Patent ID: 7235736

Claim:
A solar cell unit comprising: (A) a substrate having a first end and a second end, wherein the substrate is either (i) hollowed cylindrical shaped or (ii) a rigid solid rod; and (B) a plurality of photovoltaic cells linearly arranged on said substrate, the plurality of photovoltaic cells comprising a first photovoltaic cell and a second photovoltaic cell, each photovoltaic cell in said plurality of photovoltaic cells comprising: a back-electrode circumferentially disposed on said substrate; a semiconductor junction layer circumferentially disposed on said back-electrode; and a transparent conductive layer circumferentially disposed on said semiconductor junction, wherein the transparent conductive layer of the first photovoltaic cell in said plurality of photovoltaic cells is in serial electrical communication with the back-electrode of the second photovoltaic cell in said plurality of photovoltaic cells.