Solar cell assembly

Abstract

A solar cell assembly (200) is presented. The solar cell assembly includes one or more solar cell units (211) coupled in series. The solar cell unit includes a first solar cell series (221) and a second solar cell series (222) connected in parallel. The first and second solar cell series include a plurality of solar cells (202) connecting in series respectively. The solar cell assembly also includes a by-pass diode (201) coupled to each solar cell unit and shared between the first and second solar cell series in each solar cell unit.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A solar cell assembly comprising:
 a first solar cell unit, comprising:
 a first solar cell series including a plurality of solar cells connected in series; 
 a second solar cell series, coupled in parallel with the first solar cell series, including a plurality of solar cells connected in series; and 
 a first bypass diode coupled in parallel with the first solar cell series and the second solar cell series; and 
   a second solar cell unit, coupled in series with the first solar cell unit, comprising:
 a third solar cell series including a plurality of solar cells connected in series; 
 a fourth solar cell series, coupled in parallel with the third solar cell series, including a plurality of solar cells connected in series; and 
 a second bypass diode coupled in parallel with the third solar cell series and the fourth solar cell series. 
   
     
     
         22 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 21 , wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth solar cell series includes eight (8) solar cells. 
     
     
         23 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 21 , wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth solar cell series includes nine (9) solar cells. 
     
     
         24 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 21 , wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth solar cell series includes ten (10) solar cells. 
     
     
         25 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 21 , wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth solar cell series includes twelve (12) solar cells. 
     
     
         26 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the solar cells of the first, second, third, and fourth solar cell series are half-cut solar cells. 
     
     
         27 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 26 , wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth solar cell series includes twenty (20) half-cut solar cells. 
     
     
         28 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 26 , wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth solar cell series includes twenty-four (24) half-cut solar cells. 
     
     
         29 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 21 , further comprising a plurality of bypass diodes, including the first and second bypass diodes, wherein the plurality of bypass diodes are located on the solar cell assembly substantially equidistant from each other and substantially along a centerline extending along the center of the solar cell assembly. 
     
     
         30 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the plurality of bypass diodes as a group is further equidistant from edges of a corresponding solar cell unit along the centerline. 
     
     
         31 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 21 , further including a junction box containing the first and second bypass diodes. 
     
     
         32 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 31 , wherein the solar cell assembly comprises a front side having the first, second, third, and fourth solar cell series and a rear side having the junction box. 
     
     
         33 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 32 , further comprising a laminate layer on the front side in which the first through fourth solar cell series are integrated. 
     
     
         34 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 31 , wherein the junction box is located substantially at centerline of the solar cell assembly that extends along a center of the solar cell assembly. 
     
     
         35 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 31 , wherein the junction box is one of a plurality of junction boxes, the plurality of junction boxes being located on the solar cell assembly substantially equidistant from each other and substantially along a centerline extending along a center of the solar cell assembly. 
     
     
         36 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 35 , wherein the plurality of junction boxes as a group is further equidistant from edges of a corresponding solar cell unit along the centerline. 
     
     
         37 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 21 , further including a first junction box containing the first bypass diode and a second junction box containing the second bypass diode. 
     
     
         38 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 37 , wherein the solar cell assembly comprises a front side having the first, second, third, and fourth solar cell series and a rear side having the first and second junction boxes. 
     
     
         39 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 38 , further comprising a laminate layer on the front side in which the first through fourth solar cell series are integrated. 
     
     
         40 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 37 , wherein the first and second junction boxes are located on the solar cell assembly substantially at a centerline of the solar cell assembly that extends along a center of the solar cell assembly. 
     
     
         41 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 40 , further comprising a plurality of junction boxes, wherein two of the plurality of junction boxes are the first and second junction boxes, and the plurality of junction boxes are substantially equidistant from each other along the centerline. 
     
     
         42 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 41 , wherein the plurality of junction boxes as a group is further equidistant from edges of a corresponding solar cell unit on the centerline. 
     
     
         43 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the first and third solar cell series are located on a first side of a centerline extending along a center of the solar cell assembly, and the second and fourth solar cell series are located on a second side of the centerline. 
     
     
         44 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of solar cells of each of the first, second, third, and fourth solar cell series includes a first solar cell and a last solar cell, and the first and last solar cells are located substantially at a centerline of the solar cell assembly that extends along a center of the solar cell assembly. 
     
     
         45 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 21 , further including:
 a first cross connector coupling the first solar cell series to the second solar cell series; and   a second cross connector coupling the third solar cell series to the fourth solar cell series,   wherein the first and second cross connectors are located at a centerline extending along a center of the solar cell assembly.   
     
     
         46 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 45 , wherein the first and second cross connectors are combined in a single cross-connector assembly. 
     
     
         47 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 45 , wherein the first cross connector further couples the first bypass diode with the first and second solar cell series and the second cross connector couples the second bypass diode with the third and fourth solar cell series. 
     
     
         48 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 45 , wherein:
 each of the first, second, third, and fourth solar cell series comprises first and second strings of an equal number of solar cells,   the solar cell assembly further comprises third, fourth, fifth, and sixth cross connectors respectively connecting the first string to the second string of each of the first, second, third, and fourth solar cell series,   the third and fifth cross connectors are located substantially at an edge of the solar cell assembly on the first side of the centerline, and   the fourth and sixth cross connectors are located substantially at edge of the solar cell assembly on the second side of the centerline.   
     
     
         49 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth solar cell series have substantially the same open circuit voltage. 
     
     
         50 . A solar cell assembly comprising:
 a first solar cell unit, comprising:
 a first solar cell series including a plurality of solar cells connected in series; 
 a second solar cell series, coupled in parallel with the first solar cell series, including a plurality of solar cells connected in series; and 
 a first bypass diode coupled in parallel with the first solar cell series and the second solar cell series; 
   a second solar cell unit, coupled in series with the first solar cell unit, comprising:
 a third solar cell series including a plurality of solar cells connected in series; 
 a fourth solar cell series, coupled in parallel with the third solar cell series, including a plurality of solar cells connected in series; and 
 a second bypass diode coupled in parallel with the third solar cell series and the fourth solar cell series; and 
   a third solar cell unit, coupled in series with the first and second solar cell units, comprising:
 a fifth solar cell series including a plurality of solar cells connected in series; 
 a sixth solar cell series, coupled in parallel with the fifth solar cell series, including a plurality of solar cells connected in series; and 
 a third bypass diode coupled in parallel with the fifth solar cell series and the sixth solar cell series. 
   
     
     
         51 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 50 , wherein each of the first through sixth solar cell series includes eight (8) solar cells. 
     
     
         52 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 50 , wherein each of the first through sixth solar cell series includes nine (9) solar cells. 
     
     
         53 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 50 , wherein each of the first through sixth solar cell series includes ten (10) solar cells. 
     
     
         54 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 50 , wherein each of the first through sixth solar cell series includes twelve (12) solar cells. 
     
     
         55 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 50 , wherein the solar cells of the first through sixth solar cell series are half-cut solar cells. 
     
     
         56 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 55 , wherein each of the first through sixth solar cell series includes twenty (20) half-cut solar cells. 
     
     
         57 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 55 , wherein each of the first through sixth solar cell series includes twenty-four (24) half-cut solar cells. 
     
     
         58 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 50 , wherein the first through third bypass diodes are located on the solar cell assembly substantially equidistant from each other and substantially along a centerline extending along the center of the solar cell assembly. 
     
     
         59 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 58 , wherein the first through third bypass diodes are further equidistant from edges of a corresponding solar cell unit along the centerline. 
     
     
         60 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 50 , further including a junction box containing the first, second, and third bypass diodes. 
     
     
         61 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 60 , wherein the solar cell assembly comprises a front side having the first through sixth solar cell series and a rear side having the junction box. 
     
     
         62 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 61 , further comprising a laminate layer on the front side in which the first through sixth solar cell series are integrated. 
     
     
         63 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 60 , wherein the junction box is located substantially at centerline of the solar cell assembly that extends along a center of the solar cell assembly. 
     
     
         64 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 63 , wherein the junction box is one of a plurality of junction boxes, the plurality of junction boxes being substantially equidistant from each other along the centerline. 
     
     
         65 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 64 , wherein the plurality of junction boxes as a group is further equidistant from edges of a corresponding solar cell unit along the centerline. 
     
     
         66 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 50 , further including first, second, and third junction boxes respectively containing the first, second, and third bypass diodes. 
     
     
         67 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 66 , wherein the solar cell assembly comprises a front side having the first through sixth solar cell series and a rear side having the first through third junction boxes. 
     
     
         68 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 67 , wherein the first, second, and third junction boxes are located substantially at a centerline of the solar cell assembly that extends along a center of the solar cell assembly. 
     
     
         69 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 68 , wherein the first, second, and third junction boxes are substantially equidistant from each other along the centerline. 
     
     
         70 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 69 , wherein the plurality of junction boxes as a group is further equidistant from edges of a corresponding solar cell unit on the centerline. 
     
     
         71 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 50 , wherein the first, third, and fifth solar cell series are located on a first side of a centerline extending along a center of the solar cell assembly, and the second, fourth, and sixth solar cell series are located on a second side of the centerline. 
     
     
         71 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 50 , wherein the plurality of solar cells of each of the first through sixth solar cell series includes a first solar cell and a last solar cell, and the first and last solar cells are located substantially at a centerline of the solar cell assembly that extends along a center of the solar cell assembly. 
     
     
         73 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 50 , further including:
 a first cross connector coupling the first solar cell series to the second solar cell series;   a second cross connector coupling the third solar cell series to the fourth solar cell series; and   a third cross connector coupling the fifth solar cell series to the sixth solar cell series,   wherein the first, second, and third cross connectors are located at a centerline extending along a center of the solar cell assembly.   
     
     
         74 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 73 , wherein the first, second, and third cross connectors are combined in a single cross-connector assembly. 
     
     
         75 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 73 , wherein the first cross connector further couples the first bypass diode with the first and second solar cell series, the second cross connector couples the second bypass diode with the third and fourth solar cell series, and the third cross connector couples the third bypass diode with the fifth and sixth solar cell series. 
     
     
         76 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 73 , wherein:
 each of the first through sixth solar cell series comprises first and second strings of an equal number of solar cells,   the solar cell assembly further comprises fourth through ninth cross connectors respectively coupling the first string to the second string of each of the first through sixth solar cell series,   the fourth, sixth, and eighth cross connectors are located substantially at an edge of the solar cell assembly on the first side of the centerline, and   the fifth, seventh, and ninth cross connectors are located substantially at edge of the solar cell assembly on the second side of the centerline.   
     
     
         77 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 50 , wherein the first through sixth solar cell series have substantially the same open circuit voltage.