Solar cell assembly

Abstract

A solar cell assembly with current limiting protection comprises a rectangular planar solar cell having four corner locations including first and second opposed surfaces and a beveled edge at one of the corner locations. Parallel spaced longitudinally extending conductors are provided on a first opposed surface and a metallic coating overlies an entire second opposed surface. Interconnect members mount a protective bypass diode, electrically intermediate and in series with the first and second conductor members, on the solar cell in a mutually coplanar relationship proximate to but spaced from the beveled edge, accommodating relative in-plane motion between the bypass diode and the solar cell. The interconnect members include an upper interconnect member extending between and fixed, respectively, to a first metallic pad member on the first opposed surface adjacent the beveled edge and electrically connected to the bus member and to a first surface of the bypass diode and a lower interconnect member extending between and fixed, respectively, to a second metallic pad member mounted adjacent the beveled edge and electrically connected to the metallic coating and to a second surface of the bypass diode. A protective glass sheet overlies and is bonded to the first opposed surface of the solar cell and the bypass diode in a generally coextensive relationship. A supplemental reinforcement sheet member may overlie a portion of the second opposed surface of the solar cell and the bypass diode and be bonded thereto in a generally coextensive relationship.