Automated assembly method for the production of interconnected thin film solar cell modules

US9065008B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC · US

Inventors

• Marty W. DeGroot · Middletown, US
• Narayan Ramesh · Midland, US
• Minoru Sakuma · Midland, US
• Dustin M. Charamut · Mesa, US
• Michael E. Mills · Midland, US
• David J. Perkon · Mesa, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 29, 2011
• Grant date: Jun 23, 2015
• Expiry date: Dec 1, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T29/53213

Abstract

A method of manufacturing electrically interconnected solar cell assemblies, including the steps of: positioning at least a first interconnect element (64) in an alignment feature of a top carrier and facing a top surface of a first photovoltaic cell (60); adhering the first interconnect element to a location on the top surface of the first cell, wherein a length of the first interconnect element extends beyond a trailing edge (68) of the first cell; and adhering a portion of the length of the first interconnect element that extends beyond a trailing edge of the first cell to the bottom surface of a second cell (62). In one aspect, a system is provided for assembling solar cell strings, including cell transfer equipment, a bottom pallet including grooves, multiple top pallets including grooves, an adhesive dispensing system, a ribbon supply mechanism, and a system for moving ribbons and top pallets.