US4532371A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Series-connected photovoltaic array and method of making same
Assignee: RCA Corp
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Filing: 1984-03-12
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Granted: 1985-07-30
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Expires: 2004-03-12
Abstract
Abstract A photovoltaic array comprises a continuous semiconductor body with a plurality of spaced apart first and second electrical contacts on respective opposed surfaces of the body, thereby forming a plurality of photovoltaic cells with the cells series-connected to provide a higher output voltage. The invention is a series-connected array wherein the series connection between a pair of adjacent photovoltaic cells comprises a plurality of openings extending through the semiconductor body with an electrical contact of one cell extending into the plurality of openings to provide a connection with an opposed electrical contact of the next adjacent cell.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph J. Hanak
- 👤 Gerald E. Nostrand
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:38
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F71/00; H10F71/10; H10F71/103; H10F19/00; H10F19/30; H10F19/31; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y02P; Y02P70/00; Y02P70/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
In a photovoltaic array comprising a plurality of series-connected photovoltaic cells, comprising a plurality of spaced apart electrically conducting segments, a continuous semiconductor body with a rectifying junction therein overlying said segments and a corresponding plurality of spaced apart electrically conducting regions overlying the body in opposing relation to said plurality of conducting segments, each cell comprising a conducting segment, the overlaying portion of the semiconductor body, and the corresponding conducting region; the improvement wherein the series connection between a first photovoltaic cell and an adjacent photovoltaic cell comprises a plurality of separate openings through the semiconductor body of the first cell with the conducting region of the adjacent cell extending into the openings and contacting the conducting segment of the first cell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
In a photovoltaic array comprising a plurality of series-connected photovoltaic cells, comprising a plurality of spaced apart electrically conducting segments, a continuous semiconductor body with a rectifying junction therein overlying said segments and a corresponding plurality of spaced apart electrically conducting regions overlying the body in opposing relation to said plurality of conducting segments, each cell comprising a conducting segment, the overlaying portion of the semiconductor body, and the corresponding conducting region; the improvement wherein the series connection between a first photovoltaic cell and an adjacent photovoltaic cell comprises a plurality of separate openings through the semiconductor body of the first cell with the conducting region of the adjacent cell extending into the openings and contacting the conducting segment of the first cell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The array of claim 1 wherein the plurality of openings are positioned over a portion of said segment adjacent to a segment edge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The array of claim 2 wherein the plurality of openings are positioned in a line parallel to the segment edge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The array of claim 3 wherein the plurality of openings overlap one another along said line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The array of claim 3 wherein the plurality of openings are spatially separated from one another.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The array of claim 5 wherein adjacent openings are spatially separated a distance less than or equal to 4 times the radius of the openings.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The array of claim 3 wherein the semiconductor body includes amorphous silicon and comprises a layer of first conductivity type overlying the segments, an intrinsic conductivity type layer overlying the layer of first conductivity and a layer of second conductivity type overlying the layer of intrinsic conductivity type.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
10 words
The array of claim 7 wherein the segments are light-transmissive.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The array of claim 3 wherein the openings extend into the conducting segment.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of fabricating a photovoltaic array which includes a plurality of series connected photovoltaic cells, which method comprises the steps of: forming a plurality of spaced apart electrically conducting segments on a substrate; forming a continuous semiconductor body having a rectifying junction therein over each segment; forming an electrically conducting region on the surface of the semiconductor body overlying each segment with the conducting region of a first cell extending into a plurality of separate openings in the semiconductor body of an adjacent cell and electrically contacting the conducting segment of an adjacent cell.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of fabricating a photovoltaic array which includes a plurality of series connected photovoltaic cells, which method comprises the steps of: forming a plurality of spaced apart electrically conducting segments on a substrate; forming a continuous semiconductor body having a rectifying junction therein over each segment; forming an electrically conducting region on the surface of the semiconductor body overlying each segment with the conducting region of a first cell extending into a plurality of separate openings in the semiconductor body of an adjacent cell and electrically contacting the conducting segment of an adjacent cell.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the plurality of openings in the semiconductor body of a cell are formed prior to the step of forming the electrically conducting regions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the plurality of openings in the semiconductor body of a cell are formed after the step of forming the electrically conducting regions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of electrically isolating the electrically conducting regions from one another after the step of forming the openings in the semiconductor body.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of electrically isolating the electrically conducting regions from one another prior to the step of forming the openings in the semiconductor body.
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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) | 1988-07-29 | 1989-01-28 | 1989-07-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-07-29 | 1993-01-28 | 1993-07-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-07-29 | 1997-01-28 | 1997-07-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |