Solar cell array

Claim 1

A process for forming a series-connected backwall array of photovoltaic cells on a common transparent vitreous substrate, wherein the photovoltaic cell component layers include a transparent electrically conductive layer adjacent said substrate, a semiconductor layer adjacent said transparent conductive layer, a material forming a heterojunction with the semiconductor material, and an upper conductive layer contacting said heterojunction-forming material and wherein said transparent conductive layer and said semiconductor layer are initially formed as substantially continuous layers over said substrate, the process improvement comprising the steps of: selectively removing portions of said transparent conductive layer and said semiconductor layer to form a plurality of paired adjacent cell areas including an interconnection region associated with and between each said pair of adjacent cell areas, said interconnection region defining an isolation gap where said transparent conductive layer and said semiconductor layer are removed and an electrode connection area where said semiconductor layer is removed from a portion of one said pairs of adjacent cell areas to expose said transparent conductive layer adjacent said isolation gap; depositing an insulating material filling said isolation gap and extending to said semiconductor layer of the other of said pairs of cell areas; depositing a strippable material onto said semiconductor layer of each said cell area adjacent its associated electrode connection area; thereafter forming a heterojunction on exposed areas of said semiconductor layer; depositing a substantially continuous upper electrically conductive layer over said plurality of cell areas and in physical and electrical contact with said exposed transparent conductive layer; and thereafter removing said strippable material to segment said upper conductive layer for obtaining said series-connected array.