Photovoltaic device with decreased gridline shading and method for its manufacture

Patent · Tue May 05 04:00:00 EDT 1992

OSTI ID:5068757

Vogeli, C; Nath, D

This patent describes a photovoltaic cell having decreased shading. It comprises a layer of bottom electrode material; a photovoltaic body disposed upon the layer of bottom electrode material; a layer of top electrode material disposed upon the photovoltaic body in a spaced apart relationship with the layer of bottom electrode material so that the photovoltaic body is sandwiched therebetween; at least one electrically-conductive, current-collecting grid line associated in electrical communication with the top electrode; and a layer of transparent, electrically insulating synthetic organic polymeric material disposed directly upon the top electrode material and the at least one grid line so as to cover the top electrode and the at least one gridline, the encapsulating layer having a groove formed integrally therein generally coextensive with the length of the current-collecting gridline, the groove operative to diffract incident light away from the underlying grid line so that the light illuminates adjacent portions of the photovoltaic cell, whereby shading effects caused by the grid line are minimized.

• Assignee: United Solar Systems Corp., Troy, MI (United States)
• Patent Number(s): US 5110370; A
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-585661
• OSTI ID: 5068757
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRODES
MANUFACTURING
MATERIALS TESTING
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
TESTING