Local patterning and metallization of semiconductor structures using a laser beam, e.g., micro-electronic devices, semiconductor substrates and/or solar cells, are described. For example, a method of fabricating a solar cell includes providing a substrate having an intervening layer thereon. The method also includes locating a metal foil over the intervening layer. The method also includes exposing the metal foil to a laser beam, wherein exposing the metal foil to the laser beam forms openings in the intervening layer and forms a plurality of conductive contact structures electrically connected to portions of the substrate exposed by the openings.

A method of making a semiconductor device includes forming a semiconductor material stack having a sodium at an atomic concentration greater than 1×10.sup.19/cm.sup.3, depositing a transparent conductive oxide layer over the semiconductor material stack, such that sodium atoms diffuse from the semiconductor material stack into the transparent conductive oxide layer, and contacting a physically exposed surface of the transparent conductive oxide layer with a fluid to remove sodium from the transparent conductive oxide layer.

The present disclosure concerns a photovoltaic sandwich panel (1) comprising a photovoltaic element layer (2) provided between a protective front layer (3), and a fiber reinforced back layer (4), wherein: the protective front layer is formed from a compound comprising a first thermoplastic polymer (PI); and the fiber reinforced back layer comprises a second thermoplastic polymer (P2) with a fibrous filler material (F). The disclosure further concerns a method for manufacturing a photovoltaic sandwich panel and an assembly of said panels.

A photovoltaic cell module includes a photovoltaic cell layer, conductive or non-conductive connection points between photovoltaic cells and interconnected busbars, a grid line bonding layer and a grid line supporting layer provided on surfaces of the photovoltaic cells. The grid line supporting layer adheres to the surfaces of the photovoltaic cells by a bonding effect of the grid line bonding layer. The grid line supporting layer is laminated on the interconnected busbars. A method of manufacturing the module includes: firstly, preliminarily fixing interconnected busbars on the surfaces of photovoltaic cells via conductive or non-conductive connection points; then covering the surfaces of the photovoltaic cells with a grid line supporting layer and a grid line bonding layer, applying pressure on the grid line supporting layer and the grid line bonding layer, and completely fixing the interconnected busbars to the surfaces of the photovoltaic cells by the grid line supporting layer.

An electronics charging station for powering and charging an electronic device is provided. The electronics charging station comprises an umbrella. The umbrella comprises a main shaft having a first end and a second end a plurality of ribs extending from the main shaft, and a canopy having a top surface and a bottom surface with the bottom surface of the canopy mounted to the ribs. At least one solar panel is mounted to the top surface of the canopy. At least one rechargeable battery is provided for capturing and storing the energy from the at least one solar panel. An outlet box is electrically connected to the at least one solar panel and the at least one rechargeable battery. Upon connecting the electronic device to the outlet box, the electronic device Is powered and charged.

One embodiment can provide a current-collecting mechanism of a photovoltaic structure. The current-collecting mechanism can include a top metallic grid positioned on a top surface of the photovoltaic structure and a bottom metallic grid positioned on the bottom surface of the photovoltaic structure. The top metallic grid can include a top busbar positioned near an edge of the photovoltaic structure, and the bottom metallic grid can include a bottom busbar positioned near an opposite edge. The top busbar and the bottom busbar can have complementary topology profiles such that, when the edge of the photovoltaic structure overlaps with an opposite edge of an adjacent photovoltaic structure, the top busbar of the photovoltaic structure and the bottom busbar of the adjacent photovoltaic structure interlock with each other.

In an example, a method includes providing a photovoltaic string comprising a plurality of from 2 to 45 strips, each of the plurality of strips being configured in a series arrangement with each other, each of the plurality of strips being coupled to another one of the plurality of strips using an electrically conductive adhesive (ECA) material, detecting at least one defective strip in the photovoltaic string, applying thermal energy to the ECA material to release the ECA material from a pair of photovoltaic strips to remove the defective photovoltaic strip, removing any residual ECA material from one or more good photovoltaic strip, aligning the photovoltaic string without the damaged photovoltaic strip, and a replacement photovoltaic strip that replaces the defective photovoltaic strip, and curing a reapplied ECA material on the replacement photovoltaic strip to provide the photovoltaic string with the replacement photovoltaic strip.

A multijunction solar cell including interconnected first and second discrete semiconductor regions disposed adjacent and parallel to each other including first top solar subcell, second (and possibly third) lattice matched middle solar subcells; a graded interlayer adjacent to the last middle solar subcell; and a bottom solar subcell adjacent to said graded interlayer being lattice mismatched with respect to the last middle solar subcell; wherein an opening is provided from the bottom side of the semiconductor substrate to one or more of the solar subcells so as to allow a discrete electrical connector to be made extending in free space and to electrically connect contact pads on one or more of the solar subcells.

Systems and methods for manufacturing solar panels are disclosed. Solar cells are placed on a conveyor that transports the cells from a start point to an end point. A laser scribing module scribes the cells at a predetermined depth. A paste dispensing module deposits a predetermined amount of conductive paste on the surface of the solar cells. A cleaving apparatus divides the cells into smaller strips. A shingling module creates a string of cells by overlapping the strips. A targeted annealing module cures the paste, and a layup module places the strings on a backsheet. A glass cover is then added to one side of the strings.

A blocking diode board (“BDB”) for use with a rollable solar power module (“RSPM”) array is disclosed. The DBD includes a blocking diode, first flat electrical conductor, second flat electrical conductor, first tubular hook, and second tubular hook.