Abstract: A method of severing a thin film semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a substrate having a first electrode region formed thereon, a semiconductor body formed of layers of thin film semiconductor alloy material disposed upon the base electrode, a transparent, electrically conductive second electrode deposited atop the semiconductor body, and a containment layer of polymeric material associated with the first or second electrode in at least one region to permit subsequent severing of the device into a plurality of devices through said containment layer region.

Abstract: A light directing element for a photovoltaic device and method of manufacture. The light directing element is in the form of an encapsulating cover which fits onto the top of the underlying photovoltaic cell. A bottom surface of the encapsulating cover is provided with V-shaped grooves which are in registry with the underlying grid lines of the photovoltaic cell. Preferably, the side walls of the grooves are coated with a reflective coating. Incident light, falling on the reflective side walls will be reflected onto adjacent portions of the photovoltaic cell, thereby minimizing shading effects caused by the grid lines. In a particularly preferred embodiment, each groove in the cover is filled with a conductive carbon paste, and conductive wires are embedded therein. This conductive wires serve as the current collecting network of the solar cell and are in electrical communication with the top electrode thereof by means of the conductive carbon paste.

Abstract: A dual discharge photovoltaic module responsive to high and low loads. The module includes a first plurality of series connected, high short circuit current cells, and a second plurality of series connected, low short circuit current cells connected in series with the first plurality. A diode is connected in parallel with the second plurality of cells such that current flow through the module when the module is under low load reverse biases the diode so that the module discharges at a low current. When the module is under high load, current flow through the module forward biases the diode and bypasses the second plurality of cells so that the module discharges at a high rate. The module is particularly useful for starting and running an electric motor.

Abstract: A composite laminate specifically adapted to protect the light incident surface of a photovoltaic module from cuts which could create a short circuit includes a plurality of stacked layer pairs. The first layer of each pair is a glass fiber material and the second layer is a thermoplastic. The layers are disposed in a mutually interpenetrating relationship and topped with a thin transparent protective layer, such as a layer of a fluoropolymer. this combination of layer pairs has been demonstrated to provide sufficient protection to meet Underwriters Laboratories specifications (UL 1703 Section 23. Cut Test) for flat plate photovoltaic modules and panels.

Abstract: Photovoltaic devices comprised of one or more encapsulated slabs of photovoltaic material are prepared by a process wherein a large area body of photovoltaic material is divided into a plurality of slabs. A photoactive area is defined within each slab, and defects therein passivated. Current collecting structures are affixed to each slab, and if the device includes a plurality of slabs, they are electrically interconnected. The front surfaces of the slabs are laminated with a transparent protective material, and the rear surfaces are bonded to a support plate. Also disclosed herein is a particular configuration of bus bar tape for interconnecting the slabs and an apparatus for preparing the current collecting wires.

Abstract: An electronic device of the type including a thin film body having a superposed metallic electrode has short circuit defects therein passivated by a conversion process in which the electrical resistivity of the metallic electrode material is increased proximate the defect regions. Conversion is accomplished by exposing the metallic electrode material to a conversion reagent and activating the reagent proximate the defect regions. The process may be utilized for a variety of differently configured devices, and may be readily adapted for use in a roll-to-roll device fabrication process.