Solar array

Claim 2

In a solar array, the combination comprising: a supporting substrate having front and rear sides; first and second solar cells at the front side of said substrate having rear sides facing the substrate and opposite front sides; each cell having at its rear side an electrically conductive rear contact surface and at its front side an electrically conductive front contact surface and a light sensitive surface; said substrate having openings exposing said rear cell contact surfaces; and a cell interconnector passing through said substrate between said cells and electrically joined to said front contact surface of said first cell and to said rear contact surface of said second cell through the corresponding substrate opening for connecting said cells in electrical series.

Claim 3

The combination according to claim 1 wherein: said front contact surface of each cell is located along one cell edge; said cells are disposed in coplanar relation with a narrow space between the cells bounded by said one edge of said first cell and the opposite edge of the second cell; and said interconnector has a generally Z-shape and includes a central portion extending through said space and the substrate, a transverse front end overlapping and electrically joined to said front contact surface of said first cell, and a transverse rear end extending across said rear side of said substrate into overlapping relation with and electrically joined to the rear contact surface of said second cell through the corresponding substrate opening.

Claim 4

The combination according to claim 2 wherein: said interconnectors provide the sole attachment of said cells to said substrate.

Claim 5

The combination according to claim 3 wherein: said substrate and interconnectors are flexible.

Claim 6

In a solar array, the combination comprising: a supporting substrate having front and rear sides; at least two parallel strings of solar cells arranged side by side at the front side of said substrate each including at least first and second cells having rear sides facing the substrate and opposite front sides; each cell having at its rear side an electrically conductive rear contact surface and at its front side an electrically conductive front contact surface and a light sensitive surface; said substrate having openings exposing said rear cell contact surfaces; electrically conductive cell interconnectors connecting the cells of each cell string in electrical series; each interconnector passing through said substrate between and adjacent cells in the respective string and being electrically joined to said front contact surface of said one cell and to said rear contact surface of the other cell through the corresponding substrate opening; and electrically conductive cell interconnectors connecting the corresponding cells of said cell strings in electrical parallel.

Claim 7

In a solar array, the combination comprising: a supporting substrate having front and rear sides; at least two parallel strings of solar cells arranged side by side at the front side of said substrate each including at least first and second cells having rear sides facing the substrate and opposite front sides; each cell having at its rear side an electrically conductive rear contact surface and at its front side an electrically conductive front contact surface and a light sensitive surface; said substrate having openings exposing said rear cell contact surfaces; electrically conductive cell interconnectors connecting the cells of each cell string in electrical series; each interconnector passing through said substrate between and adjacent cells in the respective string and being electrically joined to said front contact surface of said one cell and to said rear contact surface of the other cell through the corresponding substrate opening; and electrically conductive cell interconnectors connecting the corresponding cells of said cell strings in electrical parallel.

Claim 8

The combination according to claim 5 wherein: said front contact surface of each cell is located along one cell edge; said cells of each cell string are disposed in coplanar relation with a narrow space between adjacent cells bounded by said one edge of one cell and the opposite edge of the other cell; each series interconnector has a generally Z-shape and includes a central portion extending through said space between the corresponding cells and through said substrate, a transverse front end overlapping and electrically joined to the front contact surface of one cell, and a transverse rear end extending across the rear side of said substrate into overlapping relation with and electrically joined to the rear contact surface of the other cell through the respective substrate opening; and said parallel cell interconnectors comprise electrically conductive strips on the rear substrate side along said cell rows and electrically joined to the rear ends of the corresponding series interconnectors.

Claim 9

The combination according to claim 6 wherein: said series interconnectors provide the sole attachment of said solar cells to said substrate.

Claim 10

A solar array comprising: a supporting substrate having front and rear sides; parallel strings of solar cells arranged side by side at the front side of said substrate, said cells having rear sides facing said substrate and opposite front sides; each cell having at its rear side an electrically conductive rear contact surface and at its front side and electrically conductive front contact surface along one cell edge and a light sensitive surface between said front contact surface and the opposite cell edge; said substrate having openings exposing said rear contact surfaces; the cells in each cell string being arranged with a space between adjacent cells bounded by said one edge of one adjacent cell and said opposite edge of the other adjacent cell, and the corresponding cells of the several strings being arranged in rows normal to said strings; electrically conductive series interconnectors electrically connecting the cells of each cell string in electrical series, each cell interconnector having a generally Z-shape and including a central portion extending thRough the space between a pair of adjacent cells and through said substrate, a transverse front end overlapping and electrically joined to the front contact surface of one adjacent cell, and a transverse rear end extending across said rear side of said substrate into overlapping relation with and electrically joined to said rear contact surface of the other adjacent cell through the corresponding substrate opening; and electrically conductive parallel interconnectors electrically connecting the cells of each row in electrical parallel, each parallel interconnector comprising an electrically conductive strip on the rear side of said substrate and extending along the respective cell row under and electrically joined to the rear ends of the corresponding series interconnectors.

Claim 11

A solar array comprising: a supporting substrate having front and rear sides; parallel strings of solar cells arranged side by side at the front side of said substrate, said cells having rear sides facing said substrate and opposite front sides; each cell having at its rear side an electrically conductive rear contact surface and at its front side and electrically conductive front contact surface along one cell edge and a light sensitive surface between said front contact surface and the opposite cell edge; said substrate having openings exposing said rear contact surfaces; the cells in each cell string being arranged with a space between adjacent cells bounded by said one edge of one adjacent cell and said opposite edge of the other adjacent cell, and the corresponding cells of the several strings being arranged in rows normal to said strings; electrically conductive series interconnectors electrically connecting the cells of each cell string in electrical series, each cell interconnector having a generally Z-shape and including a central portion extending thRough the space between a pair of adjacent cells and through said substrate, a transverse front end overlapping and electrically joined to the front contact surface of one adjacent cell, and a transverse rear end extending across said rear side of said substrate into overlapping relation with and electrically joined to said rear contact surface of the other adjacent cell through the corresponding substrate opening; and electrically conductive parallel interconnectors electrically connecting the cells of each row in electrical parallel, each parallel interconnector comprising an electrically conductive strip on the rear side of said substrate and extending along the respective cell row under and electrically joined to the rear ends of the corresponding series interconnectors.

Claim 12

A solar array according to claim 8 wherein: said series interconnectors provide the sole attachment of said cells to said substrate.

Claim 13

A solar array according to claim 9 wherein: said substrate and interconnectors are flexible.