Photovoltaic device and method of making same

Claim 1

A photovoltaic device comprising: a substrate; at least first and second conductors spaced apart on said substrate, said conductors having adjacent facing edges; a layer of a first semiconductor material overlying said conductors and said substrate between said adjacent facing edges; a layer of a second semiconductor material overlying said first semiconductor layer and forming a photovoltaic junction with said first semiconductor layer; current conducting means disposed on said second semiconductor layer over said first conductor, said current conducting means extending to a point in operative proximity to said adjacent facing edge of said second conductor; and means for providing a low resistance path between said current conducting means and said second conductor through said second semiconductor layer, said low resistance path means disposed above said adjacent facing edge of said second conductor; whereby said first conductor and portions of said semiconductor layers in juxtaposition over said first conductor define a first solar cell, said second conductor and portions of said semiconductor layers in juxtaposition over said second conductor define a second solar cell, and said solar cells are electrically connected in series by virtue of said low resistance path.

Claim 7

A method of making a photovoltaic device comprising the steps: forming a plurality of conductors spaced apart on a substrate; depositing a layer of a first semiconductor material on said conductors and on said substrate between said conductors; depositing a layer of a second semiconductor material on said first semiconductor layer thereby forming a photovoltaic junction therebetween; depositing a plurality of current carrying strips on said second semiconductor layer overlying said conductors; and penetrating through portions of said second semiconductor layer to form a series array of solar cells.

Claim 8

A method of making a photovoltaic device comprising the steps: forming a plurality of conductors spaced apart on a substrate; depositing a layer of a first semiconductor material on said conductors and on said substrate between said conductors; depositing a layer of a second semiconductor material on said first semiconductor layer thereby forming a photovoltaic junction therebetween; depositing a plurality of current carrying strips on said second semiconductor layer overlying said conductors; and penetrating through portions of said second semiconductor layer to form a series array of solar cells.