JP7682938B2 - Solar Cell Module - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to solar cell modules.

Patent Document 1 discloses that in a solar cell module in which one or more solar cells are connected in series to form multiple cell groups, and the multiple cell groups are connected by intermediate electrode wiring to form two strings, and the two strings are connected in parallel, the number of solar cells in one string is made equal to the number of solar cells in the other string to prevent backflow between one string and the other string, which would result in large power loss.

JP 2020-181905 A

In order to increase the output of a solar cell module, it is preferable to increase the number of solar cells in the solar cell module as much as possible (for example, to pack the solar cells as closely as possible within the solar cell module). However, in solar cell modules whose outer shape is configured as a polygon including at least one oblique side, such as so-called corner modules, it can be difficult to simultaneously arrange many solar cells according to the outer shape and ensure that the number of solar cells in each string is equal.

For example, consider a solar cell module in which multiple cell groups, each of which has 2, 4, 7, 9, and 10 solar cells connected in series, are arranged in order to maximize the number of solar cells according to the external shape of the solar cell module (hereinafter, a cell group in which n solar cells are connected in series is referred to as an n-cell group (n is an integer)). A string consisting of adjacent 2-cell groups, 4-cell groups, and 7-cell groups connected in series has 13 solar cells, while a string consisting of adjacent 9-cell groups and 10-cell groups connected in series has 19 solar cells, resulting in a large difference in the number of solar cells in each string. If such strings are connected in parallel, the voltage will differ between one string and the other string, resulting in large power losses.

This issue is not limited to solar cell modules with the above-mentioned configuration (solar cell modules having the above-mentioned 2-10 cell groups), but may also occur in solar cell modules with other configurations. Hereinafter, the cell groups will be referred to as cell strings.

This disclosure has been made in light of these points, and its purpose is to provide a solar cell module that can simultaneously arrange many solar cells according to the external shape of the solar cell module and ensure that the number of solar cells in each string is equal.

The solution of the present disclosure for achieving the above-mentioned object includes two strings connected in parallel, each of the two strings having a plurality of cell rows composed of one solar cell or a plurality of solar cells connected in series, the solar cells in the plurality of cell rows are arranged in a first direction, and the plurality of cell rows are arranged side by side in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and in the second direction, a third cell row constituting a second string of the other of the two strings is disposed between a first cell row and a second cell row constituting a first string of the other of the two strings, the solar cells in the plurality of cell rows are connected in series by wiring material disposed on the front or back surface of the solar cell, and the two strings each have the plurality of cell rows connected in series by intermediate electrode wiring .

It is also preferable that the number of solar cells in the first string is the same as the number of solar cells in the second string.

In addition, the number of solar cells in each cell row may be different between the number of solar cells in the first cell row or the number of solar cells in the second cell row and the number of solar cells in the third cell row.

Furthermore, the number of the solar cells in the third cell row is smaller than the number of the solar cells in the first cell row and is greater than the number of the solar cells in the second cell row.

As an arrangement form of the multiple cell rows, in the second direction, multiple cell rows constituting the second string are arranged between the first cell row and the second cell row constituting the first string.

This disclosure makes it possible to arrange many solar cells while ensuring that the number of solar cells in each string is equal.

1 is a plan view illustrating a solar cell module according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view for explaining the series connection direction of solar cells in each string in the solar cell module according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the solar cell module. FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating a solar cell module according to a second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a plan view for explaining the series connection direction of solar cells in each string in a solar cell module according to a second embodiment. 1 for explaining the overall length of electrode wiring and soldering locations in the solar cell module according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 for explaining the overall length and soldering locations of electrode wiring in a solar cell module according to a second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a simplified diagram for explaining the arrangement of each solar cell and the configuration of each string in a solar cell module according to a third embodiment. FIG. 13 is a simplified diagram for explaining the arrangement of each solar cell and the configuration of each string in a solar cell module according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a simplified diagram for explaining the arrangement of each solar cell and the configuration of each string in a solar cell module according to a fifth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a plan view for explaining a connection state between a first terminal box and an end electrode wiring. FIG.

Below, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, identical parts are given the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed descriptions thereof will not be repeated.

[First embodiment]
- Overview of solar cell module configuration -
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a solar cell module 1 according to the first embodiment (more specifically, a state in which a frame 2 is attached to the outer edge of the solar cell module 1). In FIG. 1, the vertical direction of the figure is the X direction (first direction), the upper side is called the X1 direction, and the lower side is called the X2 direction. The horizontal direction of the figure is the Y direction (second direction), the left side of the figure is called the Y1 direction, and the right side is called the Y2 direction. The Y direction is a direction perpendicular to the X direction. In the following, the X direction may be called the column direction of the solar cell module 1 (the direction in which the solar cell cells C, C, ... constituting the cell column are arranged in a row). The Y direction is the direction in which a plurality of cell columns are arranged in a row, and may be called the column direction.

The solar cell module 1 is a so-called corner module, and its outer shape is configured as a polygon (pentagon in this embodiment) including at least one oblique side. A frame 2 is attached to the outer edge of the solar cell module 1. The frame 2 has a lower end frame part 21, a right side frame part 22 extending upward (X1 direction) from the right end (end in the Y2 direction) of the lower end frame part 21, a left side frame part 23 extending upward (X1 direction) from the left end (end in the Y1 direction) of the lower end frame part 21, an upper end frame part 24 extending horizontally (Y1 direction) from the upper end (end in the X1 direction) of the right side frame part 22, and an oblique side frame part 25 extending between the left end (end in the Y1 direction) of the upper end frame part 24 and the upper end (end in the X1 direction) of the left side frame part 23. Therefore, the oblique side frame part 25 is attached to the oblique side part that is the outer edge of the solar cell module 1 and serves as the oblique side.

The solar cell module 1 has multiple strings consisting of multiple solar cell cells C connected in series. The solar cell module 1 according to this embodiment has multiple strings S1 to Sn, and these strings S1 to Sn are connected in parallel to each other. The solar cell module 1 according to this embodiment has n=2. In other words, it has two strings S1 and S2, and these strings S1 and S2 are connected in parallel to each other.

The solar cell module 1 is configured with a plurality of cell rows CR1 to CRm arranged in the row direction (Y direction) in which the number of solar cell cells C, C, ... arranged in the column direction (X direction) (cell number) differs from each other. In the solar cell module 1 according to this embodiment, m = 5. That is, five cell rows CR1, CR2, CR3, CR4, CR5 are arranged in the row direction (Y direction). In this embodiment, the cell row located on the leftmost side (Y1 direction side) in the figure is called the first cell row CR1, the cell row located second from the left is called the second cell row CR2, the cell row located third from the left is called the third cell row CR3, the cell row located fourth from the left is called the fourth cell row CR4, and the cell row located on the rightmost side is called the fifth cell row CR5. In each of the cell rows CR1 to CR5, the solar cell cells C are connected in series. 2 is a plan view for explaining the direction of series connection of the solar cell C, C, ... in each string S1, S2 in the solar cell module 1 according to this embodiment. In this figure, the thick black arrows attached to the first cell string CR1, the second cell string CR2, and the fifth cell string CR5 respectively indicate the direction of current flow in the first string S1. In addition, the hollow arrows attached to the third cell string CR3 and the fourth cell string CR4 respectively indicate the direction of current flow in the second string S2.

In each cell row, solar cells C adjacent in the X direction are connected in series by wires (wiring material 33 described below) arranged on the front or back surface of the solar cell C. Multiple wires connecting the solar cells C are arranged on each solar cell C. The multiple wires are arranged at approximately equal distances in the Y direction on the front surface of the solar cell C, and are arranged to extend to the back surface of the adjacent solar cell C. The number of wires arranged on the front surface of the solar cell C is, for example, 2 to 16. The size of the wire is, for example, a diameter of 0.3 to 0.5 μm, and the length is about twice the length of the solar cell C in the X direction.

The solar cell C that makes up each of the cell rows CR1 to CR5 is, for example, a solar cell (full cell) that is about 160 mm square divided into two. In other words, it is a half cell formed into a size of about 160 mm (dimension in the Y direction) x 80 mm (dimension in the X direction) square.

The wires (wiring material 33 described later) arranged on the front or back surface of the solar cell C at the X-direction end of each cell row CR1 to CR5 are connected to a bus bar (intermediate electrode wiring or end electrode wiring described later). The bus bar is, for example, a flat conductor having a width of 3 to 8 mm. The bus bar extends along the outer edge of the cell row so as to be connected to multiple cell rows, and multiple cell rows are connected in series by the bus bar to form one string. As will be described in detail later, when multiple strings are formed within the solar cell module 1, the bus bar is connected to cell rows such that the number of solar cell C series in each string is the same. The final bus bar (end electrode wiring described later) in the direction of series connection of the strings is inserted into a terminal box and is soldered to the terminal block portion (positive terminal block and negative terminal block described later). An output cable comes out of the terminal box, and the output cable is connected to the outside to make a connection for extracting generated power from the solar cell module 1.

- Internal structure of a solar cell module -
Here, the internal structure of the solar cell module 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view (vertical cross-sectional view of the periphery of the connection portion between the solar cell C, C) showing the internal structure of the solar cell module 1 (for example, a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 3, the solar cell module 1 has a structure in which the solar cell C and the wiring material 33 are sealed between the light-transmitting substrate 34 and the protective member 35 by a light-transmitting sealing material 36. The light-transmitting substrate 34 is provided so as to face the front side (light-receiving surface side) of the solar cell C. The protective member 35 is provided so as to face the back side (opposite side to the light-receiving surface) of the solar cell C. The solar cell C includes a front electrode 31 and a back electrode 32. The front electrode 31 is composed of a bus bar electrode 31a and a finger electrode (not shown). The bus bar electrode 31a is strip-shaped and is linearly formed in the column direction (X direction) on the front surface of the solar cell C. A large number of finger electrodes are formed in a comb-teeth shape extending from both side edges of the bus bar electrode 31a in a row direction (Y direction) perpendicular to the column direction (X direction). The finger electrodes are patterned at regular intervals from one another to cover the entire light receiving surface of the solar cell C. The back surface electrode 32 is formed in a linear band shape in the column direction (X direction) on the back surface of the solar cell C, and is provided opposite the bus bar electrode 31a.

The above-mentioned front electrode 31 and back electrode 32 are connected to wiring material 33. The wiring material 33 is connected to the busbar electrode 31a of the front electrode 31 of a solar cell C and the back electrode 32 of another solar cell C adjacent to the solar cell C, and connects adjacent solar cells C, C in series, and is sometimes called an interconnector.

The external shape of the wiring material 33 is a wire or ribbon shape. The wiring material 33 is configured by coating the outer surface of a base material formed in a circular or elongated strip cross section with solder (solder plating process). The material of the base material is not particularly limited, but a metal such as copper can be used.

One side of the wiring material 33 (left side in FIG. 3) is soldered to the bus bar electrode 31a on the front surface of the solar cell C. The other side of the wiring material 33 (right side in FIG. 3) is soldered to the back surface electrode 32 on the back surface of the adjacent solar cell C. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 (reference numbers for the front surface electrode 31 and wiring material 33 are omitted in FIG. 1), ten bus bar electrodes 31a and ten wiring materials 33 are formed in each solar cell C, C, ..., but this is not limited to this.

- Configuration of each cell row -
As shown in FIG. 1, the cell rows CR1 to CR5 of this embodiment have different numbers of solar cells C arranged in the row direction. Specifically, the first cell row CR1 is configured by arranging two solar cells C, C in the row direction (X direction). The second cell row CR2 is configured by arranging four solar cells C, C, ... in the row direction. The third cell row CR3 is configured by 7 solar cells C, C, ... arranged in the row direction. The fourth cell row CR4 is configured by 9 solar cells C, C, ... arranged in the row direction. The fifth cell row CR5 is configured by 10 solar cells C, C, ... arranged in the row direction. In this embodiment, the numbers of solar cells C arranged in all the cell rows CR1 to CR5 are different from each other, but the cell rows CR1 to CR5 may include cell rows with the same number of solar cells C arranged therein, or may include cell rows with different numbers of solar cells C arranged therein.

The number of solar cells C, C, ... in each cell row CR1 to CR5 is set according to the outer shape of the solar cell module 1. In this embodiment, the outer shape of the solar cell module 1 is an oblique side in the Y1 direction, and the X-direction length decreases from the Y2 direction to the Y1 direction, so the number of solar cells C arranged in each cell row is reduced from the Y2 direction to the Y1 direction. When the solar cells C are arranged in this manner, the solar cells C are rectangular, so the edge of the cell row on the oblique side becomes stepped. Here, in order to increase the output of the solar cell module 1, it is desirable to set the number of solar cells C arranged to the maximum number. In other words, the edge of each solar cell C, C, ... located on one side (X2 direction side) of the row direction (X direction) in each of the first cell row CR1 to the fifth cell row CR5 is close to the lower end frame part 21 and is arranged on approximately the same straight line along the lower end frame part 21. In addition, the edge of each of the solar cells C, C, ... located on the other side (X1 direction side) of the column direction (X direction) in each of the first cell column CR1 to the fifth cell column CR5 is stepped due to the difference in the number of cells in each of the cell columns CR1 to CR5. The number of solar cells C, C, ... in each of the first cell column CR1 to the fourth cell column CR4 is the number of solar cells C located at the end in the X1 direction arranged until they approach the oblique side frame portion 25 (the number of solar cells C, C, ... arranged until the distance from the oblique side frame portion 25 becomes smaller than the X direction dimension of the solar cell C). In addition, the number of solar cells C, C, ... in the fifth cell column CR5 is the number of solar cells C located at the end in the X1 direction arranged until they approach the upper end frame portion 24 (the number of solar cells C, C, ... arranged until the distance from the upper end frame portion 24 becomes smaller than the X direction dimension of the solar cell C). This results in a configuration in which the maximum number of solar cells C, C, ... are packed together.

- Composition of each string -
The solar cell module 1 according to this embodiment has a plurality of strings S1 to Sn each of which is made up of a plurality of solar cell cells C connected in series, and these strings S1 to Sn are connected in parallel to each other. At least two of the strings S1 to Sn are made up of a plurality of cell rows, and the remaining strings are made up of one or a plurality of cell rows. The plurality of cell rows that make up one string are connected in series. A cell row is made up of one solar cell C or a plurality of solar cell cells C connected in series. The solar cell module 1 according to this embodiment has n=2. That is, the solar cell module 1 has two strings S1 and S2 each of which is connected in parallel to each other.

The connection structure of each of the cell rows CR1 to CR5 for forming each of the strings S1 and S2 will be described below. In each of the cell rows CR1 to CR5, the solar cell cells C included in each cell row are connected in series by wiring material 33. The cell rows CR1, CR2, and CR5 that form string S1 are connected in series by intermediate electrode wiring 41 and 42. The cell rows CR3 and CR4 that form string S2 are connected in series by intermediate electrode wiring 43. In addition, each of the strings S1 and S2 is connected in parallel by end electrode wiring 51 and 52. A detailed explanation will be given below.

As shown in FIG. 1, the solar cell module 1 according to the present embodiment includes a first string S1 and a second string S2. The first string S1 is configured by connecting the first cell row CR1, the second cell row CR2, and the fifth cell row CR5 in series with intermediate electrode wiring (a jump intermediate electrode wiring and an adjacent intermediate electrode wiring described later) 41, 42. The reference numeral (S1) attached to each cell row CR1, CR2, and CR5 in FIG. 1 indicates that these cell rows CR1, CR2, and CR5 constitute the first string S1. The second string S2 is configured by connecting the third cell row CR3 and the fourth cell row CR4 in series with intermediate electrode wiring (an adjacent intermediate electrode wiring described later) 43. The reference numeral (S2) attached to each cell row CR3 and CR4 in FIG. 1 indicates that these cell rows CR3 and CR4 constitute the second string S2. In this manner, the third cell row CR3 and the fourth cell row CR4 constituting the second string S2 are arranged between the second cell row CR2 and the fifth cell row CR5 constituting the first string S1. FIG. 2 is a plan view for explaining the direction of series connection of the solar cell cells C, C, ... in each string S1, S2 in the solar cell module 1 according to this embodiment. In FIG. 2, the thick black arrows attached to the first cell row CR1, the second cell row CR2, and the fifth cell row CR5 respectively indicate the direction of current flow in the first string S1. Also, the hollow arrows attached to the third cell row CR3 and the fourth cell row CR4 respectively indicate the direction of current flow in the second string S2.

As mentioned above, the number of solar cells C, C, ... in the first cell row CR1 to the fifth cell row CR5 is 2, 4, 7, 9, and 10, respectively. Therefore, the number of solar cells C, C, ... in the first string S1 composed of the first cell row CR1, the second cell row CR2, and the fifth cell row CR5 is 16, and the number of solar cells C, C, ... in the second string S2 composed of the third cell row CR3 and the fourth cell row CR4 is also 16. In other words, the number of solar cells C, C, ... in the first string S1 is the same as the number of solar cells C, C, ... in the second string S2.

As described above, the third cell row CR3 and the fourth cell row CR4 constituting the second string S2 are arranged between the second cell row CR2 and the fifth cell row CR5 constituting the first string S1 in the juxtaposition direction, so that two of the cell rows constituting the first string S1 are not adjacent to each other. For this reason, in this embodiment, the jump intermediate electrode wiring 41 is provided as the intermediate electrode wiring that connects the cell rows that constitute the same string and are not adjacent to each other in the juxtaposition direction (in this embodiment, the first cell row CR1 and the fifth cell row CR5). In addition, the adjacent intermediate electrode wirings 42 and 43 are provided as the intermediate electrode wiring that connects the cell rows that constitute the same string and are adjacent to each other in the juxtaposition direction (in this embodiment, the first cell row CR1 and the second cell row CR2, the third cell row CR3 and the fourth cell row CR4). The connection structure between the cell rows by the intermediate electrode wirings 41 to 43 will be specifically described below.

As a connection structure of each cell row CR1, CR2, CR5 constituting the first string S1, the negative side of the fifth cell row CR5 (the side marked with - in FIG. 2) and the positive side of the first cell row CR1 (the side marked with + in FIG. 2) are connected by a jump intermediate electrode wiring 41. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, this jump intermediate electrode wiring 41 includes a first wiring 41a connected to the negative side of the fifth cell row CR5 and extending in the Y direction to reach the vicinity of the end of the first cell row CR1 on the Y1 direction side, a second wiring 41b extending in the X1 direction from the end of the first wiring 41a on the Y1 direction side to reach the vicinity of the end of the first cell row CR1 on the X1 direction side, and a third wiring 41c extending in the Y2 direction from the end of the second wiring 41b on the X1 direction side to reach the vicinity of the end of the first cell row CR1 on the Y2 direction side and connected to the positive side of the first cell row CR1. Specifically, the wiring material 33 connected to the negative electrode of the solar cell C at the negative end of the fifth cell row CR5 in the series connection direction is connected to the first wiring 41a, and the wiring material 33 connected to the positive electrode of the solar cell C at the positive end of the first cell row CR1 in the series connection direction is connected to the third wiring 41c.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the negative electrode side of the first cell row CR1 and the positive electrode side of the second cell row CR2 are connected by an adjacent intermediate electrode wiring 42. Specifically, the wiring material 33 connected to the negative electrode of the solar cell C at the negative end of the first cell row CR1 in the series connection direction and the wiring material 33 connected to the positive electrode of the solar cell C at the positive end of the second cell row CR2 in the series connection direction are each connected to the adjacent intermediate electrode wiring 42. This adjacent intermediate electrode wiring 42 is composed of wiring that extends along the Y direction from near the end of the first cell row CR1 in the Y1 direction to near the end of the second cell row CR2 in the Y2 direction.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the connection structure of each cell row CR3, CR4 constituting the second string S2 is such that the negative side of the fourth cell row CR4 and the positive side of the third cell row CR3 are connected by adjacent intermediate electrode wiring 43. Specifically, the wiring material 33 connected to the negative electrode of the solar cell C at the negative end of the fourth cell row CR4 in the series connection direction and the wiring material 33 connected to the positive electrode of the solar cell C at the positive end of the third cell row CR3 in the series connection direction are each connected to the adjacent intermediate electrode wiring 43. This adjacent intermediate electrode wiring 43 is composed of wiring that extends along the Y direction from the vicinity of the end of the third cell row CR3 in the Y1 direction to the vicinity of the end of the fourth cell row CR4 in the Y2 direction.

End electrode wiring 51, 52 is connected to the negative and positive ends of each string, respectively. The first end electrode wiring 51 connects the negative side of each string S1, S2 to two terminal boxes 61, 62. The second end electrode wiring 52 connects the positive side of each string S1, S2 to the terminal box 61.

The first terminal box 61 is provided with a positive side take-out cable. FIG. 11 is a plan view for explaining the connection state between the first terminal box 61 and the end electrode wirings 51, 52. Inside the first terminal box 61, a + terminal block 61a and a - terminal block 61b are provided. The end electrode wiring 52 (fourth wiring 52d described later) is connected to the + terminal block 61a, and the end electrode wiring 51 (fourth wiring 51d described later) is connected to the - terminal block 61b. The + terminal block 61a is also connected to the take-out cable. A bypass diode 61c is provided between the + terminal block 61a and the - terminal block 61b. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first terminal box 61 is disposed on the back side of the solar cell module 1, adjacent to the Y1 direction end of the fourth cell row CR4. The first terminal box 61 is located on the rear side of the solar cell module 1, between the X1 end of the third cell row CR3 and the oblique side, or between the Y1 end of the fourth cell row CR4 and the oblique side.

The second terminal box 62 is provided with a negative side take-out cable. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a negative terminal block 62a is provided inside the second terminal box 62 (although not used in this embodiment, a positive terminal block is also provided and also equipped with a bypass diode. The positive terminal block and bypass diode of this second terminal box are used, for example, when three strings are connected in parallel, that is, when two bypass diodes need to be used). The end electrode wiring 51 (first wiring 51a described later) is connected to the negative terminal block 62a. The negative terminal block 62a is also connected to the take-out cable. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the second terminal box 62 is disposed on the back side of the solar cell module 1, at a position adjacent to the X1 direction end of the second cell row CR2. It can also be said that the second terminal box 62 is disposed on the back side of the solar cell module 1, between the X1 direction end of the second cell row CR2 and the oblique side, or between the Y1 direction end of the second cell row CR2 and the oblique side.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the first end electrode wiring 51 includes a first wiring 51a connected to the negative side of the second cell column CR2 and the - terminal 62a of the second terminal box 62 and extending along the Y direction to the vicinity of the Y2 direction end of the second cell column CR2, a second wiring 51b extending along the X direction from the Y2 direction end of the first wiring 51a to the vicinity of the X1 direction end of the third cell column CR3, a third wiring 51c extending along the Y direction from the X1 direction end of the second wiring 51b to the vicinity of the Y2 direction end of the third cell column CR3 and connected to the negative side of the third cell column CR3, and a fourth wiring 51d extending in the X1 direction from the Y2 direction end of the third wiring 51c and connected to the - terminal 61b of the first terminal box 61. Specifically, the wiring member 33 connected to the negative electrode of the solar cell C at the negative end of the second cell row CR2 in the series connection direction, which is the negative end of the string S1, is connected to the first wiring 51a, and the wiring member 33 connected to the negative electrode of the solar cell C at the negative end of the third cell row CR3 in the series connection direction, which is the negative end of the string S2, is connected to the third wiring 51c. In this way, the first end electrode wiring 51 is arranged so as to follow the shape of the upper side (X1 direction side) of the column direction (X direction) of each of the second cell row CR2 and the third cell row CR3, which are stepped. In other words, the first end electrode wiring 51 extends along the outer edge of the solar cell C, C, ... located at the oblique side end.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the second end electrode wiring 52 includes a first wiring 52a connected to the positive electrode side of the fifth cell column CR5 and extending along the Y direction to the vicinity of the Y1 direction end of the fifth cell column CR5, a second wiring 52b extending along the X direction from the Y1 direction end of the first wiring 52a to the vicinity of the X1 direction end of the fourth cell column CR4, a third wiring 52c extending along the Y direction from the X2 direction end of the second wiring 52b to the vicinity of the Y1 direction end of the fourth cell column CR4 and connected to the positive electrode side of the fourth cell column CR4, and a fourth wiring 52d extending in the X2 direction from the Y1 direction end of the third wiring 52c and connected to the + terminal 61a of the first terminal box 61. Specifically, the wiring material 33 connected to the positive electrode of the solar cell C at the positive end of the fifth cell row CR5 in the series connection direction, which is the positive end of the string S1, is connected to the first wiring 52a, and the wiring material 33 connected to the positive electrode of the solar cell C at the positive end of the fourth cell row CR4 in the series connection direction, which is the positive end of the string S2, is connected to the third wiring 52c. In this way, the second end electrode wiring 52 is also arranged so as to follow the shape of the upper side (X1 direction side) of the column direction (X direction) of each of the fourth cell row CR4 and the fifth cell row CR5, which are stepped. In other words, the second end electrode wiring 52 also extends along the outer edge of the solar cell C, C, ... located at the oblique side end.

--Effects of the embodiment--
As described above, the solar cell module 1 according to the present embodiment is configured by connecting in parallel a first string S1 in which the first cell row CR1, the second cell row CR2, and the fifth cell row CR5 are connected in series by intermediate electrode wirings (skipping intermediate electrode wirings and adjacent intermediate electrode wirings) 41, 42, and a second string S2 in which the third cell row CR3 and the fourth cell row CR4 are connected in series to each other by intermediate electrode wirings (adjacent intermediate electrode wirings) 43. That is, the solar cell module 1 according to the present embodiment is configured by disposing the cell rows CR3, CR4 constituting the second string S2 between the two cell rows CR2, CR5 constituting the first string S1. This makes the number of solar cell cells C, C, ... constituting each string S1, S2 the same. In this case, the second cell row CR2 corresponds to the first cell row constituting the first string in the present invention, the fifth cell row CR5 corresponds to the second cell row constituting the first string in the present invention, and the third cell row CR3 and the fourth cell row CR4 correspond to the third cell row constituting the second string in the present invention. In this way, by arranging a cell row constituting one of the multiple strings between two cell rows constituting another string, the number of solar cells constituting each string can be made the same. Therefore, even if many solar cells C, C, ... are arranged to increase the output of the solar cell module 1 (for example, even if the solar cells C, C, ... are laid out to the maximum in accordance with the outer shape of a solar cell module having an outer shape of a polygon including a hypotenuse), it is possible to prevent a difference in the number of solar cells C, C, ... in each string S1, S2. In addition, it is possible to eliminate power loss caused by the difference in the number of cells between the strings S1, S2.

The number of solar cells C, C, ... in each of the first cell row CR1 to the fifth cell row CR5 is 2, 4, 7, 9, and 10. Therefore, the number of solar cells C in the second cell row CR2 and the fifth cell row CR5 is different from the number of solar cells C in the third cell row CR3 or the fourth cell row CR4. The number of solar cells C in the third cell row CR3 or the fourth cell row CR4 is greater than the number of cells in the second cell row CR2 and less than the number of cells in the fifth cell row CR5. That is, the number of cells in the two cell rows constituting the first string S1 is different from the number of cells in the cell row constituting the second string 2 arranged between the two cell rows. The number of cells in the cell row constituting the second string 2 arranged between the two cell rows constituting the first string S1 is smaller than the number of cells in one of the two cell rows constituting the first string S1 and is greater than the number of cells in the other cell row. In this way, it is possible to prevent any difference in the number of solar cells C, C, ... in each string S1, S2.

In particular, in this embodiment, the jump intermediate electrode wiring 41 connects non-adjacent cell rows (in this embodiment, the first cell row CR1 and the fifth cell row CR5). In other words, by adopting an unprecedented intermediate electrode wiring (jump intermediate electrode wiring) 41, it is possible to arrange the cell rows CR3 and CR4 constituting one string S2 between a pair of cell rows CR2 and CR5 constituting one string S1, and it is possible to simultaneously arrange many solar cell cells C, C, ... according to the outer shape of the solar cell module and eliminate the difference in the number of solar cell cells C, C, ... in each string S1 and S2. In this case, the first wiring 41a of the jump intermediate electrode wiring 41 is close to the edge of the cell rows CR3 and CR4 constituting the other string S2 and extends along the edge, so that it is possible to shorten the overall length of the jump intermediate electrode wiring 41, reducing the amount of material (electrode material) used to form the jump intermediate electrode wiring 41 and facilitating the layout design of the jump intermediate electrode wiring 41.

[Second embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the position of the terminal box is different from that of the first embodiment described above, and accordingly, the positions of the intermediate electrode wiring and the end electrode wiring are also different. Since the other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment described above, the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described here.

Figure 4 is a plan view that shows a schematic diagram of the solar cell module 1 according to this embodiment. Also, Figure 5 is a plan view for explaining the series connection direction of the solar cell cells C, C, ... in each string S1, S2 in the solar cell module 1 according to this embodiment. In this Figure 5, the thick black arrows attached to the first cell string CR1, the second cell string CR2, and the fifth cell string CR5 respectively represent the direction of current flow in the first string S1. Also, the hollow arrows attached to the third cell string CR3 and the fourth cell string CR4 respectively represent the direction of current flow in the second string S2. As shown in these figures, even in this embodiment, the first string S1 is composed of the first cell string CR1, the second cell string CR2, and the fifth cell string CR5, and the second string S2 is composed of the third cell string CR3 and the fourth cell string CR4. In addition, the cell rows CR1, CR2, and CR5 that make up string S1 and the cell rows CR3 and CR4 that make up string S2 are connected in series by intermediate electrode wiring 71, 72, and 73, respectively. In addition, each string S1 and S2 is connected in parallel by end electrode wiring 81 and 82. The details are explained below.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the connection structure of each cell row CR1, CR2, and CR5 constituting the first string S1 is such that the negative electrode side of the first cell row CR1 and the positive electrode side of the second cell row CR2 are connected by an adjacent intermediate electrode wiring 71. This adjacent intermediate electrode wiring 71 is composed of wiring extending along the Y direction from the vicinity of the end of the first cell row CR1 on the Y1 direction side to the vicinity of the end of the second cell row CR2 on the Y2 direction side. Specifically, the wiring material 33 connected to the negative electrode of the solar cell C at the end of the negative side in the series connection direction of the first cell row CR1 is connected to the adjacent intermediate electrode wiring 71, and the wiring material 33 connected to the positive electrode of the solar cell C at the end of the positive side in the series connection direction of the second cell row CR2 is connected to the adjacent intermediate electrode wiring 71.

4 and 5, the negative electrode side of the second cell row CR2 and the positive electrode side of the fifth cell row CR5 are connected by a jump intermediate electrode wiring 72. The jump intermediate electrode wiring 72 includes a first wiring 72a connected to the negative electrode side of the second cell row CR2 and extending in the Y direction to reach the vicinity of the end of the second cell row CR2 on the Y2 direction side, a second wiring 72b extending in the X1 direction from the end of the first wiring 72a on the Y2 direction side to reach the vicinity of the end of the third cell row CR3 on the X1 direction side, a third wiring 72c extending in the Y2 direction from the end of the second wiring 72b on the X1 direction side to reach the vicinity of the end of the third cell row CR3 on the Y2 direction side, and a fourth wiring 72c extending in the X1 direction from the end of the third wiring 72c on the Y2 direction side to reach the vicinity of the end of the fourth cell row CR3 on the Y2 direction side. The fourth wiring 72d extends in the Y2 direction from the X1 direction end of the fourth wiring 72d to the vicinity of the Y2 direction end of the fourth cell column CR4, a sixth wiring 72f extends in the X1 direction from the Y2 direction end of the fifth wiring 72e to the vicinity of the X1 direction end of the fifth cell column CR5, and a seventh wiring 72g extends in the Y2 direction from the X1 direction end of the sixth wiring 72f to the vicinity of the Y2 direction end of the fifth cell column CR5 and is connected to the positive electrode side of the fifth cell column CR5. In this way, the jump intermediate electrode wiring 72 is arranged so as to follow the shape of the upper side (X1 direction side) in the column direction (X direction) of each of the second cell column CR2 to the fifth cell column CR5, which are stepped. In addition, the wiring material 33 connected to the negative electrode of the solar cell C at the negative end of the second cell row CR2 in the series connection direction is connected to the first wiring 72a, and the wiring material 33 connected to the positive electrode of the solar cell C at the positive end of the fifth cell row CR5 in the series connection direction is connected to the seventh wiring 72g.

4 and 5, in the connection structure of each of the cell rows CR3 and CR4 constituting the second string S2, the negative side of the third cell row CR3 and the positive side of the fourth cell row CR4 are connected by an adjacent intermediate electrode wiring 73. This adjacent intermediate electrode wiring 73 is disposed closer to the third cell row CR3 and the fourth cell row CR4 than the jump intermediate electrode wiring 72 (between the jump intermediate electrode wiring 72 and the cell rows CR3 and CR4). Specifically, the adjacent intermediate electrode wiring 73 includes a first wiring 73a connected to the negative electrode side of the third cell column CR3 and extending in the Y direction to reach the vicinity of the end of the third cell column CR3 on the Y2 direction side, a second wiring 73b extending in the X1 direction from the end of the first wiring 73a on the Y2 direction side to reach the vicinity of the end of the fourth cell column CR4 on the X1 direction side, and a third wiring 73c extending in the Y2 direction from the end of the second wiring 73b on the X1 direction side to reach the vicinity of the end of the fourth cell column CR4 on the Y2 direction side and connected to the positive electrode side of the fourth cell column CR4. In this way, the adjacent intermediate electrode wiring 73 is also arranged so as to follow the shape of the upper side (X1 direction side) in the column direction (X direction) of each of the third cell column CR3 and the fourth cell column CR4, which are stepped. In addition, the wiring material 33 connected to the negative electrode of the solar cell C at the negative end of the third cell row CR3 in the series connection direction is connected to the first wiring 73a, and the wiring material 33 connected to the positive electrode of the solar cell C at the positive end of the fourth cell row CR4 in the series connection direction is connected to the third wiring 73c.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the end electrode wirings 81 and 82 include a first end electrode wiring 81 that connects the negative pole side of each string S1 and S2 to two terminal boxes 91 and 92, and a second end electrode wiring 82 that connects the positive pole side of each string S1 and S2 to one terminal box 91. The terminal boxes 91 and 92 are arranged on the back side of the solar cell module 1. Specifically, the first terminal box 91 is arranged at a boundary portion between the third cell row CR3 and the fourth cell row CR4 (the back side of the solar cell module 1 at the boundary portion) at a position that is a predetermined dimension in the X1 direction from the lower end frame portion 21, and the second terminal box 92 is arranged at a boundary portion between the fourth cell row CR4 and the fifth cell row CR5 (the back side of the solar cell module 1 at the boundary portion) at a position that is a predetermined dimension in the X1 direction from the lower end frame portion 21. A + terminal 91a and a - terminal 91b are provided inside the first terminal box 91. A negative terminal 92a is provided inside the second terminal box 92. A bypass diode is provided between the positive terminal 91a and the negative terminal 91b inside the first terminal box 91.

4 and 5, the first end electrode wiring 81 is connected to the negative electrode side of the fifth cell row CR5 and the negative electrode side of the fourth cell row CR4, and extends in the Y direction from the Y2-direction end of the fifth cell row CR5 to near the Y1-direction end of the fourth cell row CR4. Specifically, the wiring material 33 connected to the negative electrode of the solar cell C at the negative end of the fifth cell row CR5 in the series connection direction is connected to the first end electrode wiring 81, and the wiring material 33 connected to the negative electrode of the solar cell C at the negative end of the fourth cell row CR4 in the series connection direction is connected to the first end electrode wiring 81. In addition, the first end electrode wiring 81 is connected to the negative terminal 92a of the second terminal box 92 and the negative terminal 91b of the first terminal box 91, and the first end electrode wiring 81 and the negative terminal 91b of the first terminal box 91, and the first end electrode wiring 81 and the negative terminal 92a of the second terminal box 92 are connected by conductors 91c and 92b that extend along the X direction, respectively.

4 and 5, the second end electrode wiring 82 includes a first wiring 82a connected to the positive electrode side of the first cell row CR1 and extending along the Y direction to the vicinity of the end of the first cell row CR1 on the Y1 direction side, a second wiring 82b extending along the X direction from the end of the first wiring 82a on the Y1 direction side to the vicinity of the end of the first cell row CR1 on the X2 direction side, and a third wiring 82c extending along the Y direction from the end of the second wiring 82b on the X2 direction side to the vicinity of the end of the third cell row CR3 on the Y2 direction side and connected to the positive electrode side of the third cell row CR3. Specifically, the wiring material 33 connected to the positive electrode of the solar cell C at the end of the positive electrode side in the series connection direction of the first cell row CR1 is connected to the first wiring 82a, and the wiring material 33 connected to the positive electrode of the solar cell C at the end of the positive electrode side in the series connection direction of the third cell row CR3 is connected to the third wiring 82c. In addition, the second end electrode wiring 82 is connected to the positive terminal 91a of the first terminal box 91, and the second end electrode wiring 82 and the positive terminal 91a of the first terminal box 91 are connected by a conductor 91d that extends along the X direction.

As in the first embodiment described above, the solar cell module 1 according to this embodiment is configured such that the cell rows CR3 and CR4 constituting the second string S2 are arranged between the two cell rows CR2 and CR5 constituting the first string S1. This ensures that the number of solar cell cells C, C, ... constituting each string S1 and S2 is the same. In this way, by arranging a cell row constituting one of the multiple strings between two cell rows constituting the other string, the number of solar cell cells constituting each string can be made the same.

In this embodiment, as in the case of the first embodiment described above, even if many solar cells C, C, ... are arranged to increase the output of the solar cell module 1 (for example, even if the solar cells C, C, ... are spread out as much as possible according to the outer shape of the solar cell module having a polygonal outer shape including a hypotenuse), it is possible to prevent differences in the number of solar cells C, C, ... in each string S1, S2. In addition, it is possible to eliminate power loss due to differences in the number of cells between the strings S1, S2.

[Comparison between the first and second embodiments]
As described above, in any of the embodiments, it is possible to arrange many solar cells C, C, ... in accordance with the outer shape of the solar cell module and to eliminate the difference in the number of solar cells C, C, ... in each string S1, S2, but there are differences in the lengths of the electrode wirings 41 to 43, 51, 52, 71 to 73, 81, 82 and the number of soldering points connecting the electrode wirings 41 to 43, 51, 52, 71 to 73, 81, 82 to each other. This will be explained in detail below.

Figure 6 is a diagram equivalent to Figure 1 for explaining the overall length and soldering locations of the electrode wirings 41-43, 51, 52 in the solar cell module 1 according to the first embodiment. Also, Figure 7 is a diagram equivalent to Figure 4 for explaining the overall length and soldering locations of the electrode wirings 71-73, 81, 82 in the solar cell module 1 according to the second embodiment. In these figures, the length of each part (straight line parts) of the electrode wirings 41-43, 51, 52, 71-73, 81, 82 when the length of the half cell in the X direction is "1" is shown in the form of a balloon. Also, the soldering locations connecting the electrode wirings 41-43, 51, 52, 71-73, 81, 82 are shown with dashed circles.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the solar cell module 1 according to the first embodiment, the total length of each electrode wiring 41-43, 51, 52 is "36" when the length of the half cell in the X direction is "1". In addition, the number of soldering points is "8".

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, in the solar cell module 1 according to the second embodiment, the total length of each electrode wiring 71-73, 81, 82 is "38" when the length of the half cell in the X direction is "1", and the length of the conductors 91c, 92b, 91d is also required. Also, the number of soldering points is "10".

Considering the above points, it can be seen that the solar cell module 1 according to the first embodiment is more preferable from the viewpoint of shortening the overall length of the electrode wiring and reducing the number of soldering points.

1 and 2, in the solar cell module 1 according to the first embodiment, the terminal boxes 61, 62 are arranged so that the terminals 61a, 61b, 62a are positioned closer to the oblique side than the solar cell C, and the wiring 51d, 52d, 51a connected to the terminals 61a, 61b, 62a are positioned between the solar cell C and the oblique side 12. Therefore, the connection positions of the wiring 51d, 52d, 51a in the terminal boxes 61, 62 and the wiring 51d, 52d, 51a are positioned outside the solar cell C (positions between the oblique side and the solar cell C that do not overlap with the solar cell C), so there is no possibility that the wiring connected to the terminal boxes 61, 62 will come into contact with the solar cell C, and there is no need to interpose an insulating sheet between them. Therefore, the solar cell module 1 according to the first embodiment can eliminate the need to place an insulating sheet between the wiring connected to the terminal box and the solar cell during the manufacturing of the solar cell module, thereby improving the productivity of the solar cell module.

On the other hand, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, in the solar cell module 1 according to the second embodiment, the conductors 91c, 92b, and 91d connected to the terminal boxes 91 and 92 have an insulating sheet (not shown) interposed between them so that they do not come into contact with the solar cell C.

Considering the above points, it can be seen that the solar cell module 1 according to the first embodiment is more preferable from the viewpoint of improving the productivity of solar cell modules.

[Third embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment will be described. This embodiment illustrates an arrangement of the solar cells C, C, ... other than the arrangements shown in the first and second embodiments.

Figure 8 is a simplified diagram for explaining the arrangement of each solar cell C, C, ... and the configuration of each string S1, S2 in the solar cell module 1 according to this embodiment. In this Figure 8, the wiring (intermediate electrode wiring) that connects two cell rows in series is shown by a solid line, and the end electrode wiring that connects the strings S1, S2 in parallel is shown by a dashed line.

As shown in FIG. 8, the solar cell module 1 according to this embodiment is configured with four cell rows CR1 to CR4 arranged in the Y direction, with the solar cell C in each cell row arranged in the X direction perpendicular to the Y direction. The first cell row CR1 is composed of one solar cell C. The second cell row CR2 is composed of two solar cell cells C, C arranged in the X direction. The third cell row CR3 is also composed of two solar cell cells C, C arranged in the X direction. The fourth cell row CR4 is composed of three solar cell cells C, C, ... arranged in the X direction. The solar cell C in each of the cell rows CR1 to CR4 is connected in series.

The solar cell module 1 according to this embodiment also includes a first string S1 and a second string S2, and the first string S1 is configured by connecting the first cell row CR1 and the fourth cell row CR4 in series with an intermediate electrode wiring (skipping intermediate electrode wiring) 41. The reference numeral (S1) attached to each cell row CR1 and CR4 in FIG. 8 indicates that these cell rows CR1 and CR4 constitute the first string S1. The second string S2 is configured by connecting the second cell row CR2 and the third cell row CR3 in series with an intermediate electrode wiring (adjacent intermediate electrode wiring) 43. The reference numeral (S2) attached to each cell row CR2 and CR3 in FIG. 8 indicates that these cell rows CR2 and CR3 constitute the second string S2. In this way, the second cell row CR2 and the third cell row CR3 that make up the second string S2 are arranged between the first cell row CR1 and the fourth cell row CR4 that make up the first string S1.

As mentioned above, the number of solar cells C, C, ... in the first cell row CR1 to the fourth cell row CR4 is 1, 2, 2, and 3, respectively. Therefore, the number of solar cells C, C, ... in the first string S1 composed of the first cell row CR1 and the fourth cell row CR4 is 4, and the number of solar cells C, C, ... in the second string S2 composed of the second cell row CR2 and the third cell row CR3 is also 4. In other words, the number of solar cells C, C, ... in the first string S1 is the same as the number of solar cells C, C, ... in the second string S2.

For this reason, even in this embodiment, between a pair of cell rows CR1, CR4 constituting one string (the first string in this embodiment) S1 of the multiple strings S1, S2, the cell rows CR2, CR3 constituting the other string (the second string in this embodiment) S2 are arranged. This ensures that the number of solar cell cells C, C, ... constituting each string S1, S2 is the same.

As mentioned above, the number of solar cells C, C, ... in each of the first cell row CR1 to the fourth cell row CR4 is 1, 2, 2, and 3. Therefore, the number of solar cells C in the first cell row CR1 and the fourth cell row CR4 is different from the number of solar cells C in the second cell row CR2 or the third cell row CR3. The number of solar cells C in the second cell row CR2 or the third cell row CR3 is greater than the number of cells in the first cell row CR1 and less than the number of cells in the fourth cell row CR4. That is, the number of cells in the two cell rows constituting the first string S1 is different from the number of cells in the cell row constituting the second string 2 arranged between the two cell rows. The number of cells in the cell row constituting the second string 2 arranged between the two cell rows constituting the first string S1 is smaller than the number of cells in one of the two cell rows constituting the first string S1 and is greater than the number of cells in the other cell row. This ensures that the number of solar cell cells C, C, ... that make up each string S1 and S2 is the same.

In this embodiment, the solar cell module 1 is composed of four cell rows CR1 to CR4, and the number of solar cells C, C, ... in the first cell row CR1 to the fourth cell row CR4 is 1, 2, 2, and 3, respectively, but the number of rows and the number of cells are not limited to this. If the solar cell module includes four cell rows with a cell number ratio of 1:2:2:3, the cell rows can be combined in the same way as in this embodiment to form two strings with the same number of cells.

[Fourth embodiment]
Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. This embodiment illustrates an arrangement of the solar cells C, C, ... other than those shown in the first to third embodiments.

Figure 9 is a simplified diagram for explaining the arrangement of each solar cell C, C, ... and the configuration of each string S1, S2 in the solar cell module 1 according to this embodiment. In this Figure 9, too, the wiring (intermediate electrode wiring) that connects two cell rows in series is shown by a solid line, and the end electrode wiring that connects the strings S1, S2 in parallel is shown by a dashed line.

As shown in FIG. 9, the solar cell module 1 according to this embodiment has four cell rows CR1 to CR4 arranged in the Y direction, and the solar cell C in each cell row is arranged in the X direction perpendicular to the Y direction. The first cell row CR1 is composed of one solar cell C. The second cell row CR2 is composed of two solar cell cells C, C arranged in the X direction. The third cell row CR3 is composed of three solar cell cells C, C, ... arranged in the X direction. The fourth cell row CR4 is composed of four solar cell cells C, C, ... arranged in the X direction. The solar cell C in each of the cell rows CR1 to CR4 is connected in series.

The solar cell module 1 according to this embodiment also includes a first string S1 and a second string S2, and the first string S1 is configured by connecting the first cell row CR1 and the fourth cell row CR4 in series with an intermediate electrode wiring (skipping intermediate electrode wiring) 41. The reference numeral (S1) attached to each cell row CR1 and CR4 in FIG. 9 indicates that these cell rows CR1 and CR4 constitute the first string S1. The second string S2 is configured by connecting the second cell row CR2 and the third cell row CR3 in series with an intermediate electrode wiring (adjacent intermediate electrode wiring) 43. The reference numeral (S2) attached to each cell row CR2 and CR3 in FIG. 9 indicates that these cell rows CR2 and CR3 constitute the second string S2. In this way, the second cell row CR2 and the third cell row CR3 that make up the second string S2 are arranged between the first cell row CR1 and the fourth cell row CR4 that make up the first string S1.

As mentioned above, the number of solar cells C, C, ... in the first cell row CR1 to the fourth cell row CR4 is 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Therefore, the number of solar cells C, C, ... in the first string S1 composed of the first cell row CR1 and the fourth cell row CR4 is 5, and the number of solar cells C, C, ... in the second string S2 composed of the second cell row CR2 and the third cell row CR3 is also 5. In other words, the number of solar cells C, C, ... in the first string S1 is the same as the number of solar cells C, C, ... in the second string S2.

For this reason, even in this embodiment, between the two cell rows CR1, CR4 constituting one string (the first string in this embodiment) S1 of the multiple strings S1, S2, the cell rows CR2, CR3 constituting the other string (the second string in this embodiment) S2 are arranged. This ensures that the number of solar cell cells C, C, ... constituting each string S1, S2 is the same.

As mentioned above, the number of solar cells C, C, ... in each of the first cell row CR1 to the fourth cell row CR4 is 1, 2, 3, and 4. Therefore, the number of solar cells C in the first cell row CR1 and the fourth cell row CR4 is different from the number of solar cells C in the second cell row CR2 or the third cell row CR3. The number of solar cells C in the second cell row CR2 or the third cell row CR3 is greater than the number of cells in the first cell row CR1 and less than the number of cells in the fourth cell row CR4. That is, the number of cells in the two cell rows constituting the first string S1 is different from the number of cells in the cell row constituting the second string 2 arranged between the two cell rows. The number of cells in the cell row constituting the second string 2 arranged between the two cell rows constituting the first string S1 is smaller than the number of cells in one of the two cell rows constituting the first string S1 and is greater than the number of cells in the other cell row. This ensures that the number of solar cell cells C, C, ... that make up each string S1 and S2 is the same.

In this embodiment, the solar cell module 1 is composed of four cell rows CR1 to CR4, and the number of solar cells C, C, ... in the first cell row CR1 to the fourth cell row CR4 is 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively, but the number of rows and the number of cells are not limited to this. If the solar cell module includes four cell rows with a cell number ratio of 1:2:3:4, the cell rows can be combined in the same way as in this embodiment to form two strings with the same number of cells.

[Fifth embodiment]
Next, a fifth embodiment will be described. This embodiment illustrates an arrangement of the solar cell cells C, C, ... other than those shown in the first to fourth embodiments. The solar cell module 1 according to this embodiment includes three strings S1, S2, and S3, which are connected in parallel to each other.

Figure 10 is a simplified diagram for explaining the arrangement of each solar cell C, C, ... and the configuration of each string S1, S2, S3 in the solar cell module 1 according to this embodiment. In this Figure 10, too, the wiring (intermediate electrode wiring) connecting two cell rows is shown by a solid line, and the end electrode wiring connecting the strings S1, S2, S3 in parallel is shown by a dashed line.

As shown in FIG. 10, the solar cell module 1 according to this embodiment has six cell rows CR1 to CR6 arranged in parallel in the Y direction, with the solar cell C in each cell row arranged in the X direction perpendicular to the Y direction. The solar cell C that makes up each cell row CR1 to CR6 is, for example, a solar cell (full cell) of about 160 mm square divided into three (1/3 cell).

The first cell row CR1 is composed of two solar cells C, C arranged in the X direction. The second cell row CR2 is composed of four solar cells C, C, ... arranged in the X direction. The third cell row CR3 is composed of six solar cells C, C, ... arranged in the X direction. The fourth cell row CR4 is composed of eight solar cells C, C, ... arranged in the X direction. The fifth cell row CR5 is composed of ten solar cells C, C, ... arranged in the X direction. The sixth cell row CR6 is composed of twelve solar cells C, C, ... arranged in the X direction. The solar cells C are connected in series in each of the cell rows CR1 to CR6.

The solar cell module 1 according to the present embodiment includes a first string S1, a second string S2, and a third string S3. The first string S1 is configured by connecting the first cell row CR1 and the sixth cell row CR6 in series with an intermediate electrode wiring (skipping intermediate electrode wiring) 41A. The reference numeral (S1) attached to each cell row CR1 and CR6 in FIG. 10 indicates that these cell rows CR1 and CR6 constitute the first string S1. The second string S2 is configured by connecting the second cell row CR2 and the fifth cell row CR5 in series with an intermediate electrode wiring (skipping intermediate electrode wiring) 41B. The reference numeral (S2) attached to each cell row CR2 and CR5 in FIG. 10 indicates that these cell rows CR2 and CR5 constitute the second string S2. The third string S3 is configured such that the third cell row CR3 and the fourth cell row CR4 are connected in series by the intermediate electrode wiring (adjacent intermediate electrode wiring) 43. In FIG. 10, the reference numeral (S3) attached to each cell row CR3, CR4 indicates that these cell rows CR3, CR4 constitute the third string S3. In this manner, the second cell row CR2 and the fifth cell row CR5 constituting the second string S2, and the third cell row CR3 and the fourth cell row CR4 constituting the third string S3 are arranged between the first cell row CR1 and the sixth cell row CR6 constituting the first string S1. In addition, the third cell row CR3 and the fourth cell row CR4 constituting the third string S3 are arranged between the second cell row CR2 and the fifth cell row CR5 constituting the second string S2.

As mentioned above, the number of solar cells C, C, ... in the first cell row CR1 to the sixth cell row CR6 is 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12, respectively. Therefore, the number of solar cells C, C, ... in the first string S1 consisting of the first cell row CR1 and the sixth cell row CR6 is 14, the number of solar cells C, C, ... in the second string S2 consisting of the second cell row CR2 and the fifth cell row CR5 is also 14, and the number of solar cells C, C, ... in the third string S3 consisting of the third cell row CR3 and the fourth cell row CR4 is also 14. In other words, the number of solar cells C, C, ... in the first string S1, the number of solar cells C, C, ... in the second string S2, and the number of solar cells C, C, ... in the third string S3 are the same.

For this reason, even in this embodiment, by arranging a row of cells constituting one of the multiple strings between two rows of cells constituting another string, the number of solar cell cells C, C, ... constituting each of the strings S1, S2, S3 is made the same.

As mentioned above, the number of solar cells C, C, ... in each of the first cell row CR1 to the sixth cell row CR6 is 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12. Therefore, the number of solar cells C in the first cell row CR1 and the sixth cell row CR6 is different from the number of solar cells C in the second cell row CR2 or the fifth cell row CR5. Also, the number of solar cells C in the first cell row CR1 and the sixth cell row CR6 is different from the number of solar cells C in the third cell row CR3 or the fourth cell row CR4. Also, the number of solar cells C in the second cell row CR2 and the fifth cell row CR5 is different from the number of solar cells C in the third cell row CR3 or the fourth cell row CR4. Moreover, the number of solar cells C in the second cell row CR2 or the fifth cell row CR5 is greater than the number of cells in the first cell row CR1 and less than the number of cells in the sixth cell row CR6. Moreover, the number of solar cells C in the third cell row CR3 or the fourth cell row CR4 is greater than the number of cells in the first cell row CR1 and less than the number of cells in the sixth cell row CR6. Moreover, the number of solar cells C in the third cell row CR3 or the fourth cell row CR4 is greater than the number of cells in the second cell row CR2 and less than the number of cells in the fifth cell row CR5. That is, the number of cells in the two cell rows constituting the first string S1 is different from the number of cells in the cell row constituting the second string S2 or the third string S3 arranged between the two cell rows. Moreover, the number of cells in the two cell rows constituting the second string S2 is different from the number of cells in the cell row constituting the third string 3 arranged between the two cell rows. In addition, the number of cells in the cell row constituting the second string 2 or the third string arranged between the two cell rows constituting the first string S1 is smaller than the number of cells in one of the two cell rows constituting the first string S1, and is larger than the number of cells in the other cell row. In addition, the number of cells in the cell row constituting the third string arranged between the two cell rows constituting the second string S2 is smaller than the number of cells in one of the two cell rows constituting the second string S2, and is larger than the number of cells in the other cell row. This ensures that the number of solar cell cells C, C, ... constituting each string S1, S2, S3 is the same.

In this embodiment, the solar cell module 1 is composed of six cell rows CR1 to CR6, and the number of solar cells C, C, ... in the first cell row CR1 to the sixth cell row CR6 is 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12, respectively, but the number of rows and the number of cells are not limited to these. If the solar cell module includes six cell rows with a cell number ratio of 2:4:6:8:10, the cell rows can be combined in the same way as in this embodiment to form three strings with the same number of cells.

-Other embodiments-
The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented in various other forms. Therefore, the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative in all respects and should not be interpreted as being restrictive. The scope of the present disclosure is indicated by the claims, and is not restricted in any way by the text of the specification. Furthermore, all modifications and changes within the scope of the claims are within the scope of the present disclosure.

For example, in each of the above embodiments, the number of solar cells C, C, ... in each string (first string S1 and second string S2 in the first to fourth embodiments, and first to third strings S1 to S3 in the fifth embodiment) is the same, but the number of cells in each string may be the same, and the number of cells may differ slightly (for example, by about one or two). For example, the number of solar cells C, C, ... in each string may differ slightly as long as the power loss caused by the difference in the number of solar cells C, C, ... in each string falls within an acceptable range and the string has a function to prevent reverse current flow.

In addition, in each of the above embodiments, the cell row constituting another string arranged between two cell rows constituting one string is a plurality of cell rows, such as the third cell row CR3 and the fourth cell row CR4 constituting the second string S2 in the first embodiment, but it may be a single cell row.

In the first to fourth embodiments, all the cell rows constituting the second string S2 are arranged adjacent to each other between two of the cell rows constituting the first string S1 in the juxtaposition direction. This is not limited to the above, but a part of the cell row constituting the second string S2 may be arranged between two of the cell rows constituting the first string S1 in the juxtaposition direction. That is, a cell row constituting the second string S2 may be arranged between two of the cell rows constituting the first string S1 in the juxtaposition direction, and a cell row constituting the first string S1 may be arranged between two of the cell rows constituting the second string S2 in the juxtaposition direction. In addition, the present invention may have a form in which one or more cell rows constituting another string are arranged between two of the multiple cell rows constituting one string. In addition, a part of the multiple cell rows constituting another one string may be arranged between two of the multiple cell rows constituting one string. In addition, a part of the multiple cell rows constituting the other multiple strings may be arranged between two of the multiple cell rows constituting one string.

In addition, in each of the above embodiments, a standard-sized cell (full cell) divided in half (half cell) or divided into one-third (1/3 cell) is used as the solar cell C, but there is no limit to the number of divisions, and it may be, for example, divided into one-quarters (1/4 cell) or a full cell. Also, when dividing into one-quarters, for example, the full cell may be divided into strips or approximately square shapes.

In addition, in each of the above embodiments, the present disclosure has been described as being applied to a monocrystalline solar cell module in which electrodes are formed on both the light-receiving surface and the back surface opposite the light-receiving surface, but it may also be applied to a back-electrode type solar cell module (so-called back-contact type solar cell module) in which a p-type electrode and an n-type electrode are formed on the back surface opposite the light-receiving surface.

In each of the above embodiments, the solar cell module 1 is installed on the roof of a house, for example, with the direction along the slope of the roof being the X direction. In addition, the height dimension of the solar cell module 1 is small on the left side of the figure and large on the right side, but the height dimension of the solar cell module 1 may be large on the left side of the figure and small on the right side.

This disclosure is applicable to solar cell corner modules.

1 Solar cell module 42, 43, 71, 73 Adjacent intermediate electrode wiring 41, 72, 41A, 41B Intermediate electrode wiring C Solar cell CR1 to CR6 Cell row S1, S2, S3 String

Claims (3)

It includes two strings connected in parallel,
Each of the two strings includes one solar cell or a plurality of cell strings each including a plurality of solar cells connected in series;
The solar cells in the plurality of cell rows are arranged in a first direction,
The plurality of cell rows are arranged in parallel in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,
In the second direction, a third cell row constituting a second string of one of the two strings is disposed between a first cell row and a second cell row constituting a first string of the other of the two strings;
the solar cells in the plurality of cell rows are connected in series by wiring members arranged on the front or back surfaces of the solar cells;
In each of the two strings, the plurality of cell rows are connected in series by intermediate electrode wiring,
the number of the solar cells in the first string is equal to the number of the solar cells in the second string ;
A solar cell module, characterized in that the number of solar cells in the first cell row or the number of solar cells in the second cell row is different from the number of solar cells in the third cell row . It includes two strings connected in parallel,
Each of the two strings includes one solar cell or a plurality of cell strings each including a plurality of solar cells connected in series;
The solar cells in the plurality of cell rows are arranged in a first direction,
The plurality of cell rows are arranged in parallel in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,
In the second direction, a third cell row constituting a second string of one of the two strings is disposed between a first cell row and a second cell row constituting a first string of the other of the two strings;
the solar cells in the plurality of cell rows are connected in series by wiring members arranged on the front or back surfaces of the solar cells;
In each of the two strings, the plurality of cell rows are connected in series by intermediate electrode wiring,
the number of the solar cells in the first string is equal to the number of the solar cells in the second string ;
A solar cell module characterized in that the number of the solar cells in the third cell row is smaller than the number of the solar cells in the first cell row and greater than the number of the solar cells in the second cell row . The solar cell module according to claim 1 or 2,
A solar cell module characterized in that, in the second direction, a plurality of cell rows constituting the second string are arranged between the first cell row and the second cell row constituting the first string.

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