Systems and methods taught herein provide thin film semiconductor devices such as thin film photovoltaic devices having via holes that enable electrical connection with a bottom surface of a topside contact of the thin film semiconductor device via the back side of the device (e.g., during mounting of the device). In some embodiments, the via holes are electrically insulated.

Strings of solar cells having laser assisted metallization conductive contact structures, and their methods of manufacture, are described. For example, a solar cell string includes a first solar cell having a front side and a back side, and one or more laser assisted metallization conductive contact structures electrically connecting a first metal foil to the back side of the first solar cell. The solar cell string also includes a second solar cell having a front side and a back side, and one or more laser assisted metallization conductive contact structures electrically connecting a second metal foil to the back side of the second solar cell. The solar cell string also includes a conductive interconnect coupling the first and second solar cells, the conductive interconnect including a strain relief feature.

According to one embodiment, a multi-junction solar cell includes a first solar cell, a second solar cell, and an insulating layer. The first solar cell includes a first photoelectric conversion element. The second solar cell is connected in parallel with the first solar cell. The second solar cell includes multiple second photoelectric conversion elements connected in series. The insulating layer is provided between the first solar cell and the second solar cell. The second photoelectric conversion element includes a p-electrode and an n-electrode. The p-electrode is connected to a p.sup.+-region including a surface on a side opposite to a light incident surface. The n-electrode is connected to an n.sup.+-region including the surface on the side opposite to the light incident surface. The p-electrodes oppose each other or the n-electrodes oppose each other in a region where the multiple second photoelectric conversion elements are adjacent to each other.

Wires (22) electrically connecting solar cells (10) include first wires (22a) and second wires (22b). The first wires (22a) are connected to the first-conductivity-type electrodes (12) of a first one of the solar cells (10) and the second-conductivity-type electrodes (13) of a second one of the solar cells 10 that is adjacent to the first one of the solar cells (10). The second wires (22b) are connected to the second-conductivity-type electrodes (13) of the first one of the solar cells (10) and the first-conductivity-type electrodes (12) of the second one of the solar cells (10). The second wires (22b) are electrically separated by holes (21a) extending through both the second wires (22b) and an insulating base member (21).

A solar power system may comprise a back sheet that comprises an interconnect circuit coupling a plurality of cell tiles. A tiled solar cell, comprising a solar cell and encapsulating and glass layers, is inserted into the cell tiles of the back sheet. Each solar cell is individually addressable through the use of the interconnect circuit. Moreover, the interconnect circuit of the back sheet is programmable and allows for dynamic interconnect routing between solar cells.

A solar cell includes a light facing face provided with a plurality of front electrodes, and a shadow face provided with a plurality of back electrodes; the plurality of front electrodes are arranged separately in a length direction to form a front-electrode strip; the plurality of back electrodes are arranged separately in the length direction to form a back-electrode strip; a center line of the front-electrode strip in the length direction is a first center line; a center line of the back-electrode strip in the length direction is a second center line; a projection of the first center line in a first direction and a projection of the second center line in the first direction coincide; and a projection of a starting point of the front-electrode strip in the first direction and a projection of a starting point of the back-electrode strip in the first direction coincide.

Each solar cell 1 includes: a silicon substrate 2; a diffusion layer 3; a first collection electrode 4 contacting the diffusion layer 3; a first connection electrode 5 contacting the diffusion layer 3 and the first collection electrode 4; an insulation layer 7 having an opening portion extending therethrough; a second collection electrode 8 contacting the insulation layer 7 and connected to the single crystal silicon substrate 2 via the opening portion 70; and a second connection electrode 9 contacting the second collection electrode 8. The first connection electrode 5 and the second connection electrode 9 are separated from each other. The second collection electrode 8 and the single crystal silicon substrate 2 are separated from each other via the insulation layer 7 in almost all or all of an overlapping area of each two adjacent PERC solar cells 1.

Approaches for foil-based metallization of solar cells and the resulting solar cells are described. For example, a method of fabricating a solar cell involves locating a metal foil above a plurality of alternating N-type and P-type semiconductor regions disposed in or above a substrate. The method also involves laser welding the metal foil to the alternating N-type and P-type semiconductor regions. The method also involves patterning the metal foil by laser ablating through at least a portion of the metal foil at regions in alignment with locations between the alternating N-type and P-type semiconductor regions. The laser welding and the patterning are performed at the same time.

Wire-based metallization and stringing techniques for solar cells, and the resulting solar cells, modules, and equipment, are described. In an example, a substrate has a surface. A plurality of N-type and P-type semiconductor regions is disposed in or above the surface of the substrate. A conductive contact structure is disposed on the plurality of N-type and P-type semiconductor regions. The conductive contact structure includes a plurality of conductive wires, each conductive wire of the plurality of conductive wires essentially continuously bonded directly to a corresponding one of the N-type and P-type semiconductor regions.

A connecting member set includes a first connecting member connected to one of a pair of solar cells, and a second connecting member connected to the other solar cell. The first connecting member and the second connecting member have a first planar portion and a second planar portion, respectively. The first planar portion and the second planar portion are layered on each other and electrically connected with each other. The first planar portion has at least one of a cut-out portion or an opening through which the second planar portion is exposed toward the first planar portion when the first planar portion and the second planar portion are layered on each other.