| 摘要 |
Solar cell units each comprise a group of series-connected solar cells 18, connected in parallel (82) and/or series (81) with reverse-polarity protective diodes, the diodes are obtained by using solar cell structures of the same general type as the solar cells 18 formed on a substrate 11. Each solar cell structure includes a first conductive layer 13 or 31, an intermediate silicon layer 14 or 41 and a second conductive layer 16 or 61. Each silicon layer 14,41 includes a rectifying junction arrangement for providing photoelectric conversion. The protective diodes 81,82 make use of the rectifying property of the junction to act either as by-pass element (82) or as blocking elements (81). While normally used in combination, only the series connected (81), or parallel-connected (82), diodes may be provided in a solar cell unit, where the solar cell units, which are usually connected in a matrix arrangement, are connected only in cascade or only in parallel respectively. <IMAGE> |
