Solar cell bonded to a flexible support

Abstract

A solar cell assembly in which a solar cell component is bonded to a flexible support is disclosed. The solar cell assembly comprises a flexible support with a predetermined size, a solar cell component, bonding adhesive between the support and the solar cell component, wherein the support with the predetermined size has a uniform borders of 0.003 inch to 0.2 inch in width extending beyond the edges of the solar cell component.

1 . A solar cell assembly, comprising:
 a flexible support having a top side and a bottom side and a predetermined size;   a flat, non-bowed solar cell component having a top side and a bottom side; and   bonding adhesive located between the top side of the support and the bottom side of the solar cell component;   wherein the support has substantially uniform borders of 0.003 inches to 0.2 inches in width extending beyond the edges of the solar cell component.   
     
     
         2 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bonding adhesive comprises rigid particles of substantially uniform size. 
     
     
         3 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the solar cell component comprises multiple mechanical standoffs that are interconnects or shims on the bottom side of the solar cell component. 
     
     
         4 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the rigid particles are composed of glass and are spherical or substantially spherical in shape. 
     
     
         5 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the solar cell component is selected from the group consisting of a solar cell, a coverglass-interconnect-cell (CIC) assembly, a string of solar cells, a string of a coverglass-interconnect cells (CICs), and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the border has a width of 0.003 inches and 0.1 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the border had a width of 0.003 inches to 0.05 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the border has a width of 0.005 inches to 0.025 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The solar cell assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the border has a width of 0.010 inches to 0.025 inches.