IP Library Granted Patent US 9,508,878
Granted Patent B2
US 9,508,878 · App. 14/493,473 · Granted Nov 29, 2016

Solar cell having a rear side metallization

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,508,878
App. No.
14/493,473
Granted
Nov 29, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Various embodiments provide a solar cell. The solar cell includes a substrate having a front side and a rear side. At least the front side receives light. The solar cell further includes a multiplicity of rear side solder pad regions at least partially arranged over the rear side, and a plurality of partial solder pads formed in each rear side solder pad region of the multiplicity of rear side solder pad regions. Each partial solder pad includes a first metal. The partial solder pads in a respective rear side solder pad region are separated from each other. The solar cell further includes a rear side metallization formed at the rear side of the substrate partly overlapping the partial solder pads, the rear side metallization including a second metal different from the first metal.

Claims (45)

1. A solar cell, comprising:

a substrate comprising a front side and a rear side, wherein at least the front side receives light;

a plurality of rear side solder pad regions at least partially arranged over the rear side,

wherein at least one first dielectric layer separates adjacent rear side solder pad regions by a first distance;

a plurality of partial solder pads formed in each rear side solder pad region of the plurality of rear side solder pad regions, wherein at least one second dielectric layer separates adjacent partial solder pads within each rear side solder pad region by a second distance such that the plurality of partial solder pads and at least one second dielectric layer within each rear side solder pad region are disposed in an alternating manner in a direction along the rear surface,

wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance,

wherein each partial solder pad comprises a first metal, and

a rear side metallization formed at the rear side of the substrate partly overlapping the partial solder pads, the rear side metallization comprising a second metal different from the first metal,

wherein at least one of the partial solder pads in each rear side solder pad region extends at least substantially from the rear side of the substrate to the rear side metallization.

2. The solar cell of claim 1 ,

wherein each rear side solder pad region of the plurality of rear side solder pad regions has a covered surface area greater than 10 mm 2 .

3. The solar cell of claim 1 ,

wherein the first distance is in the range from about 2 mm to about 20 mm.

4. The solar cell of claim 1 ,

wherein the second distance is in the range from about 0.1 mm to about 1.0 mm.

5. The solar cell of claim 1 ,

wherein a maximum overlap of the second metal on the first metal is 0.3 mm.

6. The solar cell of claim 1 ,

wherein at least two rows of partial solder pads are formed in each rear side solder pad region of the plurality of rear side solder pad regions.

7. The solar cell of claim 6 ,

wherein at least four partial solder pads are formed in each rear side solder pad region of the plurality of rear side solder pad regions.

8. The solar cell of claim 1 ,

wherein the partial solder pads have a round shape with a diameter in the range from about 1.5 mm to about 4 mm.

9. The solar cell of claim 8 ,

wherein the partial solder pads are O-ring shaped and have inner diameter of at least 0.5 mm.

10. The solar cell of claim 1 ,

wherein the plurality of rear side solder pad regions are arranged in a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows over the rear side of the substrate.

11. The solar cell of claim 6 ,

wherein the partial solder pads of a first row are arranged offset to a second row.

12. The solar cell of claim 1 ,

wherein the first metal comprises silver or nickel and the second metal comprises aluminum.

13. A solar cell, comprising:

a substrate comprising a front side and a rear side, wherein at least the front side receives light;

a plurality of rear side solder pad regions at least partially arranged over the rear side,

wherein at least one first dielectric layer separates adjacent rear side solder pad regions by a first distance,

a plurality of partial solder pads formed within each rear side solder pad region of the plurality of rear side solder pad regions, wherein at least one second dielectric layer separates adjacent partial solder pads within each rear side solder pad region by a second distance such that the plurality of partial solder pads and at least one second dielectric layer within each rear side solder pad region are disposed in an alternating manner in a direction along the rear surface,

wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance,

wherein each partial solder pad comprises a first metal;

a rear side metallization formed at the rear side of the substrate partly overlapping the partial solder pads, the rear side metallization comprising a second metal different from the first metal, wherein at least one of the partial solder pads in each rear side solder pad region extends at least substantially from the rear side of the substrate to the rear side metallization, wherein the rear side metallization penetrates through the dielectric layer to contact the at least one of the partial solder pads.

14. The solar cell of claim 13 ,

wherein the first distance is in the range from about 2 mm to about 20 mm.

15. The solar cell of claim 13 ,

wherein the second distance is in the range from about 0.1 mm to about 1.0 mm.

16. The solar cell of claim 13 ,

wherein a maximum overlap of the second metal on the first metal is 0.3 mm.

Assignments (11)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 27, 2024
From: MAXEON SOLAR PTE. LTD.
To: DB TRUSTEES (HONG KONG) LIMITED
Reel/Frame 067924/0062 →
SECOND LIEN SECURITY INTEREST AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 26, 2024
From: MAXEON SOLAR PTE. LTD
To: DB TRUSTEES (HONG KONG) LIMITED
Reel/Frame 071343/0553 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2024
From: MAXEON SOLAR PTE. LTD.
To: DB TRUSTEES (HONG KONG) LIMITED
Reel/Frame 067637/0598 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 27, 2023
From: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
To: MAXEON SOLAR PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 062513/0857 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 16, 2019
From: SUNPOWER MANUFACTURING OREGON, LLC
To: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 048033/0954 →
CONFIRMATORY ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jan 16, 2019
From: SOLARWORLD AMERICAS INC.
To: SUNPOWER MANUFACTURING OREGON, LLC
Reel/Frame 048079/0119 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Nov 9, 2018
From: SOLARWORLD AMERICAS, INC.
To: SOLARWORLD AMERICAS, INC.
Reel/Frame 047493/0259 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNOR AND ASSIGNEE NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 038254 FRAME: 0041. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Apr 29, 2016
From: SOLARWORLD INDUSTRIES AMERICA INC.
To: SOLARWORLD AMERICAS INC.
Reel/Frame 038572/0947 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE APPLICATION NUMBER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 035477 FRAME: 0618. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Mar 25, 2016
From: SOLARWORLD INDUSTRIES AMERICA INC
To: SOLARWORLD AMERICAS INC
Reel/Frame 038254/0041 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 22, 2015
From: SOLARWORLD INDUSTRIES AMERICA INC.
To: SOLARWORLD AMERICAS INC.
Reel/Frame 035477/0618 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 30, 2014
From: SEIPEL, BJOERN
To: SOLARWORLD INDUSTRIES AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 033846/0472 →