partial shunt defect  1734 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 17 , in the example embodiment of the present invention, the PTCR structure of the current-limiting portion  1620  acts as a “current spreader” under normal operating conditions, but results in a “built-in” fuse that increases resistance as more current leaks into the site of the shunt defect  1730 , which automatically increases the resistance to current flow through the shunt defect  1730 . The increased resistance inhibits formation of a hot spot and limits parasitic resistances during a shading event of the solar cell  100 A. At low temperatures, the PTCR characteristic is such that the PTCR structure of the current-limiting portion  1620  conducts freely allowing the trace  520  to gather current under normal operating conditions so that the solar cell  100 A retains high solar-cell efficiency. As described above, the PTCR structure of the current-limiting portion  1620  is disposed between the trace  520  of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  and the TCO layers  1616 . The PTCR structure in the current-limiting portion  1620  may be fabricated on the trace  520  by coating the trace  520  with a PTCR ink or PTCR thermoplastic. The PTCR ink or PTCR thermoplastic may include conductive constituents such as silver, tin, nickel, or carbon utilized to control the PTCR characteristics of the PTCR structure in the current-limiting portion  1620  of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614 . 
     Alternatively, the PTCR structure in the current-limiting portion  1620  of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  may exhibit self-regulating current control characteristics based on the following alternative proposed mechanism: at lower temperatures, the PTCR structure of the current-limiting portion  1620  may contract on a microscopic scale that might result in making electrical contact between the high-conductivity portions  1620   b  producing high-conductivity paths for the current flow; but, on the other hand, at higher temperature, when current through the shunt defect  1730  results in a localized temperature increase, the PTCR structure of the current-limiting portion  1620  may expand that might result in breaking electrical contact between the high-conductivity portions  1620   b  destroying high-conductivity paths for current flow through the shunt defect  1730 , which would reduce the conductivity and current loss at the site of the shunt defect  1730  and would prevent the formation of a hot spot. It should be noted that this alternative mechanism is not necessarily inconsistent with the mechanism discussed earlier. Thus, the behavior of the current-limiting portion  1620  might be likened to the behavior of a fully reversible fuse: closing a circuit and facilitating paths to current flow at low temperature; but, opening a circuit and inhibiting paths to current flow at high temperature, so that the current-limiting portion  1620  self-regulates the current flow through the trace  520  depending on the occurrence of the shunt defect  1730  in proximity to the trace  520 . Thus, the current-limiting portion  1620  prevents the catastrophic effects of the shunt defect  1730  in direct juxtaposition to the trace  520  by blocking the formation of a high-conductivity path for, and by inhibiting the flow of, shunting current through the shunt defect  1730 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 17 , in another example embodiment of the present invention, the high-conductivity material may be a metal with a tendency to agglomerate in nodules in the low-conductivity matrix  1620   a  due to an increased temperature above ambient in the vicinity of an incipient hot spot associated with the shunt defect  1730 . However, the use of other current-limiting materials that provide regulation of current flow through a current-limiting portion  1620  of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  without microstructural changes associated with PTCR material of a PTCR structure within the current-limiting portion  1620  is also within the spirit and scope of embodiments of the present invention. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 18A , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, an elevation view  1800 A of a first example of a power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  is shown.  FIG. 18A  shows the physical structure of the trace  520 , including the electrically conductive core  520 A, and the PTCR structure in the current-limiting portion  1620  of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614 , including the low-conductivity matrix portion  1620   a  and the plurality of high-conductivity portions  1620   b  dispersed in the low-conductivity matrix portion  1620   a . The power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  includes the trace  520  for collecting current from the solar cell  100 A (see  FIGS. 16 and 17 ) and the PTCR structure of the current-limiting portion  1620  coupled with the trace  520 . The PTCR structure of the current-limiting portion  1620  is configured to regulate current flow through the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614 . The trace  520  includes the electrically conductive core  520 A. The trace  520  may also include nickel. The PTCR structure of the current-limiting portion  1620  may include a layer of PTCR material disposed coating at least a portion of the trace  520 . The current-limiting portion  1620  that includes the PTCR structure having a positive temperature coefficient of electrical resistance includes the low-conductivity matrix portion  1620   a  and the plurality of high-conductivity portions  1620   b  dispersed in the low-conductivity matrix portion  1620   a.    
     As shown in  FIGS. 16 ,  17  and  18 A, the low-conductivity matrix portion  1620   a  of the PTCR structure in the current-limiting portion  1620  may be selected from the group of materials consisting of a thermoplastic, an epoxy, an adhesive, an electrical varnish and a binder of an ink. The plurality of high-conductivity portions  1620   b  dispersed in the low-conductivity matrix portion  1620   a  of the PTCR structure in the current-limiting portion  1620  may be selected from the group of materials consisting of silver, tin, nickel, and carbon, for example, carbon in the form of graphite or carbon black. In general, materials suitable for the current-limiting portion  1620  may be selected from the group of materials consisting of an oxide, a nitride, a carbide, a carbon-containing coating material, a PTCR ink, a PTCR epoxy, a PTCR thermoplastic, a varnish and an adhesive. For the provision of PTCR material in the current-limiting portion  1620 , multiple vendors are available, for example: DuPont, Emerson &amp; Cuming, and Sun Chemical. The inventors of embodiments of the present invention are engaged in on-going research and development to find an optimum mixture and formulation of materials for the high-conductivity portions  1620   b  with the low-conductivity matrix portion  1620   a  of the PTCR structure in the current-limiting portion  1620  for the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614 , but have not as yet found the optimum mixture and formulation of materials. As PTCR materials are well known, for example, from applications to self-regulating heating cables, research and development to find an optimum mixture and formulation of materials for the high-conductivity portions  1620   b  with the low-conductivity matrix portion  1620   a  of the PTCR structure in the current-limiting portion  1620  for the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  are not expected to result in undue experimentation. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 18B , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, an elevation view  1800 B of a second example of a power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  is shown.  FIG. 18B  shows the physical structure of the trace  520 , including an electrically conductive core  520 A and at least one overlying layer  520 B, and the PTCR structure in the current-limiting portion  1620  of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614 , including the low-conductivity matrix portion  1620   a  and the plurality of high-conductivity portions  1620   b  dispersed in the low-conductivity matrix portion  1620   a . In one embodiment of the present invention, the layer  520 B overlying the electrically conductive core  520 A may include nickel. In another embodiment of the present invention, the layer  520 B overlying the electrically conductive core  520 A may be oxidized, prior to disposing a PTCR structure of the current-limiting portion  1620 , as a coating, on the trace  520 . The PTCR structure in the current-limiting portion  1620  may include a layer of PTCR material disposed coating at least a portion of the trace  520 . Other details of the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 18B  have been discussed above in the description of  FIGS. 16 and 17 . Moreover, it is noted that certain embodiments of the present invention described with respect to  FIGS. 16 and 17  may apply without limitation to embodiments of the present invention described in  FIGS. 18A ,  18 C,  18 D and  18 E where the structure of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  may differ from that shown in  FIG. 18B , especially for embodiments of the present invention employing materials that may not have the specific PTCR structure as described above, but are nevertheless current-limiting materials. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 18C , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a cross-sectional, elevation view  1800 C of a third example of a power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  is shown.  FIG. 18C  shows the physical structure of power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  for a current-limiting portion of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector integrated with the trace. In  FIG. 18C , the current-limiting portion of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  is not shown as a separate structure from the trace to emphasize that the current-limiting portion of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  is integrated with the trace. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 18D , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a cross-sectional, elevation view  1800 D of a fourth example of a power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  is shown.  FIG. 18D  shows the physical structure of the trace  520 , including an electrically conductive core  520 A, and the current-limiting portion  1620  of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614 , including a material  1820  selected from the group of materials having current-limiting behavior. As described above, in the absence of a power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614 , the approach of controlling the conductivities and thicknesses of the TCO layers  1616  works well, unless a current collector, current-collecting interconnect assembly, or integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector, is located directly above the site of the shunt defect  1730 . An embodiment of the present invention addresses this problem by utilizing a conductive layer, for example, the current-limiting portion  1620 , between the trace  520  of a current collector, current-collecting interconnect assembly, or integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector, that has a lower conductivity than the trace  520  which limits the shunt current at the site of the shunt defect  1730 . Loss of efficiency in the solar cell  100 A, the solar-cell module and the solar-cell array can be minimized because extra series resistance is added to the circuit only at the site of the shunt defect  1730  located at the contact between the current-limiting portion  1620  of the segment of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  and the solar cell  100 A. The primary path of current collection is not affected. In an embodiment of the present invention, the current-limiting portion  1620  includes an oxide coating that may be disposed on the trace  520  of the current collector, the current-collecting interconnect assembly, or the integrated busbar-solar-cell-current collector. The current-limiting portion  1620  may include the material  1820  selected from the group of current-limiting materials consisting of silver oxide, nickel oxide, indium tin oxide, zinc oxide, AZO, RAZO, a conductive carbon-containing material and a conductive nitrogen-containing material, which may not possess the PTCR structure as described above. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 18E , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a cross-sectional, elevation view  1800 E of a fifth example of a power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  is shown.  FIG. 18E  shows the physical structure of the trace  520 , including an electrically conductive core  520 A and at least one overlying layer  520 B, and the current-limiting portion  1620  of the power-loss-inhibiting current-collector  1614  including the material  1820  selected from the group of materials having current-limiting behavior. Similar to  FIG. 18D , the current-limiting portion  1620  may include the material  1820  selected from the group of current-limiting materials consisting of silver oxide, nickel oxide, indium tin oxide, zinc oxide, AZO, RAZO, a conductive carbon-containing material and a conductive nitrogen-containing material, which may not possess the PTCR structure as described above. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments described herein were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.