Wire-based metallization and stringing for solar cells
AssigneeSunPower Corporation
InventorsRichard Hamilton Sewell, David Aaron Randolph Barkhouse, Douglas Rose, Lewis Abra
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Wire-based metallization and stringing techniques for solar cells, and the resulting solar cells, modules, and equipment, are described. In an example, a substrate has a surface. A plurality of N-type and P-type semiconductor regions is disposed in or above the surface of the substrate. A conductive contact structure is disposed on the plurality of N-type and P-type semiconductor regions. The conductive contact structure includes a plurality of conductive wires, each conductive wire of the plurality of conductive wires essentially continuously bonded directly to a corresponding one of the N-type and P-type semiconductor regions.
Claims22
(canceled)
A method of electrically coupling solar cells, comprising:
- aligning conductive wires over back sides of adjacent solar cells, wherein the conductive wires are aligned substantially parallel to P-type and N-type doped diffusion regions of the solar cells;
- bonding the conductive wires directly to the back side of each of the solar cells over the P-type and N-type doped diffusion regions using thermocompression bonding;
- and
- cutting every other one of the conductive wires between each adjacent pair of the solar cells.
A method of electrically coupling solar cells, comprising:
- aligning conductive wires over back sides of adjacent solar cells, wherein the conductive wires are aligned substantially parallel to P-type and N-type doped diffusion regions of the solar cells;
- bonding the conductive wires directly to the back side of each of the solar cells over the P-type and N-type doped diffusion regions using ultrasonic bonding;
- and
- cutting every other one of the conductive wires between each adjacent pair of the solar cells.
A method of electrically coupling solar cells, comprising:
- aligning conductive wires over back sides of adjacent solar cells, wherein the conductive wires are aligned substantially parallel to P-type and N-type doped diffusion regions of the solar cells;
- bonding the conductive wires directly to the back side of each of the solar cells over the P-type and N-type doped diffusion regions using thermosonic bonding;
- and
- cutting every other one of the conductive wires between each adjacent pair of the solar cells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.