Patent ID: 8212139

Claim:
A photovoltaic module, comprising: an active layer including a plurality of strips of thin-film photovoltaic material that are arranged spaced apart from and substantially parallel to each other, each of the plurality of strips being continuous substantially the entire length of the photovoltaic module; a top layer disposed above the active layer, the top layer including a substantially transparent film; means for serially and redundantly interconnecting the strips of thin-film photovoltaic material together; a bottom layer disposed below the active layer, the bottom layer including an electrically conductive backsheet electrically connecting a first outer strip of thin-film photovoltaic material and a second outer strip of thin-film photovoltaic material to form a current return path for the strips of thin-film photovoltaic material; an electronic circuit layer electrically connected between the first outer strip of thin-film photovoltaic material and the electrically conductive backsheet; and a substantially electrically insulating material disposed between the electrically conductive backsheet and the plurality of strips of thin-film photovoltaic material; wherein: the electronic circuit layer is electrically connected to a to surface of the first outer strip of thin-film photovoltaic material and the electrically conductive backsheet is electrically connected to a substrate on a bottom surface of the second outer strip of thin-film photovoltaic material; or the electronic circuit layer is electrically connected to a substrate on a bottom surface of the first outer strip of thin-film photovoltaic material and the electrically conductive backsheet is electrically connected to a top surface of the second outer strip of thin-film photovoltaic material.