INTERDIGITATED PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER CONVERSION DEVICE

摘要

A photovoltaic power conversion device (30) has a top surface adapted to receive impinging radiation. The device includes at least two adjacent, serially connected cells (11, 12). Each cell includes a semi-insulating substrate (33) and a lateral conductivity layer (18) of a first doped electrical conductivity disposed on the substrate. A base layer is disposed on the lateral conductivity layer (18) and has the same electrical charge conductivity thereof. An emitter layer (20) of a second doped electrical conductivity of opposite electrical charge is disposed on the base layer (20) and forms a p-n junction therebetween. A plurality of spaced channels are formed in the emitter and base layers (20) to expose the lateral conductivity layer (18) at the bottoms thereof. A front contact grid (36) is positioned on the top surface of the emitter layer (20) of each cell. A first current collector (22) is positioned along one outside edge of at least one first cell (11). A back contact grid (44) is positioned in the channels at the top surface of the device for engagement with the lateral conductivity layer (18). A second current collector (26) is positioned along at least one outside edge of at least one oppositely disposed second cell (12). Finally, an interdigitation mechanism is provided for serially connecting the front contact grid (36) of one cell to the back contact grid (44) of an adjacent cell at the top surface of the device (30).