Patent ID: 8513516

Claim:
A photovoltaic device, comprising: a glass substrate; a plurality of thin film layers on the glass substrate, wherein the plurality of thin film layers define a plurality of photovoltaic cells connected in series to each other; an insulating layer positioned on and directly contacting the plurality of thin film layers; an intra-laminate disk layer positioned on and directly contacting the insulating layer; a first conductive strip positioned on and directly contacting the insulating layer and the intra-laminate disk layer, the first conductive strip defining a first lead, wherein the first conductive strip is electrically isolated from the plurality of thin film layers via the insulating layer and connected to a first bus bar; a second conductive strip positioned on and directly contacting the insulating layer and the intra-laminate disk layer, the second conductive strip defining a second lead, wherein the second conductive strip is electrically isolated from the thin film layers via the insulating layer and connected to a second bus bar; an adhesive layer over the first conductive strip, the second conductive strip, the intra-laminate disk layer, the insulated layer, and any remaining exposed areas of the plurality of thin films, wherein the adhesive layer defines an adhesive gap through which the first lead and the second lead extend; and, an encapsulating substrate on the adhesive layer, wherein the encapsulating substrate defines a connection aperture through which the first lead and the second lead extend, wherein the intra-laminate disk layer is positioned under the adhesive gap defined by the adhesive layer and the connection aperture defined by the encapsulating substrate.