Collector grid and interconnect structures for photovoltaic arrays and modules

摘要

An interconnected arrangement of photovoltaic cells is achieved using laminating current collector electrodes. The electrodes comprise a pattern of conductive material extending over a first surface of sheetlike substrate material. The first surface comprises material having adhesive affinity for a selected conductive surface. Application of the electrode to the selected conductive surface brings the first surface of the sheetlike substrate into adhesive contact with the conductive surface and simultaneously brings the conductive surface into firm contact with the conductive material extending over first surface of the sheetlike substrate. Use of the laminating current collector electrodes allows facile and continuous production of expansive area interconnected photovoltaic arrays.

主权项

1. An article comprising two adjacent photovoltaic cells and an interconnection component wherein,
said two adjacent photovoltaic cells comprise a first photovoltaic cell and a second photovoltaic cell, each of said two adjacent photovoltaic cells has a downward facing bottom surface and an upward facing light incident top surface, said interconnection component comprises a substrate comprising multiple portions, each of said portions having a sheetlike form with length and width dimensions much greater than thickness dimension, each of said multiple portions further having an outer downward facing bottom side and an outer upward facing top side, a first of said portions of said substrate overlays a preponderance of said first of said photovoltaic cells such that said outer downward facing bottom side of said first portion of said substrate faces said upward facing light incident top surface of said first of said adjacent photovoltaic cells, said second of said adjacent photovoltaic cells overlays a second of said multiple portions of said substrate such that said downward facing bottom surface of said second photovoltaic cell faces the outer upward facing top side of said second portion of said substrate to define an overlap area, said second portion of said substrate comprises multiple layers, a first of said multiple layers of said second portion of said substrate within said overlap area comprises polymeric adhesive and forms the outer upward facing top side of said second portion of said substrate over at least part of said overlap area, and said first of said multiple layers directly contacts and is adhesively bonded to said downward facing bottom surface of said second photovoltaic cell, a second of said multiple layers of said second portion of said substrate within said overlap area comprises polymeric material and underlies and is in direct physical contact with said first of said multiple layers, and said second of said multiple layers does not extend beneath the first of said two adjacent photovoltaic cells.