US Patent 10383207 Interdigitated foil interconnect for rear-contact solar cells

Layers of conductive foil and insulating material are configured to interconnect an array of rear-contact solar cells. An embodiment provides that the layer of conductive foil may be patterned to form repeating sets of electrically isolated, interdigitated fingers. Each set of interdigitated fingers may be used to connect the positive polarity contacts of a first rear-contact solar cell to the negative polarity contacts of a second, adjacent rear-contact cell. The insulating layer is attached to the patterned conductive foil and provides mechanical support and/or electrical isolation. In some embodiments, a protective backsheet may be disposed beneath the conductive foil and/or insulating layer to provide further mechanical support and environmental protection. In some embodiments, the layers of conductive foil and insulating material may be incorporated as an interconnect circuit in a rear-contact PV module.