Patent ID: 8563347

Claim:
A method for producing a thin-film solar cell with a cell level integrated bypass diode, the method comprising the steps of: a) forming an array of solar cells on a support layer, the solar cells being connected in electrical series, the array including at least a first, a second, and a third solar cell, the first and the second solar cells being adjacent to each other, and each solar cell of the array being a laminated structure comprising: a photovoltaic junction layer including a semiconducting material of a first type and a semiconducting material of a second type, a front electrode disposed in electrical contact with the semiconducting material of the first type, and a back electrode disposed in electrical contact with the semiconducting material of the second type; b) separating from the first solar cell at least a portion of both the back electrode and the photovoltaic junction layer, leaving intact the front electrode of the first solar cell, such that the semiconducting material of the first type of the separated portion of the photovoltaic junction layer of the first solar cell is electrically connected with the semiconducting material of the second type of the second solar cell through physical contact between the front electrode of the first solar cell and the back electrode of the second solar cell; and, c) using the separated portion of the back electrode of the first solar cell, connecting the semiconducting material of the second type of the separated portion of the photovoltaic junction layer of the first solar cell to the semiconducting material of the first type of the second solar cell, such that the bypass diode is thereby defined on the support layer, the bypass diode being connected in parallel with and in opposition to the second solar cell.