US3849880A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solar cell array
Assignee: International Telecommunications Satellite Organization
•
Filing: 1972-07-20
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Granted: 1974-11-26
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Expires: 1992-07-20
Abstract
Abstract Individual solar cells are placed bottom down on pre-printed areas of a substrate by means of an adhesive. The adhesive does not cover the entire bottom of the solar cell but leaves at least a region of the bottom of each cell which is to be welded to an interconnector free from adhesive. The substrate is pre-punched to have apertures therein at positions corresponding to the positions of contact between an interconnector and the bottom electrode of each cell. Thin electrical interconnectors are slid into position, each interconnector touching the top electrode of at least one cell and the bottom electrode of at least one adjacent cell. The interconnectors are welded directly to the top electrodes and through the pre-punched apertures to the bottom electrodes. Additional holding of the cells to the substrate is provided by button-type chemical/mechanical fasteners which extend from the bottom electrodes through additional pre-punched holes in the substrate and have sider regions below the substrate to mechanically and adhesively hold the substrate to the cells.
Inventors
- 👤 J Haynos
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:30
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F19/00; H10F19/50; H10F19/90; H10F19/902; H10F19/904; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/30; H05K3/303; H05K3/305; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49169
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
The method of forming a solar cell array comprising: a. preparing an array substrate by forming a group of apertures in each region of said substrate on which a solar cell is to be placed, the position of each said group corresponding to the to-be-formed junction between a cell bottom electrode and an interconnector, b. adhering, by means of an adhesive, a plurality of cells bottom-down on said regions of said substrate to result in a matrix of cells adhered to said substrate, said adhesive being placed with respect to each said cell and region so as to leave said region in the vicinity of said group of apertures uncoated with said adhesive, c. placing electrical interconnectors between the top electrodes of the cells in each column of cells in said matrix and the bottom electrodes of the cells in one of the adjacent columns of cells, d. bonding said interconnectors to said top electrodes, and e. bonding, through said groups of apertures, said interconnectors to said bottom electrodes.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
169 words
The method of forming a solar cell array comprising: a. preparing an array substrate by forming a group of apertures in each region of said substrate on which a solar cell is to be placed, the position of each said group corresponding to the to-be-formed junction between a cell bottom electrode and an interconnector, b. adhering, by means of an adhesive, a plurality of cells bottom-down on said regions of said substrate to result in a matrix of cells adhered to said substrate, said adhesive being placed with respect to each said cell and region so as to leave said region in the vicinity of said group of apertures uncoated with said adhesive, c. placing electrical interconnectors between the top electrodes of the cells in each column of cells in said matrix and the bottom electrodes of the cells in one of the adjacent columns of cells, d. bonding said interconnectors to said top electrodes, and e. bonding, through said groups of apertures, said interconnectors to said bottom electrodes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said substrate is a flexible electrically non-conductive material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adhesive is a pressure sensitive silicone adhesive.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the steps of bonding comprise soldering the interconnectors to the electrodes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the steps of bonding comprise welding the interconnectors to the electrodes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of preparing said substrate comprises forming an outline of each said region on said substrate, each region having the same dimensions as said solar cells, and punching said apertures in each region adjacent one edge of each said region.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of placing said interconnectors comprises inserting one end of said interconnectors between the portion of said region having said apertures therein and the portion of the bottom electrodes of said cells which overlie said apertures.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of preparing said array substrate further comprises forming a second group of apertures, spaced away from the first said group of apertures, in each said region of said substrate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising forming chemical/mechanical holding means which extend through said second group of apertures and chemically adhere to the bottom of said cells at one end thereof and terminate in large volumes on the opposite side of said second group of apertures to mechanically hold said substrate to said cells.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
88 words
The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the step of forming said holding means comprises: a. placing a mask on the surface of said substrate which is opposite the surface on which the cells are placed, said mask having apertures which communicate with and are larger than said second group of apertures, b. pressing an adhesive into said apertures in said mask to fill said second group of apertures and said mask apertures with adhesive, and c. removing said mask after said adhesive is allowed to cure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said substrate is a flexible insulating material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said adhesive is a pressure sensitive silicon adhesive.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the steps of bonding comprise soldering the interconnectors to the electrodes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the steps of bonding comprise welding the interconnectors to the electrodes.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-25 | 1978-05-27 | 1978-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-25 | 1982-05-27 | 1982-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-25 | 1986-05-27 | 1986-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |