A handle substrate having at least one metallization region is provided on a stressor layer that is located above a base substrate such that the at least one metallization region is in contact with a surface of the stressor layer. An upper portion of the base substrate is spalled, i.e., removed, to provide a structure comprising, from bottom to top, a spalled material portion of the base substrate, the stressor layer and the handle substrate containing the at least one metallization region in contact with the surface of the stressor layer.

Self-powered portable electronic devices are disclosed that have the capacity to generate their own electrical power, store electrical charge, and distribute electrical power to similarly designed devices in close proximity. Devices generate power in part using one or more non-solar thermal energy sources that have increased stability and efficiency compared to current solar cell powered devices. Devices comprise components including, control processors, data storage, energy storage, dedicated energy and power management processors, and thermophotovoltaic cells that convert thermal energy into electrical power. Devices are capable of transmitting and receiving energy, power, voice and data information using standard frequencies associated with portable devices. Additionally, the invention discloses methods, systems, and apparatuses comprising circuitry that can control power generation from multiple thermophotovoltaic cells and traditional power sources.

A modular, electricity generating apparatus comprises an elongate, central member comprising a first end and a second end; at least one solar foil disposed about the central member in fluid interacting relation thereto; the solar foil comprising an outer surface having photovoltaic properties; the first end and the second end dimensioned and configured to be connected to a connecting node; and, the elongate central member at least partially comprised of an electrically conductive material and configured to conduct electricity from at least one of the connecting nodes to the other of the connecting nodes.

Disclosed are a photovoltaic with improved visibility, which can improve optical-to-electric conversion efficiency and can be applied to a window of a building or a view window of a moving means such as a vehicle, and a method of manufacturing the same. The photovoltaic includes a transparent substrate, a transparent electrode formed on one surface of the transparent substrate, a plurality of photovoltaic cells configured to each include a first electrode formed on the transparent electrode, an optical-to-electric conversion part formed on the first electrode, and a second electrode formed on the optical-to-electric conversion part, and a separation part provided between adjacent photovoltaic cells. The separation part exposes the transparent electrode to incident sunlight.

A device having a plurality of thin film photovoltaic cells (PV) formed over a passivation layer. The device comprises a plurality of thin film photovoltaic (PV) cells formed over the passivation layer, each PV cell includes at least a lower conducting layer (LCL) and an upper conducting layer (UCL); and a conducting path connecting at least a UCL of a first PV cell to at least a LCL of a second PV cell, wherein at least a first array of PV cells comprised of at least a first portion of the plurality of PV cells is connected by the respective UCL and LCL of each PV cell to provide a first voltage output. In an embodiment the passivation layer is formed over a target integrated circuit (TIC), the TIC having a top surface and a bottom surface.

Back side connection layer for a photo-voltaic module with a plurality of PV-cells (1, 2). The PV-cells (1, 2) are of a type having a plurality of back side contacts (11, 12). A by-pass diode connection path (6) is formed in the back side connection layer (3) along an edge direction of two adjacent cells (1, 2) with a straight or meandering pattern around outer contacts (4, 5) of the plurality of back side contacts (11, 12) of the two adjacent cells (1, 2).

A flexible circuit that allows a standardized connection interface to connect flexible solar cell(s) for easy integration into electronics devices. This interconnection scheme does not limit the intrinsic solar cell flexibility and may conform to standard design practices in electronic device manufacturing. In an aspect, a solar module is described that includes one or more solar panels and a flexible trace or interconnect having conductive wires inside an insulation material. In another aspect, an electronic device is described that includes a circuit board, one or more solar panels and a flexible trace or interconnect having conductive wires inside an insulation material. The electronic device may be an internet-of-things (IoT) device or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), for example. In yet another aspect, a lighting module is described that includes one or more lighting panels and a flexible trace or interconnect having conductive wires inside an insulation material.

The present invention provides a panel equipped with a photovoltaic device including an even number of columns of photovoltaic modules, the columns being aligned essentially parallel to a longitudinal edge of the panel. Each column includes an electrical pole on each extremity. The polarity of an electrical pole of one extremity being the inverse of that of the electrical pole of the other extremity and the poles of two adjacent columns being of inverse polarity. The present invention further provides an assembly of panels, an electrical device connected to a converter including an assembly and a method for the electrical connection to a converter of the panels of the assembly.

The present invention provides a panel equipped with a photovoltaic device including an even number of columns of photovoltaic modules, the columns being aligned essentially parallel to a longitudinal edge of the panel. Each column includes an electrical pole on each of extremity. The polarity of an electrical pole of one extremity being the inverse of that of the electrical pole of the other extremity, the poles of two adjacent columns being of inverse polarity, the electrical pole being in the form of a male connector when it is of one polarity and in the form of a female connector when it is of the inverse polarity. The male connectors and female connectors arranged so that they interlock with one another when the lower transverse edge of an upper panel overlaps the upper transverse edge of a lower panel. The present invention further provides an assembly of panels, an electrical device connected to a converter including an assembly and a method for the electrical connection to a converter of the panels of the assembly.

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.