# US 12,603,606 B2 · Photovoltaic module assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,603,606 B2 - Document ID: US12603606B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/247,749 - Filed: 2021-10-06 - Published: 2023-11-16 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2020-10-06 - Assignees: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk onderzoek TNO - Applicants: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO - Inventors: Nicolaas Jacobus Joseph Dekker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12603606B2 ## CPC - H02S 40/30: Electrical components - H02S 40/34: comprising specially adapted electrical connection means to be structurally associated with the PV module, e.g. junction boxes - H02S 40/36: characterised by special electrical interconnection means between two or more PV modules, e.g. electrical module-to-module connection - H02S 50/00: Monitoring or testing of PV systems, e.g. load balancing or fault identification - H10F 19/908: {for back-contact photovoltaic cells} - Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy - 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) - 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 photovoltaic (PV) module (1) comprising a positive terminal (5), a negative terminal (6), and at least two sub-modules. Each of the at least two sub-modules (10a-c) comprises x parallel-connected sub-strings (13), wherein each of the x parallel-connected sub-strings (13) comprises y series-connected sub-cells (16), wherein the y series-connected sub-cells (16) are arranged in an array. The PV module (1) further comprises a back conductive sheet having a first connection pattern arranged for connecting the x parallel-connected sub-strings (13) of each of the at least two sub-modules (10a-c), wherein each of the at least two sub-modules (10a-c) is provided with a power optimizer circuit (21a-c), and the output of the power optimizer circuits (21a-c) are connected in series between the positive terminal (5) and the negative terminal (6). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A photovoltaic (PV) module comprising a positive terminal, a negative terminal, at least two sub-modules, wherein each of the at least two sub-modules comprises x parallel-connected sub-strings, wherein each of the x parallel-connected sub-strings comprises y series-connected sub-cells, wherein the y series-connected sub-cells are arranged in an array, the PV module further comprising a back conductive sheet comprising: a first connection path arranged for connecting the x parallel-connected sub-strings of each of the at least two sub-modules; a plurality of second connection paths arranged for connecting the y series-connected sub-cells of each x parallel-connected sub-string, wherein the plurality of second connection paths comprise insulated wiring islands provided in the back conductive sheet to form a local string wiring chain for series connecting the y series-connected sub-cells; and a primary sheet layer and a secondary sheet layer to provide the first connection path and the plurality of second connection paths, wherein the primary sheet layer provides the first connection path and the secondary sheet layer provides the plurality of second connection paths, such that the first connection path does not interfere with the plurality of second connection paths; wherein each of the at least two sub-modules is provided with a power optimizer circuit, and the output of the power optimizer circuits are connected in series between the positive terminal and the negative terminal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The PV module according to claim 1, further comprising a junction box comprising connection circuitry providing the connection of the at least two sub-modules to the associated power optimizer circuit and to the positive and negative terminal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The PV module according to claim 1, wherein the power optimizer circuit comprises an integrated circuit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The PV module according to claim 3, wherein the integrated circuit is provided in a laminated layer of the PV module. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The PV module according to claim 1, wherein the power optimizer circuit comprises a buck converter with maximum power point tracking. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The PV module according to claim 1, wherein the first connection path is isolated from the plurality of second connection paths. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The PV module according to claim 1, wherein x is at least 2. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The PV module according to claim 1, wherein y is less than or equal to 20. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The PV module according to claim 1, wherein the x parallel-connected sub-strings are arranged in a rectangular array. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The PV module assembly according to claim 9, wherein the y series-connected sub-cells are arranged in a rectangular array and are interconnected in a meandering pattern. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The PV module according to claim 1, wherein the y series-connected sub-cells each comprise a string of split sub-cells. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The PV module according to claim 1, wherein the y series-connected sub cells are arranged in a one-dimensional array. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The PV module according to claim 12, wherein each sub-cell has a rectangular shape. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The PV module according to claim 1, wherein the sub-cells have a dimension of 1/16 of a singular PV wafer.