Patent ID: 7939454

Claim:
A method for packaging solar cell module, the method comprises: providing a first substrate member having a surface region; forming a plurality of thin film photovoltaic cells overlying the surface region of the first substrate member, each of the thin film photovoltaic cell having a first thickness, a first width, and a first length; operably coupling a first connector member and a second connector member to each of the plurality of thin film photovoltaic cells, the first connector member and the second connector member having an upper surface region and a second thickness; providing a first spacer element overlying a first portion of the surface region of the first substrate member, a second spacer element overlying a second portion of the surface region of the first substrate member, the first spacer element and the second spacer element having a third thickness; providing a laminating material overlying the plurality of thin film photovoltaic cells, the first spacer element, the second spacer element, the first connector member, the second connector member, and exposed regions of the first substrate member; coupling a second substrate member overlying the laminating material; processing the first substrate member, the laminating material, and the second substrate member using a lamination process to form a photovoltaic module; and maintaining a spatial gap occupied by a portion of the laminating material between the upper surface region and the second substrate member, using the first spacer element and the second spacer element to maintain planarity between the first substrate member and the second substrate member during the lamination process.