Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a shading protected solar cell apparatus for use in a solar cell system. The apparatus includes a solar cell having a front side current collector and a back side current collector. The apparatus also includes a bypass diode closely adjacent the back side current collector, the bypass diode having a front side current collector and a back side current collector. The apparatus further includes a first electrical coupling for electrically coupling the front side current collector of the bypass diode to the back side current collector of the solar cell. The apparatus also includes a second electrical coupling for electrically coupling the back side current collector of the bypass diode to the front side current collector of the solar cell, the first and second electrical couplings cooperating to enable a current generated by non-shaded solar cells in the system to be shunted through the bypass diode when the solar cell is shaded.

Abstract: A photovoltaic semiconductor apparatus for use in forming a solar cell with shallow emitter is disclosed. The apparatus includes first and second adjacent oppositely doped volumes of semiconductor material forming a semiconductor heterojunction. The apparatus also includes a first passivation layer of material on the front side, the first passivation layer having a first outer surface and a plurality of openings therethrough defining corresponding unpassivated areas of the front side that are unpassivated by the first passivation layer. The apparatus further includes a first conductive anti-reflective coating on the first outer surface of the passivation layer and on the corresponding unpassivated areas of the front side.

Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first doped volume of semiconductor material, the first doped volume having a front surface and first and second adjacent regions. The first region has a first concentration of dopant and a first exposed area on the front surface. The second region has a second concentration of dopant and a second exposed area on the front surface, the second concentration being higher than the first concentration. The apparatus also includes a first external conductor and an alloy bonding the first external conductor to the second exposed area to ohmically connect the conductor to the second region.

Abstract: A solar cell apparatus and process for making and using same involving a semiconductor wafer having a front side surface and a metallized back side surface and a semiconductor p/n junction between the front side surface and the back side surface. At least one front side interruption is caused to extend along at least a portion of the front side surface and into the wafer to a depth sufficient to interrupt the semiconductor p/n junction to define a plurality of separate p/n junction sections within the wafer and to define separate front side surface portions associated with respective separate p/n junction sections. A back side interruption is caused to extend along a portion of the metallized back side surface, generally opposite the front side interruption, to define a plurality of separate metallized back side surface portions associated with respective p/n junction sections and in electrical contact with respective p/n junction sections.

Abstract: A photovoltaic apparatus has a semiconductor photovoltaic cell structure having a front surface and a back surface provided by respectively doped portions of semiconductor material forming a photovoltaic junction. A plurality of separate electrical contacts is embedded in the front side surface of the respective one of the portions of semiconductor material. The electrical contacts are distributed in two dimensions across the surface and are separated from each other and are in electrical contact with the respective one of the portions of semiconductor material. A back side electrical contact is provided on the back surface of the other of the respective portions of semiconductor material and in electrical contact therewith. A solar cell apparatus includes the apparatus above and electrodes for contacting the electrical contacts on the front and back side surfaces respectively of the semiconductor material.

Abstract: A method for temporarily electrically coupling to each of a plurality of current gathering fingers on a surface of a solar cell, to facilitate testing of the solar cell involves pressing a flexible elongate electrical conductor onto the surface of the solar cell such that an elongate contact surface of the electrical conductor extends across the surface of the solar cell to make electrical contact with substantially all of a surface of a bus connected to the fingers or at least a portion of each of the fingers, or both.

Abstract: An electrode is described for contacting an electrically conductive surface, in particular for contacting at least one surface of a photovoltaic element wafer 3, the electrode comprising an electrically insulating optically transparent film 10, an adhesive layer 11 provided on one surface of said film 10, and a first plurality of substantially parallel, electrically conductive wires 5? being embedded into the adhesive layer 11, a part of the surfaces of said wires 5? protruding from the adhesive layer 11 and at least on the surface protruding from the adhesive layer 11 being covered by a coating 2 consisting of an alloy with a low melting point, wherein the wires 5? of the first plurality are electrically connected to a first terminal bar 20.