Degradation-resistant photovoltaic devices

Abstract

A degradation-resistant photovoltaic device is provided. The device includes an active area and at least one photovoltaic cell located in the active area. The photovoltaic cell has an elongated shape with a characteristic width and a characteristic length. The characteristic length is greater than the characteristic width and an average distance from the photovoltaic cell to any edge of the active area is greater than the characteristic width.

1 . A degradation-resistant photovoltaic device comprising:
 an active area and at least one photovoltaic cell located in the active area, said photovoltaic cell having an elongated shape with a characteristic width and a characteristic length, wherein the characteristic length is greater than the characteristic width and an average distance from the photovoltaic cell to any edge of the active area is greater than the characteristic width.   
     
     
         2 . The photovoltaic device of  claim 1  wherein said at least one photovoltaic cell includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells that constitute all the photovoltaic cells in the active area. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The photovoltaic device of  claim 1  wherein said at least one photovoltaic cell is a plurality of photovoltaic cells connected electrically in series. 
     
     
         5 . The photovoltaic device of  claim 4  wherein said photovoltaic cells are connected monolithically by scribing lines. 
     
     
         6 . The photovoltaic device of  claim 1  wherein said elongated shape is nonrectangular. 
     
     
         7 . The photovoltaic device of  claim 1  wherein said at least one photovoltaic cell is a plurality of photovoltaic cells connected electrically in parallel. 
     
     
         8 . The photovoltaic device of  claim 1  wherein said active area is substantially equal to the area of the device. 
     
     
         9 . The photovoltaic device of  claim 1  wherein said photovoltaic cell is a thin film photovoltaic cell. 
     
     
         10 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The photovoltaic device of  claim 1  wherein said at least one photovoltaic cell has a perimeter and further comprises a first side adjacent to at one of the edges of said active area and said first side has a length smaller than the perimeter of the cell. 
     
     
         13 . A degradation-resistant photovoltaic device comprising:
 an active area characterized by a degradation depth extending from any edge of the active area, said degradation depth being equal to a lateral extent of performance degradation arising from environmental factors over a period of time about equal to a projected lifetime of the photovoltaic device; and   at least one photovoltaic cell having an elongated shape and which is located in the active area, wherein an average distance from the photovoltaic cell to any edge of the active area is greater than the degradation depth.   
     
     
         14 . The photovoltaic device of  claim 13  wherein said degradation depth is determined by visual inspection of the device at the end of its operational lifetime. 
     
     
         15 . The photovoltaic device of  claim 13  wherein the value of said degradation depth corresponds to the degradation loss of at least 10% of the active area. 
     
     
         16 . The photovoltaic device of  claim 13  wherein said projected lifetime is at least 5 years. 
     
     
         17 . The photovoltaic device of  claim 13  wherein said at least one photovoltaic cell constitutes all the photovoltaic cells in the active area. 
     
     
         18 . The photovoltaic device of  claim 13  wherein said at least one photovoltaic cell comprises a plurality of photovoltaic cells. 
     
     
         19 . The photovoltaic device of  claim 13  further comprising a first substrate and a second substrate wherein said at least one photovoltaic cell is encapsulated between the first and second substrates. 
     
     
         20 . A degradation-resistant photovoltaic device comprising:
 an active area; and   a plurality of photovoltaic cells and a plurality of electrical contacts located within the active area, said contacts being connected to at least one of the cells and having an elongated shape with a characteristic width and a characteristic length, wherein the characteristic length is greater than the characteristic width and an average distance from any of the contacts to any edge of the active area is greater than its characteristic width.   
     
     
         21 . The photovoltaic device of  claim 20  wherein at least two of said photovoltaic cells are connected electrically in series. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The photovoltaic device of  claim 20  further comprising a first substrate and a second substrate wherein said photovoltaic cells are encapsulated between the first and second substrates. 
     
     
         24 - 27 . (canceled)