Solar Battery Cell Bypass via Metal Film Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional solar batteries with multiple cells connected in series become unusable if any one cell is damaged, leading to waste and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A solar battery design that includes a substrate with rear and front electrode patterns, a light-absorbing layer, and a buffer layer, along with a method to form metal film patterns and connection units, allowing for electrical connection between adjacent cells, even if one cell is poor, using conductive materials like silver paste or carbon tape to bypass the poor cell and connect adjacent cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multiple solar battery cells are connected in series to increase power output, then the power generation capacity is improved, but the reliability deteriorates because the entire panel becomes unusable if any single cell is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The solar battery panel is divided into multiple independently connectable cell units, each with its own rear electrode pattern and contact structure. This segmentation allows individual cells to be electrically isolated from the series connection through the buffer layer and contact pattern design, enabling selective connection of functional cells while maintaining the overall panel structure intact when a single cell fails.
2Ease of manufacture
If a single poor cell damages the entire series-connected panel, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but resource utilization deteriorates due to complete panel discard
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables recovery and continued use of functional solar cells by isolating the poor cell through the buffer layer and contact pattern design. The metal film pattern and connection structure allow electrical bypass or isolation of the damaged cell while maintaining connectivity between adjacent functional cells, thereby recovering the value of otherwise wasted functional cell materials.
3Power
If series connection of multiple cells is used to achieve higher voltage output, then electrical performance is improved, but system vulnerability worsens due to single-point failure risk
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer layer and contact pattern serve as intermediary structures between adjacent solar cells, providing both electrical connection for series configuration and isolation capability. This intermediary structure enables the series connection to achieve higher voltage output while simultaneously providing a mechanism to isolate failed cells, reducing the single-point failure risk inherent in direct series connections.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the use of solar batteries with poor cells by electrically connecting adjacent cells, extending the battery's lifespan and reducing waste by maintaining functionality even when individual cells are compromised.
Implementation Method 1
a solar battery for converting solar-light energy into electric energy
Implementation Method 2
a metal film pattern formed on a second area of the substrate to electrically connect to the plurality of solar battery cells
Data Source
AI summary
A solar battery according to the embodiment of the present invention comprises a plurality of solar battery cells formed on a first area of a substrate to include a rear electrode pattern, a light-absorbing layer, a buffer layer and a front electrode layer respectively; a metal film pattern formed on a second area of the substrate to electrically connect to each a plurality of solar battery cells and space each other; and a connection unit formed between the mutually spaced metal film patterns.