Solar panel

Abstract

A high efficiency configuration for a solar cell module comprises solar cells arranged in an overlapping shingled manner and conductively bonded to each other in their overlapping regions to form super cells, which may be arranged to efficiently use the area of the solar module. Rear surface electrical connections between solar cells in electrically parallel super cells provide alternative current paths (i.e., detours) through the solar module around damaged, shaded, or otherwise underperforming solar cells.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A solar module comprising:
 a plurality of super cells arranged in two or more physically parallel rows with the rows electrically connected to each other in parallel, each super cell comprising a plurality of rectangular silicon solar cells arranged in line with long sides of adjacent silicon solar cells overlapping and conductively bonded directly to each other to electrically connect the silicon solar cells in series; and   a plurality of detour electrical interconnects each of which is arranged to extend along a different line perpendicular to the rows to electrically connect metallization on the rear surfaces of solar cells located along the line to provide detour current paths passing through the detour electrical interconnect and around one or more other solar cells in the event that the one or more other solar cells provide insufficient current for normal operation of the module;   wherein each detour electrical interconnect electrically interconnects all rows; and   wherein the detour current paths do not pass through any bypass diodes.   
     
     
         2 . The solar module of  claim 1 , wherein each detour electrical interconnect is or comprises a conductive ribbon electrically connected to metallization on the rear surface of a solar cell in each row. 
     
     
         3 . The solar module of  claim 1 , comprising one or more bypass diodes arranged to bypass one or more groups of solar cells in the event that one or more solar cells in the one or more groups provide insufficient current for normal operation of the module. 
     
     
         4 . The solar module of  claim 3 , wherein each bypass diode is electrically connected between a different pair of detour electrical interconnects. 
     
     
         5 . The solar module of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the solar module has a first end and a second end located opposite from the first end;   each row of super cells has a first end solar cell adjacent the first end of the solar module and a second end solar cell adjacent the second end of the solar module;   a first one of the detour electrical interconnects is located adjacent the first end of the solar module and electrically interconnects the first end solar cells in each row; and   a second one of the detour electrical interconnects is located adjacent the second end of the solar module and electrically interconnects the second end solar cells in each row.   
     
     
         6 . The solar module of  claim 5 , wherein the first detour electrical interconnect provides a positive electrical output from the solar module and the second detour electrical interconnect provides a negative electrical output from the solar module. 
     
     
         7 . The solar module of  claim 1 , wherein the detour electrical interconnects are spaced apart from each other at equal intervals along the solar module. 
     
     
         8 . The solar module of  claim 7 , comprising one or more bypass diodes arranged to bypass one or more groups of solar cells in the event that one or more solar cells in the one or more groups provide insufficient current for normal operation of the module, wherein each bypass diode is electrically connected between a different pair of detour electrical interconnects. 
     
     
         9 . The solar module of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the solar module has a first end and a second end located opposite from the first end;   each row of super cells has a first end solar cell adjacent the first end of the solar module and a second end solar cell adjacent the second end of the solar module;   a first one of the detour electrical interconnects is located adjacent the first end of the solar module and electrically interconnects the first end solar cells in each row; and   a second one of the detour electrical interconnects is located adjacent the second end of the solar module and electrically interconnects the second end solar cells in each row.   
     
     
         10 . The solar module of  claim 9 , wherein the first detour electrical interconnect provides a positive electrical output from the solar module and the second detour electrical interconnect provides a negative electrical output from the solar module. 
     
     
         11 . The solar module of  claim 10 , wherein each detour electrical interconnect is or comprises a conductive ribbon electrically connected to metallization on the rear surface of a solar cell in each row. 
     
     
         12 . A solar module comprising:
 a plurality of super cells arranged in two or more physically parallel rows with the rows electrically connected to each other in parallel, each super cell comprising a plurality of rectangular silicon solar cells arranged in line with long sides of adjacent silicon solar cells overlapping and conductively bonded directly to each other to electrically connect the silicon solar cells in series; and   a plurality of detour electrical interconnects arranged to extend along a plurality of lines perpendicular to the rows;   wherein one or more detour electrical interconnects along each line electrically connect metallization on the rear surfaces of all solar cells located along the line to provide detour current paths passing through the one or more detour electrical interconnects and around one or more other solar cells in the event that the one or more other solar cells provide insufficient current for normal operation of the module;   wherein along each line the one or more detour electrical interconnects electrically interconnect all rows; and   wherein the detour current paths do not pass through any bypass diodes.   
     
     
         13 . The solar module of  claim 12 , comprising one or more bypass diodes arranged to bypass one or more groups of solar cells in the event that one or more solar cells in the one or more groups provide insufficient current for normal operation of the module. 
     
     
         14 . The solar module of  claim 13 , wherein each bypass diode is electrically connected between a different pair of lines of one or more detour electrical interconnects. 
     
     
         15 . The solar module of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the solar module has a first end and a second end located opposite from the first end;   each row of super cells has a first end solar cell adjacent the first end of the solar module and a second end solar cell adjacent the second end of the solar module;   a first line of one or more detour electrical interconnects is located adjacent the first end of the solar module and electrically interconnects the first end solar cells in each row; and   a second line of one or more detour electrical interconnects is located adjacent the second end of the solar module and electrically interconnects the second end solar cells in each row.   
     
     
         16 . The solar module of  claim 15 , wherein the first line of one or more detour electrical interconnect provides a positive electrical output from the solar module and the second line of one or more detour electrical interconnect provides a negative electrical output from the solar module. 
     
     
         17 . The solar module of  claim 12 , wherein the detour electrical interconnects are spaced apart from each other at equal intervals along the solar module. 
     
     
         18 . The solar module of  claim 17 , comprising one or more bypass diodes arranged to bypass one or more groups of solar cells in the event that one or more solar cells in the one or more groups provide insufficient current for normal operation of the module, wherein each bypass diode is electrically connected between a different pair of lines of one or more detour electrical interconnects. 
     
     
         19 . The solar module of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the solar module has a first end and a second end located opposite from the first end;   each row of super cells has a first end solar cell adjacent the first end of the solar module and a second end solar cell adjacent the second end of the solar module;   a first line of one or more detour electrical interconnects is located adjacent the first end of the solar module and electrically interconnects the first end solar cells in each row; and   a second line of one or more detour electrical interconnects is located adjacent the second end of the solar module and electrically interconnects the second end solar cells in each row.   
     
     
         20 . The solar module of  claim 19 , wherein the first line of one or more detour electrical interconnect provides a positive electrical output from the solar module and the second line of one or more detour electrical interconnect provides a negative electrical output from the solar module.