Solar-cell array

US4129458A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology · US

Inventors

• Roy Kaplow · Newton, US
• Robert I. Frank · Cambridge, US
• Joel L. Goodrich · Westford, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 13, 1978
• Grant date: Dec 12, 1978
• Expiry date: Feb 13, 1998

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E10/50

Abstract

The invention contemplates a solar-cell construction wherein plural spaced elongate unit cells of an array are formed from a parallel-grooved single wafer of substrate material of a first conductivity type, with adjacent sidewalls of adjacent units at each inter-unit groove formation. In the transverse succession of such groove formations, the sidewalls of every other groove are formed with regions of a second conductivity type, so that at or near the radiation-exposure surface of each unit there is but one junction between first and second conductivity types. In one general form, all grooves go all the way between upper and lower wafer surfaces, thus defining discrete single-cell units; in another general form, every other groove ends close to but short of the upper surface, thus defining discrete twin-cell units. The units are series-connected by making ohmic connection between the second conductivity-type region of one unit and a first conductivity-type region of an adjacent unit. The construction lends itself to a relatively simple and economical method of manufacture, which is also described.