Metallization of solar cells using metal foils
US-2018097129-A1 · Apr 5, 2018 · US
Laser assisted metallization process for solar cell stringing
US11664472B2 · US · B2
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Publication number | US-11664472-B2 |
| Application number | US-201916377000-A |
| Country | US |
| Kind code | B2 |
| Filing date | Apr 5, 2019 |
| Priority date | Apr 6, 2018 |
| Publication date | May 30, 2023 |
| Grant date | May 30, 2023 |
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- Title
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Abstract
Official abstract text for this publication.
Metallization of semiconductor substrates using a laser beam, and the resulting structures, e.g., micro-electronic devices, semiconductor substrates and/or solar cells, solar cell circuit, solar cell strings, and solar cell arrays are described. A solar cell string can include a plurality of solar cells. The plurality of solar cells can include a substrate and a plurality of semiconductor regions disposed in or above the substrate. A plurality of conductive contact structures is electrically connected to the plurality semiconductor regions. Each conductive contact structure includes a locally deposited metal portion disposed in contact with a corresponding one of the semiconductor regions.
First claim
Opening claim text (preview).
What is claimed is: 1. A solar cell string comprising: a first solar cell having a front side and a back side, wherein the front side is a light-receiving side of the first solar cell; a second solar cell having a front side and a back side, wherein the front side is a light-receiving side of the second solar cell; a metal foil disposed over the backside of the first solar cell and over the front side of the second solar cell; one or more laser assisted metallization conductive contact structures each having a discrete locally deposited metal portion electrically connected to the back side of the first solar cell, wherein the discrete locally deposited metal portion of each of the one or more laser assisted metallization conductive contact structures is formed from the metal foil and is separated from an entirety of the metal foil such that the discrete locally deposited metal portion is not connected to the entirety of the metal foil; and one or more laser assisted metallization conductive contact structures each having a discrete locally deposited metal portion electrically connected to the front side of the second solar cell, wherein the discrete locally deposited metal portion of each of the one or more laser assisted metallization conductive contact structures is formed from the metal foil and is separated from an entirety of the metal foil such that the discrete locally deposited metal portion is not connected to the entirety of the metal foil. 2. The solar cell string of claim 1 , wherein the foil extends over a portion of the front side of the second solar cell. 3. The solar cell string of claim 1 , wherein the second solar cell comprises one or more contact pads, and wherein the metal foil is electrically connected to the one or more contact pads of the second solar cell. 4. The solar cell string of claim 1 , further comprising one or more additional solar cells electrically connected to the first solar cell or the second solar cell. 5. The solar cell string of claim 1 , further comprising an insulating material over at least a portion of the metal foil. 6. The solar cell string of claim 1 , wherein the metal foil is folded between the first solar cell and the second solar cell. 7. The solar cell string of claim 1 , where the first and second solar cells include P-type and N-type doped diffusion regions. 8. The solar cell string of claim 1 , further comprising a cloaking material over a portion of the metal foil between the solar cells.
Assignees
Inventors
Classifications
Photovoltaic cells having only PN heterojunction potential barriers · CPC title
Structures for connecting between photovoltaic cells, e.g. interconnections or insulating spacers (between thin-film photovoltaic cells on a single substrate H10F19/35) · CPC title
Interconnections · CPC title
- H10F71/1375Primary
Apparatus for automatic interconnection of photovoltaic cells in a module · CPC title
Geometries of grid contacts · CPC title
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Frequently asked questions
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- What does patent US11664472B2 cover?
- Metallization of semiconductor substrates using a laser beam, and the resulting structures, e.g., micro-electronic devices, semiconductor substrates and/or solar cells, solar cell circuit, solar cell strings, and solar cell arrays are described. A solar cell string can include a plurality of solar cells. The plurality of solar cells can include a substrate and a plurality of semiconductor regio…
- Who is the assignee on this patent?
- Sunpower Corp, Maxeon Solar Pte Ltd
- What technology area does this patent fall under?
- Primary CPC classification H10F71/1375. Mapped technology areas include Electricity.
- When was this patent published?
- Publication date Tue May 30 2023 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) (B2). Legal status and post-grant events are not shown on this page.
- What related patents are in patentsdb?
- We list 7 related publications on this page (citations in our corpus or others sharing the same primary CPC).