# US 11,305,364 B2 · Apparatus and method for attaching interconnector of solar cell panel

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,305,364 B2
- Document ID: US11305364B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/399,691
- Filed: 2019-04-30
- Published: 2019-08-22
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2015-10-02
- Assignees: LG Electronics Inc.
- Applicants: LG Electronics Inc.
- Inventors: Sunghyun Hwang; Jinsung Kim; Woojoong Kang; Jangho Kim; Dongju Kang; Kyuhyeok Sim
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305364B2

## CPC

- B23K 3/04: Heating appliances
- B23K 1/0016: {Soldering of electronic components}
- B23K 3/087: {Soldering or brazing jigs, fixtures or clamping means}
- H10F 19/90: Structures for connecting between photovoltaic cells, e.g. interconnections or insulating spacers (between thin-film photovoltaic cells on a single substrate H10F19/35)
- H10F 19/902: {for series or parallel connection of photovoltaic cells}
- H10F 71/1375: {Apparatus for automatic interconnection of photovoltaic cells in a module}
- Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy
- B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A solar cell connecting method for manufacturing a solar cell string, includes placing first interconnectors on a working table by a first fixing member fixing both sides of the first interconnectors in a longitudinal direction and transporting the first interconnectors in a state that the first interconnectors are spaced apart from each other at intervals; placing a first solar cell on the first interconnectors, fixing the first solar cell and the first interconnectors by an exhaust adsorption, and releasing the first fixing member from the first interconnectors; and placing second interconnectors on the first solar cell and the working table by the first fixing member fixing both sides of the second interconnectors in a longitudinal direction and transporting the second interconnectors in a state that the second interconnectors are spaced apart from each other at intervals.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A solar cell connecting method for manufacturing a solar cell string, the solar cell connecting method comprising:
cutting a plurality of first interconnectors fixed to a first fixing member;
placing the plurality of first interconnectors on a working table by the first fixing member fixing both sides of the plurality of first interconnectors in a longitudinal direction and transporting the plurality of first interconnectors in a state that the plurality of first interconnectors are spaced apart from each other at intervals;
placing a first solar cell on the plurality of first interconnectors, fixing the first solar cell and the plurality of first interconnectors by an exhaust adsorption, and releasing the first fixing member from the plurality of first interconnectors;
placing a plurality of second interconnectors on the first solar cell and the working table by the first fixing member fixing both sides of the plurality of second interconnectors in a longitudinal direction and transporting the plurality of second interconnectors in a state that the plurality of second interconnectors are spaced apart from each other at intervals,
wherein a first region of the plurality of second interconnectors is positioned on the first solar cell, and a second region of the plurality of second interconnectors is positioned on the working table;
placing a second solar cell on the second region of the plurality of second interconnectors, fixing the second solar cell and the plurality of second interconnectors by the exhaust adsorption, and releasing the first fixing member from the plurality of second interconnectors; and
heat-treating the first and second solar cells and the plurality of first and second interconnectors, so as to attach the plurality of first interconnectors and a back electrode of the first solar cell, attach the plurality of second interconnectors and a front electrode of the first solar cell, and attach the plurality of second interconnectors and a back electrode of the second solar cell.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The solar cell connecting method according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust adsorption is performed by an exhaust adsorption device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The solar cell connecting method according to claim 1, wherein the working table includes a conveyor belt having an exhaust hole, and
wherein the exhaust adsorption is performed through the exhausting hole by an exhaust device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The solar cell connecting method according to claim 1, wherein the first fixing member includes a first fixing part and a second fixing part for fixing the both sides of the plurality of first interconnectors or the plurality of second interconnectors in the longitudinal direction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The solar cell connecting method according to claim 4, wherein, in the placing of the plurality of first interconnectors or the plurality of second interconnectors,
one sides of the plurality of first interconnectors or the plurality of second interconnectors are fixed by a second fixing member, and
the first fixing part of the first fixing member for fixing the one sides of the plurality of first interconnectors or the plurality of second interconnectors is released from the plurality of first interconnectors or the plurality of second interconnectors.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The solar cell connecting method according to claim 4, wherein the first fixing part and the second fixing part of the first fixing member are released from the plurality of first interconnectors or the plurality of second interconnectors, after placing of the first solar cell on the plurality of first interconnectors or placing the second solar cell on the plurality of second interconnectors.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The solar cell connecting method according to claim 1, wherein a first fixing part is provided on one side of the plurality of first interconnectors or the plurality of second interconnectors so as to extend in a direction crossing a direction in which the plurality of first interconnectors or the plurality of second interconnectors extend, and
wherein a second fixing part is provided on an opposite side of the plurality of first interconnectors or the plurality of second interconnectors so as to extend in a direction crossing a direction in which the plurality of first interconnectors or the plurality of second interconnectors extend.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The solar cell connecting method according to claim 1, further comprising
placing an upper fixing member on the plurality of second interconnectors on the first solar cell.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The solar cell connecting method according to claim 8, wherein the upper fixing member includes a plurality of fixing pieces configured as elastic members to apply pressure to the plurality of second interconnectors so as to fix the plurality of second interconnectors.