GB1522618A - Solar cells - Google Patents

Abstract

1522618 Solar cells FERRANTI Ltd 29 Sept 1975 [27 Sept 1974] 41997/74 Heading H1K [Also in Division H2] A support for an array of solar cells 10, Fig. 2, comprises a pattern of conductors 11 on a flexible insulating substrate 12, wherein minor portions 22, 24 of the conductors and the substrate are partially punched out, bent over, and bonded to contacts 14 on the faces 13 of the cells 10 on which radiation is to be incident, and other portions 27 of the conductors 11 are bonded to contacts 16 on the other faces 15 of the cells 10 to connect them in series. The conductors 11 and the substrate 12 may be respectively copper and a polyimide, and terminals may be provided at the ends of columns of cells 10 in the same manner as the interconnections between the cells. In another embodiment four adjacent cells 40, Fig. 5, are connected, two series-connected pairs in parallel, by conductors 41 on a polyimide sheet 12, each conductor 41 having two punched-out portions 22 that are bent over and bonded to the contacts 14 on the light-receiving surfaces of the cells 40. The cells 40 may be covered by glass plates 50 which have a transparent tin oxide coating provided with tin oxide terminal pads 51 which are connected together to drain away any charges that may accumulate. This interconnection may be made by a second pattern of conductors 52 which has punched-out and bent-over portions 53 similar to the portions 22. The conductor patterns 41, 52 may be covered by an insulating sheet which has apertures exposing only the tips of the punched-out portions 22, 53 so as to reduce the probability of short-circuits occurring. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 1,246,837.