IP Library Granted Patent US 9,076,922
Granted Patent B2
US 9,076,922 · App. 13/087,434 · Granted Jul 7, 2015

Method for fitting contact wires to a surface of a photovoltaic cell, photovoltaic cell, photovoltaic module, arrangement for fitting contact wires to a surface of a photovoltaic cell

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,076,922
App. No.
13/087,434
Granted
Jul 7, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

In various embodiments, a method for fitting contact wires to a surface of a photovoltaic cell is provided. The method may include: feeding the contact wires to a contact wire positioning and placement device, wherein the contact wire positioning and placement device comprises a plurality of nozzles or eyes, wherein at least one contact wire is in each case passed through a respective nozzle or eye, for positioning and placement thereof onto the surface of the photovoltaic cell; positioning and placing the contact wires on the surface of the photovoltaic cell by means of the contact wire positioning and placement device; and attaching the contact wires to the surface of the photovoltaic cell.

Claims (19)

1. A method for fitting contact wires to a surface of a photovoltaic cell, the method comprising:

feeding the contact wires to a contact wire positioning and placement device, wherein the contact wire positioning and placement device comprises a plurality of nozzles or eyes, wherein at least one contact wire is in each case passed through a respective nozzle or eye, for positioning and placement thereof onto the surface of the photovoltaic cell;

positioning and placing the contact wires on the surface of the photovoltaic cell by means of the contact wire positioning and placement device; and

attaching the contact wires to the surface of the photovoltaic cell,

further comprising: fitting a contact structure to the surface of the photovoltaic cell, wherein the contact wires are at least partially coated with solder material or with electrically conductive adhesive material before being placed on the contact structure, wherein a reservoir configured to hold the solder material or electrically conductive adhesive material is accommodated in the plurality of nozzles or eyes of the contact wire positioning and placement device.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the contact structure is fitted to the surface of the photovoltaic cell in the form of a line, in the form of a segment or in the form of a point.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the contact structure is fitted by means of a screen printing process or by means of an extrusion printing process.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the attachment of the contact wires to the surface of the photovoltaic cell comprises attachment of the contact wires with the contact structure.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the contact wires are coated in the positioning and placement apparatus.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the contact wires are brought into contact with the contact structure; and wherein the contact structure is then burnt in, together with the contact wires on the surface of the photovoltaic cell.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the contact structure is fitted to the surface of the photovoltaic cell, and the contact wires are positioned and placed on the surface of the photovoltaic cell in a joint process step; and wherein the contact structure is then burnt in, together with the contact wires on the surface of the photovoltaic cell.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the contact wires are at least partially coated with the material of the contact structure in the positioning and placement apparatus; and wherein the contact wires which have been coated with the material of the contact structure are positioned and placed on the surface of the photovoltaic cell by means of the contact wire positioning and placement arrangement.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the contact wires are positioned directly on an antireflective layer on the photovoltaic cell; wherein the contact structure is then fitted by means of a screen printing or extrusion printing process; and wherein the contact structure is then burnt in on the antireflective layer of the photovoltaic cell.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the contact wires are fixed to the surface of the photovoltaic cell by means of a laser beam.

11. An arrangement for fitting contact wires to a surface of a photovoltaic cell, the arrangement comprising: a contact wire feed device configured to feed contact wires to a contact wire positioning and placement device; a contact wire positioning and placement device configured to position and place the contact wires on the surface of the photovoltaic cell, wherein the contact wire positioning and placement arrangement comprises a plurality of nozzles or eyes, wherein at least one contact wire is in each case passed through a respective nozzle or eye for positioning and placement thereof on the surface of the photovoltaic cell; and an attachment device configured to attach the contact wires to the surface of the photovoltaic cell, further comprising: a hold-down device which is designed for making contact between the contact wires and a contact structure; and wherein the attachment device is designed such that the contact wires are then soldered, bonded or adhesively bonded to the contact structure,

wherein a reservoir configured to hold the soldering, bonding or adhesive bonding material is accommodated in the plurality of nozzles or eyes of the contact wire positioning and placement device.

12. The arrangement as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the attachment device is designed such that the contact structure is then burnt in on the surface of the photovoltaic cell.

13. The arrangement as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising: a plurality of coating devices for coating the contact wires; wherein one coating device is in each case associated with one contact wire.

14. The arrangement as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the plurality of coating devices are designed for coating the contact wires with solder material, flux material or contact material before the positioning and placement of the contact wires on the surface of the photovoltaic cell.

Assignments (3)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Dec 5, 2023
From: SOLARWORLD INDUSTRIES GMBH
To: MEYER BURGER (GERMANY) GMBH
Reel/Frame 065758/0274 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 2, 2018
From: SOLARWORLD INNOVATIONS GMBH
To: SOLARWORLD INDUSTRIES GMBH
Reel/Frame 044819/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 17, 2011
From: KUTZER, MARTIN; STORBECK, OLAF; HAHN, HARALD; KRAUSE, ANDREAS; KOCH, CHRISTIAN
To: SOLARWORLD INNOVATIONS GMBH
Reel/Frame 026288/0448 →