Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric – Photoelectric – Panel or array
Patent
1992-01-06
1994-07-12
Weisstuch, Aaron
Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric
Photoelectric
Panel or array
H01L 3105
Patent
active
053285190
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a solar cell comprising a plurality of photovoltaic elements integrated on a conductive substrate.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In recent years, heating of the earth because of the so-called greenhouse effect due to an increase of atmospheric CO.sub.2 has been predicted. Thus, there is an increased demand for a means of power generation capable of providing clean energy without causing CO.sub.2 buildup. Nuclear power generation has been considered to be advantageous in view of not causing CO.sub.2 buildup. However, possible problems concerning leakage of injurious radioactive materials from the nuclear power generation system, treatment of radioactive wastes, and the like have not yet been completely eliminated. Thus, nuclear power generation cannot yet be a sufficiently safe power source of supplying clean energy. In this respect, public attention has been recently focused on power generation by solar cells as it is safe and supplies clean energy without those problems as above mentioned. As for solar cells, there are great expectations since they are safe and easily handled.
As for solar cells, a number of proposals have already been made. Among the proposed solar cells, amorphous silicon or copper indium selenide solar cells have been spotlighted and various studies have been made thereon since they can be easily designed to be of a large area and they can be provided at a relatively reduced production cost.
In general, it is required for solar cells to excel in weather resistance, shock resistance, and flexibility. In order to meet these requirements, a metal (conductive) substrate is often used as their substrate.
In order to obtain a desired electromotive force from a solar cell, generally a plurality of photovoltaic elements respectively comprising a photovoltaic layer are disposed on a conductive substrate made of stainless steel, etc. and connected to photovoltaic elements by means of wiring.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a known solar cell module comprising a plurality of photovoltaic elements serially connected with each other by means of wiring materials. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 400 indicates a conductive substrate, reference numeral 401 a lower electrode, reference numeral 402 a semiconductor layer (photovoltaic layer), reference numeral 403 an upper electrode, reference numeral 404 a collecting electrode, and reference numeral 405 a wiring material for electrically connecting adjacent photovoltaic elements.
Japanese patent publications Sho. 58-21827 and Sho. 58-54513 propose a method of integrating a plurality of solar cell elements on a common insulating substrate by means of masked evaporation or the like. As a modification of said method, there is known a method in which an insulating layer is applied onto the surface of a conductive substrate, metal electrode patterns are successively formed by means of masked evaporation or the like, and the metal electrode of one photovoltaic element is connected to the transparent electrode of the adjacent photovoltaic element (subcell) disposed on the same substrate. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a known solar cell module comprising a plurality of photovoltaic elements integrated on a common substrate by means of masked evaporation. FIG. 5(a) is a plan view of said solar cell module, and FIG. 5(b) is a schematic cross-section view taken along the line 505-506 of the solar cell module shown in FIG. 5(a). In FIG. 5, reference numeral 500 indicates a conductive substrate, reference numeral 501 an insulating layer, reference number 502 a lower electrode, reference number 503 a semiconductor layer (photovoltaic layer), and reference numeral 504 a transparent electrode as an upper electrode.
As for the method of connecting a plurality of photovoltaic elements by means of serial wiring, there are problems in that the connecting step is time consuming and the product obtained thereby becomes unavoidably costly.
Likewise, as for the method of serially connecting a plurality of photovoltaic e
REFERENCES:
patent: 4568409 (1986-02-01), Caplan
patent: 4754544 (1988-07-01), Hanak
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Weisstuch Aaron
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