# US 2021/0280729 A1 · Photovoltaic devices and methods of making

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- Number: US 2021/0280729 A1
- Document ID: US20210280729A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/191,089
- Filed: 2021-03-03
- Published: 2021-09-09
- Earliest claimed: 2020-03-04
- Assignees: First Solar, Inc.
- Applicants: First Solar, Inc.
- Inventors: James Armour; Edmund Elce; Albert Mui; Allan Ward
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210280729A1

## CPC

- H10F 19/908: {for back-contact photovoltaic cells}
- H10F 77/169: Thin semiconductor films on metallic or insulating substrates
- H10F 10/162: comprising only Group II-VI materials, e.g. CdS/CdTe photovoltaic cells
- H10F 19/35: Structures for the connecting of adjacent photovoltaic cells, e.g. interconnections or insulating spacers
- H10F 19/80: Encapsulations or containers for integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, having photovoltaic cells
- H10F 19/85: Protective back sheets
- H10F 19/906: {characterised by the materials of the structures}
- H10F 71/137: {Batch treatment of the devices}
- H10F 77/1237: {having at least three elements, e.g. HgCdTe}
- H10F 77/1696: {the films including Group II-VI materials, e.g. CdTe or CdS}
- H10F 77/939: {Output lead wires or elements}
- Y02E 10/543: Solar cells from Group II-VI materials
- Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
- 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
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

Photovoltaic devices, and methods of making the same, are described.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A photovoltaic device comprising:
a plurality of electrically connected photovoltaic cells, wherein the photovoltaic cells include at least one latch cell;
an interlayer over the plurality of electrically connected photovoltaic cells, wherein the interlayer includes vias exposing the at least one latch cell in the plurality of electrically connected photovoltaic cells;
a back support over the interlayer, the back support having a first surface and a second surface, with the first surface facing the plurality of electrically connected photovoltaic cells and the second surface forming an exterior of the device, with a conductive member coupled to the first surface of the back support; and
an activated adhesive compound electrically connecting the at least one latch cell to the conductive member through the vias.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the conductive member comprises foil tape.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the conductive member comprises a sputtered on conductive compound.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The photovoltaic device of claim 3, wherein the conductive compound is a translucent conductive oxide.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the back support comprises a translucent material.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the activated adhesive compound has a resistivity under about 1×10−6 Ωm.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the conductive member is configured to form low voltage bus bars connecting a set of the plurality of electrically connected photovoltaic cells.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The photovoltaic device of claim 7, wherein the low voltage bus bar connects each of the set of the plurality of electrically connected photovoltaic cells together in parallel.

### Claim 9

A method for manufacturing a photovoltaic device comprising:
positioning an interlayer on a plurality of electrically connected photovoltaic cells, with the photovoltaic cells including at least one latch cell exposed on the plurality of electrically connected photovoltaic cells through vias in the interlayer;
injecting an adhesive compound onto the at least one latch cell through the vias;
positioning a back support onto the interlayer, the back support having a first surface and a second surface, with the first surface facing the plurality of electrically connected photovoltaic cells and the second surface forming an exterior of the device, with a conductive member coupled to the first surface of the back support over the vias in contact with the adhesive compound;
activating the adhesive compound to electrically connect the at least one latch cell to the conductive member.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein activating the adhesive compound utilizes a thermal process.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising laminating the back support to the plurality of electrically connected photovoltaic cells.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the laminating of the back support to the plurality of electrically connected photovoltaic cells activates the adhesive compound.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising sputtering the conductive member onto the back support.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising configuring the conductive member to form low voltage bus bars for connecting a set of the plurality of electrically connected photovoltaic cells.

### Claim 15 (depends on 2)

The photovoltaic device of claim 2, wherein the conductive member comprises a sputtered on conductive compound.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The photovoltaic device of claim 15, wherein the conductive compound is a translucent conductive oxide.