Abstract: A PV array (10) comprising multiple PV modules (11, 12) that each have a first and second pairs of spaced apart terminals (28, 40), with the first pair of spaced apart terminals (28) being in electrical connection with the PV cells of the PV modules (11, 12). A by-pass conductor (30) connects the second pair of spaced apart terminals (40) and enables current to pass through the PV modules (11, 12) between the second pair of spaced apart terminals (40). The second pair of terminals (40) of a first PV module (11) are each connected electrically to a terminal (28) of the first pair of terminals (28) of two adjacent PV modules to which the first PV module is connected. The by-pass conductor (30) of the first PV module facilitates travel of electrical current from the first PV module to a second PV module, by connection of the first terminals (28) of the first PV module (11) to the second terminals (40) of the second PV module (12).

Abstract: A conductive contact pattern is formed on a surface of solar cell by forming a thin conductive layer over at least one lower layer of the solar cell, and ablating a majority of the thin conductive layer using a laser beam, thereby leaving behind the conductive contact pattern. The laser has a top-hat profile, enabling precision while scanning and ablating the thin layer across the surface. Heterocontact patterns are also similarly formed.

Abstract: A metal grid contact and dielectric pattern on a layer requiring conductive contact in a photovoltaic device. The invention includes, in one aspect, forming a metal film; forming an etch resist over the metal film by, e.g., directly writing and in-situ curing the etch resist using, e.g., ink-jetting or screen-printing; etching the metal film leaving the resist pattern and a metal grid contact pattern under the etch resist intact; forming a dielectric layer over the etch resist; and removing the resist pattern and the dielectric over the etch resist, leaving a substantially co-planar metal grid contact and dielectric pattern. The metal grid contact pattern may form the front and/or back contact electrode of a solar cell; and the dielectric layer may be an optical reflection or antireflection layer. The layer requiring contact may be multifunctional providing its own passivation, such that passivation is substantially not required in the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A conductive contact pattern is formed on a surface of solar cell by forming a thin conductive layer over at least one lower layer of the solar cell, and ablating a majority of the thin conductive layer using a laser beam, thereby leaving behind the conductive contact pattern. The laser has a top-hat profile, enabling precision while scanning and ablating the thin layer across the surface. Heterocontact patterns are also similarly formed.

Abstract: A metal grid contact and dielectric pattern on a layer requiring conductive contact in a photovoltaic device. The invention includes, in one aspect, forming a metal film; forming an etch resist over the metal film by, e.g., directly writing and in-situ curing the etch resist using, e.g., ink-jetting or screen-printing; etching the metal film leaving the resist pattern and a metal grid contact pattern under the etch resist intact; forming a dielectric layer over the etch resist; and removing the resist pattern and the dielectric over the etch resist, leaving a substantially co-planar metal grid contact and dielectric pattern. The metal grid contact pattern may form the front and/or back contact electrode of a solar cell; and the dielectric layer may be an optical reflection or antireflection layer. The layer requiring contact may be multifunctional providing its own passivation, such that passivation is substantially not required in the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method apparatus and system for hardware acceleration for large volumes of channels is described. In an embodiment, the invention is a method. The method includes monitoring an inbound queue for hardware jobs. The method further includes detecting an interrupt from a hardware component. The method also includes transferring a job from the inbound queue to the hardware component. The method may further include transferring a completed job from the hardware component to an outbound queue. The method may also include providing an indication of completion of a job in an outbound queue.

Abstract: A method apparatus and system for hardware acceleration for large volumes of channels is described. In an embodiment, the invention is a method. The method includes monitoring an inbound queue for hardware jobs. The method further includes detecting an interrupt from a hardware component. The method also includes transferring a job from the inbound queue to the hardware component. The method may further include transferring a completed job from the hardware component to an outbound queue. The method may also include providing an indication of completion of a job in an outbound queue.

Abstract: Encoded symbols of a concatenated convolutional-encoded and block encoded signal are presented to a conventional first stage of a concatenated decoder, comprising in sequence a soft metric generator, a Viterbi decoder, a first de-interleaver and a first block decoder such as a Reed-Solomon decoder. The encoded symbols are also presented to a delay chain to produce progressively delayed encoded symbols. Where an output block of the conventional decoder is indicated as being a valid codeword by the first block decoder, the bytes in this block are marked as being correct. These bytes that are known to be correct are then used after interleaving and serialisation as known bits input to a second stage of the decoder process operating on the delayed encoded symbols and incorporating a modified soft metric generator constrained by the known bits. This process can be extended to further iterations as required.

Abstract: An on-line product delivery and billing system for aggregating product content delivery and payment for a network of customers and content providers is described. A content provider dynamically creates product content from one or more suppliers. The content provider sets pricing levels for the product content and aggregates billing information for the one or more suppliers and provides the content and payment information to the customer. The customer is billed for product delivery based upon predefined customer parameters and usage. The customer is presented one bill for all publishers' content accessed over the network. Upon payment the content provider provides payment to the suppliers in accordance with pre-established terms and conditions. Alternatively, the customer pays the suppliers directly, using the network as a delivery, metering, and billing platform. The product content is modified for transmission to specific customer client devices.