Solar cell with integrated bypass diode and method
AssigneeHughes Aircraft Company
InventorJerry R. Kukulka
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An integrated solar cell-bypass diode assembly is provided by forming at least one recess in the back (non-illuminated) side of the solar cell and placing at least one discrete low-profile bypass diode in respective recesses so that each bypass diode is approximately flush with the back side of the solar cell. Each bypass diode is bonded to the solar cell for anti-parallel connection across the solar cell. The back side of the solar cell is preferably formed with a honeycomb pattern of recesses to reduce the weight of the solar cell while maintaining mechanical strength. The recesses that receive bypass diodes preferably have a rectangular shape that better accommodates the bypass diode.
Claims14
A solar cell assembly, comprising:
- a solar cell having a front surface, a back surface, a first contact on the front surface, a second contact on the back surface, and a recess in its back surface, said solar cell producing a voltage between said first and second contacts in response to illumination of its front surface;
- and
- a discrete bypass diode that is positioned in said recess and is bonded to the solar cell, said bypass diode having third and fourth contacts adapted to be connected to said first and second contacts, respectively, in an anti-parallel configuration so that said bypass diode is reverse biased when said solar cell is illuminated and is otherwise forward biased to limit the reverse bias voltage across the solar cell and prevent it from breaking down.
A solar panel assembly, comprising:
- a panel;
- a plurality of solar cells having respective back surfaces, front surfaces, first contacts on their respective front surfaces, second contacts on their respective back surfaces, and recesses in their respective back surfaces, said solar cells producing respective voltages between their first and second contacts in response to illumination of their front surfaces;
- and
- a plurality of discrete bypass diodes that are positioned in said respective recesses and are bonded to the respective solar cells, said bypass diodes having third and fourth contacts connected to said first and second contacts, respectively, in an anti-parallel configuration so that said bypass diodes are reverse biased when their respective solar cells are illuminated and are otherwise forward biased to limit the reverse bias voltage across the solar cells and prevent them from breaking down, said solar cell's back surfaces and said bypass diodes being bonded to said panel.
A method for forming a solar cell assembly, comprising:
- providing a solar cell having a front surface, a back surface, a first contact on the front surface, a second contact on the back surface, and a recess in its back surface, said solar cell producing a voltage between said first and second contacts in response to illumination of its front surface;
- and
- positioning a discrete bypass diode in said recess and bonding it to said solar cell, said bypass diode having third and fourth contacts adapted to be connected to said first and second contacts, respectively.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.