An integrated photovoltaic panel has one or more integral DC-DC converter circuits. The DC-DC converter input port couples to a section of at least one photovoltaic (PV) device of the panel separate from PV devices feeding other converters. The converter has an MPPT controller for operating the converter to transfer maximum power from coupled photovoltaic devices to its output port. The PV panel has a transparent substrate to which PV devices are mounted. A laminating material seals PV devices and converters to the substrate. In embodiments, the panel has multiple converters connected with output ports in series. The integrated PV panel provides summed maximum powers of each section of PV devices. In some embodiments the DC-DC converters are complete with inductors, in other embodiments a common inductor is shared by multiple converters of the panel, in a particular embodiment the common inductor is parasitic inductance of the panel.

A concentrator photovoltaic module 1M includes a vessel-shaped housing 11 composed of a metal and a flexible printed wiring board 12 provided so as to be in contact with an inner surface of the housing 11. The flexible printed wiring board 12 includes an insulating layer 124, an insulating substrate 121a, a pattern 121b, a plurality of power generation elements 122, and an insulting layer 126. The insulating layer 124 is in contact with a bottom surface 11a of the housing 11. The insulating substrate 121a is provided on the insulating layer 124 and has flexibility. The pattern 121b is composed of a conductor and is provided on the insulating substrate 121a. The plurality of power generation elements 122 are mounted on the pattern 121b. The insulating layer 126 is provided so as to cover an entire surface of the pattern 121b except for portions where the power generation elements 122 are mounted.

A photovoltaic module, having: a substrate, a plurality of photovoltaic structures that are electrically connected to one another and extend over the substrate, each of which comprises at least one photovoltaic cell, and a multilayer electrical connection structure sandwiched between the substrate and the plurality of photovoltaic structures, forming at least one bypass diode for each photovoltaic structure, each bypass diode having: two electrodes electrically connected to the terminals of opposite polarity of the corresponding photovoltaic structure, at least one of the two electrodes extending at least partially underneath the corresponding photovoltaic structure, and a semiconductor portion in contact with the two electrodes via two separate surfaces.

A photovoltaic module incorporates a lamination including a back-sheet, an array of solar cells supported on the back-sheet, and a transparent protective covering over the array of solar cells. The solar cells are arranged in offset or staggered patterns on the back-sheet to present a more random and less rigid industrial appearance to an observer. In some cases, cleaved solar cell segments are arranged into groups that are staggered on the back-sheet. This allows for finer control of the net voltage produced by a module. In other embodiments, full single wafer solar cells are arranged into larger groups, which themselves are staggered on the back-sheet. In either case, the result is a photovoltaic module with an appearance that is more organic and acceptable to homeowners and architects than traditional modules having cells arranged in rigid aligned rows and columns.

A photovoltaic string includes a plurality of photovoltaic shingle and a metallic connector; the shingle being glued in pairs, forming a plurality of overlapping surfaces, each overlapping surface having an overlap width, the metallic connector being glued or welded to an end shingle forming a transfer surface, the transfer surface having a transfer width greater than or equal to each of the overlap widths, the active surface of the end shingle preferably being greater than or equal to the active surface of an intermediate shingle.

Systems and methods for generating electrical current from at least one photovoltaic cell is described herein. The photovoltaic cell may be disposed over a display of an electronic device. The photovoltaic cell may comprise first and second conductive layers and a photovoltaic layer. The first conductive layer may be etched such that a width of the metal layer is less than a width of the photovoltaic layer providing visibility to the display disposed below. In some embodiments, a capacitive touch sensor is disposed between the metal layer and the absorber layer for providing interaction with a user.

The present disclosure provides a portable photovoltaic unit and a photovoltaic system. The system comprises a plurality of interconnectable photovoltaic module units each unit comprising a photovoltaic device. The units are arranged for releasably coupling to each other so that an electrical interconnection between the units is established and energy can be accessed from electrical contacts that are disposed on the same side of one of the units.

A photovoltaic cell includes an edge; an interconnection conductive track extending parallel to the edge to within 1.3 mm; and a plurality of electrodes, called “collection fingers”, extending parallel to each other and electrically connected to the interconnection track; the interconnection conductive track including a plurality of spaced-apart closed-contour conductive patterns, each closed-contour conductive pattern including a closed contour surrounding a portion of the first face.

A space-grade solar array includes relatively small cells with integrated wiring embedded into or incorporated directly onto a printed circuit board. The integrated wiring provides an interface for solar cells having back side electrical contacts. The single side contacts enable the use of pick and place (PnP) technology in manufacturing the space-grade solar array. The solar cell is easily and efficiently packaged and electrically interconnected with other solar cells on a solar panel such as by using PnP process. The back side contacts are matched from a size and positioning standpoint to corresponding contacts on the printed circuit board.

A manufacturing method for a flexible silicon-based cell module is provided. Specifically, cell units of a silicon-based solar cell structure are arranged and adhered to a connecting strip to form a cell string, wherein a gap is left between two adjacent cell units. The cell units in cell strings are connected in series and parallel by an interconnected bar, wherein a gap is left between two adjacent cell strings. Hard protection units adapted to the size and specification of the cell units are respectively attached to the cell units. A plurality of cell strings are connected to each other in series and parallel to form a cell assembly. A panel made of flexible material is selected to package the cell assembly to form the flexible cell module. The cell module has an excellent rollable performance and a flexible expansion, a light weight, and a small size.