James K Gee

US Patent:

20140060609, Mar 6, 2014

Filed:

Oct 8, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/647152

Inventors:

PRABHAT KUMAR - Fremont CA, US
Sunhom Paak - Saratoga CA, US
James M. Gee - Albuquerque NM, US

Assignee:

APPLIED MATERIALS, INC. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

H01L 31/05
H01L 31/18

US Classification:

136244, 438 66

Abstract:

Apparatuses and assembly methods are provided for a monolithic solar cell panel assembly. The assembly comprises an array of solar cells having front electrical contacts and back electrical contacts, wherein a first set of the solar cells in the array are aligned to be electrically connected in series through a back circuit sheet having an array of back metal contacts connected to corresponding back electrical contacts on the first set of solar cells, and through a front circuit sheet having an array of front metal contacts connected to corresponding front electrical contacts on the first set of solar cells. Electrical connections may be made in a lamination step, in which an encapsulant polymer flows into gaps and an interconnect material connects the circuits to form the monolithic solar cell panel assembly.