Metallization and stringing for back-contact solar cells
AssigneeMaxeon Solar Pte. Ltd.
InventorAKIRA TERAO
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Metallization and stringing methods for back-contact solar cells, and resulting solar cells, are described. In an example, in one embodiment, a method involves aligning conductive wires over the back sides of adjacent solar cells, wherein the wires are aligned substantially parallel to P-type and N-type doped diffusion regions of the solar cells. The method involves bonding the wires to the back side of each of the solar cells over the P-type and N-type doped diffusion regions. The method further includes cutting every other one of the wires between each adjacent pair of the solar cells.
Claims15
A system for electrically coupling solar cells, the system comprising:
- a wire support to align conductive wires substantially parallel with P-type and N-type doped diffusion regions of each of the solar cells;
- a welder to bond the conductive wires to the back side of each of the solar cells over the P-type and N-type doped diffusion regions;
- and
- a cutter to sever every other one of the conductive wires between each adjacent pair of the solar cells.
A system for electrically coupling solar cells, the system configured to perform a method 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, and wherein aligning the conductive wires comprises using a wire support included in the system;
- bonding the conductive wires to the back side of each of the solar cells over the P-type and N-type doped diffusion regions, wherein bonding the conductive wires comprises using a welder included in the system, the welder downstream from and vertically beneath the wire support in the system;
- subsequent to bonding the conductive wires to the backside of each of the solar cells, cutting every other one of the conductive wires between each adjacent pair of the solar cells, wherein cutting every other one of the conductive wires comprises using a first cutter included in the system, the first cutter downstream from the welder in the system;
- and
- subsequent to cutting every other one of the conductive wires, severing all of the conductive wires at an end of a solar string, wherein severing all of the conductive wires comprises using a second cutter included in the system, the second cutter downstream from the first cutter in the system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.