Patent ID: 8198696

Claim:
An article combining a first photovoltaic cell and a first unit of interconnection structure wherein, said first photovoltaic cell comprises an upwardly facing top cell surface formed by a transparent or translucent conductive material, said cell further comprising thin film semiconductor material supported on an upwardly facing surface of a metal based cell foil, said cell foil being flexible and self supporting, said first unit of interconnection structure has a substantially planar overall upper surface and is designed to facilitate series electrical interconnection of two photovoltaic cells, said first unit of interconnection structure comprises a first additional conductive material not associated with said photovoltaic cell structure, said cell foil overlays at least a portion of said first additional conductive material, said unit of interconnection structure further comprises a first non-conductive material not associated with said photovoltaic cell structure, a portion of said non-conductive material being positioned between said cell foil of said first photovoltaic cell and said portion of said first additional conductive material, said transparent or translucent conductive material is in ohmic electrical communication with said first additional conductive material and, no portion of said first additional conductive material extends to overlay said first cell.