Abstract: A reversible system for housing a battery-operated device includes a first case member and a second case member. The first case member includes a first alignment member and the second case member includes a second alignment member complimenting the first alignment member such that the orientation of the first case member to the second case member can be altered in at least two orientations. In certain embodiments, the reversible system additionally includes a photovoltaic module for powering the battery-operated device.

Abstract: A process of forming an array of monolithically integrated thin film photovoltaic cells from a stack of thin film layers formed on an insulating substrate includes forming at least one cell isolation scribe in the stack of thin film layers. A second electrical contact layer isolation scribe is formed for each cell isolation scribe adjacent to a respective cell isolation scribe. A via scribe is formed in the stack of thin film layers between each cell isolation scribe and its respective second electrical contact layer isolation scribe. Insulating ink is disposed in each cell isolation scribe, and conductive ink is disposed in each via scribe to form a via. Conductive ink is also disposed along the top surface of the stack of thin film layers to form at least one conductive grid.

Abstract: A multi-junction photovoltaic cell includes a substrate and a back contact layer formed on the substrate. A low bandgap Group IB-IIIB-VIB2 material solar absorber layer is formed on the back contact layer. A heterojunction partner layer is formed on the low bandgap solar absorber layer, to help form the bottom cell junction, and the heterojunction partner layer includes at least one layer of a high resistivity material having a resistivity of at least 100 ohms-centimeter. The high resistivity material has the formula (Zn and/or Mg)(S, Se, O, and/or OH). A conductive interconnect layer is formed above the heterojunction partner layer, and at least one additional single-junction photovoltaic cell is formed on the conductive interconnect layer, as a top cell. The top cell may have an amorphous Silicon or p-type Cadmium Selenide solar absorber layer. Cadmium Selenide may be converted from n-type to p-type with a chloride doping process.

Abstract: A photovoltaic assembly includes a flexible photovoltaic module, a flexible back barrier layer, and electrically conductive first and second flexible bus bars. The photovoltaic module includes opposing front and back outer surfaces and first and second electrical contacts on the front outer surface. The photovoltaic module is adapted to generate an electrical potential difference between the first and second electrical contacts in response to light incident on the front outer surface. The flexible back barrier layer is disposed on the back outer surface of the photovoltaic module. The electrically conductive first and second flexible bus bars are electrically coupled to the first and second electrical contacts, respectively, and the first and second flexible bus bars wrap around the flexible photovoltaic module and extend through the back barrier layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of I-III-VI-absorber photovoltaic cells involves sequential deposition of films comprising one or more of silver and copper, with one or more of aluminum indium and gallium, and one or more of sulfur, selenium, and tellurium, as compounds in multiple thin sublayers to form a composite absorber layer. In an embodiment, the method is adapted to roll-to-roll processing of photovoltaic cells. In an embodiment, the method is adapted to preparation of a CIGS absorber layer having graded composition through the layer of substitutions such as tellurium near the base contact and silver near the heterojunction partner layer, or through gradations in indium and gallium content. In a particular embodiment, the graded composition is enriched in gallium at a base of the layer, and silver at the top of the layer. In an embodiment, each sublayer is deposited by co-evaporation of copper, indium, gallium, and selenium, which react in-situ to form CIGS.

Abstract: A flexible photovoltaic module for converting light into an electric current includes a plurality of electrically interconnected flexible photovoltaic submodules monolithically integrated onto a common flexible substrate. Each photovoltaic submodule includes a plurality of electrically interconnected flexible thin-film photovoltaic cells monolithically integrated onto the flexible substrate. A flexible photovoltaic module for converting light into an electric current includes a backplane layer for supporting the photovoltaic module. A first pottant layer is disposed on the backplane layer, and a photovoltaic submodule assembly is disposed on the first pottant layer. The photovoltaic submodule assembly has at least one photovoltaic submodule, where each photovoltaic submodule includes a plurality of thin-film photovoltaic cells. A second pottant layer is disposed on the photovoltaic submodule assembly, and a upper laminate layer disposed on the second pottant layer.

Abstract: An assembly includes first and second sections and a subtractive hinge coupling the first and second sections. The subtractive hinges forms at least one aperture. A method for forming a flexible photovoltaic assembly includes the following steps: (1) disposing a plurality of photovoltaic devices on a flexible backing material, such that the plurality of photovoltaic devices are divided between at least first and second sections, and (2) forming at least one aperture in the flexible backing material between the first and second sections.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of CIGS photovoltaic cells and modules involves sequential deposition of copper indium gallium diselenide compounds in multiple thin sublayers to form a composite CIGS absorber layer of a desirable thickness greater than the thickness of each sublayer. In an embodiment, the method is adapted to roll-to-roll processing of CIGS PV cells. In an embodiment, the method is adapted to preparation of a CIGS absorber layer having graded composition through the layer. In a particular embodiment, the graded composition is enriched in copper at a base of the layer. In an embodiment, each CIGS sublayer is deposited by co-evaporation of copper, indium, gallium, and selenium which react in-situ to form CIGS.

Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) device has at least one lower PV cell on a substrate, the cell having a metallic back contact, and a I-III-VI absorber, and a transparent conductor layer. An upper PV cell is adhered to the lower PV cell, electrically in series to form a stack. The upper PV cell has III-V absorber and junction layers, the cells are adhered by transparent conductive adhesive having filler of conductive nanostructures or low temperature solder. The upper PV cell has no substrate. An embodiment has at least one shape of patterned conductor making contact to both a top of the upper and a back contact of the lower cells to couple them together in series. In an embodiment, a shape of patterned conductor draws current from excess area of the lower cell to the upper cell, in an alternative embodiment shapes of patterned conductor couples I-III-VI cells not underlying upper cells in series strings, a string being in parallel with at least one stack.

Abstract: A polymer substrate and back contact structure for a photovoltaic element, and a photovoltaic element include a CIGS photovoltaic structure, a polymer substrate having a device side at which the photovoltaic element can be located and a back side opposite the device side. A layer of dielectric is formed at the back side of the polymer substrate. A metal structure is formed at the device side of the polymer substrate.

Abstract: A process described herein provides an economical means for producing the oxide-based buffer layers using a wet chemical CSD process wherein the desired buffer layer material results from the evaporation of a chemical already containing the material in solution. Thus, no residual liquid chemical elements remain after deposition, and as there is no reaction to create the buffer material, as is the case with CdS CBD, the liquid elements in CSD have sufficiently long shelf life after mixing to as to improve manufacturability and further reduce waste. Furthermore, as there is no in-chamber reaction to create the buffer material solution, there are many options for delivering said solution to the CIGS absorber layer. Finally, as the oxide films for the CdS replacement have inherently better transmission in the blue spectrum, aggressive thinning of films to improve current generation is unnecessary.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of CIGS photovoltaic cells and modules involves sequential deposition of copper indium gallium diselenide compounds in multiple thin sublayers to form a composite CIGS absorber layer of a desirable thickness greater than the thickness of each sublayer. In an embodiment, the method is adapted to roll-to-roll processing of CIGS PV cells. In an embodiment, the method is adapted to preparation of a CIGS absorber layer having graded composition through the layer. In a particular embodiment, the graded composition is enriched in copper at a base of the layer. In an embodiment, each CIGS sublayer is deposited by co-evaporation of copper, indium, gallium, and selenium which react in-situ to form CIGS.

Abstract: A flexible photovoltaic module for converting light into electricity includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells, a wiring harness, and a connection subsystem. The plurality of photovoltaic cells are electrically interconnected to form a positive node for supplying current to a load and a negative node for receiving current from the load. The wiring harness includes a plurality of flexible electrical conductors, each electrical conductor being electrically isolated within the wiring harness. The connection subsystem is operable to selectively connect the positive node to one of the electrical conductors of the wiring harness. A plurality of flexible photovoltaic modules may be connected to form a photovoltaic array.

Abstract: A flexible photovoltaic module for converting light into electricity includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells, a wiring harness, and a connection subsystem. The plurality of photovoltaic cells are electrically interconnected to form a positive node for supplying current to a load and a negative node for receiving current from the load. The wiring harness includes a plurality of flexible electrical conductors, each electrical conductor being electrically isolated within the wiring harness. The connection subsystem is operable to selectively connect the positive node to one of the electrical conductors of the wiring harness. A plurality of flexible photovoltaic modules may be connected to form a photovoltaic array.

Abstract: A flexible photovoltaic module for converting light into an electric current includes a plurality of electrically interconnected flexible photovoltaic submodules monolithically integrated onto a common flexible substrate. Each photovoltaic submodule includes a plurality of electrically interconnected flexible thin-film photovoltaic cells monolithically integrated onto the flexible substrate. A flexible photovoltaic module for converting light into an electric current includes a backplane layer for supporting the photovoltaic module. A first pottant layer is disposed on the backplane layer, and a photovoltaic submodule assembly is disposed on the first pottant layer. The photovoltaic submodule assembly has at least one photovoltaic submodule, where each photovoltaic submodule includes a plurality of thin-film photovoltaic cells. A second pottant layer is disposed on the photovoltaic submodule assembly, and a upper laminate layer disposed on the second pottant layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to light-weight thin-film photovoltaic cells, methods for making cells, modules made from cells, and methods for making modules from cells. The invention teaches a manner in which individual cells may be bonded to one another, eliminating the need for an additional support substrate and interconnecting leads, thus reducing the overall weight and thickness of individual cells and modules of the cells.