The disclosed invention provides a photovoltaic module with an improved electrode structure of a solar cell and having any of various shapes. The photovoltaic module includes electrode members each including a finger electrode and a busbar electrode on a front surface of a solar cell to correspond to the number of divided cells, wherein the finger electrode is disposed as a plurality of finger electrodes in a first direction parallel to a short side of a divided unit cell, and the busbar electrode includes a collection electrode line which extends in a second direction parallel to a long side of the divided unit cell and connects ends of the plurality of finger electrodes and a connecting electrode line which is branched off from an end of the collection electrode line and extends in the first direction to be electrically connected to another unit cell.

A solar module with a flat substrate and a plurality of solar cells that are connected in series between two conductor tracks and are arranged on a first side of the substrate. The solar cells form an optically active module inner region that is surrounded by an optically inactive module edge region. A hole in the substrate, a junction box on a second side of the substrate, and an electrical connection between a tapping point on the conductor track and a connection point of the junction box are associated with each conductor track. The hole is positioned at least partially in the module inner region such that the tapping point on the conductor track is situated outside an aligning extension of the hole and at least one solar cell is divided or has a shortened length.

Embodiments of the present invention may utilize one or more techniques, alone or in combination, to maximize a surface area of a receiver that is configured to convert light into another form of energy. One technique enhances collection efficiency by controlling a size, shape, and/or position of a cell relative to an expected illumination profile under various conditions. Another technique positions non-active elements (such as electrical contacts and/or interconnects) on surfaces likely to be shaded from incident light by other elements of the receiver. Another technique utilizes embodiments of interconnect structures occupying a small footprint. According to certain embodiments, the receiver may be cooled by exposure to a fluid such as water or air.

The present invention concerns an electronic device, preferably a thin film electronic device, and a method for producing the device. The device comprises an intermediate structure (301, 401, 501) at the interface between neighboring unit devices connected in series. The intermediate structure is suitable to employ deposition techniques that make it possible to avoid steps of scribing or patterning insulating and/or separating lines between adjacent layers of the device.

A solar panel includes a first photovoltaic cell, a second photovoltaic cell, and a flexible electrical connection structure which comprises an electrically conductive connector that electrically connects the first photovoltaic cell and the second photovoltaic cell in series along a connection direction. The electrically conductive connector does not extend from a first major surface of a flexible transparent insulating sheet through a thickness of the flexible transparent insulating sheet to a second major surface of the flexible transparent insulating sheet.

A metallic article for a photovoltaic cell is disclosed. The metallic article includes a first region having a plurality of electroformed elements that are configured to serve as an electrical conduit for a light-incident surface of the photovoltaic cell. A cell-to-cell interconnect is integral with the first region. The cell-to-cell interconnect is configured to extend beyond the light-incident surface and to directly couple the metallic article to a neighboring photovoltaic cell. The cell-to-cell interconnect includes a plurality of electroformed, curved appendages. Each appendage has a first end coupled to an edge of the first region and a second end opposite the first end and away from the edge. The appendages are spaced apart from each other. The metallic article is a unitary, free-standing piece.

A solar cell module includes: a light-diffusing member adjacent to a solar cell; a tab line disposed on front surfaces of solar cells and having a light-diffusing shape on a light-entering side; and a protective member having first and second principal surfaces. When an average distance between a front surface of the solar cell and the second principal surface is expressed as D, a refractive index of the protective member is expressed as n, and a critical angle for total reflection satisfying sin R=1/n is expressed as R, the tab line is disposed in a zone other than a zone between a position at a distance of 3.46×D from, among ends of the light-diffusing member, an end closest to the solar cell and a position at a distance of 2×D×tan R from, among the ends, an end farthest from the solar cell.

A solar cell module includes a plurality of compound semiconductor solar cells each including a compound semiconductor substrate, a first electrode part on a front surface of the compound semiconductor substrate, an insulating substrate positioned at a back surface of the compound semiconductor substrate, a second electrode part positioned between the back surface of the compound semiconductor substrate and a front surface of the insulating substrate, and an insulating adhesive attaching the insulating substrate to the second electrode part; a conductive connection member electrically connecting two adjacent compound semiconductor solar cells to each other; a conductive adhesive attaching the conductive connection member to a corresponding electrode part of the compound semiconductor solar cell; a front substrate positioned on the compound semiconductor solar cells; and a back substrate positioned below the compound semiconductor solar cells.

A rectangular conductor for a solar battery and a lead wire for a solar battery, in which warping or damaging of a silicon crystal wafer is hard to occur at the time of bonding a connection lead wire even when a silicon crystal wafer is configured to have a thin sheet structure, can be provided. A conductor 1 having a volume resistivity equal to or less than 50 μΩ.Math.mm, and a 0.2% yield strength value equal to or less than 90 MPa in a tensile test is formed into a rectangular conductor 10 for a solar battery having a rectangular cross section, and a surface of the rectangular conductor 10 for a solar battery is coated with a solder plating film 13, to provide a lead wire 20 for a solar battery.

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.