초록 ▼

An electrical coupling device for solar cells includes a conductive member characterized by a single shaped thickness of material. The member includes a first portion extending a first length from a first end region and a second portion extending a second length from a second end region. The membe

An electrical coupling device for solar cells includes a conductive member characterized by a single shaped thickness of material. The member includes a first portion extending a first length from a first end region and a second portion extending a second length from a second end region. The member also includes a U-like-shaped portion including a first branch, a second branch, and a joint region integrally connecting the first branch and the second branch. The first branch is integrally connected to the first portion at a first junction region and the second branch is integrally connected to the second portion at a second junction region. The first end region connects a first electrical lead of a first solar cell and the second end region connects a second electrical lead of a second solar cell which is disposed at flexible distance allowed by deforming the U-like-shaped portion elastically.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An electrical coupling device for solar cells, the device comprising: a conductive member characterized by a single shaped thickness of material, the member comprising: a first portion extending a first length from a first end region; a second portion extending a second lengt

What is claimed is: 1. An electrical coupling device for solar cells, the device comprising: a conductive member characterized by a single shaped thickness of material, the member comprising: a first portion extending a first length from a first end region; a second portion extending a second length from a second end region; a sheet metal portion characterized by a thickness, a length, and a width, the sheet metal portion including a slit positioned at substantially a center portion of the sheet metal, the slit being characterized being shorter than the length, the sheet metal portion including a third portion and a fourth portion, the third portion being substantially on a same plane as the fourth portion, the third portion having a greater length than the fourth portion, the third portion and the fourth portion being separated by the slit, the third portion being integrally connected to the first portion, the fourth portion being integrally connected to the second portion, the first portion being substantially perpendicular to the third portion, the second portion being substantially perpendicular to the fourth portion; an electrical conductivity characteristic of the member, the electric conductivity being 30��106 Sm-1 and greater; wherein, the first end portion is configured to connect a first electric lead of a first solar cell; the second end portion is configured to connect a second electric lead of a second solar cell, the second solar cell being disposed at a distance away from the first solar cell, the distance being in a range allowed by separating the slit and a length difference between the third portion and the fourth portion. 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the single shaped thickness of material is one or a combination of materials selected from copper, aluminum, molybdenum, tin, chromium, and iron. 3. The device of claim 2 wherein the single shaped thickness of materials has a thickness ranging from 0.003 inches to 0.2 inches. 4. The device of claim 1 wherein the first length and the second length are the same. 5. The device of claim 1 wherein the first length and the second length are different. 6. The device of claim 1 wherein the first length is adapted for the first end region to couple to a first solar cell and the second length is adapted for the second end region to couple to a second solar cell so that the sheet metal portion is disposed in an open space between the first solar cell and the second solar cell. 7. The device of claim 1 wherein the first end region and the second end region each comprises a structure adapted for coupling to a corresponding solar cell electrical lead. 8. The device of claim 7 wherein the structure comprises a step-like shape having a height between an upper edge and a lower step. 9. The device of claim 8 wherein the height can be adapted for the lower step to be coupled to a front electrode of a solar cell or a back electrode of a neighboring solar cell. 10. The device of claim 8 wherein the lower step comprises a tin plated coating adaptive for soldering. 11. The device of claim 1 wherein the electrical conductivity characteristic of the member allows the single shaped thickness of material to pass an electrical current up to 6 Amp. 12. A method for electrically coupling solar cells for solar module package, the method comprising: providing a first solar cell, the first solar cell including a first electrical lead; providing at least a second solar cell disposed next to the first solar cell with an approximate distance, the second solar cell including a second electrical lead; providing a first electrical coupling device, the first electrical coupling device comprising a conductive member made from a single shaped thickness of material including a first portion with a first end region, a second portion with a second end region, and a sheet metal portion characterized by a thickness, a length, and a width, the sheet metal portion including a slit positioned at substantially a center portion of the sheet metal portion, the slit being characterized being shorter than the length, the sheet metal portion including a third portion and a fourth portion, the third portion being substantially on a same plane as the fourth portion, the third portion having a greater length than the fourth portion, the third portion and the fourth portion being separated by the slit, the third portion being integrally connected to the first portion, the fourth portion being integrally connected to the second portion, the first portion being substantially perpendicular to the third portion, the second portion being substantially perpendicular to the fourth portion; coupling the first end region to the first electrical lead and the second end region to the second electrical lead while the sheet metal portion is disposed between the first solar cell and the second solar cell; wherein, the first portion, the second portion, and the slit provides an effective length to accommodate the approximate distance. 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the first electrical lead is disposed near a peripheral location of the first solar cell and the second electrical lead is disposed near a peripheral location of the second solar cell. 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the first end region comprises a step-shaped structure having a first lower step and the second end region comprises a step-shaped structure having a second lower step. 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the coupling the first/second end region to the first/second electrical lead comprises soldering the first/second lower step with the first/second electrical lead to make an electrical connection. 16. The method of claim 14 wherein the coupling the first/second end region to the first/second electrical lead comprises laser welding the first/second lower step with the first/second electrical lead to make an electrical connection. 17. The method of claim 12 wherein the conductive member is characterized by an electrical conductivity of 30��106 Sm-1 and greater. 18. The method of claim 12 wherein the approximate distance between two neighboring solar cells may be in a range from 0.005 inches to 0.5 inches. 19. The method of claim 12, further comprising: providing a third solar cell disposed next to the second solar cell with substantially the same proximate distance, the third solar cell being made substantially the same as the second solar cell; providing a second electrical coupling device, the second electric coupling device being made substantially the same as the first electrical coupling device; and coupling the third solar cell to the second solar cell using the second electrical coupling device. 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: providing a third electrical coupling device, the third electrical coupling device comprising a conductive member characterized by a single step-shaped thickness of material; coupling the third solar cell to an external connector using the third electrical coupling device. 21. A solar module with inter-coupled solar cells, the solar module comprising: a first solar cell; at least a second solar cell disposed near the first solar cell with an approximate separation; and a first coupling device configured to electrically couple the first solar cell to the second solar cell; wherein, the first coupling device includes a conductive member characterized by a single shaped thickness of material with an electrical conductivity being 30��106 Sm-1 and greater, the member comprising: a first portion extending a first length from a first end region; a second portion extending a second length from a second end region; a sheet metal characterized by a thickness, a length, and a width, the sheet metal including a slit positioned at substantially a center portion of the sheet metal, the slit being characterized being shorter than the length, the sheet metal including a third portion and a fourth portion, the third portion being substantially on a same plane as the fourth portion, the third portion having a greater length than the fourth portion, the third portion and the fourth portion being separated by the slit, the third portion being integrally connected to the first portion, the fourth portion being integrally connected to the second portion, the first portion being substantially perpendicular to the third portion, the second portion being substantially perpendicular to the fourth portion; the first end region is configured to connect a first electric lead of the first solar cell; the second end region is configured to connect a second electric lead of the second solar cell with the approximate separation being in a range allowed by separating the slit and a length difference between the third portion and the fourth portion. 22. The solar module of claim 21 wherein the first solar cell and the second solar cell each comprises a packaged light concentrator over a plurality of photovoltaic strips connected by one or more conductive members. 23. The solar module of claim 22 wherein the one or more conductive members are metal bus bars each with at least one electric leads extended to an edge of the solar cell. 24. The solar module of claim 22 wherein at least one conductive member connects to a front sides of a plurality of photovoltaic strips on the first solar cell and at least another conductive member connects a back sides of a plurality of photovoltaic strips on the second solar cell. 25. The solar module of claim 21 wherein the approximate separation is about a range from 0.005 inches to 0.2 inches. 26. The solar module of claim 21 wherein the first portion extending a first length from a first end region comprises a first width. 27. The solar module of claim 21 wherein the first length is about 0.5 inches. 28. The solar module of claim 26 wherein the first width ranges from 0.05 inches to 0.5 inches. 29. The solar module of claim 21 wherein the first end region comprises a step-shaped structure with a lower step being configured to couple to an electrical lead on the first solar cell. 30. The solar module of claim 29 wherein the electrical lead on the first solar cell is a front side electrode of photovoltaic junction. 31. The solar module of claim 29 wherein the electrical lead on the first solar cell is a back side electrode of photovoltaic junction. 32. The solar module of claim 21 wherein the second portion extending a second length from a second end region comprises a second width. 33. The solar module of claim 32 wherein the second length is different from the first length. 34. The solar module of claim 26 wherein the second width is different from the first width. 35. The solar module of claim 32 wherein the second end region comprises a step-shaped structure with a lower step being configured to couple to an electrical lead on the second solar cell. 36. The solar module of claim 35 wherein the electrical lead on the second solar cell is a front side electrode of photovoltaic junction. 37. The solar module of claim 35 wherein the electrical lead on the second solar cell is a back side electrode of photovoltaic junction. 38. The solar module of claim 21, further comprising: a third solar cell, the third solar cell being made substantially the same as the second solar cell; a second coupling device electrically coupled to the third solar cell and the second solar cell, the second coupling device being made substantially the same as the first coupling device. 39. The solar module of claim 38, further comprising: a third coupling device electrically coupled to the third solar cell and an external connector; wherein the third coupling device comprises a conductive member characterized by a single shaped thickness of material.