Interconnect assembly

Abstract

An interconnect assembly. The interconnect assembly includes a trace that includes a plurality of electrically conductive portions. The plurality of electrically conductive portions is configured both to collect current from a first solar cell and to interconnect electrically to a second solar cell. In addition, the plurality of electrically conductive portions is configured such that solar-cell efficiency is substantially undiminished in an event that any one of the plurality of electrically conductive portions is conductively impaired.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . The combined solar-cell, interconnect assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said plurality of electrically conductive portions further comprises:
 a first portion of said plurality of electrically conductive portions configured both to collect current from said first solar cell and to interconnect electrically to said second solar cell, said first portion comprising a first end distal from said second solar cell; and   a second portion of said plurality of electrically conductive portions configured both to collect current from said first solar cell and to interconnect electrically to said second solar cell, said second portion comprising a second end distal from said second solar cell;   wherein said second portion is disposed proximately to said first portion and electrically connected to said first portion such that said first distal end is electrically connected to said second distal end such that said second portion is configured electrically in parallel to said first portion when configured to interconnect to said second solar cell.   
     
     
         3 . The combined solar-cell, interconnect assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of electrically conductive portions further comprises:
 said second portion comprising a third end distal from said first solar cell; and   a third portion of said plurality of electrically conductive portions configured both to collect current from said first solar cell and to interconnect electrically to said second solar cell, said third portion comprising a fourth end distal from said first solar cell;   wherein said third portion is disposed proximately to said second portion and electrically connected to said second portion such that said third distal end is electrically connected to said fourth distal end such that said third portion is configured electrically in parallel to said second portion when configured to interconnect with said first solar cell.   
     
     
         4 . The combined solar-cell, interconnect assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the absorber layer of said first solar cell comprises copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS). 
     
     
         5 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The combined solar-cell, interconnect assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said bottom carrier film further comprises a second adhesive medium coupling said trace to said second electrically insulating layer, and wherein said second adhesive medium allows for coupling said trace to said second solar cell without requiring solder. 
     
     
         9 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A combined solar-cell, interconnect assembly comprising:
 a first solar cell, the first solar cell having transparent conductive oxide front electrode layer above a light-facing side of an absorber layer of said first solar cell;   a second solar cell adjacent to the first solar cell separated by a gap; and   an interconnect assembly disposed above the light-facing side of the absorber layer of said first solar cell, the interconnect assembly comprising:
 a trace disposed directly upon the transparent conductive oxide front electrode layer above the light-facing side of said first solar cell, wherein said trace is a single, physically continuous electrically conductive line disposed in a serpentine pattern, said trace further comprising:
 a plurality of electrically conductive portions, all electrically conductive portions of said plurality of electrically conductive portions configured to collect current from said first solar cell and to interconnect electrically to a said second solar cell; 
 wherein said plurality of electrically conductive portions is configured such that solar-cell efficiency is substantially undiminished in an event that any one of said plurality of electrically conductive portions is conductively impaired; 
 
 a top carrier film, wherein said top carrier film comprises a first substantially transparent, electrically insulating layer coupled to said trace and disposed above a top portion of said trace, said top carrier film further comprising a substantially transparent adhesive medium coupling said top carrier film to said trace such that the adhesive medium is directly physically contacting the trace, said adhesive medium also coupling said top carrier film to said transparent conductive oxide front electrode layer; and 
 wherein the top carrier film exists only over the first solar cell, as viewed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the layering direction of the transparent conductive oxide front electrode layer above the light-facing side of the absorber layer of said first solar cell, but the top carrier film is not disposed over a portion of the light-facing side of the first solar cell that is closest to the second solar cell; 
 wherein the gap extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the layering direction of the transparent conductive oxide front electrode layer above the absorber layer. 
   
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The combined solar-cell, interconnect assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the gap is no more than about 2 mm. 
     
     
         14 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The combined solar-cell, interconnect assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said trace is a metal wire and said first adhesive couples said trace to said first solar cell without requiring solder by adherence of the trace-bearing top carrier film to the transparent conductive oxide front electrode layer of the first solar cell. 
     
     
         17 . A solar-cell module, comprising:
 a plurality of interconnected combined solar-cell, interconnect assemblies as claimed in  claim 11 .   
     
     
         18 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The solar-cell module of  claim 17 , wherein said plurality of electrically conductive portions of each of said plurality of interconnected combined solar-cell, interconnect assemblies further comprises:
 a first portion of said plurality of electrically conductive portions configured both to collect current from said first solar cell and to interconnect electrically to said second solar cell, said first portion comprising a first end distal from said second solar cell; and   a second portion of said plurality of electrically conductive portions configured both to collect current from said first solar cell and to interconnect electrically to said second solar cell, said second portion comprising a second end distal from said second solar cell;   wherein said second portion is disposed proximately to said first portion and electrically connected to said first portion such that said first distal end is electrically connected to said second distal end such that said second portion is configured electrically in parallel to said first portion when configured to interconnect to said second solar cell.   
     
     
         22 . The solar-cell module of  claim 21 , wherein said plurality of electrically conductive portions of each of said plurality of interconnected combined solar-cell, interconnect assemblies further comprises:
 said second portion comprising a third end distal from said first solar cell; and   a third portion of said plurality of electrically conductive portions configured both to collect current from said first solar cell and to interconnect electrically to said second solar cell, said third portion comprising a fourth end distal from said first solar cell;   wherein said third portion is disposed proximately to said second portion and electrically connected to said second portion such that said third distal end is electrically connected to said fourth distal end such that said third portion is configured electrically in parallel to said second portion when configured to interconnect with said first solar cell.   
     
     
         23 . The solar-cell module of  claim 17 , wherein each of said plurality of interconnected combined solar-cell, interconnect assemblies further comprises: a bottom carrier film, wherein said bottom carrier film comprises a carrier is film selected from a group consisting of a second electrically insulating layer, a structural plastic layer, and a metallic layer, said bottom carrier film directly coupled to said trace and disposed below a bottom portion of said trace. 
     
     
         24 . The solar-cell module of  claim 23 , wherein said bottom carrier film further comprises a second adhesive medium coupling said trace to said second electrically insulating layer, and wherein said second adhesive medium allows for coupling said trace to said second solar cell without requiring solder. 
     
     
         25 . The solar-cell module of  claim 17 , wherein the gap is no more than about 2 mm. 
     
     
         26 . The solar-cell module of  claim 17 , wherein said trace is a metal wire and said first adhesive couples said trace to said first solar cell without requiring solder by adherence of the trace-bearing top carrier film to the transparent conductive oxide front electrode layer of the first solar cell. 
     
     
         27 . The solar-cell module of  claim 17 , wherein the absorber layer of said first solar cell comprises copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS).