# US 12,113,142 B2 · Strings of solar cells having laser assisted metallization conductive contact structures and their methods of manufacture

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

- Number: US 12,113,142 B2
- Document ID: US12113142B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/356,417
- Filed: 2021-06-23
- Published: 2021-12-30
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2020-06-24
- Assignees: Maxeon Solar Pte. Ltd.
- Applicants: Maxeon Solar Pte. Ltd.
- Inventors: Pei Hsuan Lu; Tyler D. Newman; Paul W. Loscutoff; George G. Correos; Yafu Lin; Andrea R. Bowring; David C. Okawa; Matthew T. Matsumoto; Benjamin I. Hsia; Arbaz Ahmed Shakir; John H. Lippiatt; Simone I. Nazareth; Ryan Reagan; Todd R. Johnson; Ned Western; Tamir Lance; Marc Robinson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12113142B2

## CPC

- H10F 19/904: {characterised by the shapes of the structures}
- H02S 40/34: comprising specially adapted electrical connection means to be structurally associated with the PV module, e.g. junction boxes
- H10F 19/00: Integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one photovoltaic cell covered by group H10F10/00, e.g. photovoltaic modules
- H10F 19/906: {characterised by the materials of the structures}
- H10F 19/908: {for back-contact photovoltaic cells}
- H10F 71/00: Manufacture or treatment of devices covered by this subclass (patterning processes to connect thin photovoltaic cells in integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, having photovoltaic cells H10F19/33; manufacture or treatment of encapsulations or containers for integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, having photovoltaic cells H10F19/80; manufacture or treatment of integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one element in which radiation controls the flow of current H10F39/00)
- H10F 71/137: {Batch treatment of the devices}
- H10F 77/211: {for photovoltaic cells}
- H10F 77/937: {Busbar structures for modules}
- Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy
- H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION
- H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

Strings of solar cells having laser assisted metallization conductive contact structures, and their methods of manufacture, are described. For example, a solar cell string includes a first solar cell having a front side and a back side, and one or more laser assisted metallization conductive contact structures electrically connecting a first metal foil to the back side of the first solar cell. The solar cell string also includes a second solar cell having a front side and a back side, and one or more laser assisted metallization conductive contact structures electrically connecting a second metal foil to the back side of the second solar cell. The solar cell string also includes a conductive interconnect coupling the first and second solar cells, the conductive interconnect including a strain relief feature.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A solar cell string, comprising:
a first solar cell having a front side and a back side, and one or more laser assisted metallization conductive contact structures electrically connecting a first metal foil to the back side of the first solar cell;
a second solar cell having a front side and a back side, and one or more laser assisted metallization conductive contact structures electrically connecting a second metal foil to the back side of the second solar cell; and
a conductive interconnect coupling the first and second solar cells, the conductive interconnect comprising a strain relief feature, the strain relief feature comprising an overhang portion of the first metal foil and an overhang portion of the second metal foil, the overhang portion of the first metal foil in direct physical contact with the overhang portion of the second metal foil, wherein the strain relief feature comprises a plurality of folds out of plane of the first and second solar cells, the plurality of folds extending from a location below a bottom of the first and second solar cells to a location above a top of the first and second solar cells, and a plurality of welds between adjacent ones of the plurality of folds, wherein individual ones of the plurality of welds are laterally spaced apart from one another along a direction laterally between the one or more laser assisted metallization conductive contact structures of the first solar cell and the one or more laser assisted metallization conductive contact structures of the second solar cell.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The solar cell string of claim 1, wherein the strain relief feature is a W or M strain relief feature.