Power routing module with a switching matrix for a solar cell array

A method, comprising:

• fabricating a plurality of solar cells each having at least one cropped corner in an array;
• fabricating a power routing module for customizing electrical connections between the plurality of solar cells in the array, wherein the power routing module includes an electrically conductive layer comprised of one or more electrical conductors for electrically interconnecting the solar cells, and an insulation layer for electrically insulating the electrical conductors of the electrically conductive layer;
• the power routing module and the solar cells are attached to a substrate, wherein the substrate is a multi-layer substrate comprised of one or more insulating layers separating and overlaying one or more patterned metal layers, and the patterned metal layers form a plurality of electrical conductors buried within the substrate;
• at least one corner region defined by cropped corners of the solar cells;
• the power routing module is attached to the substrate in an area of the substrate in the corner region that remains exposed with the solar cells each having the at least one cropped corner resulting in the corner region;
• wherein the area includes conducting pads in the substrate that provide connection points between the power routing module and conductive paths buried within the substrate;
• wherein at least one of the conducting pads is located in the central region of the area in the corner region;
• the electrical conductors of the power routing module electrically connect one or more contacts of the solar cells with the conducting pads on the substrate;
• and
• the power routing module includes a switching matrix for dynamically routing power among a plurality of current pathways connected between the power routing module and the plurality of solar cells and for changing electrical connections between the solar cells during operation.

A solar cell panel, comprising:

• a solar cell array comprised of at least one power routing module for customizing electrical connections between a plurality of solar cells in the array, wherein the power routing module includes an electrically conductive layer comprised of one or more electrical conductors for electrically interconnecting the solar cells, and an insulation layer for electrically insulating the electrical conductors of the electrically conductive layer;
• the power routing module and the solar cells are attached to a substrate, wherein the substrate is a multi-layer substrate comprised of one or more insulating layers separating and overlaying one or more patterned metal layers, and the patterned metal layers form a plurality of electrical conductors buried within the substrate;
• the solar cells each has at least one cropped corner, wherein at least one corner region is defined by cropped corners of the solar cells;
• the power routing module is attached to the substrate in an area of the substrate in the corner region that remains exposed with the solar cells each having the at least one cropped corner resulting in the corner region;
• wherein the area includes conducting pads in the substrate that provide connection points between the power routing module and conductive paths-buried within the substrate;
• wherein at least one of the conducting pads is located in the central region of the area in the corner region;
• the electrical conductors of the power routing module electrically connect one or more contacts of the solar cells with the conducting pads on the substrate;
• and
• the power routing module includes a switching matrix for dynamically routing power among a plurality of current pathways connected between the power routing module and the plurality of solar cells and for changing electrical connections between the solar cells during operation.