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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Photovoltaic device and method

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6953451

This patent describes a semiconductor device including: a substrate; a semiconductor body having a first surface thereof disposed on the substrate; a layer of transparent, electrically conductive material overlying, and in electrical conductive material overlying, and in electrical contact with, at least a portion of the second surface of the semiconductor body. A current collection means is disposed atop the layer of transparent, conductive material, and is comprised of a bus-grid structure including grid fingers for collecting current from the transparent conductive layer, and a bus bar structure is in electrical communication with the grid fingers for carrying the current collected thereby. The improvement described here comprises: a pattern of electrical current flow restricting material disposed between the transparent conductive layer and the substrate. The pattern corresponds to, and is disposed beneath, substantially all of the bus bar structure of the superjacent current collection means, whereby the flow of electrical current between the bus bar structure and regions of the substrate disposed therebeneath is substantially eliminated.

Assignee:
Energy Conversion Devices, Inc., Troy, MI
Patent Number(s):
US 4633034
OSTI ID:
6953451
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English