REWORK AND REPAIR OF COMPONENTS IN A SOLAR CELL ARRAY
A substrate for solar cells is configured such that an area of the substrate remains exposed when at least one solar cell having at least one cropped corner that defines a corner region is attached to the substrate, one or more electrical connections for the solar cell are made in the corner region resulting from the cropped corner of the solar cell, and at least one of the electrical connections, connecting a first interconnect in a first location, is repaired by connecting a second interconnect in a second location in the at least one of the electrical connections different from the first location.
1 . A structure, comprising:
a substrate for solar cells, wherein the substrate is configured such that:
an area of the substrate remains exposed when at least one solar cell having at least one cropped corner that defines a corner region is attached to the substrate;
one or more electrical connections for the solar cell are made in the corner region resulting from the cropped corner of the solar cell; and
at least one of the electrical connections, connecting a first interconnect in a first location, is repaired by connecting a second interconnect in a second location in the at least one of the electrical connections different from the first location.
2 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the second location is adjacent the first location.
3 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein an area of the at least one of the electrical connections is large enough to encompass both the first and second locations.
4 . The structure of claim 3 , wherein the area of the at least one of the electrical connections is large enough for electrical current to flow around the first location.
5 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the first interconnect in the first location is removed.
6 . The structure of claim 5 , wherein a joint remains when the first interconnect is removed.
7 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the area of the substrate that remains exposed includes one or more corner conductors.
8 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the electrical connections is repaired by forming a third interconnect in a third location in the at least one of the electrical connections different from the first location.
9 . A method, comprising:
repairing a substrate for solar cells, wherein the substrate is configured such that:
an area of the substrate remains exposed when at least one solar cell having at least one cropped corner that defines a corner region is attached to the substrate;
one or more electrical connections for the solar cell are made in the corner region resulting from the cropped corner of the solar cell; and
at least one of the electrical connections, connecting a first interconnect in a first location, is repaired by connecting a second interconnect in a second location in the at least one of the electrical connections different from the first location.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the second location is adjacent the first location.
11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein an area of the at least one of the electrical connections is large enough to encompass both the first and second locations.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the area of the at least one of the electrical connections is large enough for electrical current to flow around the first location.
13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the first interconnect in the first location is removed.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein a joint remains when the first interconnect is removed.
15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the area of the substrate that remains exposed includes one or more corner conductors.
16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one of the electrical connections is repaired by forming a third interconnect in a third location in the at least one of the electrical connections different from the first location.
17 . A solar cell panel, comprising:
a solar cell array comprised of at least one solar cell having at least one cropped corner that defines a corner region and a substrate for the solar cell, wherein the substrate is configured such that:
an area of the substrate remains exposed when at least one solar cell having at least one cropped corner that defines a corner region is attached to the substrate;
one or more electrical connections for the solar cell are made in the corner region resulting from the cropped corner of the solar cell; and
at least one of the electrical connections, connecting a first interconnect in a first location, is repaired by connecting a second interconnect in a second location in the at least one of the electrical connections different from the first location.
18 . The solar cell panel of claim 17 , wherein the second location is adjacent the first location.
19 . The solar cell panel of claim 17 , wherein an area of the at least one of the electrical connections is large enough to encompass both the first and second locations.
20 . The solar cell panel of claim 19 , wherein the area of the at least one of the electrical connections is large enough for electrical current to flow around the first location.
21 . The solar cell panel of claim 17 , wherein the first interconnect in the first location is removed.
22 . The solar cell panel of claim 21 , wherein a joint remains when the first interconnect is removed.
23 . The solar cell panel of claim 17 , wherein the area of the substrate that remains exposed includes one or more corner conductors.
24 . The solar cell panel of claim 17 , wherein the at least one of the electrical connections is repaired by forming a third interconnect in a third location in the at least one of the electrical connections different from the first location.