Prefabricated conductors on a substrate to facilitate corner connections for a solar cell array

A structure, comprising:

• a substrate for solar cells, wherein the substrate is configured such that:
• the substrate is a multi-layer substrate comprised of a plurality of insulating layers separating-and overlaying one or more patterned metal layers, and the one or more patterned metal layers form electrical conductors buried within the multi-layer substrate that are conductive paths electrically connected to at least one of the solar cells, forming electrical connections, and electrically isolated from others of the solar cells;
• the solar cells are attached to the multi-layer substrate;
• the solar cells have a cropped corner that defines a corner region;
• an area of the multi-layer substrate remains exposed in the corner region;
• the multi-layer substrate includes prefabricated electrical conductors that are corner conductors integrated with the multi-layer substrate, wherein the corner conductors are electrically connected to the electrical conductors buried within the multi-layer substrate, forming the electrical connections;
• one or more contacts of the solar cells are electrically connected to the corner conductors, forming the electrical connections, using interconnects in the area of the multi-layer substrate that remains exposed in the corner region;
• one or more electrically conductive elements are added to or removed in the area of the multi-layer substrate that remains exposed, to select current pathways for the solar cells by adding the conductive elements to bridge between the conductive paths or by removing the conductive elements to isolate between the conductive paths;
• and
• one or more bypass diodes in the area of the multi-layer substrate that remains exposed for use in one or more of the electrical connections, the one or more bypass diodes electrically connecting back contacts of two of the solar cells within a solar cell array, the one or more bypass diodes being attached to the multi-layer substrate in the corner regions independent of the solar cells, the one or more bypass diodes connected to a jumper in the area of the multi-layer substrate that remains exposed, the jumper connecting a back contact of a first solar cell to a front contact of a second solar cell and connecting through one of the one or more bypass diodes to a back contact of the second solar cell, the jumper enabling circuit termination or channeling current between the solar cells;
• wherein the jumper has a shape comprised of two flange elements with parallel planes connected by a web element for enabling multiple connection points.

A structure, comprising:

• a substrate for solar cells, wherein the substrate is configured such that:
• the substrate is a multi-layer substrate comprised of a plurality of insulating layers separating and overlaying one or more patterned metal layers, and the one or more patterned metal layers form electrical conductors buried within the multi-layer substrate that are conductive paths electrically connected to at least one of the solar cells, forming electrical connections, and electrically isolated from others of the solar cells;
• the solar cells are attached to the multi-layer substrate;
• the solar cells have a cropped corner that defines a corner region;
• an area of the multi-layer substrate remains exposed in the corner region;
• the area of the multi-layer substrate that remains exposed in the corner region includes prefabricated electrical conductors that are corner conductors integrated with the multi-layer substrate, wherein the corner conductors are electrically connected to the electrical conductors buried within the multi-layer substrate, forming the electrical connections;
• one or more contacts of the solar cells are electrically connected to the corner conductors, forming the electrical connections, using interconnects in the area of the multi-layer substrate that remains exposed in the corner region;
• and
• one or more bypass diodes in the area of the multi-layer substrate that remains exposed for use in one or more of the electrical connections, the one or more bypass diodes electrically connecting back contacts of two of the solar cells within a solar cell array, the one or more bypass diodes being attached to the multi-layer substrate in the corner regions independent of the solar cells, the one or more bypass diodes connected to a jumper in the area of the multi-layer substrate that remains exposed, the jumper connecting a back contact of a first solar cell to a front contact of a second solar cell and connecting through one of the one or more bypass diodes to a back contact of the second solar cell, the jumper enabling circuit termination or channeling current between the solar cells;
• wherein the jumper has a shape comprised of two flange elements with parallel planes connected by a web element for enabling multiple connection points.

A structure, comprising:

• a substrate for solar cells, wherein the substrate is configured such that:
• the substrate is a multi-layer substrate comprised of a plurality of insulating layers separating-and overlaying one or more patterned metal layers, and the one or more patterned metal layers form electrical conductors buried within the multi-layer substrate that are conductive paths electrically connected to at least one of the solar cells, forming electrical connections, and electrically isolated from others of the solar cells;
• the solar cells are attached to the multi-layer substrate;
• the solar cells have a cropped corner that defines a corner region;
• an area of the multi-layer substrate remains exposed in the corner region;
• the multi-layer substrate includes printed electrical conductors that are corner conductors integrated with the multi-layer substrate, wherein the corner conductors are electrically connected to the electrical conductors buried within the multi-layer substrate, forming the electrical connections;
• one or more contacts of the solar cells are electrically connected to the corner conductors, forming the electrical connections, using interconnects in the area of the multi-layer substrate that remains exposed in the corner region;
• and
• one or more bypass diodes in the area of the multi-layer substrate that remains exposed for use in one or more of the electrical connections, the one or more bypass diodes electrically connecting back contacts of two of the solar cells within a solar cell array, the one or more bypass diodes being attached to the multi-layer substrate in the corner regions independent of the solar cells, the one or more bypass diodes connected to a jumper in the area of the multi-layer substrate that remains exposed, the jumper connecting a back contacts of a first solar cell to a front contact of a second solar cell and connecting through one of the one or more bypass diodes to a back contact of the second solar cell, the jumper enabling circuit termination or channeling current between the solar cells;
• wherein the jumper has a shape comprised of two flange elements with parallel planes connected by a web element for enabling multiple connection points.