Solar cell array

A series connected large area array of photovoltaic cells forming a photovoltaic panel, comprising:

• a transparent substrate panel having at least one flat surface;
• a plurality of spaced transparent electrically conductive films each formed on a different selected portion of said flat surface and electrically isolated from other transparent conductive films formed on adjacent portions of said flat surface;
• a plurality of first semiconductor films each overlying and substantially covering all but an edge portion of its underlying transparent conductive film;
• a plurality of second semiconductor films each overlying and covering its underlying first semiconductor film and forming a corresponding plurality of photovoltaic heterojunctions on said panel;
• each of said films having facing edges with adjacent ones of said films;
• and
• at least one continuous solid layer of electrically conductive material deposited conterminously on each of said second semiconductor films and physically and electrically interconnecting each of said second semiconductor films to a facing adjacent one of said transparent conductive films conterminously along the length of said edge portion for electrically connecting said heterojunctions in series.

A large area array of photovoltaic cells formed on a common substrate, comprising:

• a transparent vitreous substrate having at least one flat surface;
• a plurality of spaced photovoltaic cells formed on said flat surface;
• a transparent electrically conductive film adjacent said flat surface having a first portion coextensive with and underlying each of said cells and a second portion extending beyond each of said cells in facing relationship with an adjacent cell;
• and
• a continuous solid conductive layer overlying each of said photovoltaic cells and deposited in physical and electrical contact conterminously along the length of said second portions of each of said transparent films;
• said continuous solid conductive layer interconnecting said plurality of photovoltaic cells in a series electrical configuration.

A large area array of photovoltaic cells, comprising:

• a transparent vitreous substrate having at least one flat surface;
• a plurality of strip-like photovoltaic cells spaced apart in adjacent parallel strips on said flat surface;
• each of said photovoltaic cells comprising a transparent conductive film formed on said substrate, a semiconductor film containing elements from Groups II and VI of the Periodic Table overlying said transparent film, a heterojunction formed on said semiconductor film, and a continuous solid conductive layer overlying said heterojunction;
• and
• extending portions of said continuous solid conductive layer integrally deposited in physical and series electrical contact conterminous along the length of parallel facing portions of an adjacent one of said transparent conductive films.