IP Library Granted Patent US 8,884,158
Granted Patent B2
US 8,884,158 · App. 12/692,287 · Granted Nov 11, 2014

Solar cell and solar cell module

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,884,158
App. No.
12/692,287
Granted
Nov 11, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A solar cell and a solar cell module including a plurality of solar cells are discussed. The solar cell according to an embodiment includes a substrate of a first conductive type, an emitter layer of a second conductive type opposite the first conductive type disposed on the substrate, a plurality of first electrodes electrically connected to the emitter layer, a second electrode electrically connected to the substrate, a first current collector electrically connected to the plurality of first electrodes, and a second current collector electrically connected to the second electrode. The second current collector includes a plurality of second electrode current collectors electrically connected to the second electrode, and a current collector connector for connecting the plurality of second electrode current collectors to one another.

Claims (35)

1. A solar cell, comprising:

a substrate of a first conductive type and having a plurality of via holes; the substrate comprising a major plane

an emitter layer of a second conductive type opposite the first conductive type disposed on a first surface of the substrate;

a plurality of first electrodes electrically connected to the emitter layer and positioned on the first surface of the substrate;

a supplementary electrode part directly contacted to an outermost first electrode of the plurality of first electrodes and positioned on the first surface of the substrate;

a second electrode electrically connected to the substrate and positioned on a second surface opposite to the first surface of the substrate;

a first current collector electrically connected to the plurality of first electrodes through the plurality of via holes and positioned on the second surface of the substrate; and

a second current collector positioned on the second surface of the substrate and comprising a plurality of second electrode current collectors and a current collector connector, the plurality of second electrode current collectors being extended in a first direction and electrically connected to the second electrode, and the current collector connector being extended in a second direction crossing the first direction and connecting the plurality of second electrode current collectors to one another,

wherein the supplementary electrode part comprises a supplementary electrode and a supplementary connector, the supplementary electrode extends parallel to the plurality of first electrodes, and the supplementary connector extends from the supplementary electrode and contacts to the outermost first electrode of the plurality of first electrodes, and the supplementary electrode part is connected to the first current collector through the outermost first electrode, and a position of the supplementary electrode is overlapped with a position of the current collector connector in a direction perpendicular to the major plane of the substrate and not overlapped in that direction with the plurality of via holes, and

a position of the plurality of first electrodes is overlapped with the plurality of via holes in a direction perpendicular to the major plane of the substrate and the plurality of first electrodes are electrically connected to the first current collector through the plurality of via holes.

2. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of second electrode current collectors is positioned on the second electrode, and the current collector connector is positioned on the emitter layer.

3. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein a formation location of The supplementary connector corresponds to a formation location of the current collector connector.

4. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first electrodes extend in a direction different from a direction of the first current collector, and

the plurality of via holes are positioned at crossings of the plurality of first electrodes and the first current collector in the substrate.

5. The solar cell of claim 4 , wherein the first current collector and the second current collector are positioned on a surface of the substrate on which light is not incident.

6. A solar cell module, comprising:

a plurality of solar cells each including a substrate having a plurality of via holes, the substrate comprising a major plane an emitter layer disposed on a first surface of the substrate, a plurality of first electrodes electrically connected to the emitter layer, a supplementary electrode part directly contacted to an outermost first electrode of the plurality of first electrodes and positioned on the first surface of the substrate, a second electrode electrically connected to the substrate and positioned on a second surface opposite to the first surface of the substrate, a first current collector electrically connected to the plurality of first electrodes through the plurality of via holes and positioned on the second surface of the substrate, and a second current collector electrically connected to the second electrode positioned on the second surface of the substrate;

a first connector connected to the first current collector of a first solar cell of the plurality of solar cells; and

a second connector connected to the second current collector of a second solar cell of the plurality of solar cells,

wherein the first connector and the second connector form a right angle on the same plane, and

the supplementary electrode part comprises a supplementary electrode and a supplementary connector, the supplementary electrode extends parallel to the plurality of first electrodes, and the supplementary connector extends from the supplementary electrode and connects the supplementary electrode to the outermost first electrode of the plurality of first electrodes, and the supplementary electrode part is connected to the first current collector through the outermost first electrode, and a position of the supplementary electrode is overlapped with a position of the second connector in a direction perpendicular to the major plane of the substrate and not overlapped in that direction with the plurality of via holes, and

a position of the plurality of first electrodes is overlapped with the plurality of via holes in a direction perpendicular to the major plane of the substrate and the plurality of first electrodes are electrically connected to the first current collector through the plurality of via holes.

7. The solar cell module of claim 6 , wherein, in the each of the plurality of solar cells, the second current collector comprises a plurality of second electrode current collectors electrically connected to the second electrode and a current collector connector for connecting the plurality of second electrode current collectors to one another.

8. The solar cell module of claim 7 , wherein the second connector is positioned on the current collector connector.

9. The solar cell module of claim 6 , wherein a formation location of the supplementary connector corresponds to a formation location of a current collector connector.

10. A solar cell module, comprising:

a plurality of solar cells each including a substrate having a plurality of via holes, the substrate comprising a major plane an emitter layer disposed on a first surface of the substrate, a plurality of first electrodes electrically connected to the emitter layer, a supplementary electrode part directly contacted to an outermost first electrode of the plurality of first electrodes and positioned on the first surface of the substrate, a second electrode electrically connected to the substrate and positioned on a second surface opposite to the first surface of the substrate, a plurality of first current collectors electrically connected to the plurality of first electrodes through the plurality of via holes and positioned on the second surface of the substrate, and a second current collector electrically connected to the second electrode positioned on the second surface of the substrate;

a plurality of first connectors connected to a plurality of first current collectors of a first solar cell of the plurality of solar cells; and

a second connector connected to a second current collector of a second solar cell of the plurality of solar cells,

wherein a number of the plurality of first connectors is more than a number of the second connector, and

the supplementary electrode part comprises a supplementary electrode and a supplementary connector, the supplementary electrode extends parallel to the plurality of first electrodes, and the supplementary connector extends from the supplementary electrode and connects the supplementary electrode to the outermost first electrode of the plurality of first electrodes, and the supplementary electrode part is connected to the first current collector through the outermost first electrode, and a position of the supplementary electrode is overlapped with a position of the second connector in a direction perpendicular to the major plane of the substrate and not overlapped in that direction with the plurality of via holes, and

a position of the plurality of first electrodes is overlapped with the plurality of via holes in a direction perpendicular to the major plane of the substrate and the plurality of first electrodes are electrically connected to the first current collector through the plurality of via holes.

11. The solar cell module of claim 10 , wherein the number of second connectors positioned in each of the plurality of solar cells is one.

12. The solar cell module of claim 10 , wherein the second current collector comprises a plurality of second electrode current collectors electrically connected to the second electrode, and a current collector connector for connecting the plurality of second electrode current collectors to one another.

13. The solar cell module of claim 12 , wherein the second connector is positioned on the current collector connector.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 6, 2024
From: SHANGRAO XINYUAN YUEDONG TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO. LTD
To: JINGAO SOLAR CO., LTD
Reel/Frame 067329/0132 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 19, 2023
From: SHANGRAO JINKO SOLAR TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD
To: SHANGRAO XINYUAN YUEDONG TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO. LTD
Reel/Frame 066078/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 29, 2022
From: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
To: SHANGRAO JINKO SOLAR TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD
Reel/Frame 061572/0487 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 25, 2010
From: KANG, JUWAN; KO, JIHOON; KIM, JONGHWAN; JANG, DAEHEE
To: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Reel/Frame 023842/0871 →