# US 2016/0254401 A1 · Assembly of photo-voltaic cells > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0254401 A1 - Document ID: US20160254401A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/029,788 - Filed: 2014-10-17 - Published: 2016-09-01 - Earliest claimed: 2013-10-18 - Assignees: Stichting Energieonderzoek Centrum Nederland - Applicants: Stichting Energieonderzoek Centrum Nederland - Inventors: Markus Johan JANSEN; Johannes Adrianus Maria van ROOSMALEN; Evert Eugène BENDE; Anna Judith CARR; Nicolas GUILLEVIN; Benoit Jean Baptiste HEURTAULT - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160254401A1 ## CPC - H10F 19/70: comprising bypass diodes (bypass diodes in a junction box H02S40/34) - 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 19/90: Structures for connecting between photovoltaic cells, e.g. interconnections or insulating spacers (between thin-film photovoltaic cells on a single substrate H10F19/35) - H10F 19/904: {characterised by the shapes 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) - Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy - Y02E 10/547: Monocrystalline silicon PV cells - 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 In an assembly of photo-voltaic cells, the cells are arranged in a matrix and connected in series. Bypass diodes are connected in parallel respective parts of the series connection. In each of these parts, the cells are arranged in a sub-matrix, for example of 4×4 cells. The matrix contains rows of sub-matrices that have identical first sub-matrix connection patterns, except at the edge of the matrix, where sub-matrices with a second sub-matrix connection pattern are used. Each first sub-matrix connection pattern extends over a plurality of rows of photo-voltaic cells of the matrix, running back and forth along successive columns through the plurality of rows. Each second sub-matrix connection patterns extends over a plurality of columns of photo-voltaic cells of the matrix, running back and forth along successive rows through the plurality of columns. The second sub-matrix connection patterns, connect first sub-matrix connection patterns at ends of pairs of the rows of first sub-matrix connection patterns. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An assembly of photo-voltaic cells, comprising photo-voltaic cells arranged in a matrix with rows and columns of photo-voltaic cells, an electrical connection structure providing a series connection of the photo-voltaic cells of the matrix, and bypass diodes, each bypass diode connected in parallel with the photo-voltaic cells of a respective part of the series connection, wherein the electrical connection structure comprises rows of first sub-matrix connection patterns, each first sub-matrix connection pattern providing one of the respective parts of the series connection, extending over a plurality of rows of photo-voltaic cells of the matrix, running back and forth along successive columns through the plurality of rows; second sub-matrix connection patterns, connecting the first sub-matrix connection patterns at ends of a pair of the rows of first sub-matrix connection patterns, each second sub-matrix connection pattern providing a further one of the respective parts of the series connection, extending over a plurality of columns of photo-voltaic cells of the matrix, running back and forth along successive rows through the plurality of columns. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said pair lies between further ones of the rows of the first sub-matrix connection patterns located adjacent the rows in said pair, wherein the first sub-matrix connection patterns at further ends of the rows in the pair, opposite said ends where the second sub-matrix connection patterns connect the rows of the pair, are connected directly to adjacent first sub-matrix connection patterns in the further ones of the rows. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rows in the pair are adjacent to each other, the electrical connection structure comprising a plurality of such pairs of adjacent rows of first sub-matrix connection patterns, a column of the second sub-matrix connection patterns, connecting the first sub-matrix connection patterns within the pairs and direct connections between the first sub-matrix connection patterns of adjacent rows from successive ones of the pairs at further ends of the rows opposite said ends where the second sub-matrix connection patterns connect the first sub-matrix connection patterns. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An assembly according to claim 1, wherein, in each row of the pair, the first sub-matrix connection pattern at said end connects the second sub-matrix connection pattern in series to a photo-voltaic cell at a first corner of a sub-matrix of photo-voltaic cells that are connected by said part of the series connection that is provided by the first sub-matrix connection pattern, the first corners in each row of the pair lying away from the other row of the pair, with intermediate photo-voltaic cells between the photo-voltaic cell at the first corners. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first sub-matrix connection patterns at the ends of the pair of the rows each run back and forth through a first number P of rows, and the second sub-matrix connection patterns each run said first number P times back and forth through the plurality of columns. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) An assembly according to claim 5, wherein the first sub-matrix connection patterns at the ends of the pair of the rows each run a second number Q times back and forth through said first number P of rows, and the second sub-matrix connection patterns each run said first number P times back and forth through said second number Q of columns. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) An assembly according to claim 6, wherein the first number P and the second number Q are equal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bypass diodes are located at edges of the first and second sub-matrix connection patterns. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An assembly according to claim 1, wherein all photo-voltaic cells are arranged having identical orientations in the matrix, the first sub-matrix connection pattern having identical layouts, the second sub-matrix connection pattern having layouts that differ from that of the first sub-matrix connection pattern. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second sub-matrix connection patterns comprises a first and second one of the photo-voltaic cells at the ends of the respective part of the series connection that is provided by the sub-matrix connection pattern, the first and second one of the photo-voltaic cells being located along a straight edge of the sub-matrix connection pattern, the electrical connection structure in the sub-matrix connection pattern comprising a pair of areas of electrically conducting material extending along said edge, electrically connected to contacts of the first and second one of the photo-voltaic cells respectively, the bypass diode that is connected in parallel with the photo-voltaic cells of the respective part of the series connection being located at said edge, electrically connected between the pair of areas. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) An assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second sub-matrix connection patterns comprises a first and second one of the photo-voltaic cells at the ends of the respective part of the series connection that is provided by the sub-matrix connection pattern, the electrical connection structure in the sub-matrix connection pattern comprising a first and second areas of electrically conducting material, electrically connected to contacts of the first and second one of the photo-voltaic cells respectively, the bypass diode that is connected in parallel with the photo-voltaic cells of the respective part of the series connection being located sandwiched between a further contact of the first one of the photo-voltaic cells and the second area of electrically conducting material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) An assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one first sub-matrix comprises a pair of cells from the matrix that have beveled corners adjacent each other, leaving a space between the beveled corners of the cells in that pair, the bypass diode of said at least one first sub-matrix being located in said space. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) An assembly according to claim 12, wherein the cells of said pair are located at the corners of respective quadrants of said at least one first sub-matrix, each of said quadrants comprising a respective sub-set of the cells of the matrix, the directions of edges of the cells in the quadrant deviating from the row and column direction to equalize the areas of the cells in the quadrant, compensating for area reduction due to the beveled corner. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the photo-voltaic cells are back contact cells, each photo-voltaic cell having back surface that contains contacts to base and emitter areas of the cell respectively. ### Claim 15 A method of manufacturing an assembly of photo-voltaic cells, the method comprising providing an electrical connection structure that provides for a series connection of the photo-voltaic cells, providing bypass diodes on said electrical connection structure, each bypass diode for connection in parallel with the photo-voltaic cells of a respective part of the series connection; arranging the photo-voltaic cells in a matrix with rows and columns of photo-voltaic cells; establishing electrical contact between contacts of the photovoltaic cells and the electrical connection structure, wherein the electrical connection structure comprises rows of first sub-matrix connection patterns, each first sub-matrix connection pattern providing one of the respective parts of the series connection, extending over a plurality of rows of photo-voltaic cells of the matrix, running back and forth along successive columns through the plurality of rows; second sub-matrix connection patterns, connecting the first sub-matrix connection patterns at ends of a pair of the rows of first sub-matrix connection patterns, each second sub-matrix connection pattern providing a further one of the respective parts of the series connection, extending over a plurality of columns of photo-voltaic cells of the matrix, running back and forth along successive rows through the plurality of columns. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A method according to claim 15, comprising using photo-voltaic cells cut from wafers, and arranging the cells cut from the wafers in said step of arranging the photo-voltaic cells in the matrix with rows and columns of photo-voltaic cells.