A photovoltaic system is described that improves energy efficiency (conversion of solar energy to electrical energy) by beam-splitting, via reflective filters, the incident solar light into a reflective portion and an exit portion. The reflective portion and the exit portion are directed to respective photovoltaic cells that convert the incident light energy into electrical energy. The concentrated solar light is collimated then split via reflective filters saving on the reflective filter area and reducing overall bulkiness of the beam-splitting system. Further, a cascade of multiple filters is used to split either the reflected spectra or the exit spectra of solar light.

In a solar cell module, a first encapsulant and a second encapsulant are provided between a first protective member and a second protective member, and solar cells are provided between the first encapsulant and the second encapsulant. A connecting tab wire cover is laminated on the first encapsulant. A connecting tab wire encapsulant is laminated on the connecting tab wire cover. The multiple solar cells are laminated on the first encapsulant. Through a slit formed on the connecting tab wire encapsulant, fixing members fix a connecting tab wire, which connects multiple solar cells, and the connecting tab wire cover.

A solar battery module is provided with a plurality of solar cells, a wiring material for connecting adjacent solar cells in the longitudinal directors to form strings, and a reflective body disposed on the rear-surface side of the solar cells, said body reflecting at least some incident light toward the solar cells. In the solar battery module, the strings are multiply disposed In the horizontal direction to constitute string groups, intervals D.sub.20 between adjacent strings being formed wider in the longitudinal center section of the string groups than in the longitudinal end sections.

A string-forming system is described. The string-forming system may include at least a first cell-lifting mechanism and a second cell-lifting mechanism that can automatically arrange a set of strips of a photovoltaic structure into a cascaded formation. During operation, a controller can cause the first cell-lifting mechanism to lift a first strip from a first platform, and can cause the second cell-lifting mechanism to lift, from the first platform, a second strip that may follow the first strip on the first platform. The controller may then activate a first shifting actuator of the first cell-lifting mechanism or a second shifting actuator of the second cell-lifting mechanism to place a leading edge of the second strip above a trailing edge of the first strip.

A solar panel array includes a plurality of sub-arrays of solar panels. For each sub-array, the solar panels are electrically connected in series, have unequal shapes, and have equal areas.

One embodiment of the invention can provide a solar panel. The solar panel can include a plurality of strings of photovoltaic strips sandwiched between a front cover and a back cover. The strings can be arranged into an array that includes multiple blocks, and a respective block can include a subset of strings that are electrically coupled to each other in parallel. The subset of strings within the block can be coupled to a bypass diode. The multiple blocks can be electrically coupled to each other in series.

A photovoltaic module, and method of making, is disclosed in which a flexible circuit is electrically coupled to a plurality of photovoltaic cells, where the photovoltaic cells are electrically coupled in series to form a series of cells. Each photovoltaic cell has free-standing metallic articles coupled to the top and bottom surfaces of a semiconductor substrate. A cell interconnection element of each photovoltaic cell is electrically coupled to a free-standing metallic article of an adjacent photovoltaic cell, where the interconnection elements of the initial and final cells in the series serve as contact ends for the series of cells. Contact tabs of the flexible circuit are electrically coupled to the contact ends of the series of cells, and a junction box is electrically coupled to a junction box contact region of the flexible circuit.

An optoelectronic device and method of producing the same. The optoelectronic device comprising a substrate having a first and a second substantially planar face and an aperture therein, the aperture passing through and penetrating the first and second substantially planar faces of the substrate. The aperture has a first and a second face defining a space therebetween. The space is at least partially filled with a first semiconductor material, the first face is coated with a conductor material and the second face is coated with a second semiconductor material.

A targeted-annealing system can automatically cure a conductive paste that may bind cascaded strips of a string together without damaging the strips. The targeted-annealing system can process strings of cascaded strips on a supporting surface, and can anneal conductive paste between overlapping strips by blowing heated air on the overlapping sections of the strips. An air nozzle shaped to target the overlapping sections may provide the heated air. The supporting surface may include a porous material that allows a vacuum to pull on the cascaded strips from below the surface during the annealing process.

A solar module that includes multiple series-connected sub-circuits is provided. Each sub-circuit may include multiple solar cell strings coupled in parallel. The sub-circuits may be coupled to a junction box that includes bypass diodes. Each of the sub-circuits may be coupled in parallel with a respective bypass diode in the junction box. The sub-circuits may be coupled to the junction box via interconnect buses. The interconnect buses may be routed to an entry point from only one side the junction box to improve manufacturability. The interconnect buses may also include one or more bends to provide strain relief during normal operation of the solar module and during thermal cycling events.