A NOVEL INTERCONNECT SCHEME FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES

A NOVEL APPROACH TO THE INTERCONNECTION OF PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS IS PROPOSED. IT UTILIZES CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGIES FROM THE HYBRID CIRCUIT, CERAMICS, AND POLYMER FIELDS ADAPTED FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC PROCESSING. THE ENTIRE CONCEPT HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE AS A RESULT OF RECENT ADVANCES IN STATE-OF-THE-ART SOLAR CELL PROCESSING. THIS NEW INTERCONNECT METHOD CONTACTS ONLY THE REAR FACE OF THE SOLAR CELL AND IS SOLDER-FREE. THIS MEANS THAT IT LENDS ITSELF TO VIRTUALLY CONTINUOUS, HIGH SPEED, LOW COST MANUFACTURING, AND IN ADDITION, AVOIDS ANY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES CONNECTED WITH THE USES OF SOLDER. GIVEN THE SOMEWHAT UNIQUE SOLAR CELL CONFIGURATION, THE KEY TECHNICAL ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED IN PHASE I ARE THE REDUCTION OF THE METALLIZATION FINGERS' SERIES RESISTANCE AND MAINTENANCE OF A HIGH SHUNT RESISTANCE BETWEEN THE FRONT AND REAR CONTACTS. A DETAILED SURVEY OF COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE MATERIALS IN THE AREAS OF THICK FILM PASTES AND HIGH DIELECTRIC STRENGTH, LOW COST POLYMER SHEET MATERIALS WILL BE A PART OF THIS STUDY.