Photovoltaic module

Abstract

A photovoltaic module may include a transparent conductive layer on a substrate a first submodule including a first plurality of photovoltaic cells connected in series and a second submodule including a second plurality of photovoltaic cells connected in series.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A photovoltaic module comprising:
 a first submodule comprising a first plurality of photovoltaic cells, wherein the first plurality of photovoltaic cells is between a first bus bar and a second bus bar;   a second submodule comprising a second plurality of photovoltaic cells, wherein the second plurality of photovoltaic cells is between the second bus bar and a third bus bar;   a first tape layer positioned over the first and second submodules, wherein the first and third bus bars are positioned substantially proximate to respective ends of the first tape layer;   a first lead foil positioned along a length of the first tape layer and electrically connected to the first bus bar and the third bus bar, wherein the first lead foil includes a position extending in a substantially orthogonal direction away from a top surface of the photovoltaic module;   a second tape layer positioned along the length and between the ends of the first insulation layer; and   a second lead foil positioned along the second tape layer, wherein the second lead foil contacts the second bus bar to establish an electrical connection thereto, and wherein the second lead foil comprises a position extending in a substantially orthogonal direction away from the top surface of the photovoltaic module.   
     
     
         3 . The photovoltaic module of  claim 2 , further comprising a shared cell between the first plurality of photovoltaic cells and the second plurality of photovoltaic cells. 
     
     
         4 . The photovoltaic module of  claim 3 , wherein the first plurality of photovoltaic cells are connected in series, the second plurality of photovoltaic cells are connected in series, and the first and second submodules are connected in parallel. 
     
     
         5 . The photovoltaic module of  claim 4 , wherein the second bus bar is electrically connected to the shared cell. 
     
     
         6 . The photovoltaic module of  claim 2 , wherein the position of the first lead foil extending in a substantially orthogonal direction away from the top surface of the photovoltaic module further comprises a loop. 
     
     
         7 . The photovoltaic module of  claim 6 , wherein the loop is divided into a second and a third lead end. 
     
     
         8 . The photovoltaic module of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the second lead end and third lead end are connected to an electrical conductor by a cord plate. 
     
     
         9 . The photovoltaic module of  claim 8 , wherein the electrical conductor comprises an electrical cord or an electrical cable. 
     
     
         10 . The photovoltaic module of  claim 7 , wherein the position of the second lead foil extending in a substantially orthogonal direction away from the top surface of the photovoltaic module further comprises a first lead end, and wherein the first lead end and at least one of the second lead end and third lead end are connected to an electrical conductor by a cord plate. 
     
     
         11 . The photovoltaic module of  claim 2 , wherein the second bus bar is over the second lead foil and the first and third bus bars are over the first lead foil. 
     
     
         12 . The photovoltaic module of  claim 2 , wherein the photovoltaic cells comprise a thin film stack that comprises a transparent conductive layer on a transparent substrate, a transparent buffer layer on the transparent conductive layer, a n-type window layer on the transparent conductive layer, an absorber layer on the n-type window layer, and a back contact layer on the absorber layer. 
     
     
         13 . The photovoltaic module of  claim 12 , wherein the absorber layer comprises cadmium telluride. 
     
     
         14 . The photovoltaic module of  claim 2 , wherein the first and third bus bars are positioned within about 13 mm of the respective edges of the photovoltaic module. 
     
     
         15 . A method for forming electrical leads on a thin film photovoltaic device having a first submodule with a first plurality of photovoltaic cells between a first bus bar and a second bus bar and a second submodule with a second plurality of photovoltaic cells between the second bus bar and a third bus bar, the method comprising:
 applying a first tape layer over the first submodule and the second submodule to extend from the first bus bar to the third bus bar;   applying a first lead foil along a length of the first tape layer, wherein the first lead foil is electronically connected to the first bus bar and the third bus bar, and wherein the first lead foil comprises a position extending in a substantially orthogonal direction away from a top surface of the photovoltaic module;   applying a second tape layer along the length and between the ends of the first tape layer; and   applying a second lead foil along the second tape strip, wherein the second lead foil contacts the second bus bar to establish an electrical connection thereto, and wherein the second lead foil comprises a position extending in a substantially orthogonal direction away from the top surface of the photovoltaic module.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the photovoltaic cells comprise a thin film stack that comprises a transparent conductive layer on a transparent substrate, a transparent buffer layer on the transparent conductive layer, a n-type window layer on the transparent conductive layer, an absorber layer on the n-type window layer, and a back contact layer on the absorber layer. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising forming a shared cell between the first plurality of photovoltaic cells and the second plurality of photovoltaic cells. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first plurality of photovoltaic cells are connected in series, the second plurality of photovoltaic cells are connected in series, and the first and second submodules are connected in parallel. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the second bus bar is positioned over the shared cell. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the position of the first lead foil extending in a substantially orthogonal direction away from the top surface of the photovoltaic module further comprises a loop,
 wherein the loop is further divided into a second and third lead end,   and wherein the position of the second lead foil extending in a substantially orthogonal direction away from the top surface of the photovoltaic module further comprises a first lead end.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the first lead end and at least one of the second or third lead ends are electrically connected to an electrical conductor by a cord plate.